Rival Computer offers custom Mac minis

[admin]

Rival Computer offers custom Mac minis
Monday, June 19, 2006

Rival Computer today announced they are shipping custom Mac mini systems with 1.83GHz, 2.0GHz, and 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processors. Pricing for the 1.83GHz Mac mini starts at $950. Mac minis with 2.0GHz and 2.16GHz processors start at $1,100 and $1,250, respectively. All systems include a slot-loading Combo Drive, 60GB hard drive, and 512MB of memory. Consumers can upgrade to a 80GB ($50), 100GB ($100), or 120GB ($175) 5,400 RPM hard drive, or 100GB ($200) 7200 RPM hard drive. Memory upgrades are priced at $100 for 1GB and $300 for 2GB. Customers can also upgrade to a SuperDrive for an additional $50.



http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/490.html

[bmalmquist]

outrageously expensive? Methinks.

[Fox]

Actually, they are a bit more expensive than Apple, but not terribly so if you aren't entitled to an education discount. Using the standard duo as an example, removing the superdrive and adding 1 gb RAM, the price would be $899 vs. the same at the Apple Store. You would buy from the Apple Store in this case because the superdrive is included there (worth $50 according to Rival), but if you wanted a faster processor, Rival's prices don't look bad if you consider that they install it also. The question is what kind of servicing you can get from them and whether such a purchase would be eligible for AppleCare if you need it. However, I think that if you wait a few months for the updated Mini, you'll get the faster processor without having to pay extra for it. In my case, I just want the present duo processor at the price now charged for the solo, and I don't care if they leave off the superdrive.
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Mini 1: 2.3 ghz Core i5; 8 gb RAM, Corsair 240gb SSD, 500 gb Seagate XT
Mini 2: 2.26 ghz Core 2 duo, 8 gb RAM, 500 gb Seagate
Also a Cube, 13" MacBook Air, 20" 2.66 ghz iMac & 11.6" Acer 1810TZ running Ubuntu, Mint & openSuse

[aquaman]

The prices are a little high, but not too bad all things considered. It looks like they are charging around a 100-150 dollar premium over what you could do if you bought the chips from Newegg. I would never go this route, but it' kind of cool seeing someone offer this.

[djsyndrome]

For those of us that are willing to do this ourselves - does the Core Duo chip work in a machine that previously carried a Core Solo? I'm considering the $600 model (as I don't need the superdrive or the larger HD) and would like to upgrade it in the future....

[g5g5]

[diulei]

Interesting.

But yes, too expensive. Upgrading to MacBook specs runs you barely under what the MacBook costs - and you don't get the portability.

[devo]

[Texark]

This is exactly why Apple should give their customers a choice of processors as a BTO option. If people are willing to pay for it, offer the upgrade already. This strategy Apple has of protecting the Pro machines from the consumer machines is growing tired. Give people more choices, and they will come.

[ecking]

[Paul Stamatiou]

Yay, no Apple warranty. Try bringing your 2.16 mini to the apple store for repair. ha!
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Computational Media UGrad @ Georgia Tech
PaulStamatiou.com
MacBook White 2.0GHz, 2GB G.SKILL RAM
SFBags Sleevecase

[OGN]

[devo]

[scooper]