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PRM
New Member
Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:39 pm Post subject: Buying Mac mini as gift |
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Hi,
My daughter wants a Mac mini in the worst way. I'd like to pick her up one as a going away gift before she heads off to USC later this month. I have three questions…
Are there wireless cards other than Apple's internal card that work with the Mac mini?
How can you use a microphone with the Mac mini?
Is the Mac mini powerful enough to work with the iSight camera?
Paul |
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Bandit Bill
Veteran Member
Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 5793
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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slickrick
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 441
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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Order your mini with the Airport Extreme card installed. You'll thank me later. 
The Giffin iMic is good if you already have a 1/8" mic. Maybe you don't know, but the iSight comes with a built-in mic.
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/index.php
I don't have an iSight.  |
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Bandit Bill
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Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 5793
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| slickrick wrote: | | Maybe you don't know, but the iSight comes with a built-in mic.( |
I did not know that. That's good for iMac users too, being the internal mic on the iMac is supposed to be useless, due to it being located next to an internal fan.
Does anyone know how well the iSight mic works? |
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Susurrus
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Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 1303
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 1:27 am Post subject: |
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| I don't know how well the mic on the iSight works, but mics on webcams normally aren't that bad. I have a 2-year old Logitech one with a mic and it works well enough. I would say that you would be fine using that for a VOIP conversation but nothing more than basic speech. Also, considering the price of the whole iSight and the quality of the rest of the iSight, I would guess it's pretty good. |
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Bandit Bill
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Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 5793
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:48 am Post subject: |
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I'm wondering if it might be up to podcast quality.
I'd imagine most people doing podcasts are using external mics. Some podcasters hold their mics too close. You can hear them breath and even moisten their lips while doing their podcast. It sounds terrible.
I like the idea of a quality mic that isn't right under your nose. Hopefully the iSight mic is better than average speaker phones. |
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curt
Veteran Member
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 1411
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | "I'm wondering if it might be up to podcast quality." |
I think a regular mic would do a better job than the iSight for podcasting. I personally don't own an iSight , but I've used one and found the audio to be average at best. They can sound distant and do a poor job if you move around. The iSight is good enough for day-to-day use, VoIP, and iChat.
_________________
1.42GHz Mac mini
1.66GHz Intel Mac mini
2.0GHz 2009 Mac mini
46" Sony LCD
50" Sony KDS-50A2000
EyeTV 250 Plus
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Susurrus
Veteran Member
Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 1303
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| If it's good enough for and VoIP then wouldn't it be good enough for a podcast? |
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PRM
New Member
Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the information. I might even get myself a Mac mini after I get her setup. |
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curt
Veteran Member
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 1411
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Susurrus wrote: | | If it's good enough for and VoIP then wouldn't it be good enough for a podcast? |
It's probably better than 75% of the microphones other Podcasters use. I guess you could get by with it. I would rather have a mic right in front of me on the desk. Are you thinking about creating a Podcast?
_________________
1.42GHz Mac mini
1.66GHz Intel Mac mini
2.0GHz 2009 Mac mini
46" Sony LCD
50" Sony KDS-50A2000
EyeTV 250 Plus
My Setup |
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