Mac Mini: do I need a screen?

[arkayn]

You can always hook it up to a TV that has S-Video in.

[pipermalibu]

I am a HUGE mac lover so don't start flaming this please. I buy as much Apple merchandise as possible to support them. But I have a MUCH better solution for a file server. I am using (don't work for them) 2 Rebyte servers in two different locations that sync to each other for data protection. They are raid boxes. I use a Via motherboard that requires no fans so it runs very quiet. You get data protection from the raid and it works great for file serving, media serving, video, etc. You can put one together for about 400-500 dollars depending on storage needs. I put 2 together with 1 terrabyte each for about 2100 total. They run on Linux, but you do not need to know anything about linux to make them run. They are plug and play. www.rebyte.com - if anyone wants more info, I can answer questions. I am pretty jazzed about them and they work as advertised.

[pipermalibu]

PS. They require no monitor, mouse or keyboard after setup (which takes about 10 minutes). They have a web interface that you can perform any task from.

[diablojota]

Originally Posted by pipermalibu

I am a HUGE mac lover so don't start flaming this please. I buy as much Apple merchandise as possible to support them. But I have a MUCH better solution for a file server. I am using (don't work for them) 2 Rebyte servers in two different locations that sync to each other for data protection. They are raid boxes. I use a Via motherboard that requires no fans so it runs very quiet. You get data protection from the raid and it works great for file serving, media serving, video, etc. You can put one together for about 400-500 dollars depending on storage needs. I put 2 together with 1 terrabyte each for about 2100 total. They run on Linux, but you do not need to know anything about linux to make them run. They are plug and play. www.rebyte.com - if anyone wants more info, I can answer questions. I am pretty jazzed about them and they work as advertised.

Seems like an unnecessary thing for doing personal backups. I can understand for a small biz, but for at home backups for multiple computers that is overkill.

[pipermalibu]

I am a semi-pro photographer. All of my RAW files are 8-12MB each. Each weekend I shoot 2-3 hundred shots, keep about 100 or so. Processed images are 20-60MB each. 10,000 + mp3 files, 3 powerbooks with 60GB drives, all 2/3 full. And its just me and my wife. So far we occupy over 350GB of data, and we have not even started storing video yet. Hard disk space is like a garage, the more have the more you need. I know its overkill for just a one or two internet surfing, word processing house - BUT - you get redundancy with a raid (easy and near automatic disaster recovery) and since nearly everything is going digital in our lives, you can use it for so many things. I have a Audiotron in the stereo cabinet pulling mp3's off it, an Airport Express pulling mp3's in the bedroom, and all those pictures we take eat tons of space. (Don't you hate to throw way even marginal pictures of someone you really love?) - All of it for less money than most PC's and superior flexibility and performance and peace of mind.

[scruffy]

Interesting - so they're basically a flash disk that installs like an IDE drive? I tried to watch the movie that shows you how it works, but it won't load...

[pipermalibu]

Yep, just a flash disk that installs in the IDE socket on the motherboard. Preloaded and configured for the purpose of making a NAS Raid. Works really good....and you can't beat the price!

[Decado]

just start use the mini with your powerbook screen (sort of). connect them with firewire and then hold alt when you start the powerbook and choose the minis hard-sdrive as start disk.