HELP - buying a new mac -- decisions!

solrac

solrac

Mac Ninja
Ok check it out, I had a laptop that got stolen. My insurance company is paying me the value of an equivalent which is about $3000 w/ tax.

My previous laptop was abysmally slow at times (especially photoshop CS2 and Flash 8) -- although when I first got it it was the best laptop I ever used.

Now I need a new mac. My requirements:
  • I must be able to carry it around easily between home and office
  • It must be FAST, and able to open all pro apps
  • It must be fast and snappy in general use
  • I don't play games
  • I DON'T need to take my computer anywhere -- just home and office

This leaves me two options:
  1. Blow the entire $3000 on the new MacBook Pro 17 inch - my dream laptop
  2. Get the Mac Mini Intel core duo with 2 GB RAM for about $1000. I get to pocket $2000. Save up for the laptop later, down the road.

These are the only two macs that qualify -- that would be easy to take between home and office. (I have a keyboard and screen at both locations, so the mini would be fine.)

I really want to get the mini, so I can pocket all that cash. And with the Intel Core Duo, it is SUPER FAST! And it seems like it can open all pro apps. And even in Rosetta (minus some initial delays) it is pretty snappy. And I don't need a laptop for portability. I only work from home and office, so another point for the mini. (Cuz it saves money since it lacks something I don't need anyway.)

But I'm worried about the integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics chip. I don't care that it shares system RAM since I'm upgrading to 2 GB anyway, but:
  • Can I watch full screen HD quicktime video, like movie trailers?
  • Will it perform well enough to see those big videos in quicktime?
  • Will it play 3D games at least half decent? (Which I don't play games hardly ever).
  • Will it do all of Core Image's functions?
  • Can I open aperture and do any function?
  • Can I open Motion and do anything?

Can I do functions like boot into single user mode, even though it's a 3rd party keyboard?

I primarily use:
- Photoshop CS2, Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, BBEdit, Networking, Web browsing, some use of pro apps, RAW photos, music, microsoft office

If the mac mini is a workhorse with the intel core duo, 2 GB of ram, and the graphics chip is good enough to drive all these, I will definitely stick w/ mac mini.

Thanks for your help forum peoples!
 
Keep in mind as you decide what to buy that, with the new Intel Macs, you'll be waiting awhile for Photoshop (expected to be Intel-ready some time in 2007), Quark (some months off, not sure), etc. Apple has begun releasing Intel versions for its pro apps. I don't know how long.

Now, the Mac mini. I think its specs are too low for some of the pro apps. I wonder when the 12" Macbook will come out. That might be perfect for you. It should be small, light and fast.

Doug
 
And, you're going to get tired of plugging/unplugging monitor, mouse and keyboard at least twice a day.

I'd go with the MacBook Pro,
 
thirded, but save some money buy going for the 15". also, save even more money by buying as little ram as you can from apple.
 
if the 17" mac book is your dream laptop, get it. it will out perform a mini everyday. as far as a 15 is cheaper than a 17, it depends. i have 'built my own' on the web site, and have gotten the 17 to come out cheaper than the 15. but as far as doing any pro level graphics, the mini is not the right computer to get.
 
dktrickey said:
Keep in mind as you decide what to buy that, with the new Intel Macs, you'll be waiting awhile for Photoshop (expected to be Intel-ready some time in 2007), Quark (some months off, not sure), etc. Apple has begun releasing Intel versions for its pro apps. I don't know how long.

Now, the Mac mini. I think its specs are too low for some of the pro apps. I wonder when the 12" Macbook will come out. That might be perfect for you. It should be small, light and fast.

Doug
Click to expand...

What specs are too low for pro apps, on the mac mini? With 2 GB RAM, and an Intel Core Duo -- the specs are PERFECT -- with the expection of a super grahpics card -- but the intel GMA 950, if good enough, is good enough... is it not? And why?
 
bobw said:
And, you're going to get tired of plugging/unplugging monitor, mouse and keyboard at least twice a day.

I'd go with the MacBook Pro,
Click to expand...

Not true -- with a laptop I had to plug it into my peripherals and secondary display every day anyway... and carrying around only a mac mini is lighter and simpler than a whole laptop.
 
Lt Major Burns said:
thirded, but save some money buy going for the 15". also, save even more money by buying as little ram as you can from apple.
Click to expand...

Actually... it seems like 2 GB on the mini from apple is $300. The same RAM from Crucial memory is $391. The FIRST TIME EVER apple is cheaper for RAM!! Usually apple has been TRIPLE price. Crazy!
 
sinclair_tm said:
if the 17" mac book is your dream laptop, get it. it will out perform a mini everyday. as far as a 15 is cheaper than a 17, it depends. i have 'built my own' on the web site, and have gotten the 17 to come out cheaper than the 15. but as far as doing any pro level graphics, the mini is not the right computer to get.
Click to expand...

I would need to know why the 15 is not the right computer to get for pro level graphics... specific reasons. Because by specs alone it seems like it's fine.
 
The 17" MBP comes with a 2.16Ghz Core duo standard, but you can upgrade the 15". They have the same RAM, and the same video card (in the high end 15"). Both these would be greatly superior to the mini, which maxes out at a 1.66 Ghz Core Duo.

Tho, in my experience, your perception of speed is based solely on the last machine you used. I've never used a Quad G5, therefore my my iMac Core Duo is blazing. If you did all your work on a Powerbook G4, then yes, the Mini will be a boost, in both processor and video.

I like the idea of holding onto some money to see what Apple does in the near future, especially since MacBook Pro owners are reporting several manufacturing issues currently.
 
I've been thnking about it... and basically... I just need to know if the mac mini's integrated graphics card is pure crap, or if it is going to run Apple's pro apps decently.

If it runs pro apps significantly better than a PB G4, then it is a boost for me regardless of how much better a macbook pro is. And 1.66 to 2.16 ghz is not a big jump, when compared to a 1 ghz G4 to a 1.66 intel duo (which is a quantum leap). Going up to 2.16 is just incremental.

So it's all going to rest on that integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics chipset...

And yes, a laptop allows you to go to internet cafes or do computing ANYWHERE... so I would be willing to give that up to save $2000 for the time being.

-Carlos-
 
Apparently the mini (and Macbook) graphics chipset is _not_ supported by Apple for use with the Final Cut Studio. Motion, for one, really uses the 3d card. It would likely suffer on a mini or regular Macbook.

Incidentally, I am happy that Apple decided to use a fast microprocessor for the Macbooks. I think that was a good call.

Doug
 
Well, considering that the Core Duos are pretty cheap, it's kind of pointless to have them use the Core Solo. What might be nice is to see a low end eMac-like machine using the Core Solo in order to break into the budget market, but that's just me. :)
 
D'OH!!!!!!

Turns out your right -- the mac mini and macbook both have that integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics chipset which is **NOT** supported by Apple Pro software. I could have SWORN that it was though.

So there was no more option. My only choice was the MacBook Pro 15". At least that still lets me save $1000 over the 17". (Although in the near future I will be selling this and upgrading to the 17")
 
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