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thiagofll · Aug 6, 2006, 01:02 PM

Hey guys, I was wondering if someone could help me out in making a decision. I have just sold my 20" iMac bc of the WWDC06 (You never know what Steve Jobs will come up with). If nothing is updated or changed, I am really interested on getting a 23" Cinema Display and a $799 Mac Mini.

What should I do?

1. Buy another 20" iMac?
2. Buy a 23" Cinema Display and $799.00 Mac Mini?

I like the looks of the Cinema Display much more than the iMac's.

Question:
Is the Mac Mini 1.66 much slower than the iMac 2.00 ?
Will I regret getting a much smaller Hard Drive (even though I have a 200GB External Firewire Hard Drive), less video RAM (I don't play games on my computer) etc..??

What are the disadvantages of getting the Mini vs the iMac?

I am doing all this for the screen. I think that the Cinema Displays look Gorgeous...What should I do?

Any help will be highly appreciated.

macboy · Aug 6, 2006, 01:44 PM

You'll end have up having a little more cable clutter than you would with the iMac. I dont think there'll be any difference in the iMac's form factor at WWDC, maybe a speed bump but that's all.

The Mini will also most probably get either a processor upgrade to Core2Duo or a price slash..

Baring this in mind - you can either go for the "looker+cable clutter'r" with the ACD and the mini or the "performer+to an extent looks" with the new iMac with the speed bump.. You can pick whats more important for you =)

iREZ · Aug 6, 2006, 11:37 PM

mac mini vs imac

5400rpm HD vs 7200rpm HD
160gb HD vs 500gb HD
no isight vs has isight
1.66 dual core vs 2.0 dual core
slower optical drive vs faster optical drive
can only drive one monitor vs can drive two monitors

all else seems to be the same...

mduell · Aug 7, 2006, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by iREZ

mac mini vs imac

5400rpm HD vs 7200rpm HD
160gb HD vs 500gb HD

Also 2.5" vs 3.5"

iREZ · Aug 7, 2006, 02:19 AM

heres a query...is a 2.5" running at 7200rpm slower than a 3.5" running at the same speed? i would think yes but have no rationale as to why.

thiagofll · Aug 7, 2006, 02:33 AM

Hey guys, thank you for all the replies, but do you guys think I would regret it in terms of Hard Drive Size and RPM (80GB 5400RPM vs 250GB 7200RPM). Speed etc?

The video RAM, will I notice any difference when opening Dashboard and other applications?

What would you guys do in my situation? Buy another iMac or the the 23" Screen and a $799 Mini?

WOPR · Aug 7, 2006, 06:45 AM

iMac all the way for me. Faster drive and better gfx card are important. Plus although the Cinema Displays looks stunning they are overpriced and under-specified for what they are. Mind you they are long overdue for an update...

I WAS the One · Aug 7, 2006, 06:57 AM

get an iMac...

Hi I'm Ben · Aug 7, 2006, 07:07 AM

The Video card will be hurting if you do that. That's quite a large display to power with the GMA9XX anything. I plug my MacBook into my 24inch dell often but it has noticiable slow down for things like front row etc. A MacMini would be a terrible idea.

I'm personally holding out for new powermacs.

mduell · Aug 7, 2006, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by iREZ

heres a query...is a 2.5" running at 7200rpm slower than a 3.5" running at the same speed? i would think yes but have no rationale as to why.

Yes.... fewer platters and smaller platters.

thiagofll · Aug 7, 2006, 11:58 PM

I decided to get the Mac Mini w/23" Display . The 23" Display price went down to $999 today after WWDC.
Anyways, I had an iMac Core Duo w/ 256 Video and I have not noticed any difference using the Mini. It is just as fast. I have also purchased 1GB DDR2 Ram and the wireless mighty mouse today online and it should be arriving soon.
I am amazed! The Cinema display is so bright that it hurts my eyes, I had to turn the brightness down. I couldn't have made a better choice. As for the wires, I got to hide them behind the desk.

The image quality of the Cinema Display is a lot crispier and colorful than the iMac Core Duo (even though the specs state otherwise).
I saw the Macbook at the store today and decided to buy it also. I saw the new black Macbook but it is not glossy like the white, so I got the white instead.

Anyways, thank you for all the help!

Here are the pics:

jtaylr77 · Aug 8, 2006, 12:41 AM

Can I ask where you got that desk?

I think you made the right choice! I have the G4 mini w/20" and it still rocks.

thiagofll · Aug 8, 2006, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by jtaylr77

Can I ask where you got that desk?

I think you made the right choice! I have the G4 mini w/20" and it still rocks.

I got it at Target for $199.00

iREZ · Aug 8, 2006, 02:38 AM

targets been coming out with that black wood furniture that i personally think is the bees knees...nice setup and nice setup. enjoi.

zerock · Aug 8, 2006, 02:28 PM

hmm i'm thinking of getting this setup and selling my imac g5. ( already have the macbook) hmm or just getting a cinema display for my laptop.

Dark_Lotus · Aug 8, 2006, 04:09 PM

Im so jealous of you rich people. "Oh and I saw a Macbook and decided to go ahead and pick that up as well" You lucky bastard.

grinder · Aug 8, 2006, 04:40 PM

My brother's 2000€ MacBook setup arrived to day. I couldn't be less jealous

We've been playing network games all day.

Dillon-K · Aug 8, 2006, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dark_Lotus

Im so jealous of you rich people. "Oh and I saw a Macbook and decided to go ahead and pick that up as well" You lucky bastard.

TOTALLY SECONDED!! I'm having to work my ass off (typing this on the work computer) to get a blackbook lol!

zerock · Aug 8, 2006, 10:38 PM

i work my "ass" off to get the things i get.......

Javizun · Aug 8, 2006, 11:13 PM

"Oh and I saw a Macbook and decided to go ahead and pick that up as well"

wow i wish i can say that about any apple product period.
by the way love the simplicity in your setup

thiagofll · Aug 9, 2006, 12:16 AM

Thank you for all the compliments on the set up. It was hard to get rid of the wires, specially the Cinema Display bundle wires.

Tuishimi · Aug 9, 2006, 01:19 AM

That's a nice looking desk. Puts my white and orange one from IKEA to shame.

I bought my wife the macbook this week. It's a sweet little machine. I had the 160gb disk and 2 gb ram stuffed in. I also bought that clear OWC 2.5" enclosure and stuffed my old 5400 rpm 80gb drive from my mini into it. Now I can store all my work junk and some other stuff on it.

MiniMoe · Aug 9, 2006, 04:07 AM

> The Cinema display is so bright that it hurts my eyes, I had to turn the brightness down.

Do the calibration in System Preferences -> Displays -> Color

SierraDragon · Aug 9, 2006, 12:39 PM

We just moved into a 64-bit world. All max 2 GB RAM boxes (i.e. both iMacs and Minis) are very future-limited as regards pro applications. Even the existing old non-UB version of Photoshop already prefers 6-8 GB RAM on board. So in that regard the Mini setup is preferable because when you do upgrade the excellent display need not be changed.

IMO iMacs are good choices only for folks who can forecast that their uses will always be low end like email, surfing, Office and listening to music.

-Allen Wicks

mduell · Aug 9, 2006, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by SierraDragon

We just moved into a 64-bit world. All max 2 GB RAM boxes (i.e. both iMacs and Minis) are very future-limited as regards pro applications. Even the existing old non-UB version of Photoshop already prefers 6-8 GB RAM on board.

Although the official limit is 2GB, the Intel chipset docs say it should support 4GB.
As soon as 2GB SO-DIMMs become affordable (currently $1500+), hopefully someone will try it.

thiagofll · 08:24 PM

Got my 1GB Memory RAM today. It was a hassle to upgrade the RAM. I didn't know that I had to take the whole computer apart so that freaked me out a little bit. My HK Soundsticks arrived as well and they sound awesome.

The MacMini is flying now, no lags, just as fast as the iMac...

As for the Wireless Mighty Mouse, it is backordered everywhere even at the local Apple stores. When I purchased it, Amazon stated usually ships within 3-5 days. Well I checked my order today and it is showing that the items has not yet been released (go figure).

Updated picture with hk soundsticks: