When the topic of Apple’s computers comes up, quite a lot of attention is given to the the company’s MacBook or iMac machines. While the iMac and MacBooks are fine computers, not everybody needs a laptop or an all-in-one desktop. Enter the Mac mini. The Mac mini has been around for a long time, but for some reason it is still overshadowed by its better known siblings. That’s a shame because it can be a great alternative to MacBooks and iMacs for the right user.
[ Beware the and see why these. . ] The different Mac mini options Apple currently offers three different pricing options for the Mac mini:,.
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Here’s a brief breakdown of the tech specs for each Mac mini: $499 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz) with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache. 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive. Configurable to 1TB Fusion Drive.
4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory. Configurable to 8GB or 16GB. Intel HD Graphics 5000. $699 2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache. Configurable to 3.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz) with 4MB on-chip shared L3 cache.
1TB (5400-rpm) hard drive. Configurable to 1TB Fusion Drive or 256GB of flash storage (SSD).
8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory. Configurable to 16GB. Intel Iris Graphics. $999 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache. Configurable to 3.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz) with 4MB on-chip shared L3 cache.
1TB Fusion Drive. Configurable to 2TB Fusion Drive or 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of flash storage (SSD).
8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory. Configurable to 16GB. Intel Iris Graphics. Note that when you go to buy your Mac mini, you can opt to pay more for a faster processor, more RAM, or a larger hard disk or flash storage. So you do have some configuration options that will let you tweak the specs of your Mac mini. The Mac mini versus the iMac Many people who are in the market for a desktop Mac aren’t sure whether or not they should get an iMac.
Fortunately Macworld UK has a very helpful comparison of the Mac mini and iMac that can you help you decide between the two: In terms of specs, the iMac is a better deal than the Mac mini because it features more modern processors, more RAM, and better graphics. It also features an integrated monitor and comes with both a wireless keyboard and mouse. However, if you want an HDMI port, the Mac mini offers one. We’d recommend the entry-level £399 Mac mini over the iMac if you’re looking for a budget no-thrills Mac, but beyond that it gets a bit murky. If you are only considering the entry-level Mac mini, the price of the iMac is significantly higher. You could equip the cheaper Mac with a monitor, mouse and keyboard, and still have cash left over. There is no doubt that the Mac mini is the cheapest way to buy a Mac, however, it’s one of the lowest spec Mac ranges available.
Mac mini reviews There have been quite a few reviews of the Mac mini posted by prominent tech sites. So I’ve included links below so that you can see what reviewers have said about the Mac mini. And here are a couple of video reviews of the Mac mini. What people are saying about the Mac mini The Mac mini recently came up in a Reddit thread when a potential buyer wanted to know if it was worth buying.
I’ll leave you with a selection of comments from that thread that will give you an idea of how the Mac mini is regarded by Apple customers: Mikeian: “My late 2007 iMac died a few months back and I haven’t replaced it yet. I have an iPad and get most of what I need done on that, but I do miss having a desktop for my music, movies, pictures, etc. I was thinking about getting a Mac mini because I can’t justify spending the money on a new iMac that I will only use a couple times a week.
Can anyone with a Mac mini let me know if they are worth it? Thanks!” Lorenzojc: “I have a 2012 Mini, it’s definitely worth it. Quad core i7, dual hard drives (great for 1 SSD + 1 HDD), user-upgradable memory (16 GB).
I ask the reader to ask questions before making these decisions. Sorry, but, I think you're loosing your creditability here. I wish i have known these issues before, I wasted my money on Quicken for the MAC and Parallels Desktop 8. However, I can't use it without purchasing a full copy of WINDOW 7 or 8 software. These are information which reviewers like you mislead the buyers into a false purchase and get struck with an unworkable solution. Quicken essentials for mac high sierra.
Can run all applications without a glitch, including heavier stuff like Premiere and DaVinci Resolve. For basic use you can get the dual i5 model for around 400–500$ already loaded with an SSD, throw in another 4 GB of mem and it will last you a long time.
Avoid the 2014 model though, that’s overpriced crap (5400 rpm drive, soldered memory, pretty much impossible to get your hands in, etc)” Olekzap: “I have a 2014 2.8 Ghz. I swapped the 1 TB HD for a 500 GB SSD and left the 128 GB PCIe portion in there as well. Doing that made it plenty fast for any of my needs. Those mostly consist of storing TV shows on it to stream to the Apple TV, using remote desktop to work from home, and general browsing.