Mac Mini - Help

ronanc1000

Hi All,

I want to buy a desktop computer. I want the Mac experience but not the bulked price tag they come with. Funny enough I was in Harvey Norman today and beside two iMac I saw a Mac Mini set up with a lovely crisp 23" HP ips monitor. That made me go for that option over the iMac. Now my question was, is there much internal difference between the iMac and Mac Mini? And the model I was looking at was the 8gb of RAM version around €800. My tasks would involve Audio editing and Word docs as well as web stuff. Would it handle that all swiftly enough? And is there a saving anywhere else in terms of buying the mini?

PaddyFagan

The internal differences are small, the key with all current generation macs is that they're not upgradeable, so you need to buy the spec you need, because that's it!

The spec you mentioned seems fine for your needs, unless you the sudden urge to go editing HD video files! One thing to note is that, it has a 1TB and a fusion drive or SSD would make a big different to the performance, that said the upgrade prices look eye watering.

Discounts on Macs are rare, but the apple refurb store has some from time to time - even there you're looking at 15-20% off, but it might make the difference in getting a fusion drive in budget. But you'll need to keep an eye out for up to a few weeks as their stock goes fast - http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

Paddy

ronanc1000

PaddyFagan wrote: »

The internal differences are small, the key with all current generation macs is that they're not upgradeable, so you need to buy the spec you need, because that's it!

The spec you mentioned seems fine for your needs, unless you the sudden urge to go editing HD video files! One thing to note is that, it has a 1TB and a fusion drive or SSD would make a big different to the performance, that said the upgrade prices look eye watering.

Discounts on Macs are rare, but the apple refurb store has some from time to time - even there you're looking at 15-20% off, but it might make the difference in getting a fusion drive in budget. But you'll need to keep an eye out for up to a few weeks as their stock goes fast - http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

Paddy

Really appreciate the feedback Paddy, just another question the one in the attached photo was the one I was looking at however I have seen this one here http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00ORHL02E/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1456355390&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=Mac+mini&dpPl=1&dpID=21Xi7FGpQuL&ref=plSrch on Amazon from themselves with the same spec but much cheaper, now its says "older model" is that older in terms on hardware compared to the one on the photo on apples site or in terms of OS?? Thanks.

whiterebel

It doesn't look like an older model, unless the OS is Yosemite. By the time you convert the sterling you would save nearly €100.

Just checked, it is Yosemite, so you just do the free upgrade.

ronanc1000

whiterebel wrote: »

It doesn't look like an older model, unless the OS is Yosemite. By the time you convert the sterling you would save nearly €100.

Just checked, it is Yosemite, so you just do the free upgrade.

So is the only difference here the OS then? Because I can't understand why people would pay 819 if you can get it for 680 on Amazon if the only difference is the OS? And that you get a free upgrade.

PaddyFagan

ronanc1000 wrote: »

So is the only difference here the OS then? Because I can't understand why people would pay 819 if you can get it for 680 on Amazon if the only difference is the OS? And that you get a free upgrade.

Looks like that's the only difference - I'm not completely down on the models - but MGEN2B/A (from amazon title), is late-2014 according to this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini - so the current gen hardware, so I'm guessing it must be because of the older installed OS that it's flagged as 'older model' - sounds like a good deal to me

Paddy

whiterebel

ronanc1000 wrote: »

So is the only difference here the OS then? Because I can't understand why people would pay 819 if you can get it for 680 on Amazon if the only difference is the OS? And that you get a free upgrade.

People probably backing off thinking sterling v Euro is still as bad as it was.
My initial reaction at the sterling price would be that it would be nearly €800 anyway, but its €725 using Amazon's own r/e.

ronanc1000

whiterebel wrote: »

People probably backing off thinking sterling v Euro is still as bad as it was.
My initial reaction at the sterling price would be that it would be nearly €800 anyway, but its €725 using Amazon's own r/e.

Presumably paying in sterling with knock things down to €685. So this is the place to buy from then? Would I need to buy Apple warranty or anything?

PaddyFagan

ronanc1000 wrote: »

Presumably paying in sterling with knock things down to €685. So this is the place to buy from then? Would I need to buy Apple warranty or anything?

It's a new item - so I presume you would get the 'standard' warranty from apple based on a UK sale - in fact given it's a distance purchase from Ireland, you should be covered by irish consumer protection laws - in this case I wouldn't bother with any additional warranty, but it's your call.

Paddy

PS See https://www.apple.com/ie/legal/statutory-warranty/