Reply With QuoteI love this. Everyone bitches about how windows "upgrades" are $100 or 150 etc. every 2-3 years. Apple put out Panther as an update (10.3) for $129 bucks. A year after os X came out right?Originally Posted by Phil_Stein
I'm very tempted to buy the exact same config stusser. I think I'll wait a few days for the RDF to die down.
As far as WoW, I'd say it would be playable but perform rather terribly. I'd bet the Hard Drives are 5400rpm laptop drives.
I love this. Everyone bitches about how windows "upgrades" are $100 or 150 etc. every 2-3 years. Apple put out Panther as an update (10.3) for $129 bucks. A year after os X came out right?
Duality, I think that is the issue many people will have and why it will end up costing more. You are either buying this to play around on the mac and plan on hiding the box. Or you want to show off your coolness.
If you want to show off your coolness, you will need to get a matching keyboard, mouse and monitor. And then you have just bought yourself a low -end mac.
Chet
Panther is OS 10.3. Tiger is 10.4.It mentions that Panther (OS X 10.4) is included, which is important since Apple normally charges $129 for OS upgrades. But since it's my understanding that Panther isn't shipping until at least March, and these mini Macs are supposed to be on sale on Jan. 22, did anybody catch how they're handling this (i.e. free upgrade coupon, perhaps?)
If I got one, I'd drop it on the floor next to my PC. However, the cost of a DVI capable USB-KVM is another $120 or so. The $499 base jumps to $800 before tax with the 80GB, 1.4G4 and 512MB RAM (minimum acceptable). A lot of cash for me to play around with OS X.
Not on the Mac unfortunately; they're just 64MB. Some people blame the drivers for the abysmal 5200 performace with WoW (esp. Go5200)... I'm on the fence about where the blame lies, but I play WoW on my PC, not my Mac, because of the Go5200 in my machine (1280 isn't playable, and that's the native LCD resolution on the external monitor I use). I couldn't talk my wife into trading :/ her 9600-based 15" does very well.
I'll take my external drive (aka my old retired ipod) to the nearby Apple store on the 22nd and give it a try - will post my findings when I can.
There's an adapter to do s-video and composite out (not sure if it's included in the box or an extra you have to buy), so you could plug it into a TV is you wanted to.It only has the DVI/VGA output as far as I can see. If I was going to get this as a media server, it'd be to plug into my TV, which I apparently can't do.
http://www.apple.com/macmini/accessories.html
The website says it comes with a DVI to VGA converter in the box. Part of the package.There's an adapter to do s-video and composite out (not sure if it's included in the box or an extra you have to buy), so you could plug it into a TV is you wanted to.It only has the DVI/VGA output as far as I can see. If I was going to get this as a media server, it'd be to plug into my TV, which I apparently can't do.
http://www.apple.com/macmini/accessories.html
See "In The Box"
Ugh, the more I look at this it's not as much of a deal as I first thought. I'd have to buy a new KVM that supports dual monitors and more than 2 computers. Or I'd have to buy a new mouse and KB because they don't come with the Mini. There is no way I am paying $80 for a Mac KB and that lame mouse they have. Then there wireless card is $103 bucks. Would a standard USB wireless adapter work with this?
Mac keyboard is $49. You can use an MS or Logitech mouse with a Mac.
Doubt it.Would a standard USB wireless adapter work with this?
Just so you know, I am talking Canuckian money. I am still tempted, but once I start adding in everything I want the price is not as attractive. I was looking for a cheap, quick and dirty editing station to run Final Cut and Garage Band and a few other audio apps that are Mac only. Once you toss in the Superdrive, 1GB RAM, wireless and mouse and keyboard it's getting up there with a used G4.
Notable extras (from the base $499 machine), USD, from the Apple store
Hard Drive upgrade from 40 to 80GB = $50
Memory from 256 to 512 = $75
Upgrade from Combo drive to Superdrive (i.e. adds DVD writing) = $100
Wired keyboard & mouse combo = $58
Speakers are not included and are not available at the store, so you'd have to go 3rd party. Also, their cheapest monitor is the 20" flat screen, at $999.
In general, if space/size is not an issue and you need all the extras, then the eMac is a better deal ($799, includes integrated monitor, speakers, keyboard, and slightly better specs, plus an upgraded eMac is expected soon).
If you've got the other parts laying around, or plan on the KVM solution, the mini Mac is potentially a good deal. One problem is that leftover parts hooked up to it reduce the 'cool' factor (i.e. you'd have an aesthetic mismatch).
In my case, it's going to be sitting in a closet, sans keyboard, mouse or monitor.
The size is perfect for hiding it away, and reclaiming some of that shelf space for other things.
Low power consumption (max 85W) and built-in Apache = perfect for a 24/7 webserver.
Gonna grab a cheapie $8 USB to PS/2 keyb/mouse cable, and when I'm done with that I can use it with my laptop.
Yes. Most work just fine (don't usually even require drivers). I have some kensingtons that I use interchangably with macs/PCs. Just google whatever brand you want before buying.
Why wouldn't it? Pretty standard stuff.
The silver-trimed Logitech DiNovo Wireless keyboard would look good with that Mac. It's what I'm typing on right now (with the wireless dongle plugged into the USB port on my powerbook). Expensive for a keyboard, but super elegant, incredibly well-made, and great to type on.
Until they make a decetn wireless ergo I won't be going that way.
Yeah... I've yet to see one of those from anyone. I only just retired my very old MS natural pro.... /sniff. But this thing has such a great feel to it, I finally made the switch.Until they make a decetn wireless ergo I won't be going that way.
I haven't played a ton of WoW on my PB, so I'm perfectly comfortable being wrong. I think we can all agree it'll be slow, at best.
For me it's not a matter of preference it's a matter of pain. A few hours of typing on a normal keyboard and I feel like I have arthritis.Yeah... I've yet to see one of those from anyone. I only just retired my very old MS natural pro.... /sniff. But this thing has such a great feel to it, I finally made the switch.Until they make a decetn wireless ergo I won't be going that way.
I'm tempted to buy one. I currently do all my review/writing/web/other work on one PC, and I just KNOW it's going to die on me at some point after some game or antivirus thing explodes messily. By using a Mac for that stuff and KVMing between the two, I get a system I can save for doing work, without the temptation of/accidentally installing something nasty onto another PC box. Which I know I'd end up doing. By contrast, I know the tools I actually use on a daily basis, and the difference between them on PC and Mac isn't enough for me to be that bothered about (AppleWorks/OpenOffice.org vs. Word or whatever)
I considered getting a Mac for this a while ago - I've got an iBook - but the price was silly. This time around it looks like it might fit my needs pretty well, without further cluttering my pretty full desk.
I just bought the G5 20"" iMac with 512 meg of ram and the 1.8 gig chip and 160 gig hard drive for 2k. Was 60 bucks for the add in wireless. Brought it home and had it up and running on the internet thru my existing wireless network in less then 30 min. From a useability, engineering stand point I am very impressed with it. This machine is for my wife to use while I am travelling and for me to learn Mac and OS X with and I love it so far.
If you have room for a second monitor (c'mon, you can squeeze a 15" LCD on your desk, if you'd just move that stack of magazines), you could use Synergy2, and just roll your mouse pointer from the PC to the Mac whenever you want to switch.
I use it between WinXP and Linux, works like a champ. Even when I'm playing WoW -- which is WAY handy for looking stuff up on thottbot, etc.
How does Synergy work wihout hardware? You must need a splitter or something?If you have room for a second monitor (c'mon, you can squeeze a 15" LCD on your desk, if you'd just move that stack of magazines), you could use Synergy2, and just roll your mouse pointer from the PC to the Mac whenever you want to switch.
I use it between WinXP and Linux, works like a champ. Even when I'm playing WoW -- which is WAY handy for looking stuff up on thottbot, etc.
Oh my god. I love you. I've been thinking it'd be great if I could create exactly such an app, as I currently have two systems, two keyboards, two mice, two displays... and I've often longed to be able to do exactly that: mouse from one over to the other. Amazing... I can't wait to try it.
The same way as any remote desktop application does, be it RealVNC or Windows XP's Remote Desktop, except that it only handles the mouse and keyboard, leaving the seperate computers to handle their own graphics.
The advantage to this approach is that redrawing the desktop of the remote computer is what takes up most of the bandwidth, making this a very lightweight application.
Probably the neatest feature is the ability to copy a link on one computer and be able to open it on the other through the shared clipboard feature.
Last time I used Synergy between a Windows and Linux box, the clipboard feature turned nonfunctional after 5 minutes of use. That was probably a bad old version though, as they weren't really updating for a while.
The keyboard/mouse thing was really cool and worked great though.
Synergy2 is the best software ever written. Love it so much.
So, it's a remote client? How can you play games or do any screen update intensive apps?
it's more like a kb/mouse/clipboard server on the primary machine with a kb/mouse/clip client on the secondary, i'd guess. you wouldn't notice many problems if you had the gaming (windows) box as master and the app server as slave. keyboard and mouse are plugged directly into the gaming machine.
each monitor is plugged directly into its own machine. the only real connection between the 2 should be ethernet.
p.s. i totally didnt read the page this is just the best way i can think to do it.
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