Mac Mini vs iMac

macally

macally

macally

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I'm thinking about buying a new Mac for Christmas and looking for some advice pleeeease :)

I used to like the 24 inch iMacs but not sure about the new ones because I think a 21.5" screen might be too small and 27" would definately be too big. That said, the two options I've got in my price range are:

1. 21.5" iMac with 2.5GHz Quad i5, 4GB Ram, 500GB Hard Drive @ £879.60 (with HE discount).

or

2. 2.3GHz Dual i5 Mac Mini, 8GB Ram (3rd Party Upgrade), 500GB Hard Drive and a 24" Apple Cinema Display @ £976 (with HE Discount on the Mini and used display).

Which do you guys think would be a better buy?

It will primarily be used for web development, light photoshop, audio production.
 
spec wise the quad will be better than the dual.

It imho looks better on the desk with the bt keyboard and mouse, that your not counted for in the mac mini build. Also you could run the 24" Apple Cinema Display from the imac and have a massive display. :D It's all depends on what your used to, I have a 21.5 imac + 22 HP monitor and I use every inch of them.
 
slinxy said:
spec wise the quad will be better than the dual.

It imho looks better on the desk with the bt keyboard and mouse, that your not counted for in the mac mini build. Also you could run the 24" Apple Cinema Display from the imac and have a massive display. :D It's all depends on what your used to, I have a 21.5 imac + 22 HP monitor and I use every inch of them.
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Thanks for your reply.

At work, I use a 15" Macbook Pro but I would be pulling my hair out if I only had a 15" screen to do all my work on.

The slight advantages of the Mini/Cinema Display are that a) I could buy both seperately so spreading the cost so to speak and b) I would have a bigger display than I could afford in the iMac. I would also be able to use the screen with the Macbook Pro if the need arose.

I would also not be able to upgrade the hard drive in the iMac would I? (for risk of getting dust behind the glass, etc).

Another option I guess would be a 13" Macbook Pro and buy a cheaper 24" display but not overly keen on that idea.
 
macally said:
Thanks for your reply.

At work, I use a 15" Macbook Pro but I would be pulling my hair out if I only had a 15" screen to do all my work on.

The slight advantages of the Mini/Cinema Display are that a) I could buy both seperately so spreading the cost so to speak and b) I would have a bigger display than I could afford in the iMac. I would also be able to use the screen with the Macbook Pro if the need arose.

I would also not be able to upgrade the hard drive in the iMac would I? (for risk of getting dust behind the glass, etc).

Another option I guess would be a 13" Macbook Pro and buy a cheaper 24" display but not overly keen on that idea.
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you kind of answered the question yourself. :)
get the mac mini if you think it suits you best.
 
Don't forget to factor in the cost of the keyboard and mouse with the Mac mini.

I'd go with the iMac personally. Cheaper, less fuss and more powerful.
 
Once you use the 27" you'll probably not want to drop down to a smaller display :) I use one at work the 27" makes a world of difference to having multiple pages/programs open :)

Not sure on the price, but won't it be somewhere near the price of a mac mini + ACD?

Not much help I know, but just an opinion.
 
Tunney said:
Don't forget to factor in the cost of the keyboard and mouse with the Mac mini.

I'd go with the iMac personally. Cheaper, less fuss and more powerful.
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I've already got a keyboard and mouse I can use with the mini so no need to factor that in :)

VaderDSL said:
Once you use the 27" you'll probably not want to drop down to a smaller display :) I use one at work the 27" makes a world of difference to having multiple pages/programs open :)

Not sure on the price, but won't it be somewhere near the price of a mac mini + ACD?

Not much help I know, but just an opinion.
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Thanks. The price of the cheapest 27" iMac with HE discount is £1231.20, so about £250 more expensive than the Mini/ACD combo.

I still think the 27" is far too big though.
 
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