Time for new mac?

[GomiGirl]

I have a shiny new MacBook for work. I totally love it to death but it shows me just how bad my home computer is.

Model Name: Mac mini
Model Identifier: Macmini1,1
Processor Name: Intel Core Duo
Processor Speed: 1.83 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 2 MB
Memory: 1 GB

(main problem is the disk drive has stopped writing disks - DVD-R or CD-R. Just spits out the disk without mounting or reading. Works OK with pre-burnt or commercial disks but just won't mount a blank one)

2 x external hard drives ( 1 x 300 GB, 1 x 1 TB) with all our music, photos, back-ups etc

Very old CRT monitor that is about to die.. flickers and bounces and generally has other seizure inducing issues, especially when drunk.

Keyboard that has had unknown substances spilled and so a number of sticky keys. (don't ask)

Mighty mouse

Airport for broadcasting closed wifi for MacBook and other wireless devices.

=======

So as the keyboard, monitor and mouse are dodgey as well as the non-performing disk writer on Mac Mini, I am thinking of replacing it all with an iMac. But how sensible is this plan?

Should I:
1) Get a new flat screen monitor (cheap from second hand Sofmap or new Amazon)
2) Get a new keyboard (\2,000 from Sofmap)
3) fix mac mini (how I do not know at this point)

or.....

4) Replace the entire lot with a new 17" iMac????

HELP.....

[higdif]

I don't know if you tried this but when I had the same problem resetting the PRAM fixed it for me. It's at least worth a shot.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

[Zeth3D]

Well I guess your wanting to stick with Apple, so it sounds to me like you just need an all around new mac, attempting to replace/fix/upgrade bits and pieces will be just as/more expensive than a new one when it comes to Apple. Plus, i mean, its new and shiny.

<.<
(Of course you could always get urself a pc for half the price with double the specs and then get urself 4 nice 24in monitors... that makes you feel like an evil genius, just saying)
>.>

[Bucky]

(Of course you could always get urself a pc . . .)
>.>

PC users just don't understand.

[Zeth3D]

How do you know Im a PC user?

...oh wait, it was the 4 monitors thing wasnt it....

[Bucky]

How do you know Im a PC user?

...oh wait, it was the 4 monitors thing wasnt it....

Nope, it was the "evil genius" part, give you right away.

[Kuang_Grade]

It sounds like you have this model MA608LL/A
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP29

I had the exact same problem with my mini (although I can't remember if I had your model or the one before) about two years ago....the superdrive worked fine at the start and then over time it would only burn one or two disks and then get fussy about recognizing a blank disk and ultimately it just stopped recognizing any burnable blank disk, although it had no problem reading disks.

While a bit more work than you probably want to do, the drive can be replaced fairly easily, since it is the very top most item once you get the mini open, (which isn't the easiest thing to do and you constantly feel like you are going to break the whole thing as you try to separate the top from the bottom.)

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/superdrive/
This is a US based vendor but they do have some videos on the right hand side showing how to do a DIY superdrive replacement on a mini.

I replaced my problematic mini with another mini, which I then replaced with a 20 inch imac last Aug. In retrospect, I'm not sure that was my smartest purchase....The imac is nice (you can jam alot more ram into and the chip set is likely light speed faster than what you have now) but the screen is really just OK. It is good but there are sharper, clearer monitors out there. I had a 17 sony LCD screen with my mini and it was brighter and sharper than what I got with the 20 inch imac. The imac also puts out a ton of heat and if you start really using the graphic cards, the top of the unit gets almost too hot to touch. This plus a friend's imac failed completely after 14 months of light, household use made me wonder about the overall probable longevity of imacs in general. But that said, my imac has worked fine (knock on wood) so far, but I'm definitely buying applecare before the one year warranty is up. And it is quite speedy and the hard drive is quite large as well.

But if I was to make the choice today, I probably wouldn't buy an imac but get new mini instead. The current minis are fast enough, come with big enough drives (they were seemingly capped at 120 GB for the longest time) and enough RAM and have a graphics card that is pretty dinky but its alot better than the previous models which couldn't handle much of anything. I also don't like the keyboards that come with the imacs...on the most current ones, they don't have an arrow block or number pad, just a standard laptop type keyboard...If you look at some closeout models, you might find some keyboards with a number pad...I believe they phased out the number pad on the most current models but I could be wrong. Take the savings from not buying an imac but a mini, and buy a kick ass flat monitor....your 'not as young as they used to be' eyes will likely thank you for it. The mini will also take up less space as well.

As for keyboards, maybe you dig the new slim aluminum style...I don't....I really dig this older style bluetooth model with full size keys

http://www.megamacs.com/item/Apple-(109-Key)-Wireless-Bluetooth-Pro-Keyboard-(white)/view,2872757

[Number11]

I don't think you'll be disappointed with a new iMac.

One thing that smug PC folks can't do is switch languages, no matter how many monitors they have, which is kind of useful if you're an ex-pat...

[klimmer]

One thing that smug PC folks can't do is switch languages, no matter how many monitors they have, which is kind of useful if you're an ex-pat...

Just because smug Mac-zombies can't figure out how to switch languages, figure where the "on" button is, and is generally technically handicapped, doesn't mean PC's cannot change languages.

[American Oyaji]

Just because smug Mac-zombies can't figure out how to switch languages, figure where the "on" button is, and is generally technically handicapped, doesn't mean PC's cannot change languages.

You have no idea how screwed up the Windows language functions are compared to Mac. Use both, Windows as a primary since I work in the IT field.

Im still in business because uneducated people by PCs.

[Greji]

Just because smug Mac-zombies can't figure out how to switch languages, figure where the "on" button is, and is generally technically handicapped, doesn't mean PC's cannot change languages.

They told all the residents to open all their windows before they vacated their homes before Katrina. One Windoze user drowned while still trying to clear the freeze on his computer.....

[klimmer]

They told all the residents to open all their windows before they vacated their homes before Katrina. One Windoze user drowned while still trying to clear the freeze on his computer.....

I guess we're still working on that patch for stupidity.

[Zeth3D]

I don't think you'll be disappointed with a new iMac.

One thing that smug PC folks can't do is switch languages, no matter how many monitors they have, which is kind of useful if you're an ex-pat...

I quite agree with Klimmer. If your meaning language input, than Vista's native language input is the best ive ever seen. For instance, i frequently use my drawing tablet to just draw kanji i dont know, so that way i can input it to jisho.org. Whats more amazing is that it actually figures out what ur trying to draw based on stroke order, and it does cursive styles. Again i want to stress natively. Of course even without the tablet, language input is quick and easy, even easy to get into with just alt+shift.

Now i used to agree with you, Mac had an awesome Japanese language input system, that is untill Vista came out. But Snow Leopard is now out isnt it? So we'll see if improvements include language input.

[GomiGirl]

Hello!!! Remember me???

Didn't want this thread to degenerate into a mac vs windows thang as it always degenerate into pointless pissing matches - like politics and religion - don't argue computer operating systems in polite company.

I made the personal switch to mac about 10 years ago and I have never regretted my deision. I have to use both Windows and mac for my job but I would never get a windows machine again as my primary work or home computer. I do not judge anybody else on their choice of computer or OS (well just not publically).

The Windows vs Ma OS argument will NEVER be won on an internet forum so stick to the topic at hand!!

So, with that said, I am still looking to replies for my original question. Thanks KG for your response. I am thinking of taking the mini down to get a service actually to see if there is any hope for it.

Thinking about it, monitors and keyboards are really not that expensive, but I was just considering the iMac as they all went at once. We don't do that much on the home computer other than mail and internet. But we do have all our music and photos stored on the external hard drives. Do a little bit of text editing but no graphics at all. I leave that at work.

I don't like the sound of the heat output of an iMac. Is that the new ones?

I just thought it might be faster as this Mini seems to grind to a halt after a while. But I know that after driving the macbook at work, anything else is going to feel sluggish.

[Coligny]

Hello!!! Remember me???

Didn't want this thread to degenerate into a mac vs windows thang as it always degenerate into pointless pissing matches - like politics and religion - don't argue computer operating systems in polite company.

I use a 99 G4 desktop as my daily computer. So by my standards your are a decadent kapitalist to complain about the speed of your Mini. (that thing just don't want to give up)

Few things...

You are awfully short on RAM, I didn't check the spec of your model but 2 or 3Gb of ram can change the world.

For screens, all second hands shop are full of cheap LCD. The superdrive can be changed...

But if you do all these upgrades, might as well buy an IMac...

All depend on the budget...

[Kuang_Grade]

GG
While my imac was brand new, it was older version that was on clearance...mine is the middle version.
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP16
So there has been one major hardware update (early 2008 ) and one relatively minor hardware update (early 2009) since my unit came out, so heat may be less of an issue but I doubt it...there's alot of hardware jammed close together with a big screen next to it all in a tiny space, so heat is always going to be an issue.


After using a mac mini for several years, and thus having zero desktop gaming opportunities, I bought a mac version of command and conquer once I got the imac and that was the item that really drove up the heat factor on the unit. The imac has three fans that click on one by one as the heat builds up inside and when I played the game, it didn't take long for all three to get going. One fan going is effectively silent, two fans going is noticeable if you listen for it it, three fans going, you know it. And while a mini and flat screen monitor also put out heat, given the imac is an all in one unit, and at least in my case, it is close to my face (about 14 inches) I seem to notice the heat more than I did when my mac mini. But for simple work like word processing, internet, ect I'd say the top of the unit gets upwards of 120 F...nothing crazy but noticeable, esp in small room. When playing command and conquer, I'd say the top of the unit got up to about 145-150 F. Its also worth noting that the aluminum skin is designed to radiate heat more than the previous white imacs, whose heat management was more fan driven.

For most of its life, the mac mini was purposefully spec gimped (small HD sizes, limited RAM capacity, no graphics card) to keep a clear distinction between the imac and mini and to encourage slightly more techy folks to go for the imac since the mini was so spec poor (yes, it was designed for windows 'switchers' but it was also designed so current imac users wouldn't downgrade to it as well). But with the latest version of the mini and with the quality/price drops of flat screen LCD monitors, the gap between what moderately techy folks need and what the mini can deliver is pretty small now.

[klimmer]

Gomi,

I think for technology products more than 3 years old, it's not advisable upgrading parts as the other common components approach the end of their life span and there are also a gap in terms of technology (a higher tech part might not work to its full capacity due to limitations of other parts).

It's much more economical to just get a new computer. Proprietary systems tend to use cheaper parts so sending it back to the factory for the upgrade could cost cost quite a bit, and doesnt make much sense in my opinion.

I have no issues with the cult of Apple or J-gals with their LV bags. It's all good.

[GomiGirl]

Budget is really not an issue as it all works out the same either way - but I can get pretty good discounts via work but I just need to decide which way to go.

Lots of great food for thought.

I think for transportability, the Mac Mini is awesome. So if we ever leave Japan, we just have to pack up the external hard drives and the mac mini and it goes into hand luggage. Not the huge effort of dragging an iMac across the world.

I love the idea of bluetooth keyboards/mouse.. the lack of USB ports is an issue and in our Japanese apartment, the less cables we have the better. Could even run everything via the TV/AV unit as I have a great DVD player that is currently stand alone.

Worth thinking about it.

[Greji]

Budget is really not an issue as it all works out the same either way - but I can get pretty good discounts via work but I just need to decide which way to go.

I bought three black mac books for my kids to use for school and these do everything you need if you don't scimp on memory and the large processors.

I use the 17" macbook pro for my traveling, but it is a bit bulky and heavy, however, for what I need, I can live with that because it is every bit as good as my office 24" duo-core imac.

[FG Lurker]

Very old CRT monitor that is about to die.. flickers and bounces and generally has other seizure inducing issues, especially when drunk.

Not getting your computer drunk would be a good start...

More seriously though... Since budget isn't a big issue but space is why not get one of the new 15" Macbook Pros for work use and use your "old" Macbook Pro for home?

[Bucky]

Gomi,

If you are at all mechanical, you could try replacing it yourself. I replaced my Powerbook hard-drive myself a couple of years ago. I found quite a bit of useful information on the internet, including photos, for doing it yourself. Here is a link to replacing the hard-drive

And here is video for working on a Mini that might be useful.


Buck

[klimmer]

I bought three black mac books for my kids to use for school and these do everything you need if you don't scimp on memory and the large processors.

I use the 17" macbook pro for my traveling, but it is a bit bulky and heavy, however, for what I need, I can live with that because it is every bit as good as my office 24" duo-core imac.

I have to hand it to Apple to be able to design computers that is accessible even to those with rigor mortis.

[CrankyBastard]

I have to hand it to Apple to be able to design computers that is accessible even to those with rigor mortis.

They say there's a fine line between abuse and discipline.
Which would you prefer, a good old fashioned abusing, or a bit of disciplining?