Can someone explain to me..

**slackula** · 08-08-2009, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Actually, it can serve a limited purpose as a headless server, if you are willing to spend about $250 on OS X Server - which is a decent Server OS *if* you need it for any of the particular features it offers (podcast producer, QuickTime Streaming Server, etc...) - it's rather pointless if you are looking for a webserver - the usual LAMP configuration is easier and cheaper achieved by setting up a cheap MSI NetTop box ($200) with Centos 5 (free) and Webmin (free) or Virtualmin GPL (free).

Again, though, in that case you are still better off with a new model Mac mini, because of the increased RAM it supports, and and the much faster memory bus (1067MHz), and the small size certainly makes it a good server to hide away on a shelf somewhere -- which of course would still make the losers who impulsively bought the old clunkers seriously seethe and regret having wasted their money on something that essentially runs at half real speed, and slugs along graphically. Ah well, you know how it goes.

That's what I was getting at, I can get the full LAMP package on almost any Linux distro, and I can get a box that has equal or better specs than a mini, especially the crappy older model, for a lot less money.

The older model doesn't seem to have a lot going for it really, except for the fact that it runs OS X and that support from Apple here in Thailand (in my experience) has been nothing short of excellent. Still it wouldn't surprise me if suckers who actually shelled out for one weren't feeling a bit silly by now, I know I would be.

DaffyDuck · 08-08-2009, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by slackula

Still it wouldn't surprise me if suckers who actually shelled out for one weren't feeling a bit silly by now, I know I would be.

Probably a lot of rationalizing going on, there... claiming how it's useful for one purpose or another -- though with the older GMA950 integrated video, you can't really even play back HD video reliably (oh, it may claim and pretend it does, but OS X/QuickTime smartly drops frames, which most users won't be aware, as they don't know what to look for).

The new one does a nice job with it so -- the dedicated nVidia GPU, and the 1067MHz bus certainly make a difference.

**slackula** · 09-08-2009, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

though with the older GMA950 integrated video, you can't really even play back HD video reliably

It's strange that Apple would go with such weak graphics and stuff in the old mini, presumably they figured that the people that bought one wouldn't notice the difference and would be happy to own something with an Apple logo. Isn't an AppleTV better for doing that?

**Butterfly** · 09-08-2009, 12:49 AM

all this mactard homo talks make me all warm inside

**Butterfly** · 09-08-2009, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Bigleg

^eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerm

*FREE SPACE*

That make it SMALLER!!!

don't bother, mactards don't think, they just react with rage when their little fairy tale world is exposed

DaffyDuck · 09-08-2009, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by slackula

t's strange that Apple would go with such weak graphics and stuff in the old mini, presumably they figured that the people that bought one wouldn't notice the difference and would be happy to own something with an Apple logo. Isn't an AppleTV better for doing that?

Quite so -- in fact, if you're looking for a media centre, the Apple TV is the way to go - it will seamlessly connect to your separate Mac or WinPC to grab content from iTunes - so technically, you still need a separate computer to 'feed' it, but it does everything a Mac mini modded into a media centre would do, except it does it at 1/3 the price -- once again, branding the mini-moron as just that.

Actually, the AppleTV is a nice bit of kit -- easily modded and updated with a larger hard drive (now that 500gb drives are under $150, easy and cheap to do), and in combination with an iPhone and Apple's free 'Remote' app, it ends up with the world's best remote control -- neither Front Row, or any third party media centre wannabe can offer that, and forces the mini user to struggle with keyboards and mice.

There's some people using the Mac mini to integrate it into their car, and that *IS* a good application that it is a perfect fit -- of course, that also requires the user to have a car, to make it worthwhile (meaning that while all car owners can afford a Mac mini for this kind of a project, I doubt the kind of user who buys the Mac mini because it's cheap, would be able to afford a car).

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