SethH
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2003
- Messages
- 2,867
So here's my dilemma . . . .
I'm looking a new computers for my parents. I'm a big fan of apple, although I haven't owned one personally since well before OSX was developed, and they are very interested in owning an Apple.
The only Mac that really makes sense for them is the mini. They have a nice 24" monitor that's only about 6 months old, so an iMac is not really a necessity or a desire.
So, here's my current comparison:
System 1 = Mac Mini
Price = $799
Core2Duo Processor -- 2.0GHz x 2
1GB RAM
120GB HD
MacOS 10.5
System 2 = Dell Inspiron 530
Price = $499
Core2Quad Processor -- 2.4GHz x 4
3GB RAM
500GB HD
Vista Home Premium
So, on the surface, it would appear that I would be paying an additional $300 to get 2 less cores, slower cores, 2GB less RAM and about 25% of the HD capacity. In exchange for those concessions I would get a better OS and a more attractive, smaller computer.
So . . . is it worth it? My inclination is to either go with the Dell or wait until the next refresh cycle of the Mac Mini. It has apparently been quite awhile since they last revamped it so my hope is that they will update it in the next 2-3 months.
As much as I am a fan of Apple, I really think they have a large gap in their product line for computers. If you don't want a built-in monitor there's a pretty large distance between the $799 Mini and the Pro that starts at $2799.
I'm looking a new computers for my parents. I'm a big fan of apple, although I haven't owned one personally since well before OSX was developed, and they are very interested in owning an Apple.
The only Mac that really makes sense for them is the mini. They have a nice 24" monitor that's only about 6 months old, so an iMac is not really a necessity or a desire.
So, here's my current comparison:
System 1 = Mac Mini
Price = $799
Core2Duo Processor -- 2.0GHz x 2
1GB RAM
120GB HD
MacOS 10.5
System 2 = Dell Inspiron 530
Price = $499
Core2Quad Processor -- 2.4GHz x 4
3GB RAM
500GB HD
Vista Home Premium
So, on the surface, it would appear that I would be paying an additional $300 to get 2 less cores, slower cores, 2GB less RAM and about 25% of the HD capacity. In exchange for those concessions I would get a better OS and a more attractive, smaller computer.
So . . . is it worth it? My inclination is to either go with the Dell or wait until the next refresh cycle of the Mac Mini. It has apparently been quite awhile since they last revamped it so my hope is that they will update it in the next 2-3 months.
As much as I am a fan of Apple, I really think they have a large gap in their product line for computers. If you don't want a built-in monitor there's a pretty large distance between the $799 Mini and the Pro that starts at $2799.