• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

describe your mac mini setup!

A

atomic3

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
140
well, i finally took the plunge and ordered my mini. I went with the base model and upgraded to 512mb of ram, airport + bluetooth, and the bluetooth keyboard and mouse set.
My question for you current, or soon to be mac mini owners is: how do you have yours set up? Are you using a kvm with your current keyboard, mouse and monitor? or do you have separate periphials for your mini? I am a PC user and am planning on sharing my monitor between the PC and mini via a monitor switch, but decided to get the mac wireless keyboard and mouse so i could get the full "mac experience." Are any of you using the mac bluetooth keyboard and mouse? how do you like it? any input is appreciated!
 
Mine became another addition to the computer family. I just started with the base model, only because I have a fully loaded Powerbook. The current set-up for me is: Mac Mini into a Samsung LCD. I have a Microsoft Wireless Keyboard and Mouse that I had sitting around. I have used the Apple bluetooth keyboard and mouse before and they work great.
Being both a PC and Mac user, I prefer having a mouse with multiple buttons. The mini also accesses my windows shares and printers.
 
i had my mini hooked up to a KVM, and it was awesom. really nice setup, all clean and the mini combined with my shuttle PC, took up little space. i used all of my existing equipment, and just plugged my mini into the kvm and off i went. i added an external 40 gig hard drive in a firewire400 enclosure, but that thing is NOISY, and i dont use it much.

but. as with many others, i moved onward and upward from the mini... and "went right for the jugular". i did it partly for the speed increace, but mostly for the dual monitors and upgradeability. and if you are wondering, the Powermac G5 is soooooo nice.
 
I have a second computer table and a second (19" CRT) monitor.
I bought an Apple bluetooth keyboard and a MS optical mouse (until Apple's 2-button mouse comes out, or some other bluetooth mouse that doesn't suck).

So I have both computers on my network, the mac mini and my athlon64 tower.
 
Yeah Pilot, R U diggin that G5? Fill me in, last time I rapped on you you had not gotten it yet. How do you like livin on the fo-sizzle side of th tracks? :D
 
<reply> <hijack>
LOL.


i came so close to getting that damaged DP 1.8, but in the end it went for over 1250$ :eek:

i really really like the powermac. the performace is definatly much faster, and the design is awesom. the way everything just works is great.

with 1.25 gigs of ram, i have 6 programs open right now, and the system is still snappyer than that mini was.

the mini is an excellent system, and if i was content with a single monitor, and not the type of person to constantly be tinkering with the component make-up of my systems, the mini would be fine.

the G5 power mac is definatly worth the $. especially if you get one from the apple certified section like i did. :)

</reply> </hijack>
 
I have the 1.25 GHz mac mini which I upgraded to 512MB of RAM. I bough a D-Link bluetooth adapter and the Apple Bluetooth keyboard. For a mouse I use a Blue Logitech MX-510. I refuse to use a one button mouse. I chose the Blue MX-510 because it compliments the Red MX-510 that I have on my gaming PC. I have my mini connected to the VGA port on my Viewsonic VP171S LCD (my gaming rig gets the DVI Connection). So far I love the mini, it is my everyday machine. I use it for e-mail and web surfing. Theonly thing I wish I had for the mini is an IBM Model M keyboard like the one I have on my gaming rig. What can I say I am a whore for the clicky keyboard, I will be buried with my Model M, lord knows the damn thing will still function. :D
 
I have the 1.25 mini. Purchased the base model but upgraded to 512 for much cheaper than apple wants to sell it to me at. I run it into my 2005fpw via vga and use the apple pro keyboard with it and an MS optical mouse until apple gets their 2button mouse out the door. I'll probably take it to work and replace my workstation with it. Then use RDC to connect to my servers and manage my AD. I love this little thing.
 
1.25 mini, AirportExtreme and Bluetooth. Ordered with 256 Ram and 40 gig HDD. Upgraded to 1gig Corsair and a 60gig 7200 RPM Hitachi, using a puttty knife. I also ordered the wired keyboard and mouse.

I have it hooked into my NEC 1760NX via DVI. This thing runs great now and I am very impressed with the OS.

-David
 
i have the 1.4 ghz model with 512 mbs ram hooked up to a SyncMaster910T. I thought about a KVM but couldnt find a reasonable priced one with DVI so when I need my PC i usually just remote into it or fire up the laptop. Very, very happy with my purchase. Just another convert here.

:D
 
Word of advise for everyone buying a mac mini, go to you nearest Lowes or Home Depot and buy a thin blade metal putty knife. Any upgrading that you do will require it. I'm thinking about picking this up from ebay in order to pimp out my mac even more.
 
As an eBay Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I just picked up the 1.42ghz - stock, and an iogear thumb drive sized blue tooth adapter that communicates with the mouse and keyboard (apple). the other USB port is occupied by a vantec cf reader / three port replicator that a Lacie 250gb drive and speeze enclosed 160gb hd connect to via usb2.0. the firewire port is religated to the ipod.

come tuesday i'll have a generic 17" tft flush against the wall and the keyboard and mouse will reside in the drawer below the desk. I bought the mini to tide me over for the next few weeks, so I'm unsure what i'll do with it after that?


-esr
 
Does anyone use a PS2 to USB adapter? I have a great KVM that doesn't have USB ports... I would love to hear where you got it and how well it works because I tried a cheap on for my PC once and the mouse was very slow on it.

THX
 
1.25GHz Mini

- 1 GB Corsair PC2700
- 60 GB Hitachi 7200RPM 8mb
- Apple KB & Logitech MX500

(thanks torquemada xp !! )

- 19in Hyundai V995 CRT
 
PS2 to USB (PS2->USB)... i take it you mean USB to PS2? USB->PS2, as you already have the PS2 kvm... i use the ones that come with various logitech products... maybe check some place like frys and the like... also realize... apple NEVER supported PS2 :D

-esr

oh frick, i just got it, you want to go out of the PS2 KVM to usb to plug into the mac... durh... yeah sorry.... dunno about that.
 
i've used a ps2 to usb adapter before, on a kvm, but never on a mac. not sure how your luck will be, but i'd wager it would work.
 
im using a ps2 to usb adaptor from my ps2 KVM on my g5 power mac. works like a charm, not had a single problem with it.
 
I acn't wait to get the mini...I'll most likely use a monitor switch as well, just to keep it lo-pro and simple.....by the way, does the mini come with an OS on it or what? I'm really curious. And if so, which OS?
 
Yes, it comes with OS x 10.3.x Mine had 10.3.7 but updated to 10.3.8 after setting it up.
 
This question is off topic, but while we're talking about the mini, do you know if there's a way to pay for a mini monthly? instead of them charging my debit card in full, do you think theres a way so they can charge a certain amount monthly???? Does anyone know?
EDIT: nevermind, just called them, they say "nope!"....damn.....I dont have 500 bucks in the bank right now....damn it damn it damn it....I wanted one NOW!
 
lesman said:
This question is off topic, but while we're talking about the mini, do you know if there's a way to pay for a mini monthly? instead of them charging my debit card in full, do you think theres a way so they can charge a certain amount monthly???? Does anyone know?
EDIT: nevermind, just called them, they say "nope!"....damn.....I dont have 500 bucks in the bank right now....damn it damn it damn it....I wanted one NOW!
Click to expand...

You could try to finance it. Apple has financing available.
 
Goatbert said:
You could try to finance it. Apple has financing available.
Click to expand...
How's that work? I really want a mini....I would just love to use that OSX panther...I saw a screenshot and it just looks so smooth and welcoming!
 
why not wait a month or so for the mini's to come pre-loaded with tiger? it'll give you a chance to save some money up and not have to pay for the upgrade to 10.4.
 
LittleMe said:
why not wait a month or so for the mini's to come pre-loaded with tiger? it'll give you a chance to save some money up and not have to pay for the upgrade to 10.4.
Click to expand...
Will they be coming out with tiger? It might cost more, though....I hope not...I don't know, but I'm getting one as soon as I possibly can.
 
finance it through your bank, you'll get a much better rate, or at least, that's what i tell my customers :)

-esr
 
I hate to say this but do NOT finance through apple as you will be raped in finance charges...better to save up your pennies and pay in cash for it...and no you won't be charged more when 10.4 comes out...it will just be updated with the current OS
 
esr2 said:
finance it through your bank, you'll get a much better rate, or at least, that's what i tell my customers :)

-esr
Click to expand...
Psshh, well thats good to know! :rolleyes: :p
 
i figured i would toss up a pic for those thinking about getting one, they're just soo tiny and blend in anywhere... or would if they weren't so friggen shiney :D.


mini.jpg


-esr
 
If you want to finance it you could always go to CompUSA and get their Credit Card. They have a 6 month no payment, no intrest for any purchase over $199. Just don't go over the six months or they will rape you on the finance charges.
 
saintrobyn said:
If you want to finance it you could always go to CompUSA and get their Credit Card. They have a 6 month no payment, no intrest for any purchase over $199. Just don't go over the six months or they will rape you on the finance charges.
Click to expand...
Ehh, I really don't want a credit card, but thanks for the suggestion!
 
after I take every freaking standardized test that the U.S. collegiate system requires, im gonna reward myself with a mac mini, something to dabble into video editing on macs, just dabbling cannot justify a purchase of a G5, thought they are quite nice
 
Purchased mine last week, and in just a few days im addicted :D

Anyway, I have a basic config (1.42ghz, 80gb, combo). I bought a couple putty knives last week and upgraded to a stick of 512mb. Im using a Compaq 15'' LCD, Microsoft 5 Button Optical, and an Apple Keyboard from an old iMac. Love it so far.
 
DO IT!!

i moved down to the mini and long for the pb :D

-esr
 
When I went in to the apple store, they only had either the total base or the 1.42/512/combo/BT/WiFi so I went with that. As you add the options you lose the "good deal" feel, but I'm extremely happy with the mini. I use it to browse the web while I play EQ2 on my PC. I tried running WoW on the mini (yeah I'm an MMO addict) but it was super choppy. I read on some other forums that it ran really well, so I dunno what I'm doing wrong, but its not my game machine anyway. I use it for the web, and as my music/photo organizer....oh and office type stuff....oh hell for anything that isn't gaming related =/

I should have waited a month to get the mini with tiger but I'm too impatient...ordered tiger from amazon.com with the $35 discount.

macaddict.com forums are awesome to give you all the info you need.

Also check out this thread for essential mac programs http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=177367
 
DaMaDo said:
I use it for the web, and as my music/photo organizer....oh and office type stuff....oh hell for anything that isn't gaming related =/
Click to expand...


Yeah iPhoto is pretty sweet. Picasa 2.0 is the only thing on Windows that comes close.

I've done some video conversions on the mini as well (DVD to Divx and Quicktime) using ffmpegX and it works really well for that too.
 
LittleMe said:
My mini has hooked me. I'm already looking at moving up to a 15" PB
Click to expand...

I am working on the same thing. As soon as 10.4 comes preloaded on the 15" PB I am driving about two hours to the nearest apple store to pick one up.
 
for those impressed by iphoto, try iview media pro, it's much faster. anywho, i bought the base 1.42 and added bt for $30 and am looking for a $30-40 usb 802.11g adapter... has anyone added one yet? just looking for your success stories, I was uber impressed with the iogear bt adapter.

per option for built in bt and wifi, i still think the mini is a great deal. all said and told i've spent $700 so far for the 1.42, plus 17" lcd and bt adapter... even if I add the wifi and 1gb DDR I'm still looking at $830 total cost... and with the emac starting at $899 edu with less ram then i will have upgraded too, lacking bt and wifi, and using a paltry crt, i would still maintain the mini is one hell of a deal for anyone looking to do non-[h]ardcore work on the mac (i'm still doing photoshop and dreamweaver work on it in it's current 256mb state, too lazy to plug the pb in :D)

-esr
 
I'm just glad the Mac/PC wars ( fighting for the sake of fighting ) about which platform is "better" are mostly over. Everyone is using the stuff the way they want to and I dont find near as many "Macs R Gay" type arguments/flames on the net.

These days it's more like "Ipods are cool, minis are cool, I still use my PC for gaming but OS X is awesome, Apple rulez" type attitude. These same people would not have touched a Apple anything 3 years ago. It's proof that people CAN be retrained. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top