New 2011 Apple Mac Mini - Let's Configure (Discussion)

[natevideos1234]

Thanks

[JOHNNYSschool]

it will pump 2560x1600 a**hole mine is pushing a 30in screen right now and a 50 in 1080p tv!!!!!!!!!

[TWSceptic]

BTW the Mini with all the upgrades (which are cheap to do yourself) is a very powerful machine for its size. You'd be surprised how many Dell & HP PC's it leaves in the dust.

[TWSceptic]

Good review, but you talk too fast after a while.

[spikeman316]

bla bla bla bla....just buy a freakin PC

[maxinator5001]

@spikeman316 no.

[TWSceptic]

@spikeman316 That's like saying 'just buy this crappy car' to someone who already drives a Bentley.

[Fall3nELiTE]

@TWSceptic Except it's not because a PC can do everything a Mac can with the same hardware while being cheaper too. They can be more powerful, are more affordable, and fully upgradable. You can't say the same about Mac computers. Still I see the appeal of a small computer like the Mac Mini if you are someone who doesn't know much about computers or want something small, easy, and power efficient without caring about performance.

[TWSceptic]

@Fall3nELiTE I know everything about PC's, I used Windows for 10 y before getting a Mac. I still use Windows with clients, but never at home. I disagree a Mac isn't flexible at all regarding upgrades. You can change memory, hard drive, you can even change the logic board if you can find a cheap one and upgrade it that way. But Macs are just nice computers, it's not like they are entirely different from PC's though. I don't know where people get that idea. If you don't like it don't buy it.

[Fall3nELiTE]

@TWSceptic They are nicely built computers and much better than most/ all pre-built PCs in quality at least imo but they just are not nearly as flexible. The Mini and iMacs are also limited with low power mobile graphics and CPU chips. You can make a more powerful PC at the same price in a somewhat similar footprint unless you absolutely need to use Mac OS X or need extremely low power consumption (not counting the expensive Mac pro). I like Macs just not for anything more than more casual use.

[TWSceptic]

@Fall3nELiTE People are way too fixated on upgradability and specs. First of all, you're not going to notice the difference in speed between a 2.8 GHz or a 3.2 GHz unless you're doing benchmark testing, ok? So the question we need to answer is: what makes a great computer? Most people will say usability. + it needs to do what I want it to do, easy and quickly. It needs to be convenient. Macs do that for you. You also get more money for them if you decide to sell and upgrade. PC's not so much.

[Alixer560]

i came to this video to find out what the hell it was but didn't find it. what the hell is it?????? a hardrive? a computer? what is it???!!!!!!!!!!!

[fudog97]

Will upgrading the ram via 3rd party vendors void the warranty?

[superherosatlive]

If I'm not mistaken, you said in your video you can add a second hard drive to the base model 2.3 ghz?

[iAmSukiBum2]

I'm buying a mac mini but dont have enough money. Should I sell my xbox or ps3? On xbox, I play sports games with my family and have many friends on it.

On my ps3, I only have uncharted 2. And one friend. I got ps3 2 weeks ago (not interested in mac mini then) and xbox in 2009. I have to sell either one. Which one?

[acer86garcia]

hey is there a way you can put CD's on your mac mini 2011 because they don't have that much apps on the app store

[Bigblue420x2]

@acer86garcia yes just go to itunes and put in a cd

[acer86garcia]

@Bigblue420x2 hey dude there is no way you can put cps in a mac mini 2011 unless u buy cd rom with usb

[Edwardocatflappo]

Once you start adding it all up you may as well get an iMac

[jcEightySeven]

I just bought the latest 2011 mac mini.

The pictured when connected to my HDTVs is very poor via HDMI, can anyone help me out? the pictures looks slightly blurry and pixelated. I own a 2007 macbookpro which is very crisp in comparison.

HELP!

Thanks.

[d4jwalsh]

I can't decide between the mid range model with the upgraded processor or a stock server model??? it will be used for:

Minecraft server

file server with all my HDD's connected

airvideo Server for my movies on my iOS devices

Maybe a HTPC

and desktop use???

[WellUnder9000]

Don't waste your money on integrated graphics, without the discrete graphics you're just paying for a laptop with no monitor mouse or keyboard, if you want to play games pay for the graphics.

[DogsBestFriend4Life]

How well does the server run final cut pro X?

[mongomondomongo]

I hope in the next update that 4gigs RAM is standard and they bump up to 7200rpm drives. 5400rpm is shameful and I had that 10 years ago!

[Jashomartin]

i hardcore hate apple now. last year i got the brand new mac mini that is the 2010 model. they fitted a dual core intel 2.5 now they fit i5 and i7. i got RIPPED OFF. the technology for i5 and i7 were out last year. dont buy this computer they are ripping you off so much.

[themistakila]

@Jashomartin I would rather get ripped by apple than get a deal from dell

[theapeman10]

@themistakila - In Jan 2010 I got an dell studio, intel i5, 4gb, DVD, 500gb 7200rpm, windows 7 professional for 550 quid. I stuck a SSD in it later for 120 quid . put the 7200 as external. Apple had a core duo, 2gb macbook. which they were still selling in 2011 july until they scraped it, sold it for 999.

Apple over charge on their OWN upgrades by restrictions like the custom hard drives in the new imac 2011 models since they can. DELL have nothing to do with apple's greedy price markups 

[theapeman10]

@Jashomartin - Apple are 2 years behind the market, they go low specs so you go to the next model game. The 5400 drives when they should be 7200 and 4gb of ram as standard. It's pretty pointless them making the base ram 2gb with the slots filled, now with everyone knowing that Lion should be run with 4gb. Mac osx apps get cached in ram so everyone would be advised to go 8gb for 70 bucks.

The upgrade price to a 7200rpm should be 20 bucks not 150 bucks( I can buy 3x 7200 rpm drives for that)

[prepre73]

hi loved the video just wondering if anybody knows the main differences between the OSX and OSX server addition and would having the server addition get in the way of me using it as an everyday machine.

[SilentAero7]

i'd rather spend money on an older mac mini WITH a built-in SuperDrive than spend more on both the mac mini AND the external SuperDrive.

Removing the optical drive was a bad choice apple. :-(

[defnyung]

Not worth it. you can pick up a quad core laptop: AMD Phenom II Quad-Core P960, 4GB RAM DDR3, 500GB Hard Drive $550 or less....with win7 or install a nice Linux distro and you've got yourself a kick ass computer. The high end mac mini costs $1g and it's not portable so another over priced mac.

[TheSkullcrusher73]

I have a wireless mouse and I need to know if I can use my wireless mouse for the Mac mini

[roger767]

Shame you cant replace the hard drives yourself. Unless you want to take out all the guts out of the mini.

[mimizone]

you might want to change the audio mixing levels, it seems you want us to listen to the music instead of your voice.

[mimizone]

@mimizone sorry, another video in my background started at the same time ;) you actually don't have music! duh!

[22kedam]

would autodesk inventor( mechanic  engineering program) work on a mac mini 2.5 ghz dual core i5?

[1730davis]

Look at my channel and see my videos on Mac OS X Lion - thumps up please

[soccorjosh2]

1. $100 for 2gb more ram is insanly overpriced 2. $150 to upgrade to a 750gb 7200rpm is super overpriced. 3.apple is cheap as hell giving u a 5400rpm as the standard drive thats just cheap.4. wtf is a desktop without a disk drive and charging $75 for one is just stupid. this is why apple sucks this right here

[wallacec34]

Nicely produced. Do you have videos that not only tell you what the options are but also give some benchmarking to help sort out which upgrades improve what types off applications. Disk I/O RAM Processor and Graphics all presumably impact different uses. Based on that which options or system is best for what? thanks much for the video!

[HammerJohnM]

Great video. Just one thing to add: The discrete graphics card doesn't just take a load off the processor and prevent system RAM from being used for graphics. It is way WAY better for video and 3D graphics. In fact, some games will refuse to run if the computer has only integrated graphics. Having a discrete card as an option in a non-server Mini makes it much more appealing. And lacking that option in the server model makes it far less appealing for the casual HDTV/HTPC user.

[wwwinsanelygreatmac]

Discrete is better and faster, my comments were more for value and memory options. We'll have to wait for benchmarks, but I think the Intel is respectable enough for many users who aren't too concerned with 3D graphics/gaming.

[joshascott]

Was so looking forward to buying an i7 mini, but Apple's configuration makes it almost impossible.

In 2011, quad core should be the minimum possible spec, but if you go with the quad core configuration the best graphics they offer is s***. On the other hand if you choose the model with a half decent decrete graphics, the processor is s*** dual not quad. Might go for broke and get a macPro

[wwwinsanelygreatmac]

@joshascott There's always an iMac, which if you're really interested in CPU and GPU performance is probably a better choice. But it does suck Apple doesn't offer the quad i7 w/ Radeon CPU.

[grabbies200]

@joshascott

or you select buy form the apple page select the 799$ model and select i7, for a total of $899.

[WellUnder9000]

@joshascott Actually in most benchmarks a dual core 2nd gen core i3 is equal to a core i5 quad (no hyperthread of course) unless you're running the entire ilife suite and trying to get ideal performance a fast dual core is almost the same as a quad- also the real difference is in higher end games like crysis 2 or skyrim that actually NEED TO UTILIZE 4 cores. Few buisness applications can utilize 4 cores other than video rendering. Ram is what you need if you're not doing hardcore gaming.

[richardpatrick32123]

I really like these types of vids, Mike. You put things nicely into perspective. I wonder what the performance difference is between i5 and i7.

[turtleinthedark]

Is the .2 ghz bump from 2.5 to 2.7 worth it for gaming I want high end for gaming

[turtleinthedark]

I was wondering which Mac mini would be best for gaming

[raoulspam]

I say thanks for uploading

I think the i7 server option is awsome... do we know how much more power it consumes ? since, luky me, I have a i7 iMac, with lion installed, the base model might just do...

awesome machines, superior OS, great price... you can't beat the mini

[Geoffr524]

Funny that I just bought the base model Mac Mini yesterday(2010 edition), just before I saw this video on my Sony Win7 PC. Kinda wished I waited one day, to see this video before deciding to buy, but here I am on my 42 inch 1080p set. Just to get my feet wet (Mac OS), ain't cheap. I do have the iPhone 4, and orig. iPad.

Now I am wondering if it is possible to stick cooling fins on the top of the Mini, to cool it further ??

- Geoff

[theapeman10]

@Geoffr524 - No problem you can take it back within 7 days or 30 days depending on your country, but I believe apple support 30 days. Get it back there tomorrow and get your new mac mini 2011.There's nothing they can say really they have to exchange it, if not demand your money back your were happy with the product and then buy the new new. Stick up for your rights. Your all right as long as you have the box I believe. But don't delay

[Geoffr524]

@theapeman10 Bought it at Best Buy, and they got a restocking fee I believe, but still, I need to call the store, and exchange it, and be put on a waiting list for when they get them in, up in Southfield Mich. Sounds cool though, since I bought it one day before knowing.

[theapeman10]

@Geoffr524 - yeah it's everyone's worse nightmare when you buy something and then the new one comes out. I think apple should operate some sort of discount regarding money back when it's within a month, since some don't mind if they say get a voucher discount of a 100 dollars off the mac store etc. It would save retailers a hugh hassle, but since your playing a restocking fee, their not losing. In the UK, Ireland you can take a product back within 7 days normally without hassle. anyway Good Luck

[EasyLaughsInc]

I want the quad core but I am using this for personal use so I don't want the Lion server, is there any way around this?

[theapeman10]

@EasyLaughsInc - the Lion server OS is something you just configure (in it's interface). So every version of Lion can download the server app it's cost about 70-75 quid roughly. So that's no problem it's just your getting the server app free with the mac mini server. Lion is different from the previous distos of snow where the server version was a different product . So you could in theory you could buy the 599 and down the server app etc.but the mac mini server is better

[TheAppleReviewGuy]

I need a new editing computer. i'm deciding between the MacBook Air with 1.8GHZ i7 4GB RAM 11.6" 128GB SSD one 24" or the Mac mini 2.7GHz Core i7 8GB RAM 750GB 2 24" i do videos just like yours in Final Cut Pro. I have the 2009 Macbook pro with 4GB Ram Nvidia 9400m 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo. which one do you think.

[wyzemann]

I suspect Apple externalized the SuperDrive in order to give consumers a choice of an external 3rd party BDD or DVD. I still believe this is a vast improvement to last year's obsolete core 2 duo processor MacMini. Also, I have no intention of ever using this as a Home Theater device. The base model is perfect for those of us who want an affordable intro to Apple computing without using "Hackintosh". Oh yes, I'll definitely purchase this in the coming months.

[MrRowanMess]

Why is the cheapest mac mini equivalent to $850 if you buy it in the uk but its only $599 in the us?

[lkirkup]

@MrRowanMess My guess VAT (tax) here in the UK it's 20% whereas in the US it's around 8% I believe

[han00105]

IT SUCKS IT DON'T HAVE A SUPER DRIVE ANYMORE :( i was just about to get one

[thanhpluv]

@graybread yes :)

[579093]

No disc drive!!!

[Goosetrain123]

Has anybody realized that the base models don't have a disc drive anymore!?

[GrayBread]

Wait... is a mac mini basically a mac without a Monitor? Could I just buy a TV and hook this up and have a huge mac?

[iTJreviews]

@GrayBread Yep. Apple jokes by calling this a B.Y.O.D.K.M. Bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse. :P

[iamcurtis123]

For gaming witch graphics processor is bettter?

[wwwinsanelygreatmac]

@iamcurtis123 Radeon. Discrete is always better for gaming.

[PROX1MI7Y]

@iamcurtis123 If your looking for gaming you can spend $799 much better on a custom pc

[ausarias]

So if I want the server option but also the better graphics, can I buy the standard Mac mini high end model then upgraded it to the server by buying the software?

[wwwinsanelygreatmac]

@ausarias Any Mac can upgrade to Lion Server for $50, so yeah.

It kind of sucks that you can't get discrete graphics on the server Mini, so you have to basically decide between quad core i7 or Radeon GPU.

[theapeman10]

@wwwinsanelygreatmac - people say "oh it's great having a power supply inside a tiny formfactor" well that's the problem your limiting the power , would people want a powersupply (something that WILL FAIL) inside their laptop ? NO an external Brick is better. The perfect mac mini server (twice the width, so can be racked, allows thermal cooling ) with a quad, discrete graphics, 8gb, HD BLoody quick HD access slots, INEXPENSIVE case. Price 999. mac mini server should be more then a TV box

[wwwinsanelygreatmac]

@theapeman10 In 20 years I've never had an Apple power supply fail. It's not that it will never happen, but I think it's so rare it's not worth worrying about.

[theapeman10]

@wwwinsanelygreatmac - The new mac mini server quad 45watts proc, or the discrete graphics card in the 799 model have limited thermal design, but I've been working in IT for 20 years as well and U know that over the last 4 years the number of laptops that failed with discrete video or I7 running hot. Thermal design is the very thing that decides the life span of a product. The earlier mac mini used a power brick, so your exp of 20 years doesn't fit your no worry premise. :-) we've see

[randomrazr]

but u already have a macbook pro??

[KevinTheAppleGuy]

45th

[TheTechDogs]

Will you be picking one up?

[JakeMacintoshHD]

Sweet video Mike.

[wwwinsanelygreatmac]

Thanks for watching! If this video was helpful, please rate it to help promote it to others!

[donut2790]

@wwwinsanelygreatmac Wonderful video! Just a question. I own a 27 inch Samsung TOC Monitor and its mac resolution is 1920 x 1280. Will it support this? Also, is the i7 really much better than the i5? Thank you very much!

[M8RED]

I love these videos