why should i get a mac mini

[saltynay]

the title says it all I am planning to build an itx system with the following specs unless you can convince me to use mac mini :

cpu:t7400 2.16ghz (can you change the cpu for a mini??)
motherboard: commell lv 677 http://www.thermaltake.com/xaserCase/mystic/mystic.htm
Ram: g-skill 2x1gb (ddr2-667)
harddrive: 750gb seagate barracuda (you must be able to change the hard drive in a mini but does it only accept 2.5"??)
extras: bluetooth, wireless, may be a 7 series graphics card depending on the case

the operating system used on the above build would be linux or windows xp mce

[aidanjt]

If you stick Linux on the LinITX box there's no point in a mac mini, if you stick Windows MCE on it there is. The only difference between a PC and a mac these days is the operating system it comes with, bare hardware gives you a good choice.

[saltynay]

you cannot get mac to work on a custom built pc though or can you???

Matt

[aidanjt]

Technically yes, with work, although not according to the OS X EULA, whether it has legal merit is another matter. Not that OS X offers anything over Linux anyway.

[codepope]

The Mac Mini only takes a 2.5" inside; so if you want that 750GB drive you are going to be building something yourself. The Mini isn't designed to be a pop-open-and-hack machine.

Aidanjt; EULA's have legal merit, especially when the terms are simple as in the Apple case, namely that Apple *only* license OSX to run on Apple hardware and there is *no* standalone copy of Intel OSX you can purchase without Apple hardware.

[menthel]

If you want your system to be an all in one box media centre that can record TV via a tv card, then don't get a mac mini. If you simply want it as a media extender for media stored elsewhere then it is a good, but expensive option, as frontrow allows this.

[unrealrocks]

if your looking simply at the mac mini as hardware then apart from it looking nice it isn't really worth it. However if you've used OS X at all you'll know its well worth it

[Gordy]

If you need a bigger than 200gb hard drive in the mini just get a lacie mini hard drive, you can put upto 1tb drives in them and they just sit under the mini and match it perfectly.

Together it will still be smaller than that miniITX system and far cheaper.

As for max os x on pc its plain illegal as there is no legal way to buy a copy for pc.

[saltynay]

what do you mean the mac will be cheaper??? the it build is proposed to cost £850 the maxed out max mini was £910. can you get OsX mce edition I saw a video on youtube a while ago of it and it looked awesome but I haven't heard anything since

[menthel]

There is no mce edition of OSX, only OSX. Frontrow is built in, but doesn't offer recording facilities. Have a look on the Apple website for what can be done with OSX. I am not sure what leopard will offer more than this.

[dave87]

You seem to be fully ignoring the legal implications of this. You are breaking the End User License Agreement (EULA) if you install OSX on anything but a Mac. If that doesn't bother you, then you may aswell go and pirate it instead of buying it, as you will be equally in breach of its License Agreement.

[saltynay]

yeah but pirate you can't trust whether there is a virus embedded retail you can be sure that the article is genuine. It wasn't front row maybe it is a new style of front row in leopard ??

[Gordy]

what do you mean the mac will be cheaper??? the it build is proposed to cost £850 the maxed out max mini was £910. can you get OsX mce edition I saw a video on youtube a while ago of it and it looked awesome but I haven't heard anything since

Unlike Microsoft, Apple don't believe in having twenty versions of their operating system, there are two, OS X and OS X Server, unless you are running a server there is no choice. OS X comes with front and has done for some time.

As for cost, do yourself a big favour and buy the top end mini with no upgrades. Then buy and fit them yourself its far cheaper and you have the originals you can sell as well. You can upgrade the processor in the mini as well if you like, it takes the top of the range core 2 duo laptop chip. I would also try to get a refurb one as they are far cheaper still.

On OS X on pc it's not just the fact your breaking the EULA you are not buying it as it's not possible to buy the pc version, I would expect the mods to close this thread if you ask for any info on it as well.

Not to mention it being far from stable in pc form, if you want os x a mac is the Only way to go.

[b0redom]

the title says it all I am planning to build an itx system with the following specs unless you can convince me to use mac mini :

cpu:t7400 2.16ghz (can you change the cpu for a mini??)

Yes, but it's not supported. Why would you want to anyway?

harddrive: 750gb seagate barracuda (you must be able to change the hard drive in a mini but does it only accept 2.5"??)

Yes it only accepts a 2.5" although as has already been noted you can get something like the Iomega MiniMax which has exactly the same form factor.

extras: bluetooth, wireless, may be a 7 series graphics card depending on the case

7 series graphics card? Why would you want that? It's pointless unless you're gaming, in which case, you'd be far better off going down the Windows route.

the operating system used on the above build would be linux or windows xp mce

Doing what? If you want a media centre box, I'd go with a macmini. I've not used Windows MCE, but I just plugged my MacMini into my TV and it worked straight away - autodetected the TV resolution and happily plays HD DivXs.

I've got the absolute basic £399 model, but I only use it as a SMB server/media centre.

If you're looking at using it as a 'proper' PC rather than a media centre, you'd be better looking at an iMac vs a PC.

[saltynay]

Yes, but it's not supported. Why would you want to anyway?

because I multi-task allot!!!!

Yes it only accepts a 2.5" although as has already been noted you can get something like the Iomega MiniMax which has exactly the same form factor.

The iomega minimax does look good I will give you that

7 series graphics card? Why would you want that? It's pointless unless you're gaming, in which case, you'd be far better off going down the Windows route.

well I probably won't be gaming on it but if I do go down the itx route I may get one just to make it possible if I wanted to

Doing what? If you want a media centre box, I'd go with a macmini. I've not used Windows MCE, but I just plugged my MacMini into my TV and it worked straight away - autodetected the TV resolution and happily plays HD DivXs.

Windows mce is fairly easy to use can be a bit annoying at times I hav it on my sig build. xp mce has all the functionality of pro except one or two corporate tools

I've got the absolute basic £399 model, but I only use it as a SMB server/media centre.

so you use it as a front end is it compatible with a windows network ntfs or just fat32?

If you're looking at using it as a 'proper' PC rather than a media centre, you'd be better looking at an iMac vs a PC.

[/QUOTE]

This will be plugged into a 52" plasma tv and will be used as a media centre pc but if it is able to be a network front-end then I may just be tasked with the job of running internet and open office

[b0redom]

because I multi-task allot!!!!

But this machie will just be a media extender right?

so you use it as a front end is it compatible with a windows network ntfs or just fat32?

I think you're getting confused here - if you're talking over a network, you don't use ntfs or fat32, it just needs to be able to see a Windows box.

This will be plugged into a 52" plasma tv and will be used as a media centre pc but if it is able to be a network front-end then I may just be tasked with the job of running internet and open office

I don't understand what you're saying here If what you're saying is that you want a machine which will play back DivX movies and allow you to do OpenOffice and Internet browsing, and share files with your existing Windows box, the macmini can do that. You don't even need to upgrade the processor - I'd recommend dropping in a GB of RAM, but that's it.