posted
Man, I dream of the day when PC makers get enilghtened. There is no need for those huge ugly wasted space boxes with inefficient usage of inside real estate.
I got a Dell 4600C which is near to what i wish for. its 3x12x12. Fits perfectly into the front lobby show case.
A 4 x 6 x 6 PC with the goodies i need is what i long for.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Don't know about professional use, but wouldn't that be great for a dormitory room! (Talk about coming a long way...my university campus had one computer for all the students, and it took up it's own building. Now here's one that would almost fit into a cigar box.)
posted
Those Cappuccino PC are cool but only 256 megs of ram, newer programs would eat that up in no time, I thought the could was pushing it with only 1 gig on the mini (geez I remember when 10 megs was state of the art)
[ January 23, 2005, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: Rick Chavez ]
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1539 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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The Cappuccinos have been out for a pretty long time, I'm guessing 7 or 8 years, but they weren't that small back when I was using them in car audio installs as massive MP3 players and control centers complete with touchscreens and real time vehicle diagnotics. They've gotten smaller over the years but I didn't even know they were still made til the Mac mini reminded me of them.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Now thats what im talkin about! Mac or PC either one tiny is perfect..
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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They are using laptop low voltage CPU's and special heat sinks. They work really good. .. I need one,, bad,,
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Si, nah, Apple wouldn't produce a noisy machine, they'd figure out how to maximize cooling efficiency and use the quietest brushless motors they could find.
I've taken the cover off my Dell laptop and it has a heat exchanger over the processor with copper tubing running to a radiator and heatsink by the cooling fans!
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
I'm still thinking along the lines of Si's statement. Downsized parts in a small space means less reliability. At least that has been the way of laptops.
My last laptop's video card went out along with a few other problems that desktops usually don't get. Still the MiniMac looks good and may entice a lot of PC users to go Mac for an extra computer.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
You got that right, Dave! Especially us guys that do a lot of work for real designers that only work on Mac's.
I, for one, am going to be looking into this....
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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i got a dell lappy and its 5 yrs old and never had a prob with it,, runs like new,,
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
" The barebone system does not include CPU, memory, hard disk and CD drive, It includes the casing, motherboard, CPU heatsink and blower, AC/DC Power supply, driver disk and manual."
That is what you get for $495 from the small PC. By the time you add the the stuff to really make it usable it is over $700.
The MacMini looks by far like the better deal to me.
-------------------- TJ Duvall Diamond State Graphics, Inc.
New Castle, DE 19720 Posts: 396 | From: New Castle,Delaware | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
...Every six months (it seems) Apple introduces something new, innovative and amazing. Whats next?
...Last Saturday, a manager in the Apple store here was telling me that the mini is just as good as the new G5 IMAC (which I just bought). At first I was bummed that I may have bought the "wrong" unit, 'til I added up the prices of a 20" monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers and bluetooth.
...Even with the "old" G4 chip, its still a great new thing (and deal). Especially if you already have the necessary doo dads.
posted
So, lets see if I'm understanding this. The pc one has been around for years (7 to 8), the cappacino one now being smaller than the new MiniMac,... yet Mac has just come out with something "new, innovative and amazing" ... hmmmm, okay.
I'm also reading that the barebones pc starts at $325.
Guess I'm not on the same page as you guys.
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
If you start with the Mocha barebones, by the time you upgrade to the stuff the Mac comes with standard you are up to $947 for the Mocha. You have to compare the machines on an equal level performance wise before you can even argue the price.
-------------------- TJ Duvall Diamond State Graphics, Inc.
New Castle, DE 19720 Posts: 396 | From: New Castle,Delaware | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
I am considering one of the Mini Macs. I am currently using a PowerBook G4 laptop and have had no trouble with it at all. But I need to upgrade my home computer. Since I already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, this sounds like a great machine. OSX is a great operating system that has very user friendly software, and does not crash.
Apple's iPod has sold over 10 million units, leaving other manufacturers scrambling to catch up. I bought one at Christmas and it is a great little device, 1000's of songs, contact lists, clock, and audio books in your pocket. At Christmas I saw sales people pushing these other "types" of iPod's because they were a bit cheaper. You might save a few bucks up front but they don't offer the whole system.
If you look over the history of the Apple Corporation, they have traditionally been at the leading edge of industrial design. From the way they package the item to how to buy songs for your iPod, to their suite of pre-installed software.
I think it is about perceived value. Personally I would rather carve in stone than use a PC. I would and have paid a lot more money for a Mac over the PC. I tend to do a bit more graphic design so I lean toward the industry standard...IMHO
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Actually Dale, some of the other Mp3 players offer more than the Ipod. The Ipod is the leader and well designed but it is rivaled by Rio's Carbon and Creative Zen.
Like I said the MiniMac is going to allow many to add an alternative platform to their household or business, but the world runs on the Windows platform.
What is Apple's market share, about 3%? They should lower the prices and try to grab more of it.
What about software, do we need to buy a Mac version of Photoshop etc. now?
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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David, that's the only sticking point for me - the price of the Apple line is chump change considering what you get (UNIX in a niiiiice package). Thousands in software is still a big pill to swallow on top of it, although there is virtual PC software for MAC that lets you run windows software I hear it hogs up resources which is understandable. I bet someone going from Windows to Mac w/VirtualPC wouldn't even notice a difference in performance, if any the Mac would probably still perform better. On the flipside there is Open Source software available that operates under UNIX, thusly under OSX too. Windows software can be ported to UNIX for the techies.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Anyway you look at it, the Mac is a far superior product! A lot easier to use, faster and isn't effected by most viruses out there. They also don't crash nearly as much.
I'm a Mac user since 1985 and can tell you that the ease of use is second to none.
-------------------- Doug Fielder Fallout Grafix Port St. Lucie, FL
16 years with a brush in my hand... Posts: 273 | From: Port St. Lucie, FL | Registered: May 1999
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posted
yep the mini mac is nice. it's mainly configured for PC users who want to migrate in a step-by-step way. get the mini and use you current key/mouse/monitor, add programs you need that aren't OS X related, and you're a Mac user. once you get hooked, they hope you buy into the whole attitude and experience (G5 w/ 22" widescreen) :smile: ...and you know how the iPod phemon will drift over into this as well.
but if you check the specs, you can get comparable hardware much cheaper and more power at the same price. it's the "safety" from viruses/spyware/ad-bloat that they're playing on. i like mac, but buy PC. i'm sure product like the mini (and future offerings) will only attract many users wanting a compliment of options when looking for computers.
i think the big new product is the shuffle. a sweet little audio player that has lots of storage 512mb or 1G. not bad for under $200. if they could get away from the iTunes/AAC format and open it up to non-proprietary software, it'd be a blockboster.
-------------------- Scott Pagan Admark Graphic Systems Admark Motorsports Graphics 9700 Metromont Ind Blvd Charlotte, NC 28269 www.admarkgraphics.com Posts: 325 | From: Charlotte, NC | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
A few years back, I seem to recall Bill Gates saving Apple from bankruptcy by infusing the company with several million dollars.
I don't recall all the details....but am wondering if Mac's are the 'end all' why they almost bit the dust?
Also, I hear 'mac's are easier to use' a lot. I tried to use one once and it didn't seem easy at all to me....things weren't intuitive like people describe them...I think a fairer statement would be, "whatever platform you learned on is the easiest to use."
But I do like what I have seen from a visual "fun" aspect...when you click on things.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Todd, Back in the mid 90's or so the head of Apple was running the business into the ground. They were introducing new models about every few months. Then Steve Jobs stepped back in and things took off again. Of course Mr. Bill would step with in $$$'s so he could keep selling copies of Office to all the Mac users.
Back in 1991 or so, I was learning both platforms. On one I would have to type things like this - //:c//:: to get the computer to do anything. Or I could sit down to a Mac and go through a simple tutorial that taught you about the computer in a matter of minutes. This was about the time Mac was suing MS for putting out Windows 3.1.
These days I am amazed at the number of pieces of equipment I have plugged into my G4 and had them recognized without pre-loading their software. Digital cameras, media readers, printers...just plug it into the USB and let'r go.
Personally I'm glad that Mac has a small market share....the Hackers seem to focus on the other 97%.
posted
Why all the fuss of mac vs pc. My latest pc, about four months old now, loaded with a gig of ram, runs all applications seamlessly and has never once crashed. Photoshop is as quick as I can hit the keys. Can't understand what use any more power would be. Maybe some of the mac users will tell me why my machine is so inferior
-------------------- Kevin Gaffney Artistik Signs Kinnegad County Westmeath Ireland 044-75187 kevingaffney@eircom.net Posts: 628 | From: Ireland | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Can a new kid play? For my first post I would like that everyone use the computer that they like. I have a Mac Powerbook on my left, A Mac dual Processor in front of me and a PC to my right. I get'er done. The PC is my wife's old machine that I had a new hard drive put in and I refuse to hook it to the internet because of viruses. Macs= no Viruses. My wife is now on her third PC because when it crashes, she buys a new one. PC's are one keystroke away from talking to someone in India at any moment. Having said all this, I enjoy this board and the uncontrolled mayhem that is it's want and peculiar bent.
-------------------- Bob Nugent Hotrodsonline.com Gainesville, GA 30506 hotrod@hotrodsonline.com Posts: 46 | From: Gainesville, Georgia | Registered: Mar 2003
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Kevin, I don't think anybody is saying that your machine is inferior.
I've heard the argument of mac vs pc as comparing apples to oranges. But, that isn't an accurate comparison. There are some pc's that are as good as macs, but absolutely not all and arguably not many. I think one huge difference is that only one company makes macs, while everybody and his brother produces pc knockoffs. The computer that you have can't likely be compared to one bought off the shelf at a Walmart.
Mac users have come to rely on their stability and state of the art processing power. It's sort of like ordering a steak from your favorite restaurant...you know it's going to be good.
If someone wants to spend a few extra bucks, they can have a great machine in a pc. Mac users spend the bucks up front, knowing the quality of an off the shelf mac is standard.
What makes quality so important is that upgrades, parts and service cost out the nose after the warranty wears off.
In short, there are pc's that are as good and dependable as macs, but it isn't a given.
By the way, a main reason that printers and newspapers generally use macs, is that the color management is superior. I don't know if that is anywhere near as important for sign companies.
posted
LOL...that's a pretty funny first post Bob...
In defense of PC's though...if you run antivirus software and keep it up-to-date you should be just fine. I can't tell you the last time (or first time) I ever got a virus on my PC.....
And crashes? I don't encounter the "crash" as a result of an inferior OS......only on the occassional hard drive that just plain gives up the ghost.
For all the gazillions of PC users, they must be reliable enough to keep going that route or there would be a groundswell of mac converts.
I'd say they are both good...Mac's probably more reliable.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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to get the computer to do anything. Or I could sit down to a Mac and go through a simple tutorial that taught you about the computer in a matter of minutes. This was about the time Mac was suing MS for putting out Windows 3.1. 
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