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#1
10-14-2005, 08:32 PM
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Calling all mac buffs
After a second hard drive crash mum is sick of this computer, and is wanting to get a mac. I am keen on a Mac Mini but need to know a couple of things
Can it use normal everyday memory when i want to upgrade the memory or does it need to be special mac stuff and can I upgrade the 40gb's version to a 80gb? (or at least get a mac technician to do it)
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The Galah sessions double post master - scourge of the Aussies "In the 21st century countries do not invade other countries" - John McCain 
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#2
10-14-2005, 09:04 PM
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note that hard drives are from the same manufacturers for PC and MAC.
If it was a hard crash then buying decent drives gives the same reliability  Watch out on the Mini. When it launched they took flak on the warranty position - if you add your own memory it's void. Had to be at an Apple service centre. Given the spec is standard PC2700 this was a VERY expensive route for Mac owners.
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Understeer is hitting the wall with the front of the car - Oversteer is hitting the wall with the rear of the car - - Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall - - - Torque is how far you push wall
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#3
10-14-2005, 09:12 PM
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Well its also been the plethora of virus's and stuff. Mum wouldn't be prepared to take the risk of installing memory by ourselves so the apple service center would be the way to go anyway.
__________________
The Galah sessions double post master - scourge of the Aussies "In the 21st century countries do not invade other countries" - John McCain
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#4
10-14-2005, 09:17 PM
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Is the graphics card upgradable? I don't know if 32mb's of graphics memory is gunna be enough.
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The Galah sessions double post master - scourge of the Aussies "In the 21st century countries do not invade other countries" - John McCain
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#5
10-14-2005, 10:09 PM
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what does she do? usual internet/email? then 32mbs is more than enough, even for playin music and what not.
also i agree with matra on the hard drive issue, if you don't maintain it, it wont work, not even a mac.(for which there is viruses and trojans and other things, just to the moment not as bad as wiindows bein up for 15mins with just a internet connection gettin a virus) also i believe the graphics card is integrated, i may not be sure but i'd think so, since you say it only has 32mbs of memory, and when its integrated, unless there's a agp/pci-e slow for another videocard, then you can't upgrade.
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1993 nissan 240sx hatchback(stock) <<drifter, straight liner, road courser "Horsepower is the force that determines how fast you hit the wall. Torque is the force that determines how far you take the wall with you after you hit it." "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races" - Carroll Shelby "Real cars don't make power at the front wheels....they lift them."
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#6
10-14-2005, 10:25 PM
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I wouldnt go Mac Mini if you want to upgrade down the road......and especially not if there is going to be any gaming going on (what little thete is on macintosh)......it doesnt seem to be a very good system for upgrading....
but to answer you questions....RAM: yes, it uses regular SDRAM ( but I doubt there are any open slots, so it would have to be a complete change, not just an addition - graphics card would be harder to do....and changing the hard drive is just like putting together a new computer....so, yeah, it's possible, but I wouldnt do it
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pondering things
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#7
10-15-2005, 04:24 AM
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Well It says that the Minis have expandable ram up to 1gb. This computer is for me aswell, I don't play games that are too graphically demanding, I mainly play Homeworld (There is a mac version of the game).
To be honest the only things i'd be upgrading are the memory and the hard drive (It looks like I'd be getting a usb, or hopefully firewire, external one for that) so it seems ok for that Targa, I have seen Mac Minis with expanded ram so thas one thing I guess. I'll have a talk with the people at the Apple Centre in town just to confirm everything.
__________________
The Galah sessions double post master - scourge of the Aussies "In the 21st century countries do not invade other countries" - John McCain
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#8
11-27-2005, 04:27 PM
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Just choose the higher specced version of the Mac Mini if you want more memory and HDD...Another option is to upgrade RAM yourself, if anything were to go wrong and the warranty thing is true, just remove the memory you installed and replace it witht he original before ssending it back for any warranty repairs etc. External HDDs are as cheap as chips now so if you did eventually need more space that'd be easier and maybe cheaper than replacing the one inside the Mini.
But if you were after a better specified Mac, you're better off with an iBook...it might seem more expensive but it comes with a screen and speakers (obviously as they're built in) as well as a keyboard and mouse...plus they're generally better machines.
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"This is hardcore." - Evo's John Barker on the TVR Tuscan S
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#9
11-27-2005, 10:14 PM
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Couldn't afford an ibook unless it was a G3 one or something. And the speakers in lap tops are pathetic. Its looking like its probably gunna be a used Powermac G4 now. I want to upgrade the graphics card aswell in a Mini Mac and i'm not sure how expensive it will be, or if its even possible.
__________________
The Galah sessions double post master - scourge of the Aussies "In the 21st century countries do not invade other countries" - John McCain
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#10
11-28-2005, 12:12 AM
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What sort of card would you require? My Powerbook has an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 with 64MB graphics memory and to be honest I've seen better visuals on this computer than on my old PC with an nVidia (think it was 9800?) with 128MB Graphics memory...the amount of memory doesn't always tell the story like it is.
__________________
"This is hardcore." - Evo's John Barker on the TVR Tuscan S
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#11
11-28-2005, 01:07 AM
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You know...
You would have to buy your own mouse, keyboard and monitor... And not forgetting the speakers. It won't be so cheap after all...
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#12
11-28-2005, 02:19 AM
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That was exactly my point...it would probably be cheaper to buy an iBook G4 (We have one as a family computer in our household and even in the most basic spec it's still pleanty good enough for anythign they're gonna do)
__________________
"This is hardcore." - Evo's John Barker on the TVR Tuscan S
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#13
11-28-2005, 02:20 AM
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Quote:
You said it mate
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#14
11-28-2005, 02:24 AM
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Quote:
__________________
meh Economic Left/Right: -1.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 2.67 UCP's Number 1 Lamborghini Gallardo Fanatic. UCP's No. 1 Lamborghini Fanatic. UCP's 2nd and proud of it Sony Ericsson K750i owner.
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#15
11-28-2005, 02:53 AM
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Quote:
__________________
"This is hardcore." - Evo's John Barker on the TVR Tuscan S Last edited by Clivey; 11-29-2005 at 03:48 AM..
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