# So How Many PC Users Are Thinking About Getting A Mac Mini? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499 "2005-01-13T04:11:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/1 "2005-01-13T04:11:59Z")
Let’s avoid an OS war and other bits of name calling, but _damn_, [that thing looks cool!](http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops-pcs/sff/mac-mini-porn-every-last-picture-029475.php) I’m certainly going to have to get one as soon as I can scrape up the cash. Oh, and it’s smaller than your average car stereo, so I’m thinking of doing [something like this.](http://www.mujmac.cz/art/hw/tatra_mac_eng.html) 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/2 "2005-01-13T04:29:02Z")
I’m certainly not, but then I wouldn’t get ANY ready-made computer, from any vendor. I like tinkerin’… However, these look excellent. Far better than the old G4 Cube (and much lighter, too, by all accounts). This is exactly what Apple needed to do to persuade more people to make the Switch. Before now, the only option for a low-end Mac was to buy a 4-year old tower. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/3 "2005-01-13T04:31:36Z")
First time I’ve seen a car that’s worth less than the computer in it. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/4 "2005-01-13T04:34:31Z")
Hell YES this PC user is thinking about it. I’m trying to decide whether I want to get it now and purchase an external DVD-R burner, or wait until the next generation comes out, since that will no doubt be the first upgrade they make to it. (My main purpose in buying one is making movies at home.) ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/5 "2005-01-13T04:37:36Z")
One nice thing about the Mac Mini is that you can get a standard KVM switch and run it alongside your usual PC tower. Hell, you can put the Mini _inside_ your PC tower. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/6 "2005-01-13T04:47:54Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > I’m trying to decide whether I want to get it now and purchase an external DVD-R burner It’s already an option with the [superdrive](http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71206/wo/lQA02dXIgzfr2pQjOce1hhBmUOs/6.0.11.1.0.6.3.23.1.1.7.0.0.3.3.0) > [@](#): > > The SuperDrive (DVD±R/CD-RW) allows you to create music and data CDs, read DVDs, and create DVD-video discs for playback on most standard DVD players. I’m just drooling looking at the pictures. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/7 "2005-01-13T04:59:31Z")
It’s a shame that other external DVD-writers aren’t compatible with Macs. The Superdrive is painfully slow compared to even low-end writers that are out for PC… ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/8 "2005-01-13T05:46:35Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > It’s a shame that other external DVD-writers aren’t compatible with Macs. The Superdrive is painfully slow compared to even low-end writers that are out for PC… [Here’s](http://www.compusa.com/products/products.asp?N=200765+4294967095+4294967176&Ne=500936) 3 from CompUsa fer starters, from $119. [LaCie](http://www.lacie.com/) also makes an external dual layer drive and Roxio’s [Toast](http://www.roxio.com/en/products/toast/index.jhtml) supports dual-layer burning. ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/9 "2005-01-13T05:50:32Z")
err, that would be Pioneer that makes the DL drive, the DVR-108 :smack: ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/10 "2005-01-13T05:55:40Z")
Wow. A 16x external DVD writer, compatible with Macs, for $170. Makes you wonder how Apple can get away with offering their 4x writer for approximately the same price (unless they’ve dropped price considerably since the last time I looked). Oh well. That just tells me not to get the Superdrive. The Mini is still spiffy, at least. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/11 "2005-01-13T06:04:46Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > One nice thing about the Mac Mini is that you can get a standard KVM switch and run it alongside your usual PC tower. Hell, you can put the Mini _inside_ your PC tower. Kind of like this [guy did with a G4](http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1639698,00.asp). ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/12 "2005-01-13T06:41:20Z")
Are you kidding? Just looking at the picture made my pants tight. I’ve got absolutely no reason to get one of those; my Powerbook is almost as powerful _and_ it’s got a display. If anything, I need to upgrade my PC. But I still really, really want one. > [@jackelope](#): > > Hell YES this PC user is thinking about it. I’m trying to decide whether I want to get it now and purchase an external DVD-R burner, or wait until the next generation comes out, since that will no doubt be the first upgrade they make to it. (My main purpose in buying one is making movies at home.) Make sure you know what you’re getting into. Buried in the fine print for iDVD is a note that it doesn’t work with external DVD-R burners, only the SuperDrive. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/13 "2005-01-13T07:18:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Kind of like this guy did with a G4. Yup, except the Mini is almost an add-in card. Hell, imagine if they made one designed to fit in one (or maybe two) of your 5.25" bays. Then you can do all your ‘Net surfing and office work on the Mac, then switch the KVM to play World O’ Warcraft. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/14 "2005-01-13T07:34:50Z")
I’m not an exclusive PC person (two PCs, two Macs, like PCs, love Macs) and I’ve already ordered one. I’ll give you my first-hand review when it finally arrives. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/15 "2005-01-13T07:38:07Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Make sure you know what you’re getting into. Buried in the fine print for iDVD is a note that it doesn’t work with external DVD-R burners, only the SuperDrive. Since the newest version if iDVD reportedly lets you save projects as disk images, maybe you can use iDVD for authoring, then use Toast to burn it to a third-party DVD burner? > [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Oh, and it’s smaller than your average car stereo, so I’m thinking of doing something like this. Someone pointed out that the size of the Mac mini is _just_ small enough to fit in the space of a standard car head unit… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/16 "2005-01-13T15:27:44Z")
I have a buddy who’s a sales rep for Apple and I’ve already e-mailed him to ask when he’ll finish his orientation, so he can give me the full poop. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/17 "2005-01-13T16:36:28Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Make sure you know what you’re getting into. Buried in the fine print for iDVD is a note that it doesn’t work with external DVD-R burners, only the SuperDrive. [http://www.patchburn.de/](http://www.patchburn.de/) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/18 "2005-01-13T17:09:22Z")
OK, so I have no actual reason to even want another 'puter… I mean, this laptop of mine is two years old this month but when I look at the ones out there, the only things on which they beat my baby is bigger HD (and 20G is still 4x what we used to have at the Quantum Chem lab and we did wonders with it!), dual DVD/burner (baby has a DVD, burner is external), and all those wireless things that I don’t need anyway. And I’m unemployed. And I know I wouldn’t be able to play my favorite games on a Mac. And Spanish ISP’s don’t even know what the MacOS is. But darn, that thing looks CUTE! I’m a sucker for cute machinery, what can I say. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/19 "2005-01-13T18:27:01Z")
If I could find some way to convert the video-out for use on my TV, I just might get one. It’d be a great and sufficient box for playing videos and all my backed-up old console games, and free up quite a bit of drive space on the uglybox. The big question, though, would be whether or not to keep OSX on it. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499/20 "2005-01-13T18:28:44Z")
Well, no sooner than I hit the Submit button, I see that Apple sells just such a device on the same page as the Mac Mini. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-pc-users-are-thinking-about-getting-a-mac-mini/284499.md?page=2)