$600 And No Mac!

audiodan · Jan 31st, 2006, 07:51 PM

What could I do with $600 Mac-Wise! I would have a KB and mouse I could use. Other than that, I would want the best system I could get. I would also have a monitor I could use. I could also fit in another $50 if I had to.

audiodan · Jan 31st, 2006, 08:17 PM

It doesn't have to be new. And for $650 would the mac (whatever it is) have a processor higher than 1Ghz?

Atroz · Jan 31st, 2006, 08:24 PM

You can get a refurbed Mac Mini for $550+tax from Apple. 1.42Ghz.

audiodan · Jan 31st, 2006, 08:27 PM

From the silent update, would that be 1.5? And if not, what's the difference between that and the 1.25, other than the different processor?

Edit: I also don't see any Mac Mini refurbs on Apple.ca

zigzagry · Jan 31st, 2006, 08:30 PM

Over 1 ghz for $600-650 would equal an e-mac, or a mini.
Might get a 733 quicksilver, or dual 500-533 with lots of RAM in that price range.

Does anyone actually have a dual 533? I'd like to have one.

audiodan · Jan 31st, 2006, 08:38 PM

What are the perks in having a QuickSilver or a Dual over an Emac or a Mac Mini?

Paul O'Keefe · Jan 31st, 2006, 09:12 PM

In a tower system you can put in bigger and faster and cheaper hard drives. You can have more RAM. You can change out the optical drive in the future if desired. You could put in upgrade processors. And it would probably come with a key board and mouse.

Basically upgradeablility is the perk in having a power mac.

A mini is probably a better choice than an Emac, though. The Emac is less upgradable comes with a slow hard drive (5400rpm). That's the same as the mac mini. Certain eMac models can take twice as much RAM as the mini. It's big to transport around. But it does come with a keyboard and mouse.

Mac mini seems like a good choice for most everyday things. It wouldn't be very good as a pro machine. But as an web/email/pictures/music machine it should be good.

TheBat · Jan 31st, 2006, 09:13 PM

I am slightly off topic : Would a Mac Mini (with ext FW drive) make a good music server? I'm in the process of building (small townhouse), and will have the unit wired. I'm thinking of a hardly used computer to leave in the basement, and then adding either Sonos or Roku Soundbridges where music is required. I expect to have an iMac in the Kitchen area, but don't want multiple components at this location.

Or a cheap Celeron for the same purpose? The Celeron would be a cheaper option, as I could just add a large internal HD. Maybe get it to run Linux??

Script Kiddie · Jan 31st, 2006, 09:41 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by zigzagry
	Over 1 ghz for $600-650 would equal an e-mac, or a mini. Might get a 733 quicksilver, or dual 500-533 with lots of RAM in that price range. Does anyone actually have a dual 533? I'd like to have one.

I'd bet even a single Digital Audio 533 will outperform a QuickSilver 733 and often one sees the latter getting a higher price! The DA has faster drives, more L2 cache.

For your kind of money look out for the 733 DA.
My 2 cents.

audiodan · Jan 31st, 2006, 09:45 PM

How would a DA compare to a 1.25 Mac Mini?