A friend's 1st generation MacMini has just died. The dealer tells him the hard drive has died and will cost $250 to install a replacement. Plus a recommendation of adding more RAM. Plus a $100 diagnostic fee. All told he's probably looking about about $550 to get connected again.

Instead he's thinking about getting an iTouch. An iTouch would give him access to the web and to eMail, the two main things he uses his MacMini for. He'd be using the iTouch as a sort of tiny tablet.

He's asking how practical folks here think this might be.

Kind regards,

If it is only the HD, why not just buy an external hard drive, connect that and use it instead? Could do that for <$100.

I have a Touch. They're cool. However, I'd never choose to use it for web and email where I have the option of using a larger screen and a keyboard.

Is your friend handy? You? Or know somebody who is? There are loads of sites out there that can show you how to open it up to replace the drive. It's obviously past Applecare or any other sort of extended warranty, so just open it up and replace it yourself, doing it yourself by replacing the HDD and adding more RAM will cost like $200, and the feeling of self accomplishment. Or use Atroz suggestion, just make sure it's a FW drive.

Touch is nice, but you're typing on dinky virtual keyboard, I have a iPhone, and would rather surf on a proper computer, the other drawback is that version of Safari doesn't support flash sites. The Touch is cool, but it's no replacement for a proper computer.

What's an iTouch? ;)

I mean, it's not like we call it the iShuffle, inano or iVideo.

He's asking how practical folks here think this might be.

I can't in good conscience recommend an iPod Touch as a replacement for a full-blown computer.

For $550, you could just buy A NEW(ish) MAC MINI. For a couple hundred more you could find a used iMac. For another couple hundred more you could find a CURRENT iMac.

Don't do it. Fix the Mini. My opinion is that the Touch should in no way be considered to be a viable alternative to a full-blown Mac computer.

The dealer tells him the hard drive has died and will cost $250 to install a replacement. Plus a recommendation of adding more RAM. Plus a $100 diagnostic fee. All told he's probably looking about about $550 to get connected again.


Get a second opinion. Prices seem to be quite high.

Get a second opinion. Prices seem to be quite high.

Agreed.

I would suggest cracking the mini and installing the new HD himself.

How To: Mac Mini G4 Harddrive Upgrade. (http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/mini/high.html)

That video also shows you how to upgrade the RAM in the Mini.. it's pretty simple.

I would suggest cracking the mini and installing the new HD himself.

How To: Mac Mini G4 Harddrive Upgrade. (http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/mini/high.html)

That video also shows you how to upgrade the RAM in the Mini.. it's pretty simple.

Excellent. The various responses to this thread will be most helpful for my friend. Will likely contact a less expensive vendor and do it ourselves. The video was thorough, clear and it's not rocket science.

Thanks.