NationStates Jolt Archive

Ok, so I'm looking to get a new computer at some point. I'm looking for something small, as I'd be getting it for both HTPC and carputer duty. My choices are a Mac Mini or Mini ITX. Here's how they break down with Pro/Con.

Mac Mini:
Pro: Already assembled (although depending on the type of person you are, that could be a Con)
Con: I'm not too familiar with Macs (I could muddle by until I become more familiar, though)

Mini ITX:
Pro: More familiarity (some people may find that boring)
Con: I'd have to build it myself (although depending on the type of person you are, that could be a Pro)


So, I'm looking for a bit of advice. What would you, the computer geeks of NSG, do if you were in my place.

I'm a Mac guy, but if you don't 'need' it and you're already comfortable the other way go ahead and save yourself the coin and build it the way you want. I find that process to be a total drag and annoying but if you can muddle through why not save some money.

If you just want it to work out of the box and be simple and you have the extra money, Macs are nice. But they're not for everyone.

For a carputer, there is a website for Mac Minis...vroom... (http://www.macvroom.com/), though I'm sure there are ton of sites for non-macs as well.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you aren't already leaning towards a Mac it's probably best to save the money and go the other way. I like them, it's just not for everyone. Plus, you have to deal with 'computer guys' going all apeshit because you use a Mac as if you're eating veal off a seal skin plate with whale bone utensils.

I'm a Mac guy, but if you don't 'need' it and you're already comfortable the other way go ahead and save yourself the coin and build it the way you want. I find that process to be a total drag and annoying but if you can muddle through why not save some money.

If you just want it to work out of the box and be simple and you have the extra money, Macs are nice. But they're not for everyone.

For a carputer, there is a website for Mac Minis...vroom... (http://www.macvroom.com/), though I'm sure there are ton of sites for non-macs as well.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you aren't already leaning towards a Mac it's probably best to save the money and go the other way. I like them, it's just not for everyone. Plus, you have to deal with 'computer guys' going all apeshit because you use a Mac as if you're eating veal off a seal skin plate with whale bone utensils.

Mmm....veal.

i have no experience with Mac Minis, or micro format PCs either, but i am planning on getting a HTPC (one of these (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/syscon_class.php?groupid=43&catid=1054), i think) and running Ubuntu with MythTV, cutting the cost down a little not having to buy an OS or PVR software

i'd like to build my own, but i don't have time, and i can see building a micro-format PC being very fiddly

The savings on a mini-ITX system might be not as high as one could expect. Unlike in the high-competition big PC market, small-format parts are often difficult to find, the choice is limited, and the prices aren't always good.

If you consider this way, you should check with some retailer's site and make a list of parts you need. Then compare the cost against a Mac, see if the savings are worth that.


When you talk about using it in a car, which way do you mean? Installing it into the console, with a monitor, or just carrying it in the car?

At cost of becoming boring...
Have you tought about an ultra portable device as the HTC Advantage (http://www.htc.com/WWW/Product.aspx?id=436)?
It combines Phone, Internet browsing (IE and Opera 9) and messaging (Outlook), GPS navigation (TomTom in Europe), MSOffice.
The OS is Win Mobile 6, not very exciting but not so bad either. The main advantage of it could be the availability of huge amounts of freeware/shareware.

Only drawbacks of this baby are weight and size (if you plan to use it intensively as a phone) but those are given, expecially size, by the 5" screen.

Highlights
16GB of internal flash memory
5" VGA touch screen
Detachable full-keyboard
Integrated GPS chip for use with maps software like TomTom® NAVIGATOR™ or CoPilot® Live
Enjoy super fast connectivity with Global 3.5G/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® 2.0
Finger gesture recognition, working seamlessly with HTC Home™ for key information at a glance and quick application deployment
Internet Explorer® and newly-included Opera 9 browser - optimized for touch-screen use

Little bit of personal experience...

I've used computers with XP for over four years now, and in those four years, I've never encountered the blue screen of death. I've found the operating system to be functional, effective, and pretty smooth.

In comparison, I've used Mac OSX for about an hour a day for several months (compared with my several hours per day for years with XP), and have had more freeze-ups than in my several years of using XP. Moreover, I've found Macs to be a bit more cumbersome and difficult to use from anything from word processing to image editing and sound recording.

So, in my personal experiences, I'd recommend the PC over the Mac.

Con: I'm not too familiar with Macs (I could muddle by until I become more familiar, though)

I'm primarily a Linux user, with Windows a very close second, but I have to use Macs at work from time to time and I can tell you that your unfamiliarity won't last long. OSX is probably the easiest operating system of all to learn from scratch, in fact it was designed to be easy to use.

My brother has a mac mini, they're surprisingly good actually, quite fast. But if you want to use something in a car (I'm assuming that's what you meant by 'carputer'), then get a laptop.