Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

BEphoto · **mac mini -** 03-19-2009, 10:43 PM

Im wanting to make the jump over to apple and im considering buying a mac mini in the near future. just wondering if any of you have any experience with them. from what i read, they seem better in every way to the current PC im using. and for only $599 for a basic one, up to i think $799 for the high end, you really cant beat that.

I hear they are great for photographers.

Just wanting to get some opinions from people that have used them first hand.

Thanks!

-Brad

RaceImages · 03-19-2009, 10:52 PM

When my last PC crashed we decided to just spend the money and get a iMac. It's been the best move computer wise I feel I have ever made. The only, and I stress ONLY downside, was not being able to use the PC software that I had.

BEphoto · 03-19-2009, 11:03 PM

I would love an iMac but it's way out of my price range at the moment. Plus, I've already got a nice big widescreen monitor so I don't exactly need that part of it.

If I had the money to spend though I'd still be all over an iMac. Just not plausable at the moment. :(

elliottmm · 03-20-2009, 12:16 AM

Macs are great. If you have the means, get one. The only time I ever saw a mac go down, was when I was in art school (in a lab, where we handed out alot of abuse), Instead of the "blue" screen of death, you get this Japanese text all over the screen very cool... Sorry, reminiscing school days.

Get a mac. adobe software was made for it!..... get a mac.

AndrewCCM · 03-20-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elliottmm

Macs are great. If you have the means, get one. The only time I ever saw a mac go down, was when I was in art school (in a lab, where we handed out alot of abuse), Instead of the "blue" screen of death, you get this Japanese text all over the screen very cool... Sorry, reminiscing school days.

Get a mac. adobe software was made for it!..... get a mac.

LOL - Funny...Adobe software "used" to be made for it... These days, the Mac versions come out later on many software apps from Adobe.

I use both PC and Mac. All my editing is done on the PC. I just build my own. Recently built an AMD Phenom II 2.8Ghz Quad Core and used spare parts I had lying around... Cost me about $300 for the case, 500w power supply, 4GB Ram, motherboard and chip. I already had hard drives and 4GB RAM, and DVD burner.. So.. XP Pro 64bit, 8GB RAM and quad core screams and costs were very minimal.

This is not for everyone however...

I do like my Macs (G5 and Macbook Pro...wife has iMac)... But I just tend to be faster and more productive on my PC with photo editing.

FWIW.

mjdmike · 03-20-2009, 05:21 AM

I'm a PC guy, but bought a Mac Mini a few months ago to do some iPhone developing.

I must say, it is a really nice machine. The interface is great, it's clean, fast, and it always works. There's a noticable difference in the little things that plague the PC, like driver problems, constant updates, and a LONG startup time. The Mac has none of that. It simply works right out of the box, and never stumbles.

I'll always be a PC person because I like messing with them and building my own (plus my job keeps me knee-deep in Windows). But for those that don't want to mess with the hardware -- get a Mac.

I haven't done any serious photo editing because my PC is much faster, but I'm sure the MM could handle it OK. Also the Mini doesn't have the capability of dual screens, although there's probably an application out there to do that. I miss dual monitors.

linque · 03-20-2009, 01:41 PM

I was thinking about the new MM too, but every time I compare Mac to Windows as far as bang for buck, Windows machines always seem like the better deal.

zeroendless · 03-21-2009, 10:48 PM

" Also the Mini doesn't have the capability of dual screens, although there's probably an application out there to do that. I miss dual monitors."

DisplayLink USB graphic adapter now supported OSX, the downside, presently, is lack of color profile and minor features when use with certain Mac presentation apps. I've tested one of the monitor with displaylink built-in, worked right out the box with MBP.

911golfer · 03-22-2009, 07:39 AM

I got an iMac for Xmas. I love the 24 inch-screen. I now do all my PP with Aperature 2 even tho I have a quad-core PC machine next to it with CS3 and elements. The only think I had problems with is the Canon DPP software does not work with it :-(. The new iMacs are out and you can get last years for a steal if you look around. I got mine for $600 off on Ebay NIB.

simoncao79 · 03-22-2009, 02:37 PM

You can buy a good PC with $599. It's more powerful than MacMini

luis_relampago · 03-30-2009, 03:05 PM

Get a mac and you will live stress free. I have a imac 24", macbook pro 15" and I just recently bought a Mac Pro 8 core /16GB for HD video editing and all I can say is that I am in heaven.

sporkthedork · 03-30-2009, 07:55 PM

I wish they would update the mini; I keep wondering when it's going to be phased out.

Mandy · 03-30-2009, 08:02 PM

I have a Mac Mini and while it can technically run PS and Lightroom I find it extremely slow compared to my PC which is just a better machine. That being said, as soon as I can afford a new laptop it will be a Mac. I do plan on making the switch to Mac as my primary machine at some point, but I'll always have a PC too.

toverman · 04-02-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporkthedork

I wish they would update the mini; I keep wondering when it's going to be phased out.

It is updated: http://www.apple.com/macmini/

BEphoto · 04-02-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toverman

It is updated: http://www.apple.com/macmini/

Yeah that's the only reason I was considering one. Apparently they are twice as good as the previous version.

I'd never really heard of them until someone mentioned them on the TWiP podcast a few weeks ago. They said they were the best bang for the buck for photographers.