Is the Mac mini a good starting point?

[Deleted member 21784]

Every Windows laptop I have had has been great to start off with, then performance has gradually gone downhill to the point after a couple of years when they become totally unstable, running slow, system crashes etc. I worked in IT for 25 years and know my way around a computer, did regular maintenance on them, but they would all go the same way in the end.

I bought a Macbook 4 years ago and have not had a minute's bother with it, it is still as fast as it was when it came out the box.

The reason is build quality and an OS that doesn't use anywhere near the same amount of resource.

I’m wiTh this
My MacBook 2011 is now obviously 7 years old and still going strong .. still does what I need with no fuss at all

 

[philly169]

I've always thought the Mac Mini was overlooked by Apple in preference for the iMac's - they are great little boxes but have never been upgraded to the latest hardware which is such a shame.

I've recently bought a new laptop, was looking for something with a lot of power and was willing to spend a fair amount, in the end i chose Dell XPS over a macbook pro becasue it was £1000 cheaper for similar specs.

 

[brendy]

I'd beg to differ, Apple will give you a free OS update every year whereas a windows upgrade isn't cheap

Apple OS only runs on their own hardware and its advantageous for them to give it away, Microsoft is much more universal and runs on millions of combinations of hardware

Everything else is pretty much similar with the only real exception being some open source software where Apple quite rightly in most cases block a lot of installs because of security and stability issues.

But as adults we can choose which software we want to use outside what we are told we can only use? Open office, libre office, romraider, gimp, insert one of a million useful apps here..


The apple eco system is for those who prefer to have no complications in storing their million selfies and other photos and not worry about how they get to see them but with the trade off of functionality and options. The vast majority of macs used to be used for teaching kids and running sophisticated art/design packages, nowadays they are status symbol internet browsers, expensive ones at that. This is my opinion backed up by 20 + years in the business.

 

[Val]

Apple OS only runs on their own hardware and its advantageous for them to give it away, Microsoft is much more universal and runs on millions of combinations of hardware

But as adults we can choose which software we want to use outside what we are told we can only use? Open office, libre office, romraider, gimp, insert one of a million useful apps here..


The apple eco system is for those who prefer to have no complications in storing their million selfies and other photos and not worry about how they get to see them but with the trade off of functionality and options. The vast majority of macs used to be used for teaching kids and running sophisticated art/design packages, nowadays they are status symbol internet browsers, expensive ones at that. This is my opinion backed up by 20 + years in the business.

I don't doubt you, just stating facts which you appear to agree with :rofl:

 

[brendy]

I don't doubt you, just stating facts which you appear to agree with :rofl:

Eh? You say apple rightly block open source. I disagreed and gave examples of great open source software.
Yes apple give their os free but you have to spend over a grand to get it in the first place, their hardware would still run fine on windows given most of it is currently intel kit anyway. That may well change when they have to use their own processors but that'll drive prices up even higher.

 

[Val]

Eh? You say apple rightly block open source. I disagreed and gave examples of great open source software.
Yes apple give their os free but you have to spend over a grand to get it in the first place, their hardware would still run fine on windows given most of it is currently intel kit anyway. That may well change when they have to use their own processors but that'll drive prices up even higher.

I said apple choose to block some open source and rightly so, feel free to scroll up and read again. You'll know with your experience there is lots of dreadful open source packages out there bundled with all sorts of nonsense which are IMO rightly block. Im sure there are tonnes out there you wouldn't touch either.

 

[simmb]

Isn't MAC OS nicked from BSD? So Apple took something that was open source and free, initialy charged for it, then decided to give it away for free but it only runs on their hardware. No wonder they have swanky offices.