Assuming Apple keeps updating the Mac mini, I considered whether, in a few years, I could replace my 2013 27“ iMac with a Mac mini and a 27” Thunderbolt display. The new Mac mini may be all the machine I need for fun photo editing with Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop.
The nagging questions are:
How well does the Intel Core i5 3.0GHz 6-core 8th-generation processor in the mini perform in comparison to the 3.5 GHz Intel Core i7 in the iMac?
Where can I find comparisons of the two CPUs?
What is the life a computer display? What is the rate of obsolescence?
Is the initial (and replacement) cost of a Mac mini + 27″ Thunderbolt 3 display more than the cost of a new 27″ iMac?
If a MacBook Pro is your primary computer, you're probably going to want a big-screen monitor for your desktop. These are some of the top-rated options compatible with Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C, in no particular order.
With the addition of a 20″ iMac for the kids (and an Ikea Vika Amon desk to display it) we are now completely a Windows-free house. This development was an important goal for me. I am an anal retentive obsessive compulsive type who likes everything “just so.” It’s bad. I buy all my clothes from the same retailer/brand: shirts, undershirts, pants, underpants, undershirts, shoes, coats. My last three cars were all made by Honda. My TV, DVD player, stereo, and alarm clock are all made by Sony.
What started as new found love for a Mac mini and an iPod shuffle in 2005 wound up being an obsession to do everything the Apple way. We are a family of four; I have an iPod Touch (and maybe an iPhone this summer), my wife has a Red iPod Nano, my son has an iPod nano, and my daughter has the original shuffle (she’s the youngest). An Apple Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express provide regular backups, ubiquitous wireless access, and music streaming around the house.
Where my kids used to argue over who crashed the Dell, now they argue who spent more time with “MackieMac.” Parental Controls was one of the first features I enabled. My kids are addicted to the Pokemon, Webkinz, American Girl crack. They get to spend one hour each per day; 3 hours on the weekend. Enough to keep them out of the Disney clinic for recovering screen addicts. Being kids their favourite application is Photo Booth. This fact might be worse than letting them catch another Chimchar. They have also taken relieved me of the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse I used on my MacBook.
Dell Inspiron 2600 - Circa 2001
My wife is enjoying computing life without duct tape. She was previously addicted to iTunes Bollywood edition, but the lack of Windows crashes now allows her to up her habit slightly. Hits by Lata and A.R Rahman are helping fill the 120GB hard drive on her new White MacBook. She has also upgraded to scolding me via iChat Video.
G4 Mac mini
Meanwhile, the Mac mini that started the obsession serves the most important role; as a media server and repository for all our family photos and videos. Mac mini has been upgraded from Tiger to Leopard; from iLife 06 to iLife 09; from 512MB of RAM to 1 GB. He’s the one that paved the path for the others to follow. Apple turned a $500 customers into a life long addict.
Everyone has predictions for MacWorld 2008. The pundits are making more predictions about possible or probable Apple product announcements than actual Apple product announcement in 2007 and 2008 combined. So let me enter the fray. Here are my predictions (completely based on other predictions I have read).
Updated MacBook Pro.
All aluminium
Better battery life
Revamped Mac mini
All aluminium
Time Capsule form factor
Better graphics and updated ports
Predictions of an Apple media center ( isn’t that Apple TV? ) or of a mini Mac Pro will prove to be incorrect. There will be no new Apple Displays or iPod Nano. Of course my predictions have a 50% margin of error. The only thing I know for sure is that aluminium is the new white.
Everyone has predictions for MacWorld 2008. The pundits are making more predictions about possible or probable Apple product announcements than actual Apple product announcement in 2007 and 2008 combined. So let me enter the fray. Here are my predictions (completely based on other predictions I have read).
