I think I'm gonna buy a Mac Mini

[paddy.]

I've been doing work shadowing for the past two days at a small design firm in Belfast. I happened to mention that I like all kinds of design, inclluding design for print. Now according to Damien (manager of firm) if you design for print you should use a Mac because most printers will use Macs. I also decided I really like many features of OSX, in particular FontBook, iTunes and Safari.

So I've decided to save for a Mac Mini. They are £398.99 on Amazon.co.uk so I'll have to save for a while. Maybe they'll get cheaper sometime in the next year. Anyone else in the same situation? Would anyone recommend a MAc Mini?

Thanks,
Paddy

[Butters]

Yeah go for it, Macs rule!

[intrudah]

At my current work doing web development most people use Linux (fedora 2) for coding, but for design of anything complicated Linux is not really an option. I used windows for all my design, but it's all for the internet and rarely for print.

When I used to work at a printing company designing logos and other layouts we used Macs and I personally hated it, but change is never easy. I remember Photoshop ran a lot smoother and made the process easier then the Windows box I have to deal with now.

Not sure if this helps at all but if your just getting into design for print a mac is the way to go.

Never had the chance to use a Mac-mini but I would go for a larger mac, since minis only use "1.42GHz G4 processor" which is OK but it's not a great investment compared to other models.

[Krilnon]

I just wondering, but what do you like about Safari? I've only had trouble with it.

[Stratification]

Just make sure you spring for the 512 MB memory, or better yet, buy a 1 GB stick and put it in yourself (if you're brave enough). Save money that way, and get the memory.

[paddy.]

duke
I just wondering, but what do you like about Safari? I've only had trouble with it.

I dunno. I just remember liking it. No idea exactly why. To be honest I might just still use Firefox (which I switched to last night :thumb: ).

In response to Intrudah, I've got a very limited budget (my bank account currently contains about somewhere around £60) so I won't be getting a G5 or a Power Book just yet. :beam: I'll still be using a PC alot anyways. I also just like Mac Minis. (-:

[Butters]

Safari is sweet, I prefer it to Firefox on my Mac.

If you do buy a Mac Mini, get it with minimal RAM and install it yourself, becuase Apple seriously overcharge for it.

[paddy.]

The 256MB one is only £50 more on Amazon and I could literally kill someone trying to do anything to a computer. Seriously, I can barely install a usb modem without melting the hard drive or something stupid.

ME + ELCTRONICS = :puzzle: > :ne: > :look: > :huh: > :run: > :d:

[Butters]

lol fair enough.

[senocular]

Id wait until tiger comes out. If you got some money to spare, spring for a G5, they are sooooo much better than G4s.

[Mik3]

Just make sure you spring for the 512 MB memory, or better yet, buy a 1 GB stick and put it in yourself (if you're brave enough). Save money that way, and get the memory.

I agree (also i heard they lowered the price of the 1GB sticks)

I'm writing this ona mac mini right now. It's awesome.

[Krilnon]

Yes, I also think you should just stay with Firefox. That's what I'm using now. (On Linux)

[Stratification]

They did reduce the price on the 1 GB ram, but it's still $325 to add it. Firefox could be a good option, though I've heard it doesn't look quite like it belongs on a Mac (widgets aren't quite right). Could look into Camino, (link here (http://www.mozilla.org/products/camino/)) but it's not to 1.0 yet. Now all I need to do is figure out how I can get one for me.

[Mik3]

I like Safari the best. Camino second best.

[paddy.]

God **** Americans get everything cheaper! :m:
A Mac Mini 80GB basic unit bought in the UK costs £400.
The exact same thing bought in the US costs $600 or £318.

:huh:

That is so unfair. I hate VAT. :(

[Butters]

Everyone gets stuff cheaper than the UK. London is the 2nd most expensive city in the world (I think Tokyo is 1st).

[Disco-Stu]

England and Japan are both islands. That's why everything is so expensive. To ship something there is a !@#$ because you only serve that certain population. When you ship something to the US, you can ship in WAAAY more on each ship, so as to send units to Canada, Mexico, AND the USA all in one boat trip!

[Butters]

Currency is also what makes stuff over here expensive, if the UK was on the Euro, everything would be cheaper.

[paddy.]

And Apple don't let you send US priced Macs to the UK. lol

[Butters]

Yeah, that sucks. You can't buy songs from the iTMS US either :(