[Cube] Re: mac mini

[Erik Ableson]

Hmmm - my current question in the planning for a media centre computer.  I'm currently torn between using the Cube and upgrading or buying a mini for that role.

Although the current logic is looking like the following :

Headless Cube handling all server tasks, web server, mail server, DNS, etc which runs 7/24 and is utterly silent (especially after I removed the drive and run it off an external firewire disk).
Mac Mini with the EyeTV 200 since even if there's a slight fan noise, I won't care if I'm watching TV, movies or playing music.  Then it gets the instant sleep treatment when not in use.

Advantage Mini with the faster bus for handling all of my iPhoto chores and stuff while advantage Cube for the silence aspect.

Comments ?

Erik

On Wednesday, January 12, 2005, at 02:14PM, Joseph B. Gurman <jgurman at comcast.net> wrote:

>     Kunga wrote:
>
>>Downside of Mac mini:
>>1 GB RAM limit
>>32 MB Video Limit
>>1.43 GHz Speed Limit
>>FAN. How loud it is is yet to be determined. But any fan is problematic
>>in my opinion.
>>
>>So it's not dead quiet. And we have a 1.6 GHz fanless G4 upgrade coming
>>soon from GigaDesigns later this month.
>>
>>Upside of Mac mini:
>>
>>Super Small 6.5" x 2" space saver
>>USB 2
>>Airport Extreme
>>Bluetooth
>>Native DVI Port
>>Low Entry Price
>
>     I would add what I consider the most obvious: list price within 
>about $50 of the price of a Cube CPU upgrade, with no muss, fuss, or 
>thermal paste. (I know not all the upgrades require it.)
>
>     There's also:
>
>167 MHz system bus (vs. 100 MHz in the Cube)
>
>24X CD-R/8X  DVD reader
>
>Standard audio line-out jack
>
>graphics and DVI port support current Cinema (20-inch) and Cinema HD 
>(23-inch) Displays
>
>S-video and composite video out
>
>and my favorite....
>
>the possibility, with AppleCare, of Apple support through 2008.
>
>     And of course, you can stack five of them in the volume of a Cube.