The Mini when paired with a TB Display does give you the ability to update/upgrade the computer while keeping the monitor (and keyboard and mouse/trackpad) as opposed to having to ditch the iMac entirely if you want to upgrade to a new processor (for example). But based upon the slow refresh cycle, chances are good that you may be ready for a new monitor by the time an update hits on the Mini.
You might as well ask why a pickup truck is better than a convertible?
They're entirely different computers. The iMac is an all-in-one where everything is in one box. The Mini does not include a monitor and is generally an entry-level machine with moderate performance.
Which one is better depends on your budget, your needs, whether you have a monitor already, and so on.
Fair enough. My iMac is the first Mac I've ever owned, and I didn't consider the Mini at all. But I liked the "all in one" approach of the iMac. I was just asking because the Mac Mini owners seem to be nuts about them, I just wasn't sure why. Hope they get their upgrade soon
Can someone explain to me why a Mac Mini is better than an iMac? I'm genuinely curious.
Hope it's true, though. I see that many, many people have been waiting on this.
EDIT: The analyst has been wrong on 3 out of 4, so far. Why's he worth quoting?
MacMini although doesn't have the graphics power the iMac does, the MacMini doesn't have a built in screen. So if the screen was to go bad on an iMac one would be stuck with a Computer and no screen making that person have to go buy an external screen just to use their Computer. Being that the MacMini has capability to handle most basic games not it can do just as much as the base line iMac. One last note. Footprint. The MacMini takes up a smaller footprint. It can be used in the living room on a large screen TV or on a desk with a smaller monitor.
"Apples lack of updates on their entire desktop line is ridiculous, you can forgive them for not following the 3-6 month schedule of their competitors but 18 months + takes the piss."
"iMac: 18 months old already, and the processor they're rumored to be putting in to the next update is already nearly 8 months old."
Pretty much it.
Charging over £500 quid for a tiny box with integrated crappics, a 5400rpm HD, no k/b, no monitor...no mouse.
Apple Audacity.
As is letting the desktop line languish for a year and a half...despite plenty of ram, gpu and cpu options being available for ages.
The 'pro' joke update typifies the current desktop neglect by Apple.
I agree that this is getting ridiculous. I would /love/ to have reasonable options for a Mac Pro AND a new iMac at this point. Given how long I've been waiting for a new iMac (Since July, and my oldest iMac finally died on Sunday), supply constraints don't make me feel that much better.
As the iPod, iPad, iPhone are the products making them big bucks these days, the computers are on the back burner and not worth attention anymore. Pissing me off!
Replace it with one box that can take everything from integrated crappics, to mainstream gpu to high end gpu. i3 to i7. Job done.
1 box. That should be enough streamlining for even Apple to cope with...
Yeesh. One desktop to go with the one sodding monitor they make...
Lemon Bon Bon.
Depending on your needs you might have all different internal components. The box itself is only a hundred bucks or so. One reason the MacPro is so large is you need all kinds of cooling and large power supply where as lighter duty computer gets by with a lot less of everything. You might as well make it tailored to fit the individual needs otherwise the cpu, power supply and cooling would be all mismatched. Unfortunately for hobbyists and tinkerers, Apple doesn't make a mid-sized tower. It is either All Pro or All-in-one.
Can someone explain to me why a Mac Mini is better than an iMac? I'm genuinely curious.
Easy. It allows me to buy a separate NON-REFLECTIVE display.
Currently, Apple doesn't make a consumer-grade machine that I can use, other than the mini. It seems some people can learn to disregard the reflections in their displays, but apparently my eyes are actually wired to my brain such that I get an accurate picture of what's in front of me at all times. There ARE reflections in those frickin' glossy displays (in virtually all "normal" environments), it's just a matter of whether or not you can learn to ignore them.
Oh, iirc there is the BTO option on the MacBook Pro, but that forces waay too many pixels. The current 15" models already require me to wear reading glasses, I'm not going to get something where the dot pitch is even smaller. Why on earth did they remove the ability to order a "standard" 1440x900-ish matte display on the 15"? Weird.
Oh, and plus the other reasons above, i.e. headless, home-theatre, etc.
Easy. It allows me to buy a separate NON-REFLECTIVE display.
Yeah, because an iMac sure doesn't afford that opti… oh. wait.
…apparently my eyes are actually wired to my brain such that I get an accurate picture of what's in front of me at all times. There ARE reflections in those frickin' glossy displays (in virtually all "normal" environments), it's just a matter of whether or not you can learn to ignore them.
Turning on and actually using the display helps with that.
Why on earth did they remove the ability to order a "standard" 1440x900-ish matte display on the 15"?
Seen the retina MacBook Pro? That's what a Haswell iMac will be like.
It isn't "better" it is a different platform. It's most important features that you can match into the monitor of your choice. The use of the word better here is misplaced in my opinion,itis like asking how is a MBP better than an IMac or how an AIR is better than either. User needs really dictate which is better.
Can someone explain to me why a Mac Mini is better than an iMac? I'm genuinely curious.
Hope it's true, though. I see that many, many people have been waiting on this.
Yes, it should be a excellent update bringing with it modern I/O, a nice performance boost and possibly cooler operation.
EDIT: The analyst has been wrong on 3 out of 4, so far. Why's he worth quoting?
None or them are worth quoting but then we would have a boring rumors site. Plus stock outs are a real metric, they can be caused by many things but the timing would seem to indicate that a Mini update is near.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo1234
Same here
And that's how many more months?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta
You might as well ask why a pickup truck is better than a convertible?
They're entirely different computers. The iMac is an all-in-one where everything is in one box. The Mini does not include a monitor and is generally an entry-level machine with moderate performance.
Which one is better depends on your budget, your needs, whether you have a monitor already, and so on.
Fair enough. My iMac is the first Mac I've ever owned, and I didn't consider the Mini at all. But I liked the "all in one" approach of the iMac. I was just asking because the Mac Mini owners seem to be nuts about them, I just wasn't sure why. Hope they get their upgrade soon
Quote:
Originally Posted by allenbf
Can someone explain to me why a Mac Mini is better than an iMac? I'm genuinely curious.
Hope it's true, though. I see that many, many people have been waiting on this.
EDIT: The analyst has been wrong on 3 out of 4, so far. Why's he worth quoting?
MacMini although doesn't have the graphics power the iMac does, the MacMini doesn't have a built in screen. So if the screen was to go bad on an iMac one would be stuck with a Computer and no screen making that person have to go buy an external screen just to use their Computer. Being that the MacMini has capability to handle most basic games not it can do just as much as the base line iMac. One last note. Footprint. The MacMini takes up a smaller footprint. It can be used in the living room on a large screen TV or on a desk with a smaller monitor.
"Apples lack of updates on their entire desktop line is ridiculous, you can forgive them for not following the 3-6 month schedule of their competitors but 18 months + takes the piss."
"iMac: 18 months old already, and the processor they're rumored to be putting in to the next update is already nearly 8 months old."
Pretty much it.
Charging over £500 quid for a tiny box with integrated crappics, a 5400rpm HD, no k/b, no monitor...no mouse.
Apple Audacity.
As is letting the desktop line languish for a year and a half...despite plenty of ram, gpu and cpu options being available for ages.
The 'pro' joke update typifies the current desktop neglect by Apple.
Lemon Bon Bon.
Just scrap the entire desktop line.
Replace it with one box that can take everything from integrated crappics, to mainstream gpu to high end gpu. i3 to i7. Job done.
1 box. That should be enough streamlining for even Apple to cope with...
Yeesh. One desktop to go with the one sodding monitor they make...
Lemon Bon Bon.
Originally Posted by Lemon Bon Bon.
One desktop to go with the one sodding monitor they make...
They make two and sell three.
Hurry up and make computers, Apple!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
They make two and sell three.
iPhone 5.
That's 4.
Lemon Bon Bon.
In a word, "headless"
Check these out.
http://store.h-sq.com/Mounts/Mac+mini.html
Less movable parts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemon Bon Bon.
Just scrap the entire desktop line.
Replace it with one box that can take everything from integrated crappics, to mainstream gpu to high end gpu. i3 to i7. Job done.
1 box. That should be enough streamlining for even Apple to cope with...
Yeesh. One desktop to go with the one sodding monitor they make...
Lemon Bon Bon.
Depending on your needs you might have all different internal components. The box itself is only a hundred bucks or so. One reason the MacPro is so large is you need all kinds of cooling and large power supply where as lighter duty computer gets by with a lot less of everything. You might as well make it tailored to fit the individual needs otherwise the cpu, power supply and cooling would be all mismatched. Unfortunately for hobbyists and tinkerers, Apple doesn't make a mid-sized tower. It is either All Pro or All-in-one.
All updated overnight, all at once...
Yeah, stupid I know... I'll go back into my hole.
Originally Posted by Lemon Bon Bon.
iPhone 5. That's 4.
Wait, what?
Originally Posted by xgman
more forced obsolescence.
You don't have any idea what that phrase means, do you?
Quote:
Can someone explain to me why a Mac Mini is better than an iMac? I'm genuinely curious.
Easy. It allows me to buy a separate NON-REFLECTIVE display.
Currently, Apple doesn't make a consumer-grade machine that I can use, other than the mini. It seems some people can learn to disregard the reflections in their displays, but apparently my eyes are actually wired to my brain such that I get an accurate picture of what's in front of me at all times. There ARE reflections in those frickin' glossy displays (in virtually all "normal" environments), it's just a matter of whether or not you can learn to ignore them.
Oh, iirc there is the BTO option on the MacBook Pro, but that forces waay too many pixels. The current 15" models already require me to wear reading glasses, I'm not going to get something where the dot pitch is even smaller. Why on earth did they remove the ability to order a "standard" 1440x900-ish matte display on the 15"? Weird.
Oh, and plus the other reasons above, i.e. headless, home-theatre, etc.
Originally Posted by Blah64
Easy. It allows me to buy a separate NON-REFLECTIVE display.
Yeah, because an iMac sure doesn't afford that opti… oh. wait.
…apparently my eyes are actually wired to my brain such that I get an accurate picture of what's in front of me at all times. There ARE reflections in those frickin' glossy displays (in virtually all "normal" environments), it's just a matter of whether or not you can learn to ignore them.
Turning on and actually using the display helps with that.
Why on earth did they remove the ability to order a "standard" 1440x900-ish matte display on the 15"?
Seen the retina MacBook Pro? That's what a Haswell iMac will be like.
None or them are worth quoting but then we would have a boring rumors site. Plus stock outs are a real metric, they can be caused by many things but the timing would seem to indicate that a Mini update is near.