Mac Mini vs. MBP

Is anyone using the new(er) Minis -- w/ the GeF 9400 vid cards and DDR3 mem -- for general photo editing?

Think of it as a space-saving, wife computer that I might use on occasion!!

I know it's not a heavy-hitting machine, but I don't need it to be. I also know what an iMac, Mac Pro, MB, and MBP can do (and not do!)....but I confess to being a bit in the dark (as far as first hand exposure goes) w/the newer (post-DDR2) Minis.

I'm particularly curious how it compares with the lower-end MBP, since it has very similar specs (NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, 2.53GHz/2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo options, same front-side bus, etc.). Main difference (minus the obvious hardware stuff!) so far as I can see is that MBP still gives you an 8gb upgrade option (vs. 4gb on the Mini). I've used a MBP spec'd out with 4gb a fair amount, so I'm curious if I should expect much difference out of similarly-spec'd Mini!

Thanks in advance....

I've got a early 2009 mac mini which I use for photo editing. Its specs are 2ghz c2d, 3gb ddr3 and obviously the 9400m. Its not as quick as my 24" imac but its certainly not slow either. I can't compare it to a macbook pro as I don't have one but spec wise they seem quite similar as you've already stated. I run adobe lightroom 3 and photoshop cs4 on it and I've got no dramas with it. I don't batch process ever but I do big imports to the mac mini and then archive all my raw's to external hdd's and I'm really happy with the way it works.

Obvious advantage of the macbook pro is that it comes with a screen but its probably not the best to edit on anyway. As for ram, I can't see why 2x 4gb ddr3 sodimms wouldn't work. The hardware is very similar across the mini and macbook range and I'm sure the logic board and all the hardware in a mini is just a scaled down version of whats in a macbook pro. Personally if I were you I would change the hard drive in the mini because it seems to be a 5400rpm drive. Another cool feature of the mac mini is that you can run two displays off them. I wouldn't bother looking at the pre 2009 minis as they have slightly older hardware and a really bad integrated graphics. I loaded vista on the mini for a laugh and surprisingly call of duty world at war runs very reasonable on it! I hope this all made sense.

red-barron wrote in post #9106588
I hope this all made sense.

Yup....that's the kind of 'real world' feedback I was looking for.

The last Mac Mini I used (first hand) with any regularity was one of the first G4's. I knew the latest jump to DDR3 (not to mention the cpu upgrades) upped the ante so-to-speak....but I was still having a hard time getting much feedback amongst any photog users. Most everyone else seems to be using it for more basic 'home computing' stuff.

And yes....I'd likely be upgrading the HDD, if I find myself needing to use it!

Thanks!

Apple releases new Mac computers every year and the MacBook pro line is up for an update so I would wait until they update them, as far as performance they are basically the same thing so unless you plan to upgrade you can go with the mini, however having a laptop is much more convenient

1911 wrote in post #9106805
Apple releases new Mac computers every year and the MacBook pro line is up for an update so I would wait until they update them, as far as performance they are basically the same thing so unless you plan to upgrade you can go with the mini, however having a laptop is much more convenient

Right....but note in the original question that I'm not asking for a new MBP for myself. [My Mac Pro tower at home and MB for my 'day job' do me just fine! ] This is (primarily) a 2nd home computer for the wife, with some other possibilities down the road of using it as a back-up computer for my own occasional usage as well.

Hence, I mostly want to have an idea of what I'm getting....and I'm least familiar with the post-DDR2 Mac Minis (from a software-user standpoint).

mini has the same processor, graphics, and hdd that a MBP has, they should be 100% identical in performance (as long as the processor speeds are the same)

basroil wrote in post #9107459
mini has the same processor, graphics, and hdd that a MBP has, they should be 100% identical in performance (as long as the processor speeds are the same)

As I said the MBP is expecting an upgrade this spring, if you can wait for the new models come out.

basroil wrote in post #9107459
mini has the same processor, graphics, and hdd that a MBP has, they should be 100% identical in performance (as long as the processor speeds are the same)

That's exactly right. You'd be buying a MBP without the 13.3", 15.4", 17 in screen...

Scout7id wrote in post #9157843
That's exactly right. You'd be buying a MBP without the 13.3", 15.4", 17 in screen...

$600 model is actually slower, $800+ ones are the same as a MBP (but still slower than the 17" or a fully upgraded 15"

I have the new mini, 2.53 machine with 4 gigs ram. Its a great little machine. Runs LR and the whole CS4 suite remarkable well. Cool running, no noise, the only way I know its on is by the LED light in front. Only gripe is wish it had esata but there are hacks out there for that. FW800 runs rather quick. When its time to upgrade, this machine will get repurposed as the home media center.

1911 wrote in post #9107462
As I said the MBP is expecting an upgrade this spring, if you can wait for the new models come out.

And in spring, the new updates will be ready to come out mid summer... Its all a repeating cycle, just have to know when to jump in.

cory1848 wrote in post #9161217
I have the new mini, 2.53 machine with 4 gigs ram. Its a great little machine. Runs LR and the whole CS4 suite remarkable well. Cool running, no noise, the only way I know its on is by the LED light in front. Only gripe is wish it had esata but there are hacks out there for that. FW800 runs rather quick. When its time to upgrade, this machine will get repurposed as the home media center.

Actually pretty useless as a HTPC due to the lack of digital/optical audio out, so you'll need to get yourself a usb soundcard for it to work. And currently you can't use HDCP unless your TV has a DVI input, most dvi->hdmi converters lose HDCP compatibility. If niether of those fits your bill though, it would make a great little box (though not as good as a true HTPC)

basroil wrote in post #9161330
Actually pretty useless as a HTPC due to the lack of digital/optical audio out, so you'll need to get yourself a usb soundcard for it to work. And currently you can't use HDCP unless your TV has a DVI input, most dvi->hdmi converters lose HDCP compatibility. If niether of those fits your bill though, it would make a great little box (though not as good as a true HTPC)

Actually it's not 'useless' at all. DVI is a digital medium and does support HDCP, Apple video does support HDCP and Apple's audio jack is digital (must use Optical Toslink to 3.5mm). I'm not sure what a 'real' HTPC is, but the Mac Mini fit's it's design specs perfectly. Using things like Hulu, Amazon, HDTV USB and so on a Mac Mini is the 'perfect' HTPC. The things it does not support is blu-ray & cable cards which cable companies hate, don't support well, have limited channels and have a history of flakiness (due to the stated reasons). If you use NetFlix or WD movie boxes the Mac Mini is going to be a large step up. More over, iTune's integrates perfectly with your home network which means a potentially huge library of music, movies, podcasts and music videos - not to mention HD content (which requires Mac's to support HDCP btw). That only leaves blu-ray, which I agree, is a shame. With blu-ray, the Mac Mini would be the 'perfect' HTPC. Can you imagin anything easyer than just plugging it in, typing in your pass for iTunes Home Sharing and start watching movies on your TV? Easy-peezy!

basroil wrote in post #9161330
Actually pretty useless as a HTPC due to the lack of digital/optical audio out, so you'll need to get yourself a usb soundcard for it to work. And currently you can't use HDCP unless your TV has a DVI input, most dvi->hdmi converters lose HDCP compatibility. If niether of those fits your bill though, it would make a great little box (though not as good as a true HTPC)

MaxxuM wrote in post #9164107
Actually it's not 'useless' at all. DVI is a digital medium and does support HDCP, Apple video does support HDCP and Apple's audio jack is digital (must use Optical Toslink to 3.5mm). I'm not sure what a 'real' HTPC is, but the Mac Mini fit's it's design specs perfectly. Using things like Hulu, Amazon, HDTV USB and so on a Mac Mini is the 'perfect' HTPC. The things it does not support is blu-ray & cable cards which cable companies hate, don't support well, have limited channels and have a history of flakiness (due to the stated reasons). If you use NetFlix or WD movie boxes the Mac Mini is going to be a large step up. More over, iTune's integrates perfectly with your home network which means a potentially huge library of music, movies, podcasts and music videos - not to mention HD content (which requires Mac's to support HDCP btw). That only leaves blu-ray, which I agree, is a shame. With blu-ray, the Mac Mini would be the 'perfect' HTPC. Can you imagin anything easyer than just plugging it in, typing in your pass for iTunes Home Sharing and start watching movies on your TV? Easy-peezy!

You two are cute. Kind of reminds me of an old married couple.

Once agin, baso, you don't know what you're talking about. If you don't know, then why do you say anything? All you do is mislead others.

basroil wrote in post #9161330
Actually pretty useless as a HTPC due to the lack of digital/optical audio out,

It has both digital audio out and in.

No, you won't.

Not true either. Many of Apple's HD videos have HDCP and if one uses a current Mini with a DVI-HDMI converter HDCP remains intact when using iTunes, Front Row or QuickTime. In addition, all one has to do is pass their iTunes Store-purchased videos through Requiem to remove HDCP and encryption.

What's a true HTPC?