Can someone tell me if this is a good Deal? Mini+Display

[zman2005]

I don't really know much about how much these computers are worth since they change so much. So could anyone tell me how much I should be paying for this set up. I want to trade my ibook to this guy plus cash too, so how much cash should I offer? Here is the set up.

Apple Mac Mini G4 1.42 MHz
1Gb RAM
80Gb HD
Superdrive CD-R/DVD+-RW
ATI radeon video card

Apple Cinema Display 20"
1680x1050 (HD ready!!)
DVI-D + 2 USB + 2 Firewire

[macleod]

What are the specs on your iBook? Just guessing but maybe the ibook and the mini cancel eachother out then just cash for the display. Just my thoughts. Maybe like 400 and the iBook? Also how old are the mini and display?

[zman2005]

the mini and ibook are each about a year old. THe specs on the ibook are:

1.33powerpc g4
768 ram
superdrive
14inch

[chucker]

1680x1050 (HD ready!!)

Well, technically, that's not full HD resolution, and even if it was, you'd have black borders because the ratio is slightly different.

[zman2005]

i basically want to have a flat screen TV and Computer all in one in my dorm room next year. Will that set up allow that? What else would I need to buy if that won't do? And will TV be like normal TV if i use that dispaly, in regards to remote control and channels and all. I won't have to stream stuff will I?

[Windowsrookie]

You need to buy an external TV tuner card for the mac mini, wich will run you around $100. Or you can buy a HD TV and hook the mac mini up to it.

[Brave Ulysses]

i basically want to have a flat screen TV and Computer all in one in my dorm room next year. Will that set up allow that? What else would I need to buy if that won't do? And will TV be like normal TV if i use that dispaly, in regards to remote control and channels and all. I won't have to stream stuff will I?

Why don't you buy an iMac then? iMacs are a far better option for that purpose.

Even then, it's a dorm room, cramped quarters... the iBook would work fine. You can hook the tv tuner up to the iBook. maybe even sell it and get a MacBook if you would prefer. It's much nicer to have the portability.

[zman2005]

I want a big display, and I've enjoyed the ibook, but i want something that will now "wow" ppl. How does a remote control workw/the display? How much would an HD TV Tuner run?

[zman2005]

I would really like to know how much yall think this is worth. THANKS ALOT FOR THE HELP, I can't wait to get my mini.




# 1.42GHz PowerPC G4
# 1GB DDR SDRAM
# 80GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
# DVD-ROM / CD-RW
# ATI Radeon 9200 Graphics 32MB DDR
# Built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet
# Built-in AirPort Extreme wireless (802.11g) & Bluetooth
# One FireWire 400 port; two high-speed USB 2.0 ports
# Built-in speaker and headphone jack
# Includes Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, iLife '06, AppleWorks, Classic Environment, plus more

[Windowsrookie]

$500

[defaultmike]

more or less $400 I'd say

[Brave Ulysses]

I want a big display, and I've enjoyed the ibook, but i want something that will now "wow" ppl. How does a remote control workw/the display? How much would an HD TV Tuner run?

Wow factors wear off pretty fast and are usually financially and practically stupid.

[zman2005]

IS this a good deal then? Im goin to get a mac mini either way,

1.5GHz Intel Core Solo
512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
60GB Serial ATA hard drive
Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0

FOR 520? GOod Deal>?

[Jerman]

Just be careful about "wowing" the wrong person in a dorm... They get this funny idea that they can take whatever they want.

[zman2005]

i understand and its more for myself, If I can get a good deal on a display then I want to do it, b/c i want HD TV anyways. SO how bout that mac mini, decent deal? Thanks

[Brave Ulysses]

IS this a good deal then? Im goin to get a mac mini either way,

1.5GHz Intel Core Solo
512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
60GB Serial ATA hard drive
Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0

FOR 520? GOod Deal>?

Good price.

But I honestly would have to recommend an iMac over the set up you are choosing. If you can't afford the 20 inch, the 17 inch is a great deal, you may lose the screen real estate over the mini setup but its a better bang for the buck and better performer, especially for HDTV

[zman2005]

is it really a better deal? I want a bigger screen than 20in tho. thats why i think im going to go for the mac and display sset up b/c if I get a 30 in. display that could be a really nice tv. HOW is the iMac better for HDTV? Thanks for the help

[PB PM]

The Mini wont support a 30"LCD, so you might have a problem there. (Apple only gives buyers an option of the 20" or 23" LCD on there site for this very reason).

[MCQ]

The Mini wont support a 30"LCD, so you might have a problem there. (Apple only gives buyers an option of the 20" or 23" LCD on there site for this very reason).

Well, it won't support the 30" ACD or Dell 3007fpw, but it should support a 30" LCD TV that runs at say, 1366x768.

Although, I don't know why you'd want to do that, as you'd be limiting yourself during regular computer usage to a relatively low resolution.

Edit: Oh yeah - is this for a dorm? Getting a 30" LCD for a dorm is insane overkill. I don't know what you'd be trying to do with that... other than beg to get it stolen. A 20" display would be more than large enough in a cramped dorm setting where you're no more than 6-8 feet from any object at any given time.

[Dave]

Methinks you're better off keeping your iBook for now and getting an HD TV (and one that can at least do 1080i). Add the mini later.

[zman2005]

ya i don't even know wtf i want now, it doesn't seem good to go through all this shit to just get a 20in display

[Jerman]

Nothing wrong with a big display in a dorm... I had a projector in my room last year, and it was lotsa fun. Was well over 100 inches. Thing was, I was in a brand new dorm, new locks, very few people living in it in total. (Under 100). So I felt my stuff was pretty safe. But anything other than projection gets difficult, as it will take up a lot of room. I simply put a bed sheet in front of my lofted bed, and projected from the back of the room. Really, at those screen sizes it is better to look at projectors. Plus, when it is not in use you can easily hide it. Just a thought...

[Brave Ulysses]

is it really a better deal? I want a bigger screen than 20in tho. thats why i think im going to go for the mac and display sset up b/c if I get a 30 in. display that could be a really nice tv. HOW is the iMac better for HDTV? Thanks for the help

Where to begin?
Faster (dual core)
Cheaper to upgrade the RAM
Much larger Hard drive
Far superior graphics performance

HD takes up a lot of drive space if you plan on doing any time shifting or recording.

It's just a better and smarter purchase.

Honestly, I was in dorms for far too long. A 30 inch Cinema Display while cool would be absolutely ridiculous and overkill. I got by with a 15 inch Powerbook as my tv for college and it was just fine. Back then I had the original EyeTV USB 1.0 and it did the job.

Either the Macbook or the iMac is what I think you should consider. I would think you would like the portability of the MacBook but if you don't, you really can't beat the iMac in terms of features vs. price. That's why I traded my Powerbook for an iMac 20 inch last year. I got tired of paying more for less when I didn't really need the portability.

[Partial]

stick with what you have and buy a big display? sell and buy macbook? whatev, just don't do that deal its terrible!

[digitalprimate]

Ifind that the portability of a notebook is always so much more of use, especially if you're a student. You're so gonna regret selling your iBook or not having bought a MacBook.

My last notebook went kaplooie a few months ago, but I'm already yearning for a new one (Mac or PC don't matter). I've had to work on a desktop for almost a year and it hasn't been fun at all.

I'd go with the suggestion of buying a TV tuner for your computer and watch it there.