Everything 709 says, I'd say too. That should do the trick for the kind of projects they're wanting to do. And that you can open it up and add (affordable, reasonably-priced) third-party RAM down the road is very nice.
Get the barebones, stock machine for $469, add external storage (and RAM) as funds free up. Should be a nice little system.
I see where OWC is selling 32GB RAM (two 16GB chips) for $159, so that's always something to check into when the time comes. Apple probably charges $600 for that.
EDIT: I was being a bit joke-y/snarky, but I just checked and that's
exactly what they charge to take the Intel-based Mac mini to 32GB RAM.
