Mac Mini's

Anyone know of a place to get used or refurbished ones on the cheaper side? Would rather avoid a G4, but would also like to spend less than $300, so I realize the budget is limiting.

Ebay

In SF at least, there are plenty on Craigslist at or around $300….

Trolling both. Quite a few less on Craigslist DC, but they are out there.

I looked for a Mac Mini on Craigslist for a while, then I realized that their sellers generally didn't understand that the value of items depreciates significantly the minute it leaves the showroom floor.

Then I realized that even used, a Mac Mini is an extremely poor value, and I bought a new Zino instead.

Did you get a blu-ray model dr. doom?

Doctor wrote:
I looked for a Mac Mini on Craigslist for a while, then I realized that their sellers generally didn't understand that the value of items depreciates significantly the minute it leaves the showroom floor.

Then I realized that even used, a Mac Mini is an extremely poor value, and I bought a new Zino instead.

I completely agree with your thoughts on depreciation. But I disagree with your poor value. In general, the value of the OS alone is worth an extra $50-$75 to me. Added to the ease of use for the programs, and the fact that i don't want to go through the effort to windows-ize any of my files, adds up as well. Plus, this is meant to be a media center computer that plays well with my primary computer (Macbook pro) so you can see why it would be worth it for me to keep it in the family. Even if it is an extra $100+.

A few weeks ago microcenter (one in fairfax) had mac minis 1.83ghz Core 2 Duo 1GB DDR2 for $255.99.  Of course they sold out fast but sometimes they do have some deals on mac minis.  I also think this is an older version but still can't beat that price  ;D

I got the Zino as a Media Center computer too, and it plays well with everything including Air Tunes, which was a pleasant surprise.  (I had a Mac before but it was on its last legs.) And Windows 7 turned out to be surprisingly pleasant to use and nimble.  But I do understand the desire to keep it in the family.

I'm regretting having not gotten the Zino, instead opting for the Zotac Mag-HD.  Everything is great about the machine EXCEPT the wireless and since I've recently moved and was thinking of going wireless in my new setup, it's just not going to be possible.

Redsock, what does the Apple OS offer that compares to Windows Media Center 7?

Vansmack, you can't add an external wi-fi to it?

Doctor wrote:
Vansmack, you can't add an external wi-fi to it?

I can, but that's not the point. 

I bought a machine that had wireless-N and it's crap.  I've been told by Zotac customer service that I should expect a range of "under 20 feet" with their wireless-N cards (!!!).  I have recommended that they advertise this on their web site so folks know before they buy it.  I would have taken it back but I used it past my 30 days in a wired setup and only just recently realized how shoddy the wireless is…

I'd much rather bitch about it, fight with Zotac and never recommend another one of their products again than put an external wireless N card in their otherwise fantastic product. I will get over this of course, but right now while I'm still hot about it, it's a matter of principle.

20 feet? that's absurd

godsshoeshine wrote:
20 feet? that's absurd

Zotac: vansmack, how far is your router from your pc?
vansmack: 25 feet, clear view of the N router
Zotac: Sir, I think that's pretty far already.
vansmack: Well, this Wireless G laptop is right next to the Hd-ND01 and it has full bars and can stream just fine
vansmack: But the Zotac machine has 2 bars and it's N
vansmack: My wife's N laptop can be in the next room and get 4 bars
Zotac:: Actually, I've read a couple of reviews from our customers and even on 22 feet distance, video playback is impossible as they say.
vansmack: With your machine, yes, but not with this laptop or my wife's laptop
vansmack: Thats my point
Zotac:: That is what exactly I am trying to say sir.
vansmack: I guess I'm confused. Are you saying that 22 feet is normal for your machine? That it's acceptable or that it's a problem?
Zotac: That is acceptable, it is just the normal capability of the machine
vansmack: I think you should begin to put that in your advertisements then because that's not accpetable to the average user for Wireless N

guess i'm not buying that machine

vansmack wrote:
I'm regretting having not gotten the Zino, instead opting for the Zotac Mag-HD.  Everything is great about the machine EXCEPT the wireless and since I've recently moved and was thinking of going wireless in my new setup, it's just not going to be possible.

Redsock, what does the Apple OS offer that compares to Windows Media Center 7?

I'm actually planning to use Boxee. So it is the rest of the computer that matters to me, as well as a couple of TB hard drives I don't want to bother partitioning. And i love Transmission as a torrent client. And if i end up using the computer for more than just media, which is possible, I'd rather it be a mac.

redsock wrote:
I'm actually planning to use Boxee.

Boxee the software or Boxee the device?

Smackette, btw, loves Boxee on the HTPC.

vansmack wrote:
Zotac: vansmack, how far is your router from your pc?
vansmack: 25 feet, clear view of the N router
Zotac: Sir, I think that's pretty far already.
vansmack: Well, this Wireless G laptop is right next to the Hd-ND01 and it has full bars and can stream just fine
vansmack: But the Zotac machine has 2 bars and it's N
vansmack: My wife's N laptop can be in the next room and get 4 bars
Zotac:: Actually, I've read a couple of reviews from our customers and even on 22 feet distance, video playback is impossible as they say.
vansmack: With your machine, yes, but not with this laptop or my wife's laptop
vansmack: Thats my point
Zotac:: That is what exactly I am trying to say sir.
vansmack: I guess I'm confused. Are you saying that 22 feet is normal for your machine? That it's acceptable or that it's a problem?
Zotac: That is acceptable, it is just the normal capability of the machine
vansmack: I think you should begin to put that in your advertisements then because that's not accpetable to the average user for Wireless N

Holy crap. That guy's incredulity is incredible.

vansmack wrote:

redsock wrote:
I'm actually planning to use Boxee.

Boxee the software or Boxee the device?

Smackette, btw, loves Boxee on the HTPC.

Boxee the software. Thought about the device, but for $100-$300 more I can get a full fledged computer out of it. And, as I said, the computer may likely become more than just a media center.

One of the things I've noticed since hooking a computer up to my TV is that a lot of software that you might want to use that way, like Itunes, isn't necessarily well designed for that type of use.  Mainly because it's hard to read small text from across a room.    Media Center and Hulu have tried to accommodate that, others don't work quite as well.