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![[F]](/Images/i7/site.gif) TidBITS  TidBITS TidBITS Talk
Mac mini impressions![[kevinv]](/webx/?30@@1) kevinv (apparently) - 03:25pm Feb 15, 2005 PSTvia emailSo I've been using my mini for a whole weekend now and thought I'd upload
some impressions.
< http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07953>
a) 256mb is way too little. Highly recommend you upgrade to 512mb at
least. I went to 1GB. Performance doesn't seem to be significantly higher
than my 667 MHz PowerBook was (I got the 1.4 GHz model.) But I'm not a huge
user of processor intensive applications (yet, I'm hoping to edit and burn
some DVDs with iMovie and iDVD.) I had 1GB in my PowerBook too.
b) if you've read Dan Frakes' MacWorld article on opening a mini, and
you've read Adam's tidbits article on upgrading a tivo, and you still want
to try it -- go for it. But be prepared to scratch your mini
< http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2005/01/macminiinside/index.php>
< http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=06918>
I found getting the case off my Series 1 Tivo took more brute force than
the mini, but the mini was more stressful because i simultaneously thought
I was going to bend my putty knives and break the tabs holding the case on.
Get a bright flashlight and examine how much force it takes to get the
little holders to bend away from the case. It was a lot for me.
I used 4.5" metal putty knives, the thinnest I could find. Be sure to get
the thinnest -- even with the ones I bought when I inserted into the case
it scraped the label off the knives.
I don't have the need at the moment, but I would be reluctant to upgrade
the hard drive on my own. It looks to be as hard as replacing the ethernet
port in a cube (the longest disassembly i've done to date.)
c) i miss my powerbook. the mini is transportable, not portable. It isn't
easy to move it around the house and use anywhere. Currently it sits on
the shelves with my tivo and av components. I use Apple's bluetooth
keyboard and a logitech wireless trackball. The only cable snaking over to
it is the video cable.
d) Apple's bluetooth keyboard is nice. The keys are ok, i'd probably
prefer a Tactile Pro keyboard (but there isn't a bluetooth version), but it
has a solid weight on my lap. I thought it would be light and flimsy like
most keyboards but it really stays in place.
e) does nobody make a bluetooth trackball? I couldn't find one at
microcenter, all the cordless trackballs have their own RF receiver. I
didn't really want another thingy hanging off the mini. Actually what I
really want is a bluetooth keyboard with trackpad built-in using the keys
the Tactile Pro uses. Then I could really use the mini from anywhere in the
living room and only have to keep track of one device (oh heck, and build
in a universal remote too 8-).
f) i bought a transcend 2.5" firewire enclosure to mount my powerbook
harddrive and recover files onto the mini. I was really surprised at the
package. For $40 I got a small case that holds the enclosure and both
firewire and usb cables, plus a mini cd for windows 98 drivers (new OSes
already support the drive.) After I recover all my files I may start
carrying this me when I travel for use with work laptops.
g) One of the downsides to my PowerBook was peripherals. I really hated
hooking up peripherals, even my iPod. I tended to use the PowerBook on the
couch and having a bunch of firewire hard drives and bluetooth dongles and
my video to firewire converter was a pain. With the mini in one place most
of the time I can hook up a bunch of stuff and just leave it.
Overall I'm very happy for the price, but in the long run I think this is
going to be more of a digital hub and future computing will be done with a
new PowerBook once I save up the $$$.
Kevin
Lewis Butler (apparently)
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Feb 15, 2005 7:34 pm
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Re: Mac mini impressions
On 15 Feb 2005, at 15:25 :22, Kevin van Haaren wrote:
> e) does nobody make a bluetooth trackball? I couldn't find one at
> microcenter, all the cordless trackballs have their own RF receiver. I
> didn't really want another thingy hanging off the mini.
A daily (well, weekly, when I think about it sort of thing) source of
annoyance for me. I've been waiting for logitech to release a
bluetooth version of their trackman wheel ever since i first got
BlueTooth. I hate mice and would never spend money on one, but Mac OS
X really assumes if you have a BT keyboard you must have a BT mouse too
(on reboot of my iMac with external BT adapter I have to unplug my USB
trackman and plug it back in to get the BT sync screen to go away and
to get control of my cursor. Sigh)
--
There is no Satan. That's just god when he's drunk.
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kevinv (apparently)
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Feb 16, 2005 12:30 pm
(#3 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
Quoting Google Kreme <gkreme  gmail.com>:
> A daily (well, weekly, when I think about it sort of thing) source of
> annoyance for me. I've been waiting for logitech to release a
> bluetooth version of their trackman wheel ever since i first got
> BlueTooth. I hate mice and would never spend money on one, but Mac OS
> X really assumes if you have a BT keyboard you must have a BT mouse too
> (on reboot of my iMac with external BT adapter I have to unplug my USB
> trackman and plug it back in to get the BT sync screen to go away and
> to get control of my cursor. Sigh)
I haven't run into this. Reboots work ok for me with the Logitech Cordless
Optical Trackman. I did run into a problem when I was using a corded mouse
plugged into a corded keyboard. The mouse would would come loose (but
still be
in the socket) and the mini would kick into bluetooth mouse search mode
after a
reboot. Plugging the mouse in would make the window go away (I think I did it
by hand once too, esc key maybe?)
Might be related to the external adapter? I'm using Apple's integrated
adapter.
Kevin
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Tomoharu Nishino (apparently)
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Feb 16, 2005 12:30 pm
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Re: Mac mini impressions
I've had my mini for about a week, and also recently gave one to my
mother-in-law to replace her iBook SE (the original clamshell design).
On Feb 15, 2005, at 5:25 PM, Kevin van Haaren wrote:
> a) 256mb is way too little...
I have to agree. Using it as a media center (running just one app at
the same time), 256 MB is fine. But running just one app at a time is
so 1989... I had my MIL complain about the "spinning pinwheel" for the
first time---her iBook SE had 320MB. (Maybe she hadn't noticed with
the iBook because the machine was pokey in general relative to the
mini?) She uses Mail, Safari, iPhoto and iTunes and just leaves them
open all the time. Upgrading to 512MB took care of that problem.
> b) if you've read Dan Frakes' MacWorld article on opening a mini, and
> you've read Adam's tidbits article on upgrading a tivo, and you still
> want
> to try it -- go for it. But be prepared to scratch your mini
In upgrading my Mini, I left on the plastic protection that it comes
wrapped in while prying the case open. Once I figured out how to do it
(the video making the rounds on the web was helpful), I was able to do
it with much less trouble on my MIL's mini.
The problem was I was being too ginger---it does take a surprising
amount of force to pry open one side far enough that it doesn't snap
back in place while working the other side of the case.
Closing the case was surprisingly difficult as well (it's very
tight)---in particular, the metal spacers designed to keep the optical
drive aligned with the slot kept on flexing and getting in the way,
again requiring surprising amount of force.
Removing the optical drive/HD drive assembly wasn't too difficult
(remove four screws, remove some cables taped on to the assembly), but
is definitely not for the faint-of-heart. I would hesitate to
recommend people performing the airport/BT upgrade themselves.
> e) ...Actually what I
> really want is a bluetooth keyboard with trackpad built-in using the
> keys
> the Tactile Pro uses.
What I would really like is a wireless version of the 20th Anniversary
Mac keyboard (basically looked like the bottom half of a PBook/iBook).
Adesso makes something like that in their "Wireless Slimtouch
Keyboard". It specifies PC only, but then says "Plug and Play, no
software to install" so does that mean the keyboard appears as a
standard USB keyboard to the computer and will work on a Mac?
Tn
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bart.voorzanger
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Feb 23, 2005 7:20 am
(#5 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
I tried to find some information on the monitor complaints many mini users experience. My M8149 22" Apple Cinema Display shows an annoying flickering in video intensive applications like x-plane and Nanosaur, and even in some of Apple's own screen savers (like "flurry"). It seems Apple is working on it, but too explicit complaints are banned from Apple's own discussion forum, so they're not happy with it.
Maybe the TidBITS staff can get Apple to be more open about this apparent shortcoming of an otherwise beautiful new computer?
[If they wouldn't respond to someone who's not likely to spread the news widely, you think they'd tell us officially? :-) -Adam]
Bart Voorzanger
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kevinv (apparently)
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Feb 23, 2005 7:20 am
(#6 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
quick follow up on my mac mini note. Macintouch has been covering reports
of video issues with the mini. Especially through KVM switches. I recently
started having video problems on my mini (although i'm not using my mini
through a KVM). I use a Dell flat panel that only has analog input, no DVI.
The screen went very dim, and had lines running down it like there was a
sync problem. No green stuff as others have reported on macintouch.
< http://www.macintouch.com/macmini.html>
Eventually my display went very dim, i could just see the outline of the
video display.
I took my mini into the Apple store and they hooked it up to an Apple
display (direct DVI connection) and it worked without problems. I logged in
and set the video down to 800x600 in case there was a problem with the
settings i had. Then we hooked it up to an analog CRT display and no
problems.
Bringing the mini back home I hooked it back up and it was working fine
again.
One change I've made since the problem occurred is to stop using the Apple
DVI-to-analog adapter. Instead I purchased a high-quality DVI-to-analog
cable ($25 for 10 ft.) I was worried that the weight of the video cable on
the length of the adapter+cable was putting stress on the video port in the
computer. The shorter connector length of the cable should put less stress
on the video port.
Additionally the elimination of an extra electrical connection doesn't hurt.
One of the indicators of a high quality cable is having magnetic chokes on
each end of the video cable. Those are the plastic knobs on the cable a few
inches back from the end of the connectors. They help reduce the effects
of noise on the cable.
Also, you should purchase a cable of the length you need and no more. I
went with a 10' cable because my mini is on my audio-video stand by the tv.
I wanted to use my monitor from my chair across the living room.
I did test the monitor with the Apple DVI-to-analog adapter and it worked
fine since getting back from the Apple store. The cable change is more of
a preventative step, although the higher quality cable may help too.
Kevin
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Michael Logue (apparently)
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Feb 26, 2005 1:49 pm
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Re: Mac mini impressions
I have one question. I have a number of ADB devices (Kensington
TurboMouse, Apple Mice, Keyboards, etc), kicking around. My question,
can one connect up these devices to the Macmini using, say, one of the
Griffin adapters?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Age and Treachery Overcome Youth and Vigor.
____________________________________________________________________
Michael Logue The Grateful Union
http://www.earthguild.com/ Earth Guild: Tools Materials Books
mlogue madison.main.nc.us michaell36 aol.com
____________________________________________________________________
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Curtis Wilcox (apparently)
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Feb 28, 2005 5:55 am
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Re: Mac mini impressions
On 2/26/05 3:49 PM, "Michael Logue" <mlogue madison.main.nc.us> wrote:
> I have one question. I have a number of ADB devices (Kensington
> TurboMouse, Apple Mice, Keyboards, etc), kicking around. My question,
> can one connect up these devices to the Macmini using, say, one of the
> Griffin adapters?
I would think so. I don't know why the Mini would be different from any
other Mac. However, the iMate (the device in question) costs about $39 and
has only one ADB port so I think you'd have to really love the given device
to choose it + the iMate over simply buying a new USB device. Apple
keyboards & mice are $26, you can easily find third party ones for less,
particularly the mice.
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imate/
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dah (apparently)
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Feb 28, 2005 5:55 am
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Re: Mac mini impressions
Another two items, Google and Apple's site have not helped:
1) Can a MacMini run directly off a car battery )i.e. 12 14 vdc)?
2) As I might use a Mini to move often between places with quite different
external devices and setups, is there a MM dock in sight?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dan Hinckley t: (41 22) 999 0183
Information Management Group f: (41 22) 999 0010
IUCN, The World Conservation Union e: dah hq.iucn.org
1196 Gland, Switzerland w: http://iucn.org/
The Last Page of the Internet: http://www.1112.net/lastpage.html
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John C. Welch (apparently)
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Feb 28, 2005 8:02 am
(#10 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
On 2/28/05 6:55 AM, "Dan HINCKLEY" <dah hq.iucn.org> wrote:
> 2) As I might use a Mini to move often between places with quite different
> external devices and setups, is there a MM dock in sight?
Not from Apple...they've not done a dock since the Duo, and good riddance.
--
John C. Welch Writer/Analyst
Bynkii.com Mac and other opinions
jwelch bynkii.com
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Dan O'Donnell
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Feb 28, 2005 4:01 pm
(#11 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
On 2/28/05 4:55 AM, "Dan HINCKLEY" <dah hq.iucn.org> wrote:
> Another two items, Google and Apple's site have not helped:
>
> 1) Can a MacMini run directly off a car battery )i.e. 12 14 vdc)?
> 2) As I might use a Mini to move often between places with quite different
> external devices and setups, is there a MM dock in sight?
Google found the links to the "MacJeep" and MacNova" (Mac mini in a car)
site: < http://www.classicresto.com/macmini.html>
And a QT movie of the iTunes visualizer running on a small screen in the '69
Nova SS: < http://www.classicresto.com/macmov.html>
A bit more looking around and I've found Mac minis in Lexus [1] and Land
Rover [2], and (the inevitable) website [3] dedicated not only to the Mac
mini*, but also to hardware hacks. The site describes the small display
screens necessary for automobiles, and includes a mention of using a
touchscreen display.
[1] < http://www.gadgetlounge.net/archives/2005/02/26/the-mac-mini-lexus/>
[2] < http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/15.html>
[3] < http://www.123macmini.com/>
(* I still prefer the onomatopoeia of miniMac.)
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Ben Rubinstein (apparently)
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Mar 2, 2005 6:46 am
(#12 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
on 28/2/05 12:55 pm, Dan HINCKLEY wrote
> 2) As I might use a Mini to move often between places with quite different
> external devices and setups, is there a MM dock in sight?
Not official, but:
http://homepage.mac.com/lazzwaldo/PhotoAlbum2.html
Ben Rubinstein | Email: benr_ml cogapp.com
Cognitive Applications Ltd | Phone: +44 (0)1273-821600
http://www.cogapp.com | Fax : +44 (0)1273-728866
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Curtis Wilcox (apparently)
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Mar 2, 2005 8:56 am
(#13 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
> on 28/2/05 12:55 pm, Dan HINCKLEY wrote
>
> > 2) As I might use a Mini to move often between places with quite different
> > external devices and setups, is there a MM dock in sight?
>
> Not official, but:
> http://homepage.mac.com/lazzwaldo/PhotoAlbum2.html
I'm wary of all "docks" built for computers not designed to accept a dock
(including Bookendz) but this homemade dock includes some good choices. It
has guide rails which aids in insertion (although I wonder if they can
really limit the angle of insertion) and it has an ejection bar to aid in
the mini's removal. Both are common features on docks built for laptops
designed for use with a dock. It's even more important for computers without
a real dock port to have mechanical protection of the connectors.
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Steve Martin
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Mar 3, 2005 5:33 am
(#14 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
I have a very different perspective on the Mini from most of the people
here at TidBits. I bought my first Mac in 1984, yep, THAT Mac. I was
a devotee until 1995 when as a developer I had to face reality and
moved to Windows, though most of my work now, as it was in the 80's,
is on Unix (or Linux today) machines. I probably booted up my last
Macintosh in 1996, and have missed it.
I got very excited when I heard about OSX, but I couldn't justify the
price of a Power book and didn't know how well an iMac would run
the new OS. I was working at Sun Microsystems at the time so I didn't
really have a need for either a Mac or a Wintel system.
However, when I heard about the Mini, and saw the price tag, I realized
this was the time. I got my first Macintosh in neary 9 years this past
weekend. After only a few days I am not even using my Wintel system.
On the subject of peripherals, I can say that Mr. Jobs had it right. I
already
had a KVM switch laying around the house, and I simply plugged in my
USB based Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Trackball. I was delighted to
see that OSX recognizes the "Windows" key as the "Command" key.
In addition, I am using a Dell 2100FP flat panel display. Rather than
switching with the KVM switch (which doesn't support DVI anyway) I
have instead hooked the Mac up to the Analog port, and the PC remains
on the DVI port. One of the nice things about this display is a plethora of
video inputs, and even a USB bus built in.
I agree that 256MB is impossible. No modern OS should be made to run
on less than 512MB, and 1GB is the right number. I went by Microcenter
and picked up a standard stick of 1GB PC2700 DDR, and stopped at the
hardware store for a 3" putty knife. I saw the video on the web as well, and
realized that it was a matter of taking a deep breath and pulling good and
hard. I got it the first time, although putting the knife in the second
side was
quite a bit harder after the case was tilted from the first side being
undone.
After several days of using the little Mac for browsing and work (I am a
software engineer who works from home.) I can say it appears Apple will
be back on my diet for some time to come.
Vive la Mac!
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wil
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Nov 20, 2005 9:07 pm
(#15 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
Hey just saw a press release and saw you were asking about a bluetooth trackball in this forum and a company is now taking preorders for a bluetooth trackball, just ordered mine!
here's the url: http://www.chwangyi.com
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jgoode
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Nov 21, 2005 10:37 am
(#16 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
Is there a way to connect an ADB-only PRINTER to the USB port on a Mac Mini (or on any other computer, for that matter)? I will be buying a new laser printer "someday" -but I have 2 or 3 unused, and relatively expensive, toner cartridges which I would like to make use of before moving to a newer printer.
[There are ADB-to-USB adapters (or at least there were, back when most people were switching to newer Macs), but whether Mac OS X includes drivers (check the Gimp-Print set) is an entirely different story and one you'll have to investigate on your own. -Adam]
Jim Goode
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atlauren (apparently)
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Nov 21, 2005 3:45 pm
(#17 Total: 21)
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via email - Practicing random acts of punditry. |
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Re: Mac mini impressions
At 9:37 AM -0800 11/21/05, jgoode wrote:
>[There are ADB-to-USB adapters (or at least there were, back when
>most people were switching to newer Macs), but whether Mac OS X
>includes drivers (check the Gimp-Print set) is an entirely different
>story and one you'll have to investigate on your own. -Adam]
Also, the HPIJS project's drivers.
http://www.linuxprinting.org/macosx/
--
Andrew Laurence
atlauren uci.edu
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jason314
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Nov 21, 2005 8:41 pm
(#18 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
Have a look here http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=40765&page=3&pp=15 near the bottom of the page a user details his findings on running a mini directly off a car battery. There is discussion that follows on the merits (or lact thereof) of doing this. I have considered using my mini for in car audio and have it set up to auto login and also have salling clicker installed for controlling iTunes via bluetooth enabled cellphone, however, for most of my driving (to and from work, 15 minute max trip) I don't think it's worth the wear and tear on the mini so I use an iPod instead.
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jgoode
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Nov 21, 2005 8:41 pm
(#19 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
Michael P. Gronseth pointed out to me that (unless I have a rather unusual printer) what I probably really need is NOT a USB-to-ADB adapter but, rather, an adapter to connect a USB port to a RS-422 mini-DIN8 (serial) port. He is right. My Oki laser printer has been until now connected with a standard Apple printer cable so it appears that I actually need something like the KeySpan USB Twin Serial Adapter.
< http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/USA28x/> Thanks for the suggestions. Jim Goode
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PMHK (apparently)
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Nov 22, 2005 2:36 pm
(#20 Total: 21)
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Re: Mac mini impressions
On 22 Nov 2005, at 03:41, jgoode wrote:
> Michael P. Gronseth pointed out to me that (unless I have a rather
> unusual printer) what I probably really need is NOT a USB-to-ADB
> adapter but, rather, an adapter to connect a USB port to a RS-422
> mini-DIN8 (serial) port. He is right.
>
> My Oki laser printer has been until now connected with a standard
> Apple printer cable so it appears that I actually need something like
> the KeySpan USB Twin Serial Adapter.
> < http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/USA28x/>
Does your printer use serial or AppleTalk to talk to the Mac?
If it uses AppleTalk then the above adapter will NOT work. Back in the
days when USB was first on Macs, I was working in a Mac Reseller, and I
lost count of the number of people who had bought or been sold a serial
adapter (because the connector was the same) when in fact their printer
used AppleTalk. Although they used the same connector on the older
Macs they are not the same thing, and the adapters did one or the
other.
If your printer does talk AppleTalk then you need one of these:
< http://www.asante.com/products/productsLvl3/AsanteTalk.asp>
This will connect to the Mac mini via the ethernet port (via a hub
switch if necessary) and as long as you can find a driver it should
work.
Regards,
Patrick,
[Let's bring this back to Mac mini impressions. -Andrew]
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Nov 29, 2005 12:53 pm
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Re: Mac mini impressions
jgoode said:
>Is there a way to connect an ADB-only PRINTER to the USB port on a Mac
>Mini (or on any other computer, for that matter)? I will be buying a new
>laser printer "someday" -but I have 2 or 3 unused, and relatively
>expensive, toner cartridges which I would like to make use of before
>moving to a newer printer.
I can't remember a single laser printer that connected to the host
Macintosh via ADB, which is a very low speed interface that is unsuitable
for use with printers. (Only 10kbps, compared to USB 1.1's still
lackluster, but much faster, 12Mbps.) Are you sure that yours does? You
may be confusing ADB with LocalTalk, or Apple's odd mini-DIN serial
connector in the case of the Personal LaserWriter 300.
If your old laser printer connects via LocalTalk, what you need is a
LocalTalk to Ethernet adapter (that is, bridge) to connect the printer to
your modern Macintosh. There used to be several of these sold for this
purpose, such as the EtherMac iPrint Adapter LT from Proxim (formerly
Farallon) and the similar Asante AsanteTalk. Both of these have been
discontinued now for a long time, but you can still occasionally find
them on eBay, and they work fairly well. However, since you can find
brand-new laser printers for not much over $100 now, it isn't really cost
effective to pay a lot for an adapter for your ancient laser printer.
Note that the Personal LaserWriter 300 and LS, being QuickDraw printers,
are not compatible with OS X, and never will be. There simply are no OS
X drivers for them.
Randy B. Singer
Co-Author of: The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th and 6th editions)
Routine OS X Maintenance and Generic Troubleshooting
http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
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