http://tidbits.com/ While Apple focused much of its media event on the new iPad mini, the company also took time to introduce three new Macs, including a redesigned iMac, a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and a speed-bumped Mac mini. Adam Engst has all the details. en-us Copyright 2012 TidBITS Publishing Inc. Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT editors@tidbits.com (TidBITS Editors) editors@tidbits.com (TidBITS Editors) http://tidbits.com/images/tb_logo_152x55.png http://tidbits.com/ 55 152 TidBITS badge http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_18653 Wed, 08 May 2013 12:52:04 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_18653
http://www.macworld.com/article/2037105/apple-expands-flash-storage-options-across-imac-line.html]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16418 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:28:39 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16418 http://www.macworld.com/article/1167247/cook_apple_planning_professional_mac_for_2013.html]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16414 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:14:59 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16414 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16413 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:42:22 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16413 ]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16390 Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:21:03 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16390
* Buy the Mac mini if cost is paramount - it will be a bit cheaper.

* If you really think you'll use the optical drive a lot, get the refurbished iMac, since it will be nice not having an extra box on your desk for the SuperDrive.

* If you want the Mac that will have the longest lifespan, get the new iMac. It will also likely have the best display of the three.

I would encourage getting the Fusion Drive (or a flash option for the refurb, if available) since my experience with SSDs is that they are a huge and noticeable win. But it will cost more.]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16389 Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:05:59 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16389
1. A new iMac, probably the $1299 configuration plus a $70 Apple USB Superdrive.

2. A refurb iMac (Sandy Bridge processor with quad i7 core) and I would add RAM to make it 8 GB, price is about $1290 plus about $50 for the RAM.

3. A Mac Mini with the quad-core i7 ($899) plus a Viewsonic monitor (about $170) and an Apple USB Superdrive ($70). I already have a mouse and keyboard and even 2x4 GB RAM to upgrade it.

The advantage of a new iMac seems limited. It seems it is between a Mac Mini and a refurb iMac. The speed of the Mac Mini seems to win. But the iMac has everything together and I get the benefit of having it be all Apple.

Any advice on which you would choose? Any other factors I am missing?

Thanks for your help,
Doug

p.s. Thoughts on the advantages of adding a $250 Fusion Dr.?]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16369 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:11:24 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16369 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16366 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:53:55 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16366 for various reasons, prefer to stick with 10.6.8
Thus only moving part is fan. All seems to work fast and well cost less than 200 to upgrade to above
I also use an outboard SSD 64 GB for a backup of system plus some data files.

See no reason to upgrade to new mini.

]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16326 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:25:47 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16326 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16316 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:04:23 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16316 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16311 Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:21:59 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16311 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16290 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:59:27 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16290
Pro Desktop Line: Mac Pro

Pro Laptop Line: MacBook Pro

Consumer Desktop: iMac & Mac Mini

Consumer Laptop: MacBook Air]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16289 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:56:43 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16289 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16288 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:53:23 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16288 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16285 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:13:42 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16285 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16277 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:59:38 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16277
And how do you know they struggled with getting the screen bonding to work? I don't recall hearing that or reading it anywhere]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16284 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:51:07 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16284 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16276 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:14:14 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16276 http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16270 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:09:38 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16270
I do think that miniaturization is completely at odds with serviceability and we're just going to see more of that.]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16269 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:03:26 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16269
Also, comparing the Mini Server configurations with the $799 Mini configurations makes it seem that Apple is charging $100 for the OS X Server software, which is sold for $20 in the Mac App Store.]]> http://db.tidbits.com/article/13350?rss#comments_16267 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:48:34 EDT http://tidbits.com/article/13350#comments_16267