Re: Slightly off-the-wall idea for getting a new Mac...

Rob <patchoulianremovethis@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> Andy Hewitt wrote:
> > My old G5 is doing it's job quite admirably still, but I can't help
> > thinking that this lot is wasting lots of electricity (it idles at
over
> > 300W)
> > 
> > I haven't any spare money at the moment either, and need to look at
ways
> > to save costs. I just had a thought, I wonder if the latest Mac Mini
> > would now outperform my old G5. I could get a Maxed out Mini for about
> > what my G5 box is worth.
> > 
> > I'm currently reverting back to using iPhoto, and no longer using
> > Aperture, so high end performance isn't a priority, although the specs
> > of the Mini means it should outperform my G5, and be much more
> > economical to use.
> > 
> > Thoughts?
> > 
> 
> The Mini will be a *lot* more economical in use - <20W at idle - £2 
> p/week @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 6 hrs use p/day.
> 
> I don't know the precise performance figures, but as you'd probably 
> know, the main performance bottleneck is the hard drive. Which at least
> for me means apps take longer to open, video work especially can be 
> sluggish, and of course capacity is limited/comes at a cost.
> 
> But once it's up and running with normal apps (email, wp, net browsing,
> Front Row) I don't notice much difference in responsiveness between a
> 1.6 Mini core duo and a 2.4 iMac.

Yes, I realise it's a laptop guts in a box. I already have a 20" LCD
display, keyboard, mouse, trackball and external hard drives. I have
considered a MacBook, but the screen is smaller, and I don't like the
keyboards on a Book.

It'd be interesting to see comparisons with an old dual processor G5
with a stock 5200FX card in it. In theory the processor should at least
out perform the G5. I'm not so sure about the onboard graphics though.

Cheers.

-- 
Andy Hewitt
<http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/>