I'm getting a Mac (I think)

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Andrew S
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I should maybe have confined this to the geek anvil but I though it might get missed there :lol:

I’m looking for a 2010 mac mini for home entertainment, and have managed to track one from what looks to be a reputable and knowledgeable trader. In short, I need it for:

· Viewing movies (DVDs & online sources) via HDMI through a 42� TV and via 3.5mm jack to an analogue amp
· Online use: Youtube, Spotify, facebook etc.
· Downloading video / audio files & copying them onto DVD/CD (legally of course!)
· Converting files from flac, zip, rar etc.
· Storing a large quantity of video & audio files
· The Sisters – in my face – and my guests’ faces - whenever I feel like it :)

As I’m new to Macs, I have a few questions for those who know.

This seller offers to partition the drive to accommodate Mac and Windows OS, with a ‘drag & drop’ files between partitions option. Sounds ideal, but I imagine this will swallow up a lot of drive space (out of only 320Gb). Besides that, is such a set-up likely to be problematic?

As I plan to store a lot of files, do you think 320gb will be sufficient for file storage, especially with Windows alongside the Mac OS & all the other software? There is a 500Gb option listed in the technical spec but I think that’s just for the server version? I suppose there’s always the external drive option.

And is there any real advantage of Lion over Snow Leopard? I have a choice but know nothing about either, apart from Lion costs a bit extra and, in terms of animals, I prefer snow leopards to lions!

Any feedback, discussion, debate most welcome...
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Obviousman
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You know you want to ;D

As for storage, 320 on the Mac itself is plenty. All additional stuff you can put onto an external drive, better for back-up purposes and all that too, I'd say. I store all my movies on a network drive (with over-the-air-access via an AirPort) and if I'm getting a new Mac I consider to put my music on there as well in a centralised library. We'll see about that one.

Drag and drop between windows is definitely nice, as a starter you'll want to do some things on Windows still, but it'll be pushed towards the background sooner than you think. :wink:

The newer the Mac OS the better! Don't doubt about that!

Is James informed yet? ;D
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DocSommer
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As I plan to store a lot of files, do you think 320gb will be sufficient for file storage,
Never ever for a large quantity of audio and video files - you'll need at least 1TB onwards for this. Better get some kind of NAS or external USB harddrive(s) where you can store/archive data you don't always have to access to.

I use a 8TB (6TB usable because of RaidZ5) NAS at home since a year and I'm very happy with it. Thanks to GBit LAN the performance is pretty neat so it usually feels like an internal harddrive.
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Pista
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What they said.

Storage capacity will depend on the format you have the music in too.
If it's all mp3 for example you won't need a massive amount of onboard storage.
I would consider an external HDD though & use Time Machine to schedule automated backups to it. That way you can make sure you don't lose anything important.
& don't worry. Time machine is included in the & although snow leopards are prettier, Lion is a fabulous OS. :D
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markfiend
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Also, if you're dual-booting, I would suggest a smallish partition (6-10 GB) for each OS and then use the rest of the HDD as a data partition, available from both OSes.
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Andrew S
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Thanks for the advice people, though I had to look things up before I could undrstand some of it :notworthy: And yes, James has been informed :lol: I've contacted the seller but have heard nothing back so far - I just hope nobody buys the bloody thing while I'm waiting. As for networking - nice idea but it's away beyond my capabilities, so I'd probably go with an external drive. The dual boot set-up certainly appeals but I'm a bit wary of the risk of viruses - I take it having both OSs would leave the mac (and al my files) open to possible infection via Windows and require all the usual precautions.
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Obviousman
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I'd say only the Windows bit would be vulnerable and you'd only need to keep this safe as per normal requirements. As Macs don't have BIOSes in the traditional sense, I don't think your average virus could dig that deep. Just getting rid of the Windows partition would wash the virus away. Or is this huge disinformation on my part? :)
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Andrew S
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Finally got it :) A 2010 mac mini with 8Gb memory and 128Gb solid state drive. Just booted it up for the first time and eventually managed to get online with a hiccup or 2. Still no idea where everything is and am still in the process of customising it so i can actually read the display without having to shove my face in the screen...
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DocSommer
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take of the sunglasses 8)

congrats to the purchase
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Ozpat
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Just saw it on FB! Enjoy!
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Husek
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Congrats at your new mac.
Don't worry, in 2 weeks you 'll get used, in 3 weeks you 'll abominate any other OS and finally after a month, you 'll get so used to it, that you will start to use wrong keyboard-shortcut at regular PCs. (Alt + C , Alt + V lol)

BTW, Once you go Mac, you never comeback :lol:
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rian
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One of my son's changed school today. At the new school, every kid gets a new MacBook. I will play with it it a bit ;D
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A_H
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rian wrote:One of my sons changed school today. At the new school, every kid gets a new MacBook...
Christ. On. A. Bike.

Really? I'd heard some things about Sweden, but this really takes the biscuit...

:-)
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rian
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Some things are pretty good over here, some are not! :wink:
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A_H
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rian wrote:Some things are pretty good over here, some are not! :wink:
True. You can certainly keep your state-owned off licences and incredibly priced bars... :-)
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