Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Author Topic: Compact computers (Mac Mini and Mini-PC users are welcome here !)  (Read 1111 times)

Description:

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline arkpandoraTopic starter

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2004
  • Posts: 266
    • Show only replies by arkpandora
Compact computers (Mac Mini and Mini-PC users are welcome here !)
« on: September 12, 2007, 01:26:20 AM »
Hello,

I need some help from you expert computer users in order to advise me on the following tricky subject.

I need a computer that meets the following requirements :

1. It must be as small as possible (the Mac Mini format is ideal)
2. Without either integrated screen or keyboard (therefore a laptop doesn't suit me)
3. It must be able to run Windows XP as a best-selling PC would (that is without specific trouble)
4. It must be able to play a DVD video without any jerk or slowdown (but stereo sound is enough)
5. It must have at least 32 Mb of graphic memory, 512 Mb of RAM, and a 80 Gb hard drive
6. It must have a built-in DVD burner
7. I don't need a wireless network transmitter, but if it has one I must be able to switch it off
8. It must be a reliable system

But according to what I read :

a. The first models of the AOpen Mini-PC series (http://minipc.aopen.com/Global/spec.htm) could be too slow to play DVDs perfectly because of their old chipset, but I don't know if it is still a topical question, and I don't know if the current models have at least 32 Mb of graphic memory (two years ago they had only 8 !).

b. The Acer Power 1000 series of small computers (http://www.acer.co.uk/acereuro/page4.do?sp=page3&dau22.oid=19537&UserCtxParam=0&GroupCtxParam=0&dctx1=17&CountryISOCtxParam=UK&LanguageISOCtxParam=en&ctx3=-1&ctx4=United+Kingdom&crc=2885386556) neither is reliable nor well enough supported by Acer.

c. I can't tell if Windows XP runs perfectly on a Mac Mini (http://www.apple.com/macmini).

Could somebody advise me or share his experience with such small computers ?

Thank you very much for any help !
 

Offline AJCopland

Re: Compact computers (Mac Mini and Mini-PC users are welcome here !)
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2007, 12:48:00 PM »
The AOpen Mini-PCs with the Core2Duo in the "MP965 Series" look like they should be more than enough to do the job.

All of the machines you linked too look like they'd meet your requirements actually.

Andy
Be Positive towards the Amiga community!
 

Offline arkpandoraTopic starter

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2004
  • Posts: 266
    • Show only replies by arkpandora
Re: Compact computers (Mac Mini and Mini-PC users are welcome here !)
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2007, 05:03:50 PM »
Thanks for your comment : I hope you are right, despite negative reviews.  I'll probably have to see it with my own eyes.  

Has anyone experience of using Windows XP on a Mac Mini ?  If it is positive experience, then the Mac Mini might be my answer.