Mac Mini M1 chip or I3

[WDFORTE]

I've a Windows 11 machine - desktop PC.  I've a Macbook Air 2011 model on High Sierra.

I'm contemplating a refurb I3 2020 model Mac Mini for £400 or a new M1 chip version Mac Mini for £629.
Anyone a prolific mac user? can you 'sell' me the benefits of having the mac over the PC? and the M1 over the I3 model?

I've money burning a hole and thinking of either upgrading the PC or just buying a Mac Mini.

Cheers.

[lamboman]

PC all the way,also it won't get hacked like Apple products.

[Marmalade]

I think there was a similar thread recently. I use several apple products but don't count myself as an expert. I think I like the brand slightly more than I hate it, which is good. Recently wanted to share something with a person I was chatting to in a pub. Did they have an iphone? OK airdrop, we speak the same language. Not quite sure why you want a mac mini? I find the ipad the ideal inbetween from MacBookAir and iphone. Great for watching movies on the plane. Apple stuff not always honogenous but at least mostly so.

Mac Mini looks fun but why that rather than just an iMac? If you already have the monitor(s), home theatre and stuff to go with it, why not. But though they say it goes with 'anything' their 'anything' isn't always everybody else's anything. I bought a big mac display only to find it wasn't compatible with my mac pro (it's ok they took it back). The airpods pro are amazing but supposedly with limited connectivity to older mac products (though I found there's a hack). As you're still on High Sierra with the MacBook then there is limited support and transferability though I'm not sure what will be involved there. Yet all these 'ifs' are at least inhouse. There's an overall gatekeeper in the form of Apple Support and Apple shops in any big city that can fix stuff; or remotely lock and wipe in case of loss or theft with icloud.

The only thing I miss with Windows is the ease of hacking into the works and customising which is harder to do with Apple. Oh and the price -- Apple costs more (though accountants say they depreciate slower). And no f*****g iTunes. I still have one windows machine but hardly ever switch it on. It's more faff. Also Apple looks prettier at home.
Probably not answered your question but will be interested to see what you make of the Mini if you get one.

[kuck]

Unless you have a specific reason to get a desktop machine, up your budget a little and get the M1 Air. Best laptop ever. Fast and silent, it doesn't even have a cooling fan, and the battery lasts forever.

I also have the more expensive M1 Max MacBook Pro laptop, but overall, I still recommend the Air.

[WelshMichael]

I've a Windows 11 machine - desktop PC.  I've a Macbook Air 2011 model on High Sierra.

I'm contemplating a refurb I3 2020 model Mac Mini for £400 or a new M1 chip version Mac Mini for £629.
Anyone a prolific mac user? can you 'sell' me the benefits of having the mac over the PC? and the M1 over the I3 model?

I've money burning a hole and thinking of either upgrading the PC or just buying a Mac Mini.

Cheers.

Why not keep an eye out for a refurbished Mac Mini with the M1 chip? I got one a couple of months back after the hard drive in my previous Mac Mini died. That was a 2014 Intel model. I got the 512gb version of the M1 for £759 so £140 off. They've only got more expensive models listed at the moment but stock changes regularly:

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[Watts.E.Dunn]

Haven't used my laptop for as long as i can remmber! Mobile phone when out and decent s desktop machine with a large screen for viewing punting lvverlies:)

[candiedorange]

Get an M1 (M2 if you have the budget) Macbook Air. You won't regret it (from a long time Macbook user).

Takes a bit to get used to the OS but its uber reliable, does not slow down over the years (have a macbook thats over 7 years old). It's lightening fast, long battery life and you dont have to worry about viruses and what not.

I'm an avid Android user from the start so no Apple fanboy. But the macbooks are the best laptops you can get

[dadio]

Get an M1 (M2 if you have the budget) Macbook Air. You won't regret it (from a long time Macbook user).

Takes a bit to get used to the OS but its uber reliable, does not slow down over the years (have a macbook thats over 7 years old). It's lightening fast, long battery life and you dont have to worry about viruses and what not.

I'm an avid Android user from the start so no Apple fanboy. But the macbooks are the best laptops you can get

I second this. I've been running a MacBook Pro 2012 from new for general surfing/netflix etc. along with Word/Excel for work needs, and the only thing I've done was to swap out the HDD for a SSD and upgraded the memory. Made a huge difference and is extremely fast (for my needs). Did it myself and cost less the £50 to do. Macs just go on and on. Never had a virus or any other issues. Averaged at £100 per year from what I paid to how long I've had it. Can't fault it.

I've just ordered an M2 MacBook Air (which has great reviews) as my Pro battery is now playing up and the weight of lugging a fairly heavy Pro between work and home is starting to grate. If it gives me the same sort of longevity as my Mac Pro, I'll be a happy chappy.

[maxQ]

Mac Minis are great IMO, never had a problem with them, if you manly use your PC for the internet take a look at a Chromebook, cheap, fast boot up, and excellent battery life

[Marmalade]

Really enjoying this thread, thanks chaps!
Must think seriously about a Mini.

I confirm the comments on MacAir. Everything ‘instantaneous’ — due, I believe, to the nature of the memory over a hard drive. On my second one.

 

[WDFORTE]

Yes, thanks for all the info, I'm going to get an M1 varient. 

[dadio]

Something to think about.....
If you can manage to get someone to buy for you through an educational discount, you'll get it even cheaper.
Plus if you're VAT registered, put it through the business and it'll cost even less.
I asked my nephew to purchase it and have got him to get them to deliver to my business address.
Once all the discounts/VAT reclaimed etc. are applied, it will cost me just under £900 for a MacBook Air M2. A saving of over £350!
And my nephew gets an Apple gift card for £120 (which is a promo Apple are currently running).

[tynetunnel]

I have a 2013 MacBook Pro. It’s as fast today as it was when new. I went Mac in 2007 and I’d never go back. My work uses Windows and I hate it. It’s forever forcing updates at the most inconvenient times, and despite being 2 years old and high spec, the OS (windows) is still a pile o’shite! Other views and experiences should be considered of course.

[Hobbit]

The only people I know that have Macs are women and graphic designers.

I personally don't like them, the operating system is not intuitive and difficult to use. If I had my way I would ban all Apple Macs.

[lostandfound]

Well I have both, as do many developers I know.

This "Macs are for sissies" and "Windoze" bollocks is just silly and irrelevant.

[WDFORTE]

Well CEX has them for £485 used. I went to see the B grade one in all its glory. It looked like someone shot their big snotty cock all over it. Fucking disgusting, the sales lady said you should expect some wear. B grade! I’d hate to see a C graded one. I’d rather spend the £145 extra and get a new one!