Mac Mini-Probably the best Mac I've owned

[GeneL]

Thanks AllGold.

That brings up a question I've had about storage.

It's been my plan to get a server model that allows for two internal drives. For sure one will be an SSD. I'm not sure about the other. It seems that with FW or USB 3 it wouldn't create too much of a bottleneck to use an external drive.

Presently I use two 1 TB drives, one for backup, and they're not full. So, I would think that there won't be any problem with storage with the Mini.

I do wonder what strategy would be my best choice for the size of the SSD? If my finances would allow, would it be ideal to use two 1 TB SSD'S or better to use a smaller SSD as the boot drive, a standard drive for storage and an external drive for backup? Of course, money is a big issue for me and everything will depend on what I can get for my Mac Pro.

Now, I'm still stuck with the same big question, will it pay to wait for new versions of the Mini?

In the meantime, I'm posting from my pre-op appointment at UCI hospital. If things don't go well I won't have to worry about computers. :S
..

[RAMd®d]

I do wonder what strategy would be my best choice for the size of the SSD?

My feeling is that the only consideration differentiating HDD and SSD storage "strategy" is-- money.

HDs are cheap. We all remember a point in time when that wasn't the case. And we remember when they were a little cheaper than they are now.

SSDs were also very pricey. With that consideration, it made economic sense to get a smaller SSD, say 256G, for the OS (or user folder) and put all/most data on a large platter drive, say 1T.

But like their predecessor, they have come down in price, and are getting cheaper. There are performance differences among SSDs, but most are so much better than HDDs that mere mortals don't really care. Computer Gods, self-proclaimed or otherwise can worry about eeking the last bit of throughput out of an SSD.

Depending on price, I'd get a 512G SSD (though a 256G would certainly do) and a 1T HDD, which is pretty common in minis. I like the idea of an HDD for a storage and back up drive as sudden failure seems to be less common than with SSDs.

IF they get cheap enough for you, I'd consider to *large* SSDs in the mini, of equal size. One being a back up. A second back up drive of equal or larger size, being an HDD, would/could be connected via an external enclosure.


will it pay to wait for new versions of the Mini?

My opinion is-- probably not.

It will have a faster CPU, the latest OS, maybe a bigger base SSD option, and maybe 8G RAM minimum instead of 4G. None of that is a big deal compared to a current mini.

An i8 processor? Not likely. Additional ports of *any* kind? I'm thinking "no". eSATA? Again, my money is on no. A discrete GPU? *This* would make me buy a new mini, assuming it will be far superior to my HD 4000. But no, I don't think this will happen. You'll need a Pro or iMac for that.

What you may *lose* with the next mini is the ability to change out HDs easily and economically if Apple were to switch to PCIe storage. If Apple follows suit with the MBPs, you could see soldered-in RAM, so buying low and upgrading high at less than Apple prices would be out of the question.

The aforementioned is just base speculation, but far from improbable, in my mind.


In the meantime, I'm posting from my pre-op appointment at UCI hospital.

I have every confidence you'll be able to agonize over these decisions with the rest of us.

My best wishes.

[GeneL]

Thanks RAMd®d, for that perfect reply. You covered the bases for me so it will be easier to make my decision once I'm done with my surgery (as long as I'm still around).

[mrlynn]

GeneL wrote:
Thanks RAMd®d, for that perfect reply. You covered the bases for me so it will be easier to make my decision once I'm done with my surgery (as long as I'm still around).

Gene, did you say what this surgery is for?

/Mr Lynn

[GeneL]

mrlynn wrote:
[quote=GeneL]
Thanks RAMd®d, for that perfect reply. You covered the bases for me so it will be easier to make my decision once I'm done with my surgery (as long as I'm still around).

Gene, did you say what this surgery is for?

/Mr Lynn
I noticed a lump under the skin on the left side of my jaw. The doctor had a biopsy done and the results were inconclusive. It was either cancerous or not and an excision of the lump was recommended.

After searching for the best person to perform the operation, I found the chairman of the ontology department at UCI. He definitely seemed the right person, so I followed up and now I'm scheduled for surgery on Thursday the 12th.

If I don't post after that you can figure that I didn't make it.

Thanks for asking...

[mrlynn]

GeneL wrote:

I noticed a lump under the skin on the left side of my jaw. The doctor had a biopsy done and the results were inconclusive. It was either cancerous or not and an excision of the lump was recommended.

After searching for the best person to perform the operation, I found the chairman of the ontology department at UCI. He definitely seemed the right person, so I followed up and now I'm scheduled for surgery on Thursday the 12th.

If I don't post after that you can figure that I didn't make it.

Thanks for asking...

If I can survive a thyroidectomy, you can survive a pesky little lump (saliva gland? lymph node?). Especially if you've got an ontologist for a surgeon. But you'll have to stay awake, as he'll want to give you a lecture on the nature of Being. :oldfogey:

/Mr Lynn

[GeneL]

It's the parotid gland, mrlynn.

Today's visit to UCI included seeing an internist as part of clearing me for surgery. He explained something about the risk level. Working against me is my age and the fact that I have multiple health issues.

One concern I have is the possibility of damaging nerves that affect the face, of which the are many in this area. Was this an issue with your surgery?

I hate to say this, I just don't feel well right now and I'm afraid that this will negatively affect the outcome.

Oh well, I've been depressed lately and some nights I would wish that I just wouldn't wake up. This operation might grant that wish

[mrlynn]

Parotid, that's the big salivary gland. If the internist cleared you for surgery, and the surgeon agrees, then chances are you'll be fine. If you had problems where surgery was contra-indicated, then they probably wouldn't go ahead unless it were urgent.

In my case, damage to nerves, especially vocal-cord nerves, is always a risk in thyroid surgery. As it turned out, my surgeon is one of the leading experts in recognizing and avoiding those nerves. Even so, I had some problems with my voice, partly caused, I think, by the endotrachial tube. It's getting better.

I assume they just want to remove the lump, not the whole gland, and presumably your surgeon specializes in head and neck surgery, so there may be no cause for concern. They are required to describe the risks to you, even if they are fairly minimal. Nerves can recover, even if they are bruised.

If you are worried, though, you should definitely discuss it with the surgeon prior to the procedure. I hope you told the pre-surgery doc that you don't feel well, and about the depression. You might need a more thorough work-up. If you are actually ill, they might decide to wait.

And I hope you have people you can discuss this with besides here on the forum, where despite all we remain relatively anonymous. Face-to-face contact is important, especially if you're feeling down.

Good luck. When's the surgery scheduled?

/Mr Lynn

[GeneL]

Thanks again, Mr Lynn.

I hate to say that I'm feeling worse than ever. Although I'm not in a lot of pain in my body, I'm finding it difficult to move around. I had been wearing a Fentanyl Patch for leg pain, but a little over a week ago the pain seemed to go away. I stopped using the patch and now I'm not in pain, so much, but I'm finding it difficult to move.

I really hate how I feel at this point and I don't know what to do. I just applied a patch to see if that will help.

Otherwise, I'm just stuck lying in bed sleeping and watching TV.

In the back of my mind is a question whether if I just leave it alone, the lump could shrink by itself and disappear?

I really haven't looked into non-surgical alternatives and, of course, doctors seem to be hell bent on cutting.

Did you ever come across any alternatives?