Hey, we've got a household computer management issues I could use some advice on: we currently own 3 computers: my 2009 HP netbook, mr. flea's 2005/6 macbook pro, and a ca. 2001 tower, I think it's a powermac. The hard drive on the tower has just gone, and mr. flea is ready to upgrade his laptop. But we can't really afford two new computers, at least not at Apple prices (and mr. flea just looked at me and said, "no" when I suggested we buy a PC for our desktop machine.)

All we really use the desktop for that I can't do on the netbook is photo management - we've been using iPhoto since 2003. But with the kids 4 and about to be 7, there is some interest in having a machine for their (supervised) use.

Idea's we've discussed: 1. Buy a Mac mini ($600) and special $90 cable to hook up our existing monitor to it, and hold off a year to upgrade mr. flea's laptop. 2. Buy a new laptop, use the old laptop as our "desktop" machine, and hope its hard drive holds out another 2-3 years. 3. Buy an iMac for the desktop, and wait on a new laptop. 4. (mr. flea's ideal which we can't actually afford) Buy an iMac, a new laptop, and an iPhone for him for good measure.

Thoughts? I feel like if we could get an older Mac mini for cheap it might be a good solution - any experience buying off ebay or craigslist?

I've also occasionally seen refurbished Minis on Apple.com for pretty cheap.

special $90 cable to hook up our existing monitor

What sort of cable costs $90?!

I have no idea. That is a mr. flea item. The monitor is wicked old, I gather, and the modern hookups won't go. Or something.

ETA: I suspect it is this. [link] I think we have the old 24 inch cinema display.

zuisa, I use an S-video cable to link my laptop to my TV.

[link]

ETA: I suspect it is this. [link]

That thing is like five cables in one. There's single function cables that will probably do what you want over in the left column for around $29.

30 Old PC Ads That Will Blow Your Processor

10 MB HD for $3398!

Here is a 16K RAM Memory Card, $ 495.00... turns your computer into a working giant!

Lots o' Commodores, TRASH-80s, Ataris....

I can't get to Handbrake's site from work, for whatever reason, but the program you linked to is converting for me, LeN. Thanks for the help, guys.

10 MB HD for $3398!

I just paid $100 for a 1.5TB hard drive.

So that's 150,000 times the storage capacity for 2.94% of the price of the old one. So you're getting over 5 million times the capacity per dollar.