I'm thinking about making the plunge to Mac for VSL, (actually I already have a Mac Mini G4 that I use for a home theatre computer) and I've been thinking about getting a $799 Mac Mini (2.53Ghz, 4GB RAM, 9400 video, etc). I'm not worried about bringing a monitor, KB or mouse - I can store it at the club because I'm there every day its open running all the house sound & lights - I don't bring anything but my laptop & SL1 now as it is.

I've heard the 2.0 Mac Mini w/ 9400M video will run VSL okay. I like the idea of having a mini keyboard & trackpad (even midi) over the mixer but monitor off to the side. I also like the fact I can run a 17" (or even 19") monitor without spending $2000+.

When I first started using Serato I had a mini-tower computer and put the monitor behind the CDJ on one side (not raised). I finally bought a laptop and have it above the mixer centered on a stand, but I liked my big monitor off to the side.

But will the 2.53ghz Core 2 w/ 9400M run video-SL well? My friend has a MBP 17" 2.16 from 2006 with ATI X1600 that runs over 40FPS with Melt - as long as I can get 30+ FPS with this setup I'll be happy to VDJ when I get a chance to (currently twice a week, 2 hours a night).

You should get 30+ FPS with medium quality with the 9400M!

Can you do me a favor and ask your friend if he is using medium or high quality with his MBP?

It was set to high quality, that was one thing I checked along with the FPS.

THANKS!

MBP's should be running like champs set to high with great performance. i can tell you personally mine does great. the only time i switch to medium is when i'm doing graphic/logo/text overlays with QTZ files (because QTZ files run only off the video card memory and they use up a good bit of it). Other than that, high* all the time!

* - no pun intended. LOL! ;-)