Intel Mac Mini - Help me choose a provider/modem

Hi Guys,

I have messed up slightly, my Mum wanted to upgrade her old 1st generation iMac and gave me the go ahead to buy her a new one, I opted for a Mac Mini (Intel 1.5GHZ 512MB COMBO 60GB AIRPORT BT REMOTE) - However my Mum is only a light internet user (only uses it for email usually) so wanted to stick to dial up, she is with AOL (wasn't my recommendation!) - I drove down there today (is a 90 mile round trip) to discover there is no telephone socket on this model (bad research on my part) so I couldn't set her up.

Which external modem should I buy to set her up, for the record she pays

Nothing wrong with your choice of an Intel Mac Mini

I would recommend buying a modem/router rather than choosing a broadband ISP because they give you one "free" (which is often a USB modem which won't even work with a Mac). But you don't have to spend a lot, one of these would be fine.

If her exchange has been enabled by Easynet, she could get UKonline 1meg for

Edited by themob (Sat 10-Mar-07 23:42:50)

Firstly many thanks for your reply

The reasonably priced router you linked to will rely on the Airport Extreme that my mums Mac Mini has right? - I have never used wireless so forgive my naivety, also that router is definately Intel Mac compatible? - I read the reviews which are mostly good but the firmware they refer to concerns me, do I need to download that firmware as a Mac user?

Also, your point about AOL was interesting as we phoned them today and were told that they didn't want us to use them for Broadband as not only do they not support Mac OSX but also it's unlikely that it will work anyway (although I know from others that it's possible!)

Unfortunately my Mum is not in a cable area so the UK online option is not possible, the New Net one is an option though but the

That router is not wireless, it will connect to the Mini via Ethernet. If you would like to use Airport, then one of these would do nicely. However I wouldn't bother, the wired one would be perfect for her.

Don't worry too much about upgrading the firmware, you may find it works fine without it (I have a friend using one of these on the original firmware). However, download it and pop it on a disk in case you need it when you set it up for your Mum. You can use the Mac to do it.

Ignore what AOL say about supporting OSX, it will work perfectly without their PC software. You can get all the help and advice you need here from AOL users (many of whom use Macs).

UK Online isn't cable, it's ordinary ADSL broadband provided over your phone line. The only difference is that they have their own equipment in telephone exchanges. Enter your Mum's phone number and postcode here and if her exchange has been enabled, it will offer 1meg at

Edited by themob (Sun 11-Mar-07 01:40:29)

Many thanks, you have been very helpful

Unfortunately UK online was not available for her number/postcode.

You're very welcome

This may or may not be of interest to you depending on

You can get a 56k USB modem for the mac Mini
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=6C04E07A&nplm=MA034


The Apple USB Modem is a simple, one-piece external USB modem that's perfect for people who use a dial-up connection to access the Internet and do email. It's small, light, easy to install and even easier to use.

Just plug it into the USB port on your Mac, then connect your phone line to the other end. Open the networking preference panel in Mac OS X, enter your connection information, and click connect. Now you're ready to start surfing, emailing, instant messaging and more.

Technical Specifications

* Speed: Data up to 56kbps, fax at 14.4kbps
* Supports caller ID, wake on ring, telephone answering (V.253), modem on hold
* V.92 software support

What's in the Box:

* Apple USB Modem with built-in 4.6-inch USB cable
* User Guide

System Requirements

* Macintosh computer without a built-in modem
* Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later; Mac OS X 10.4.2 pre-installed on new iMac G5 and new PowerMac G5.

Thanks for the replies,

Regarding the Mad As A Fish one, the router that it comes with would mean I wouldn't need to buy that Ebuyer one that's been mentioned in this thread right?

I know my Mum would be happy to pay an average of

Switch your line rental to Madasafish and get FREE evening and weekend calls.
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No, that's an option only.

With some ISPs when it's time to review if you are going to stay with them after the 12 months are just about up, a phone call to customer care (say in the middle of that 12th month) suggesting you are thinking of migrating away will usually prompt a responce of a discount on the monthly payments for the next 12 months with them (as they don't have to provide any hardware etc etc).
MAAF can also provide a "fixed speed" ADSL package (that is what I have) if your BT line is not suitable for ADSL Max. (as will most other ISPs if you ask).

You don't have to buy any of the TALK Plans they are just another product that MAAF can provide at an additional cost.

Tesco do a 512 BB basic connection with modem etc supplied for

In reply to:

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Tesco do a 512 BB basic connection with modem etc supplied for

UKonline LLU

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please use you're, your and they're, there, their and to, too and its, it's correctly:

Whilst you're crawling along in your Lada, they're flying there in their Learjet,
proceeding to down too many glasses of champagne from
its galley and commenting "Look down there, it's a skip on wheels".

The Tesco one sounds perfect pricewise, she won't need anymore than 512 speedwise as even that will blow her away as she has always had dial up.

In reply to:

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I think that's a USB modem which is not suitable for Mac.

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I know the Virgin one is a speedtouch 330 is also USB which apparantly has a driver update so that it works on Macs, so maybe this would too?

Or failing that if I was to buy the

USB modems are nothing but trouble on Macs, they rely on drivers which rarely get updated by the modem manufacturers, so a future OSX update could easily prevent your Mum getting online if the driver turns out not to be compatible.

Another benefit of choosing a router is that it is inherently more secure because it sits between your computer and the internet. It has a built-in SPI firewall and NAT (network address translation) making it harder for anyone to hack into your computer. If you set the DMZ to point to an unused local IP address, such as 192.168.1.200, your computer will be invisible to the outside world

Yes, the ebuyer router will be fine for any ADSL service.

Hi Guys,

The Router that Madasafish offers for free is the Voyager 210. It's got a USB and an Ethernet connection. Setting up the services with an Ethernet connection is easy, you don't need to install any of the software drivers.

Our support pages cover help for the Mac too, http://support.madasafish.com/, we warmly welcome Mac users to our services.

I personally use our services at home with my G4 laptop and I've never had any problems. If you do have problems with our services, I'm active on thinkbroadband and can help you with your queries, you can usually find me in the Madasafish area.

Kind regards,
Samara

Thanks for all of your help guys, unfortunately at this stage mum still wants to stick to dial up (you can lead a horse to water but you can't force them to drink it!)

So I am going to get her an External Apple Modem, some interesting options though and I tried to talk her into trying broadband but the whole thing scares her I think, when I tell her it's the same thing but just quicker I reckon she thinks it will make stuff zoom across her screen LOL

Cheers anyway