Microphone and RAM for 2005 model Mac MINI??

Question

My sister has a Mac MINE from Dec 2005:
Mac mini 1.42 512x1/ 80/
S/N: YM54701** <Edited by Host>
Since she is not at all computer-minded (but loves her MINI)- and I want to surprise her with a few upgrades when I visit her next week, what can I order (via the Apple Website?) or purchase to upgrade here MINI?
1. She wants to use SKYPE and has neither a microphone nor a videocamera for SKYPE. What is a good videocamera (with built-in Mic) that I can get? I have an iSight-- but I use it still so don't want to part with that!
2. Is it easy to upgrade her RAM to at least 1 gb? If so how and where to buy the RAM etc. She lives near Chattanooga, TN and I'll be at an APPLE STORE in Chicago on 24 June---
3. And not just for her MINI: What about FireWire adapter cables to be able to:
A. Take a FireWire 400 peripheral like an iSight and plug it into FW800 on a computer that only has FW800 (like a new MB13)?
B. Take a FW800 devise (like a Hard Drive) and plug it into a Mac with just a FW400 (like my MacBook from 2006)?
Thanks for any replies here!
Steve
Saturday 20 June 2009

Answer 1

Hello, Stephen Schulte2
1. I don't have a mini, but use this separate mic with good results:
  http://store.apple.com/us/product/T6831LL/A
If you want a cable-free combined mic/webcam, Apple sells this BlueTooth model:
  http://store.apple.com/us/product/TV520VC/A
For Skype known compatibly, you can search Skype's Store for Mac-compatible webcams:
  http://shop.skype.com/webcams/ - most seem not to have integrated microphones
  http://shop.skype.com/webcams/logitech-quickcam-communicate-deluxe.html has mic
2. "Easy" is a subjective term. This magazine shows how and says "Not Hard, But Not Easy".
  http://www.macworld.com/article/42237/2005/01/macminiinside.html
You can even see video of it being done on this site:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1UmuWdNSrk
Whether you want to try it or have a technician do it is your choice.
If you do it yourself, Crucial RAM has a good reputation with many Mac users:
  http://www.crucial.com/store/listmodel.aspx?pl=Mac%20mini&mfgr=Apple&cat=RAM
In my Macs, I usually use OWC RAM (and other expansion products.) The products I have bought from them are reliable and low-priced, and OWC offers as much support as you need:
  http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/
Whatever you decide to do, I strongly suggest that any RAM you buy has a lifetime warranty.
3. A. You can use this cable that Apple sells:
  http://store.apple.com/us/product/TP320LL/A
If you like, you can buy it locally or directly from Belkin:
  http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=164598
3. B. That cable is bi-directional, so it does not matter which end is FW 400 or 800.
However, an adapter that connects 6pin FW400 to 9pin FW800 may be more convenient. You have a choice of many, but here are a couple of examples from which you can choose:
 http://www.sonnettech.com/product/fw_adapter.html or
  http://tinyurl.com/cgll7o
If you want other options, a wide variety of cables and adapters of many kinds are available from:
  http://www.monoprice.com/
EZ Jim
G5 DP 1.8GHz w/Mac OS X (10.5.7) PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)
iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight