No New Mac mini. What are you gonna do now? (poll)

[mrat93]

I've waited months for a new Mac mini. Now that there's no new model in almost 16 months, I think I might buy a new MacBook.

[themoonisdown09]

You could just wait until they update it.

[Hellhammer]

Wait dude, wait. There is evidence that new ones are just around corner. Wait at least for mid Feb. then it's maybe time to move on and realize that new ones are not coming...

iLife '09 release will be the next big event so wait for there

[Akitakoi]

Non-Apple computer going to be ordered..... Any one have any silver paint and extra Apple stickers?;)

[bindigok]

I hate that Apple has us by the b*lls. Most of use will continue waiting for what we want. They have no reason to hurry with iMac updates, and it makes me angry (partly at myself) for being such a consumer whore.

[Turmoil]

It's not really a big deal. My other Mini works fine. On the one hand, the longer they take the more mature the product.

[tkidBOSTON]

I was really hoping to replace my iMac + AppleTV setup with a new Mac Mini. Looks like I'll just keep grinding away with my current setup until it happens!

[jacobsen1]

see, I'm no apple whore or the type of guy that needs the newest bestest version of something. I'm running the same desktop I have been for 4 years now. When apple went intel I told myself my next computer would be a mac, just so I could see for myself if they're worth it.

Well, I'm not needed a new machine finally. So I have $2200+ squirreled away for it. And I was about to buy it in December until someone told me to wait for today.... And now I need the new machine even more. But now what? Wait till the end of January? The more I wait, the more I need it. The more I wait, if I don't make it, the worse it'll hurt when the new version comes out a month later. But if they do announce/ship in late January, that is the latest I can hold out.

It sucks because I'm no fan boi, I'm no consumer than needs the newest, but I'm stuck making a ****** decision either way. :(

sounds like most of you are in the "want" category while I'm in the "need" but I don't want to get hosed by buying something and having it replaced shortly after. Had I bought what I wanted back in December now I'd feel great seeing how apple's messing with everyone right now.

[Hellhammer]

see, I'm no apple whore or the type of guy that needs the newest bestest version of something. I'm running the same desktop I have been for 4 years now. When apple went intel I told myself my next computer would be a mac, just so I could see for myself if they're worth it.

Well, I'm not needed a new machine finally. So I have $2200+ squirreled away for it. And I was about to buy it in December until someone told me to wait for today.... And now I need the new machine even more. But now what? Wait till the end of January? The more I wait, the more I need it. The more I wait, if I don't make it, the worse it'll hurt when the new version comes out a month later. But if they do announce/ship in late January, that is the latest I can hold out.

It sucks because I'm no fan boi, I'm no consumer than needs the newest, but I'm stuck making a ****** decision either way. :(

sounds like most of you are in the "want" category while I'm in the "need" but I don't want to get hosed by buying something and having it replaced shortly after. Had I bought what I wanted back in December now I'd feel great seeing how apple's messing with everyone right now.

Why you need a new one? Something matters on your old one? If not you can wait. I'm happy with my 2 years old PC laptop beacause I still have something.

If you are happy with this gen. Macs specs go for it and buy it. If you need more power then wait

[Yvan256]

I think we'll see the new Mac mini at the end of january, when iLife '09 is ready.

[jacobsen1]

ugh. so if you buy a refurbed today you get 14 days price matching on it... Meaning if the new iMacs come out in 14 days, you can return whatever you buy today, then get the new model at whatever it's price is.... But, the last tuesday in January is MORE than 14 days away..... :(

[riepley]

I'm the "need" category... I've worked with Macs before and I love'm. But I couldnt afford one, straight out of school.
My 6y old PC died on me last month, I've been wanting an iMac for a while now. Just when I could afford it, a friend suggested I wait for the updates. So I did. And I was sooo disappointed by the MacWorld Keynote...

Felt as if I waited for 4 months for absolutely nothing. It's not a do-or-die situation but, I've just been itching to try out my new toy I got for christmas ( a Wacom Intuos tablet) on a Mac, instead of reanimating my POS PC, for the second time.

And, I am not willing to put down the 2800$ for a MBP. Heck, no! I'll pass on this offer, Apple, thank you.

That'll teach me to get my hope up for nothing.
I guess I'll wait my itch out... I sincerely hope the iMac update will be worth the wait. I don't want make the same mistake I did 6 yrs ago buying a 1500$ PC out on a limb.

[rippyz]

My primary purpose for the mini is media center, also double as a backup computer in case my main desktop dies. I guess I'll have to keep waiting until the new mini comes out or it is killed off for good. If it's killed off, then I'll probably get a iMac, although it would look pretty stupid as a media center next to a big LCD TV.

[Foxglove9]

Probably build myself a hackintosh desktop soon since they are cheap enough. Been waiting over a year for a new mini and it looking more and more like it's never coming.

[johtaja]

What exactly is wrong with the current gen imacs? 3.06 Ghz, 8800 GT, 4Gb Ram doesnt sound very obsolete.

[spacecadet610]

keep waiting.

these rumor sites are killing me with all the mac mini teasing

[Dont Hurt Me]

Well I for one would like to open my Mac Mini End of Life thread.:mad:Come on Blue velvet I knew you killed that thread way way to early.:D

[NorrisKillsKids]

Keep waiting for the new iMacs.

[bindigok]

It sounds more like they are trying to thin down all of the inventory left over from the holidays, rather than waiting to complete the iMac technology. I mean if they can pack all of that into a Powerbook, then why not an iMac??? Holiday sales sucked, much worse than expected. So this way they can sell off stock to those that are in the "need" for a new computer. Pisses me off none the less. Luckily my PB G4 is still hanging on, although they just had to replace the smart board thingy.

But I'm holding out until new iMacs are released. Last time I bought just before the Intel Macs came out and I'm still kicking myself for that one.

[zombie1210]

I'm going to Disneyland

[iParis]

YES. That's how you do it MacRumors!
Don't give up on Apple. Just wait it out, they will do it eventually.
Although, if something new isn't released by April I will be heart broken and most likely just by an "as is" Mac mini.
The second it's upgraded I'm going to get it, the Mac mini that is.

[Mal67]

Well I for one would like to open my Mac Mini End of Life thread.:mad:Come on Blue velvet I knew you killed that thread way way to early.:D

That was a great thread that was:)

[Mal67]

Funny thing is I wouldn't have thought upgrading/updating the mini would have been that difficult to do. I guess its back to waiting.

[salanyali]

Wait for an update, meanwhile design our concept new mac mini :D

http://www.vimeo.com/2352794

[iStress]

If they update it now, a lot of people are going to get angry because their Christmas presents are going to become obsolete.

I say we'd have until the end of January till early February.

[iDave]

On the one hand, the longer they take the more mature the product.
That's what I thought before August, 2007 when the mini got a crummy speed bump.

[obey908]

i need the new mini to be announced by january 24th, thats the last day i can return my apple tv to bestbuy

[bplein]

I wanted a new mini to be released today in order to drive down the prices of used Core 2 Duo models of the current generation.

I have a 1.83 Core Duo upgraded with a faster Core Duo, and I want another to put into service as a file server (to replace my windows box). I definitely want an Intel system, but I don't necessarily need newer features.

As soon as the new ones come out, the prices for used ones should drop a fair amount.

[iParis]

i need the new mini to be announced by january 24th, thats the last day i can return my apple tv to bestbuy

What computer is it? The Mac mini may not be better.

[obey908]

it is an apple tv that i bought from bestbuy, that i want to exchange in for a new mac mini

[pjarvi]

Waiting for a new model (with nVidia GPU), and putting more money into my savings account while waiting. If my savings builds up to the point of being able to afford a Mac Pro, then i'll go for one of those, but i'm not wasting money on an iMac (already have a laptop being used as a desktop ;)).

[gkarris]

I've decided to wait until it actually comes with Snow Leopard and iLife '09 pre-installed...

:)

[iDave]

I've decided to wait until it actually comes with Snow Leopard and iLife '09 pre-installed...

:)
That makes sense at this point. Apple could sell a lot more software upgrades if they would just go ahead and release a new mini now. But if they don't, we might as well wait and get them for free. :D

[Ghislain Picard]

I'm a computer's tech for a school board of 11,000 students, near of 3,500 computers. 60% Mac and 40% PC.

In a school, we have two labs: one with 33 computers Dell Core2Duo with a 17" LCD display. In the second lab, we have 33 Cube G4, with regular 19" LCD display, 33 Apple Keyboards with mouse. This labs is ready to receive 33 new Mac Mini.

We don't had choice to waiting this summer to replace computers in the Mac lab because the Mini it's too old. We can't replace this lab with iMac, we don't have this extra money and we don't have choice to take an extra 300$ warranty for each iMac, not with Mini.

We had waiting until yesterday to see a new Mac Mini. But now, we decided to study if we can turn this school in a 100% PC situation. Just replacing the Cube G4 by a fresh new Dell.

Sorry Apple, you lost the game!

Ghislain Picard (sorry for my english)

[Benchmob31]

I had been waiting a few months for the new mini to be my transition from PC to Mac. Im disapointed that it did not come out at Mac World. There are to many signs pointing to a new mac mini coming in the future. I think for me I am going to see if i can find a refurbished or used mini to start my transition so that when the New Mac Mini finially is released I am up to speed. And if it never comes out, I will probably go Macbook over iMac.

[BlackMax]

I'm going to keep waiting, but it would have REALLY BEEN NICE to have seen the new Mac Mini yesterday.

[definitive]

i'm going to buy myself an equally priced, better equipped windows mini computer.

[Capt Crunch]

I'm going to force myself to be content with the 25' HDMI cable connecting my iMac to my HDTV.

[Nukemkb]

Geez. I voted 'keep waiting' and find I'm part of the majority! :p

[Dont Hurt Me]

That was a great thread that was:)Sad indeed that Apple hasnt done squat with Mini, they deserve a serious serious butt kicking. Shame!:mad:

[Benchmob31]

I had been waiting a few months for the new mini to be my transition from PC to Mac. Im disapointed that it did not come out at Mac World. There are to many signs pointing to a new mac mini coming in the future. I think for me I am going to see if i can find a refurbished or used mini to start my transition so that when the New Mac Mini finially is released I am up to speed. And if it never comes out, I will probably go Macbook over iMac.

I just bought a refurbished MacMini from Apple.com for $499. That will hold me over for time being now.

[Wikinerd]

save your money. go hackintosh...

[bplein]

save your money. go hackintosh...

Depends on what your time is worth to you. If you don't spend time researching the right hardware to buy, then you spend time playing with kexts and overcoming issues. Then you spend time downloading and doing it all over again when you need to go to a major update which would otherwise break your hackintosh.

So, if you ~like~ playing around and making stuff work, or your time has little to no value, then you can "save your money" by going hackintosh.

If you want to get on and do real work or real play on your Mac, and you value your spare time, then a Hackintosh does NOT save you money. It only saves you Capital Expenditure, but your Operational Expense will be high.

True costs are CapEx plus OpEx. Hackintoshes have high OpEx.

[Hellhammer]

Depends on what your time is worth to you. If you don't spend time researching the right hardware to buy, then you spend time playing with kexts and overcoming issues. Then you spend time downloading and doing it all over again when you need to go to a major update which would otherwise break your hackintosh.

So, if you ~like~ playing around and making stuff work, or your time has little to no value, then you can "save your money" by going hackintosh.

If you want to get on and do real work or real play on your Mac, and you value your spare time, then a Hackintosh does NOT save you money. It only saves you Capital Expenditure, but your Operational Expense will be high.

True costs are CapEx plus OpEx. Hackintoshes have high OpEx.

It takes less than 30mins to search the right hardware. For same price as mini I can build HC gaming hackintosh

[Theophany]

Depends on what your time is worth to you. If you don't spend time researching the right hardware to buy, then you spend time playing with kexts and overcoming issues. Then you spend time downloading and doing it all over again when you need to go to a major update which would otherwise break your hackintosh.

So, if you ~like~ playing around and making stuff work, or your time has little to no value, then you can "save your money" by going hackintosh.

If you want to get on and do real work or real play on your Mac, and you value your spare time, then a Hackintosh does NOT save you money. It only saves you Capital Expenditure, but your Operational Expense will be high.

True costs are CapEx plus OpEx. Hackintoshes have high OpEx.

Economics textbook, though I can't place the author. ;)

[Cave Man]

If you want to get on and do real work or real play on your Mac, and you value your spare time, then a Hackintosh does NOT save you money. It only saves you Capital Expenditure, but your Operational Expense will be high.

True costs are CapEx plus OpEx. Hackintoshes have high OpEx.

Uh, yeah. I spent an hour finding the parts from others at insanelymac.com forums, two hours assembling, an hour installing the OS (10.5.2), and another hour overclocking the cpu and I was up and running back in June. My $930 (including my retail copy of Leopard) bought me a quiet mid-tower quad core at 3.2 gHz that scores over 6400 on Geekbench. On Saturday I updated to 10.5.6 in about two hours. I had a silly ethernet problem that wasn't resolved until the next day.

So, total time invested - about 10 hours. Total cost of a quad-core Mac Pro - about $2400. Savings of $1400. I'll take that. ;)

[ejb190]

I was waiting for the new Mac Mini's, but was forced to do something when my my 12" PowerBook G4 bit the big one. I went to a low end 20" iMac. Man my timing was bad. I ended up with an older OS due to be replaced and a copy of iWork and iLife that were very quickly updated.

I wish software upgrades were 1) more financially friendly and 2) more predictable.

[bplein]

So, total time invested - about 10 hours. Total cost of a quad-core Mac Pro - about $2400. Savings of $1400. I'll take that. ;)


Thanks for the lesson on the Hack Pro... this is a mini thread.

Your math doesn't hold true on a Mac mini replacement. You can buy a Mac Mini of Craigslist for about $400 any day of the week, complete with a legal copy OS X. If you wait and are willing to put in half the hours that you did, you can save even more money.

This is about a mini, not about a Mac Pro...

[bplein]

It takes less than 30mins to search the right hardware. For same price as mini I can build HC gaming hackintosh

Have they solved the Software Update problem?

My other problem with this scenario is that you are willing to pay for PC hardware, but download an unauthorized copy of the OS in order to get this to work. Yes, you might be willing to pay for OS X too, and even if you do, it's not a legal copy on your hackintosh. You would be buying a copy of OS X and then shelving it, and then downloading a hacked version and installing that.

Been there, done that, wasn't worth it. I buy broken Macbooks or minis, fix them up, and save the money that way. Costs me some of my time, but then I have the real thing. My wife and my youngest daughter both have "recycled" black MacBooks that look ~wonderful~. My total cost for the two of these combined is maybe $600 for 4 broken MacBooks plus the time it took me to swap parts around between them to create 2 working Blackbooks. Call it 2-3 hours. Plus I have spare parts left over that I can either sell (reducing my cost for these projects) or keep around as spares.

[Cave Man]

Thanks for the lesson on the Hack Pro...

You're welcome.

this is a mini thread.

No where in your post did you mention the Mac Mini.

Your math doesn't hold true on a Mac mini replacement. You can buy a Mac Mini of Craigslist for about $400 any day of the week,

A used Mac Mini over a new computer? You not serious, are you?

complete with a legal copy OS X.

Like I said, my copy of Leopard is perfectly legal. I bought it, it resides on only one computer, and that computer is "Apple labeled." ;)

If you wait and are willing to put in half the hours that you did, you can save even more money.

I got tired of waiting for Apple to get off their proverbial @$$e$. I had waited for a year for a Mini revision before I built my hackintosh. It's now served me well for 8 months and counting.

This is about a mini, not about a Mac Pro...

Perhaps you should keep that in mind when you post.

[Cave Man]

Have they solved the Software Update problem?

You mean where I just update to 10.5.6? Already done.

My other problem with this scenario is that you are willing to pay for PC hardware, but download an unauthorized copy of the OS in order to get this to work. Yes, you might be willing to pay for OS X too, and even if you do, it's not a legal copy on your hackintosh. You would be buying a copy of OS X and then shelving it, and then downloading a hacked version and installing that.

Now you're just not being truthful. You can install directly from the retail Installer DVD that you get from Apple. The only thing you have to do is install a downloadable bootloader that allows the computer to boot Darwin. And there's nothing wrong with that.

[bplein]

No where in your post did you mention the Mac Mini.


Look at the thread... person is waiting for a new Mini, needs a Mini substitute...

A used Mac Mini over a new computer? You not serious, are you?

Look at the thread... person is waiting for a new Mini, needs a Mini substitute...

Like I said, my copy of Leopard is perfectly legal. I bought it, it resides on only one computer, and that computer is "Apple labeled." ;)
I'm happy that you paid for a copy. You can rationalize it all you want (I did so at one time too), but you are not using the software legally. I'm not a stickler for intellectual property rights, but what you are doing is in violation of a license agreement. I'm sure that if you sold software that had specific licensing you'd have a different feeling about this.



I got tired of waiting for Apple to get off their proverbial @$$e$. I had waited for a year for a Mini revision before I built my hackintosh. It's now served me well for 8 months and counting.





Perhaps you should keep that in mind when you post.

You're the one who uses Mac Pro pricing justifications to justify a hackintosh replacement for a Mac mini... Do the math on a 1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Mac mini equivalent. You are limited to 6.5"d x 6.5"w x 2"h, twenty watts at idle, and rock bottom decibels at 1m measured.

Also, where'd you get the quad core Xeon so cheap? Oh... it's not a XEON.... never mind... so it's not even a Mac Pro equivalent.

[bplein]

You mean where I just update to 10.5.6? Already done.
So Software Update works, you just let it go automatically? Cool, back when I tried this out you would need to log on to a forum to figure out what was safe or not (or be willing to trash your system and put it all back together again). OK for someone playing around with it, but definitely has a low WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor... i.e. can I put this in place and hand it to someone who doesn't know anything about anything?)



Now you're just not being truthful. You can install directly from the retail Installer DVD that you get from Apple. The only thing you have to do is install a downloadable bootloader that allows the computer to boot Darwin. And there's nothing wrong with that.

OK, so my tech details are out of date. You used to download whole DVD images from various sites in order to do this install.

What you are saying IS wrong, though. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the OS X Software License Agreement, which prohibits installation on a non-Apple labled computer. And it's not just OK to put the words "Apple" on it as the other poster suggested with a wink and a nudge.

Again, I'm not a stickler on these things, but waving the hands around and saying that it's OK does not make it OK. We can disagree with the civil laws surrounding license rights, but just ignoring them doesn't make them go away.

[Cave Man]

Look at the thread... person is waiting for a new Mini, needs a Mini substitute...

Look at the thread... person is waiting for a new Mini, needs a Mini substitute...

Really? Then why all these poll options from the OP?


Buy a Mac mini as it is
Buy a MacBook (any model)
Buy an iMac or Mac Pro
Buy a non-Apple computer
Keep waiting for a new update
Not sure
Other

I'm happy that you paid for a copy. You can rationalize it all you want (I did so at one time too), but you are not using the software legally.

So you're a lawyer and you know about the laws in all the different countries of the world? :rolleyes:

I'm not a stickler for intellectual property rights, but what you are doing is in violation of a license agreement.

No, I'm not. The license clearly says "Apple Labeled", which my computer is. :p

I'm sure that if you sold software that had specific licensing you'd have a different feeling about this.

I paid for my copy of Leopard. If I wrote software and put a price on it and someone bought that software, I'd be happy as can be.

You're the one who uses Mac Pro pricing justifications to justify a hackintosh replacement for a Mac mini...

No, you're the one who is confused. The OP is asking what to do in the absence of a new Mini. Quit making things up.

Do the math on a 1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Mac mini equivalent. You are limited to 6.5"d x 6.5"w x 2"h, twenty watts at idle, and rock bottom decibels at 1m measured.

Well I guess that eliminates:


Buy a MacBook (any model)
Buy an iMac or Mac Pro
Buy a non-Apple computer


Maybe you should send a PM to the OP to straighten him out. :eek:

Also, where'd you get the quad core Xeon so cheap? Oh... it's not a XEON.... never mind... so it's not even a Mac Pro equivalent.

Who the fsk needs a Xeon-based Mac? Only 10% of those who actually buy a Mac Pro. I sure don't. But I do like the fact that my quad core is faster than Apple's quad core. And for less than half the price. ;)

[bplein]

Who the fsk needs a Xeon-based Mac? Only 10% of those who actually buy a Mac Pro. I sure don't. But I do like the fact that my quad core is faster than Apple's quad core. And for less than half the price. ;)

I'm sure you didn't pass a logic course in university.

You can't say that your system is a true replacement for a mini OR a Mac Pro, because it doesn't satisfy the requirements of either. It may satisfy YOUR requirements, which are the non-existent upgradeable mid-range Mac. But it isn't a replacement for the high end or the low end. Your solution certainly wouldn't satisfy ~my~ needs for a Mac mini.

Based on your logic, a proper poll response would have been "I'm going to paint my bedroom". Interesting, but not applicable...

[Cave Man]

I'm sure you didn't pass a logic course in university.

Wow, now you're a college professor. You're quite the jack of all trades. :rolleyes:

You can't say that your system is a true replacement for a mini OR a Mac Pro, because it doesn't satisfy the requirements of either.

Dude, where did I ever say my hackintosh was a Mac Mini or Mac Pro? Nowhere. All I did was give you two things - its geekbench score and its price.

It may satisfy YOUR requirements, which are the non-existent upgradeable mid-range Mac. But it isn't a replacement for the high end or the low end.

I'm just responding to the OP's query - unlike you.

Your solution certainly wouldn't satisfy ~my~ needs for a Mac mini.

I'm not interested in satisfying you. But I am interested in correcting you where you've been wrong.

Based on your logic, a proper poll response would have been "I'm going to paint my bedroom". Interesting, but not applicable...

You make no sense at all. I suspect you didn't get far enough in college to have even taken a course in logic.

[bplein]

Wow, now you're a college professor. You're quite the jack of all trades. :rolleyes:


Not what I said, troll.


Dude, where did I ever say my hackintosh was a Mac Mini or Mac Pro? You compared the price of your system to a Mac Pro. But it clearly doesn't match the Mac Pro feature set.




You make no sense at all. I suspect you didn't get far enough in college to have even taken a course in logic.


Took logic both in Math and in Philosophy.

Glad there's an ignore feature in VB. http://forums.macrumors.com/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=98379

[Cave Man]

Not what I said, troll.

Troll? Wow, that really hurts, junior. :rolleyes:

You compared the price of your system to a Mac Pro. But it clearly doesn't match the Mac Pro feature set.

It beats it in price and geekbench. That's all I said, and that's all I meant. You seem to read into things that aren't there.

Took logic both in Math and in Philosophy.

Well, that explains everything. :D

Glad there's an ignore feature in VB. http://forums.macrumors.com/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=98379

Suits you well (http://www.nextnature.net/research/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/chicken3~.jpg).

[Hellhammer]

Cave_Man is owning you guys :D

[Icaras]

Cave_Man is owning you guys :D

Agreed! Also, quite the fun and informative read i might add.

[Wikinerd]

Depends on what your time is worth to you. If you don't spend time researching the right hardware to buy, then you spend time playing with kexts and overcoming issues. Then you spend time downloading and doing it all over again when you need to go to a major update which would otherwise break your hackintosh.

So, if you ~like~ playing around and making stuff work, or your time has little to no value, then you can "save your money" by going hackintosh.

If you want to get on and do real work or real play on your Mac, and you value your spare time, then a Hackintosh does NOT save you money. It only saves you Capital Expenditure, but your Operational Expense will be high.

True costs are CapEx plus OpEx. Hackintoshes have high OpEx.


Go the easy way then, EFI-X it is for you.

[bplein]

Cave_Man is owning you guys :D

Cave_Man is on my ignore list. I can't argue with a guy who says he saved money compared to a Mac Pro when he didn't build a Mac Pro equivalent. You know, I saved soooo much money on my wife's Ferrari purchase by getting her a Mercury Sable. But it's like a Ferrari. Trust me.

[robeddie]

Wow, it didn't take long for this thread to dissolve into a two person conversation of combatants. Usually that happens around page 14 or so of most other threads.

Anyway, I too voted for 'wait for an update' in the poll, but good lord, this is REALLY getting frustrating.

IF Apple does finally come out with an update ... and they didn't decide to just kill the Mini, you've got to wonder why the F they took so long!

[bplein]

Go the easy way then, EFI-X it is for you.

Oh, that may help someone else who wants a non-mini, but it doesn't help me get a mini for cheaper than a mini.

I'm still trying to figure out how spending $170 for EFI-X, plus a couple of hundred or more for for a small form factor motherboard and CPU, and a small case, beats the smaller, just as quiet (or quieter), and cheaper used Mac mini. EFI-X is great if you want to build a midrange desktop. That may be what you want, but it's not what I want.

So EFI-X is not for me.

[Wild-Bill]

I was contemplating purchasing a Mac Mini for a home theater PC solution.

As I am not completely out of my gord, there is no way I'm going to fork over $599 for the Mini in its current, completely outdated featureset.

So, I'll probably go the Hackint0sh route and build one into a nice, slick HTPC chassis. Having a Leopard-based HTPC would better integrate it with my Mac Pro and Powerbook. The wiki has a pretty large list of compatible hardware. I wouldn't need a powerhouse motherboard, just something that can output 1080p and maybe have firewire so I can hook into the comcast DVR box.

[Courtaj]

My money's on Cave Man. Now slug it out, lads.

[ale500]

I wanted a Mini back Feb last year, so I built myself a Hackint0sh :-). With a Quad core AMD. It worked really fast that was speed!. But it had some quirks. For sound I ended up buying a USB soundcard and getting an extra networkcard. I leave my machine on 24/7 and sleep wouldn't work and had some other problems (It will freeze from time to time...). I ended going back to Linux. Sleep does not work but it is rock solid.
I hope they put out something worth buying. I have 2 big monitors (A 26" and a 20") so I do not need an iMac. If not, may be a Macbook will be a good route, I hope it does not freeze when too hot like my current Macbook! (Nov '06)

[Tallest Skil]

Cave_Man is on my ignore list. I can't argue with a guy who says he saved money compared to a Mac Pro when he didn't build a Mac Pro equivalent. You know, I saved soooo much money on my wife's Ferrari purchase by getting her a Mercury Sable. But it's like a Ferrari. Trust me.

If it is equally or more powerful than the Mac Pro in benchmarks, it is a Mac Pro equivalent.

What, we have to build our Hackintoshes with exactly the same hardware as an Apple computer for them to be relevant to you?

I don't believe you understand what a Hackintosh is.

[Hellhammer]

If it is equally or more powerful than the Mac Pro in benchmarks, it is a Mac Pro equivalent.

What, we have to build our Hackintoshes with exactly the same hardware as an Apple computer for them to be relevant to you?

I don't believe you understand what a Hackintosh is.

Yea, no matter what hardware is inside. All computers can be turned to Hackintosh (correct me if I'm wrong)

Tallest Skil always hits the point and owns you all :D

[mo-ca]

Yea, no matter what hardware is inside. All computers can be turned to Hackintosh (correct me if I'm wrong)
Let me correct you :)
Not every hardware is Hackintosh-compatible ... especially older one or laptops. If youre planning to use osx86, then you should take a look into the database _before_ buying.

[bplein]

If it is equally or more powerful than the Mac Pro in benchmarks, it is a Mac Pro equivalent.


What benchmarks are we talking about here? I haven't seen any decent benchmarking tools for OS X. They may be the only benchmarks we have, so they have some purpose, but they are far from thorough.

But the missing midrange desktop IS a gap that is being filled for some people by the Hackintosh. That's for sure, and if it meets YOUR needs, then that is great. I'm suggesting that "build a hackintosh" is not a good answer for many people. Especially when they aren't trying to build the midrange desktop solution, but rather want to build the mini itself.

[CharlesX]

It's not really a big deal. My other Mini works fine. On the one hand, the longer they take the more mature the product.

No, the Mini was using outdated hardware even when it was last updated. Ever since they got rid of the discrete graphics chip. The 9400M is fine, though, so I don't know what they're waiting for. I can't think of any good reason.

Whoever made the decision not to update the Mini for 18 months is simply an ass. There can be no other serious explanation.