Gradual Mac Mini Updates?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

ThinkSecret provides confirmation (http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0509macmini.html) for an earlier Page 2 Rumor (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/09/20050919053504.shtml).

According to the report, Apple will be quietly updating the Mac mini in the next week. The low end Mac mini will be upgraded from 1.25GHz to 1.33GHz and the high end from 1.42GHz to 1.5GHz. Internal components such as AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth will receive upgrades as will the SuperDrive (up to 8x) in the high end Mac mini model.

Prices are expected to remain the same.

The Mac mini just received minor upgrades in July (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/07/20050726085737.shtml). Such a gradual upgrade process is consistent with a long standing goal of Apple wanting to de-emphasize Expo events for product releases.

[Ja Di ksw]

I like Expo events to release things, means I can get my hopes up so they'll be crushed :).

[mikataur]

Does the Mini's graphics card currently support the enhanced graphics effects in Tiger, eg, the "ripple" when new Dashboard widgets are used?

[Dr. Dastardly]

I never thought they would upgrade them at some event like MWSF or something. Most buying the mini are not the same people wanting live Quicktime streams of the events. Small quite updates make sense to me, but it also sounds like we shouldn't expect much from the line anyway.

Really I don't think we will see ANYTHING wow worthy until the Intels start shipping, I don't care what Steve said about exciting PPC products that are in the pipeline.

[hvfsl]

I expect they will also be upgrading the graphics to something like a FX5200 or R9550 so it can properly support core graphics.

[alexf]

Long overdue...

It's about time.

[MacMarino]

Well its good to see updates even if they are minor ones :p I think its better this way as there is often too much expectation on the expo's and people tend to let themselves down because they hype themselves up so much reading into all the rumours.
Now if only we got something new every Tuesday... :p

Macmarino

[jjmaximum]

This sounds similar to the way Powerbooks are updated...gradually...once ever year or two. :(

[Naimfan]

Hey, slow and incremental progress is a good thing! Hardly earthshattering, but good news nonetheless.

And thank heavens it doesn't make me neurotic about my new 20" iMac!

Best,

Bob

[longofest]

going to a gradual cycle is going to make it a lot harder to guess when new models come out, and hence will make it harder to know when to buy and when to hold out.

then again, i'm not in the market for a mini... i'm in the market for a powermac.

[zv470]

What does...
Internal components such as AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth will receive upgrades
...mean? To what?

[longofest]

What does...

...mean? To what?

read original article. Bluetooth 2.0+EDR.

[rockthecasbah]

Delicious...too bad i have no money. :)

[iGary]

If this is a Gradual™ update cycle, I guess the pro portable and desktop is on an Evolutionary™ cycle. :rolleyes:

[Mac_Freak]

Little small improvement, but 1.5 GHz G4 will do the job just fine. :D

[bebo]

I'm considering jumping back into the mac market .... with a mini

been waiting for this update. Basically, it needs to have an updated gpu, i.e. at least a 9550. Otherwise I dont see a big deal in paying the $100 for a new one over a refurb.

[aswitcher]

Well graphics card upgrade is a must.

Wonder if 5400 rpm HDD speed is going to be standard. Maybe even a 100 GB option...

I guess the real multmedia upgrades, and the colour black ;), will have to wait for the intel upgrade next year...

[Doctor Q]

Having new models come out with slightly improved specs doesn't make the news particularly exciting, but Apple has to keep up, even with minor improvements, because complaints build up and sales fall if any model goes too long without some form of upgrade, or at least a price drop.

[digitalbiker]

Having new models come out with slightly improved specs doesn't make the news particularly exciting, but Apple has to keep up, even with minor improvements, because complaints build up and sales fall if any model goes too long without some form of upgrade, or at least a price drop.

You mean like the POWERBOOK!!! :mad:

[hyperpasta]

It's really important to update poducts slowly and gradually, especially at the low end, so there is never a time where they are undoubtedly worse than the competition. However, they need to get their priorties straight. I want a 9550 over .1GHz and Bluetooth 2.

[zap2]

come Apple make it a big update or release a media Mac!!

but update for min is good my grandmom is in the market for mac mini

[lickily]

Having new models come out with slightly improved specs doesn't make the news particularly exciting, but Apple has to keep up, even with minor improvements, because complaints build up and sales fall if any model goes too long without some form of upgrade, or at least a price drop.

For all of the griping about the pace of Apple upgrades, I'd have to say they've done right by the mini. In two months, they will have updated 2 (and maybe all) of the 3 components that have crippled the minis performance: insufficient ram, slow hard drive, and non-Core-Image video card (we'll have to wait and see if this gets updated). Not bad for the price point, and don't forget all the other goodies they threw into the top two models.

[iGary]

come Apple make it a big update or release a media Mac!!

but update for min is good my grandmom is in the market for mac mini


Shakes Magic Steve™

Sources say NO.

[Platform]

G5...well maybe not this time :o

[KittenKrusher]

I want my upgraded powerbook damnit. lol

Saving the best for last I hope.

[w_parietti22]

Price Reductions???? ;) :D

[min_t]

If they can just put a 128mb video adapter in there, itll be my next home/work pc.

Make it so, MR laForge

[m-dogg]

If this is a Gradual™ update cycle, I guess the pro portable and desktop is on an Evolutionary™ cycle. :rolleyes:

oh my god iGary - what's up with your sig?

[Aarow]

if they upgrade the mini, i'll be sad. I just got one two weeks ago, and got the internet on it today!

[SiliconAddict]

Still don't care. The thing won't run well on my monitor 24", 1920 x 1200 native, because of the GPU so no sale. To be fair I'm not surprised. Since the GPU is built into the mainboard they would have had to redesign the board to replace it.
So reality we are probably going to have to wait until MWSF for the "real" Mac Mini upgrade. *sighs*

[dashiel]

digital optical audio out please? i can wait, but when it happens i'll be at the store.

[SiliconAddict]

oh my god iGary - what's up with your sig?


Hax0r exploded all over it. :eek:

If they can just put a 128mb video adapter in there, itll be my next home/work pc.

Make it so, MR laForge


Heck even 64MB would be good for most instances. It is after all a $500-$700 system.

[blenderdude]

Wonder if 5400 rpm HDD speed is going to be standard.

Hard drive capacities are expected to remain the same but will be upgraded from 4,200-rpm drives to 5,400-rpm.

There ya go! :)

This is great, since I was planning on buying my $599 mini a week from this saturday...

[Stella]

The graphic cards need upgrading too..

The existing ones just don't cut it.

[m-dogg]

I think it's good that they are making frequest updates to the mac mini. they should do this with their other product lines too!

[IEatApples]

I have looked all over "apple" and I can't find any information on the hard drive speed of the mini & eMac. If the rumor is right the mini will be upgraded from 4200rpm to 5400rpm, but can anyone help me find the speed of the eMacs? :o
If you look at my sig you'll find out why I'm asking.

[abhishake]

Does the Mini's graphics card currently support the enhanced graphics effects in Tiger, eg, the "ripple" when new Dashboard widgets are used?

No, it doesn't..

Yeah, what I don't like is how the high-end iBook gets a SuperDrive and low-end Powerbook doesn't. They need to make all of the Powerbooks and iMacs have SuperDrives. The high-end Mac Mini is the same way. AND, it's been quite some time..

Maybe Apple is just going to release an intel model next, but that would just be lame.

[Frobozz]

To me, this is what Apple should always be doing. Unless they're sitting on inventory, they should incrementally improve their machines when they have the new parts. A Superdrive improvement here, a slightly faster processor there ... and leave the major mobo upgrades for later. In fact, maybe we'll see more of this if the mobo's are more industry standard with the Intel transition.

[bigrustyjc]

Now I think they HAVE to update the powerbook soon. How can they justify the low end consumer machine only being 167Mhz slower than their top of the line professional portable? I understand that the video card, hard drive, etc are not as good, but still, it's a $700 machine vs one at least twice as expensive. I'm still holding out hope that we'll see an upgraded Powerbook before the end of the expo.... but that hope is getting smaller and smaller.

[Mac_Freak]

can anyone help me find the speed of the eMacs? :o
If you look at my sig you'll find out why I'm asking.

You have a 160 GB HD, so it is most probably a standard desktop computer hard drive at 7200 RPM

[BarfBag]

I think the Mini's processor speed is fine just the way it is. They need to bump up that graphics card instead. 32 MB of VRAM is a little low if you ask me.

I'm going to wait for the first Intel Mini. I have the money to get one now, but I'm a student and when I buy something for 500 bucks, I want it to last at least 4 years before I have to upgrade again. And by the looks of the current specs, I'd have to upgrade sooner.

[Pianowizard]

First, a premature (according to the buying guide product cycle) Xserve Update. Now, with this Mini update, there have been three iterations of the Mini since its release in january.

why doesnt apple also release a new form-factor eMac, redesigned cinema display, g5 ibook, and a 100 gig flash based iPod?

with all of the engineering resources that aren't being used on a speed bump powerbook revision, they just might be able to.

[lind0834]

I'm glad to hear they are doing there best to keep this little honey updated. I'm expecting one this Christmas, and I keep hearing all these people complaining about the specs.. Maybe I'm jaded from computers from the early 90s, but the Mini seems to be quite a nice little price/performance unit.

Everybody who is complaining about the specs should go and check what kind of a G4 PowerMac they can get for $500. It's not much.
I checked a popular used Mac website, and I can get a

Certified Used PowerMac AGP G4/400, 256M RAM, 20G HDD, DVD-RAM, Zip, ATI Rage 128, Keyboard & Mouse. $469.00
--or--
New Mac Mini G4/1330, 512M RAM, 40G HDD, Combo, ATI Radeon 9200. $499.00

Granted the PowerMac is a different machine from the Mini, but just looking at the specs, I don't know who can complain that they can buy a computer that is closely priced to tech from 2000, and kills. Sure it would be nice if it worked with Core, but it would also be nice if I won the lotto.

[IEatApples]

You have a 160 GB HD, so it most probably is standard 5.25" hard drive at 7200 RPM
Thank you! :)

[andiwm2003]

................ Such a gradual upgrade process is consistent with a long standing goal of Apple wanting to de-emphasize Expo events for product releases.


yeah, they are successful in that. they successfully de-emphasized the boston expo by not showing up. now they de-emphasized the paris-expo by not showing anything new.

but i wouldn't mind FREQUENT gradual updates, especially the powermacs.

[spacemoose]

You have a 160 GB HD, so it most probably is standard 5.25" hard drive at 7200 RPM

Wow. That's a large hard drive. Not so much capacity wise, but dimensionally.

[IEatApples]

yeah, they are successful in that. they successfully de-emphasized the boston expo by not showing up. now they de-emphasized the paris-expo by not showing anything new.

lol, lol, lol

Wow. That's a large hard drive. Not so much capacity wise, but dimensionally.
Another thing about it: It shows capacity as 149 GB. That seem small when they call it a 160 GB.

[Mac_Freak]

Wow. That's a large hard drive. Not so much capacity wise, but dimensionally.

or is it 3.5" Any ways, this is a standard hard drive that is found in desktop computers.

[IEatApples]

Will it come out before the September 24th deal ends?

[Steamboatwillie]

I like Expo events to release things, means I can get my hopes up so they'll be crushed :).

I know what you mean. Every Tuesday when they don't release G5 PowerBooks I head for my bottle of Zanax. Whatever will I do now for entertainment?

[frocha]

Cool.
I can finally get rid of this 500 MHz iMac G3 and get me a Mac mini to use with my 20 inch monitor.:) Good thing I held until after I got my financial aid money this week, but that's as long as I can wait. It's kind of aggravating running Tiger with this iMac, the beach balls kill me sometimes. Anyway, it has served me well in the 4+ years I've had it.
Can't wait 'till I get my mini! :D

[phairphan]

Hi all-
Long-time reader; first-time poster. I ordered a Mini last week (1.42, stock, combo drive), received it on Friday, and just got around to setting it up. I think it's the new model. The system profiler reports the following:

the CPU as 1.5 GHz; Bluetooth HCI version is 3, firmware version 3.1965 (2.0+EDR?); the drive is an 80 GB Segate Momentus 5400.2 (ST9808211A); the video card still appears to be a Radeon 9200 (RV280), but the VRAM is being reported as 64 MB.

Did I strike gold? I'd be happy to provide more details.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I expect they will also be upgrading the graphics to something like a FX5200 or R9550 so it can properly support core graphics.

Lets hope. With the D/L SDD upgrade it give some us the chance to make a media center Mac that Jobs feels there is no demand for - if I read the brief blurb in the Wash Post right.

[powerbook911]

Hi all-
Long-time reader; first-time poster. I ordered a Mini last week (1.42, stock, combo drive), received it on Friday, and just got around to setting it up. I think it's the new model. The system profiler reports the following:

the CPU as 1.5 GHz; Bluetooth HCI version is 3, firmware version 3.1965 (2.0+EDR?); the drive is an 80 GB Segate Momentus 5400.2 (ST9808211A); the video card still appears to be a Radeon 9200 (RV280), but the VRAM is being reported as 64 MB.

Did I strike gold? I'd be happy to provide more details.

Wow. You may be *very* lucky! Sweet. Open a widget and see, if you get the droplet effect. If you do, you have something very sweet indeed. Congratulations.

[Kobushi]

I'm glad to hear they are doing there best to keep this little honey updated. I'm expecting one this Christmas, and I keep hearing all these people complaining about the specs.. Maybe I'm jaded from computers from the early 90s, but the Mini seems to be quite a nice little price/performance unit.

Everybody who is complaining about the specs should go and check what kind of a G4 PowerMac they can get for $500. It's not much.
I checked a popular used Mac website, and I can get a

Certified Used PowerMac AGP G4/400, 256M RAM, 20G HDD, DVD-RAM, Zip, ATI Rage 128, Keyboard & Mouse. $469.00 ........


Wow, I sold that exact same model to a guy at work for $100 back in february. I so should have eBay'd it.

[Jschultz]

Hi all-
Long-time reader; first-time poster. I ordered a Mini last week (1.42, stock, combo drive), received it on Friday, and just got around to setting it up. I think it's the new model. The system profiler reports the following:

the CPU as 1.5 GHz; Bluetooth HCI version is 3, firmware version 3.1965 (2.0+EDR?); the drive is an 80 GB Segate Momentus 5400.2 (ST9808211A); the video card still appears to be a Radeon 9200 (RV280), but the VRAM is being reported as 64 MB.

Did I strike gold? I'd be happy to provide more details.

Seriously, no lie? Looks like you have lucked out, good sir.

I hate my damn 4200 rpm drive. I can really tell the difference between 4200 on the mini, and 5400 on my old powerbook. bah.

[screensaver400]

or is it 3.5" Any ways, this is a standard hard drive that is found in desktop computers.

Yes... I've only seen a 5.25" hard drive once, in a circa 1995 machine. Today, the standard is 3.5" for desktops, 2.5" for portables. But in a small form factor machine like the mini, a 2.5" is used.

In general, 5400 rpm is standard for 3.5" hard drives. 7200 rpm might be considered "prosumer", and 10000 rpm would definitely be considered "professional" (although most pro machines would use 7200 because of capacity limitations with 10000). 4200 rpm drives exist as 3.5" drives, but aren't too common these days.

As for 2.5" drives, 4200 rpm is the norm (used in the iBook and current Mac mini, and was standard on Rev. C and prior Alu. Powerbook G4s). 5400 rpm is the higher end, and is standard in the current Powerbook. 7200 rpm laptop drives exist, but are less common on manufactured machines. They have been user-replaced in Powerbooks, though.

[hyperpasta]

Seriously, no lie? Looks like you have lucked out, good sir.

I hate my damn 4200 rpm drive. I can really tell the difference between 4200 on the mini, and 5400 on my old powerbook. bah.

Do Widgets Ripple when you open them? Please be yes.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I'm glad to hear they are doing there best to keep this little honey updated. I'm expecting one this Christmas, and I keep hearing all these people complaining about the specs.. Maybe I'm jaded from computers from the early 90s, but the Mini seems to be quite a nice little price/performance unit.

Everybody who is complaining about the specs should go and check what kind of a G4 PowerMac they can get for $500. It's not much.
I checked a popular used Mac website, and I can get a

Certified Used PowerMac AGP G4/400, 256M RAM, 20G HDD, DVD-RAM, Zip, ATI Rage 128, Keyboard & Mouse. $469.00
--or--
New Mac Mini G4/1330, 512M RAM, 40G HDD, Combo, ATI Radeon 9200. $499.00

Granted the PowerMac is a different machine from the Mini, but just looking at the specs, I don't know who can complain that they can buy a computer that is closely priced to tech from 2000, and kills. Sure it would be nice if it worked with Core, but it would also be nice if I won the lotto.

The issue is not for Apple suers looking for a new machine for the Mac mini, but more for switchers. To that end Apple needs to address the low end needs of Mac users, while making the Mac mini attractive spec and performance wise to some of the Dell/Intel offerings.

Not quite sure how the Mac mini would stack up against this Dell offering:


Dimension 3000
Super Savings!
Intel® Celeron® D Processor 320 (2.40GHz, 533 FSB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
512MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
80GB1 Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
Single Drive: 48x CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive
17 inch E173FP Analog Flat Panel



I would hope for something more from Apple.

[phairphan]

I'm not seeing any rippling. Should this happen when I open a widget while in Dashboard? Sorry for the moronic question, my other Mac is an old Powerbook TI running Panther, so this is the first time I've used Tiger. The System Profiler says that Core Image is not supported. I thought you needed a 9600 or higher.

[lickily]

Hi all-
Long-time reader; first-time poster. I ordered a Mini last week (1.42, stock, combo drive), received it on Friday, and just got around to setting it up. I think it's the new model. The system profiler reports the following:

the CPU as 1.5 GHz; Bluetooth HCI version is 3, firmware version 3.1965 (2.0+EDR?); the drive is an 80 GB Segate Momentus 5400.2 (ST9808211A); the video card still appears to be a Radeon 9200 (RV280), but the VRAM is being reported as 64 MB.

Did I strike gold? I'd be happy to provide more details.


Nice, I wonder if that just slipped by or this is also part of Apple's move to deemphasize the importance of these incremental upgrades, you know upgrade the model and just quietly announce it after the fact. Maybe they'll even do away with introducing new part numbers.

The 64Mb would be nice, although the whole Core-Image compatibility thing remains a gray zone to me. Was it the 32mb that kept the 9200 from being compatible or the lack of support for certain graphics effects in the card itself?

[Kobushi]

Hi all-
Long-time reader; first-time poster. I ordered a Mini last week (1.42, stock, combo drive), received it on Friday, and just got around to setting it up. I think it's the new model. The system profiler reports the following:

the CPU as 1.5 GHz; Bluetooth HCI version is 3, firmware version 3.1965 (2.0+EDR?); the drive is an 80 GB Segate Momentus 5400.2 (ST9808211A); the video card still appears to be a Radeon 9200 (RV280), but the VRAM is being reported as 64 MB.

Did I strike gold? I'd be happy to provide more details.

You've got to be friggin' kidding me! How can apple do that without putting a 64MB video card and 5400rpm drive in their ibooks? (besides the obvious reason that it would make them even more like the PB's) Seriously, if the ibook had those in it, I'd be typing on one right now. :mad:

The issue is not for Apple suers looking for a new machine for the Mac mini, but more for switchers. To that end Apple needs to address the low end needs of Mac users, while making the Mac mini attractive spec and performance wise to some of the Dell/Intel offerings....


Lol, there seem to be more and more of those these days.

[Mac_Freak]

You've got to be friggin' kidding me! How can apple do that without putting a 64MB video card and 5400rpm drive in their ibooks? (besides the obvious reason that it would make them even more like the PB's) Seriously, if the ibook had those in it, I'd be typing on one right now. :mad:

Perhaps video cards in iBooks have gotten upgraded as well as HDs. :o
They do have 1-3 days shipping delays.

[phairphan]

Just took a look at the video of Dashboard on the Apple site. I'm definitely not seeing that ripple effect.

[Chundles]

I'm not seeing any rippling. Should this happen when I open a widget while in Dashboard? Sorry for the moronic question, my other Mac is an old Powerbook TI running Panther, so this is the first time I've used Tiger. The System Profiler says that Core Image is not supported. I thought you needed a 9600 or higher.


The 9200 won't display the ripple no matter how much VRAM it has, would you mind posting a screen grab of your system profiler window - would be cool to see what else it has to say.

64MB VRAM would help running those big screens a hell of a lot, the mini struggles on anything above a 20", it'd work nicely plugged into a 23' display with 64MB.

[Chrispy]

If the graphics card did get upgraded to 64MB then that is good... just makes you wonder why the iBook didn't.... oh yeah it is because the 12" powerbook uses an ancient graphics card and a 64MB 9550 would whoop its booty haha.

[powerbook911]

Yeah, this upgrade sounds unbelievable.

Powerbook performance, for $1000 less. Yes, I know it isn't totally mobile, but that is a *very* capable machine, for the price.

This is wild. Now we're expecting/hoping for:

Power Macs
Powerbooks
and Mac Minis

Imagine if they gave us updates to all three next week? :)

[MrSugar]

The 9200 won't display the ripple no matter how much VRAM it has, would you mind posting a screen grab of your system profiler window - would be cool to see what else it has to say.

64MB VRAM would help running those big screens a hell of a lot, the mini struggles on anything above a 20", it'd work nicely plugged into a 23' display with 64MB.

Very good point. I run dual 23" off of a 64meg 9600 and they run just fine. As for core image, that sucks that the mini doesn't support it yet. On the other hand, it's great to see more frequent updates on the Mac Mini line.

Now only if they would update the lines that REALLY need it!

[2nyRiggz]

well any update is good...i guess. powerbooks will soon become the underpowerbooks at the rate of the mini & ibook upgardes.

[pagartimun]

Does that mean there'shope yet for upgreaded PB? :eek:

[Kobushi]

Does that mean there'shope yet for upgreaded PB? :eek:

Prolly not. Apple seems dead set on disappointing me this year. In fact, I think it's in their mission statement somewhere "...to have as many events as we can without a powerbook upgrade merely to smite Kobushi...." :eek:

[Chrispy]

Hey phairphan. That is a nice system you ended up getting there. Would you be able to take a screen capture of your system profiler? I would love to see that :)

[phairphan]

I have attached a text file of the System Profiler output. I've removed serial numbers, MAC addresses, etc. I can post a few screenshots, but not all 20-odd screens.

[Chrispy]

I have attached a text file of the System Profiler output. I've removed serial numbers, MAC addresses, etc. I can post a few screenshots, but not all 20-odd screens.

Thanks :) If you wanted to post just the few main screens that would be fun to see as well... man this is tempting me to buy lol ;)

[Mac_Freak]

I have attached a text file of the System Profiler output. I've removed serial numbers, MAC addresses, etc. I can post a few screenshots, but not all 20-odd screens.

It is funny that you have Tiger 10.4.2 build 4D40 while i have 10.4.2 build 4C46.

Can any one check their builds and try to explain why he has a later built of Tiger.

[phairphan]

Here's the overview screen and the graphics screen.

[Chrispy]

Here's the overview screen and the graphics screen.

:D That is fun! Maybe SantaJobs will bring new mac minis in the night LOL

[Kobushi]

Hmm....I just might have to get a mini and tote it around instead of a laptop. Anyone know of a cheap (but not too crappy), compact monitor I could compliment with?

[plinden]

Hmm, could this update be why they pulled the "test drive" a couple of weeks ago? To prevent everyone returning their Mac Minis bought in the past month?

[mjstew33]

This is great! This may make me go for a Mac mini instead of an eMac if the update is worth it.

Very interesting!

w00t w00t!

Hmm, could this update be why they pulled the "test drive" a couple of weeks ago? To prevent everyone returning their Mac Minis bought in the past month?

Good point. I believe you are right. You have to look very, very closely to those marketing things.

I knew something was up when that happened.

[Xtremehkr]

I'm really happy that the Mini has done well enough to remain in Apples lineup. I think it was the entry level model that was needed. For an entry level model, it comes well equipped, good job.

[mashinhead]

bogus...who cares anyway, i want a dual dual powermac already.

[Naimfan]

Plinden--

I think you've hit on the most reasonable explanation as why the test drive was pulled--it makes perfect sense. It will be interesting to see if it is reinstated!

Bob

[Mac_Freak]

Plinden--

I think you've hit on the most reasonable explanation as why the test drive was pulled--it makes perfect sense. It will be interesting to see if it is reinstated!

Bob

If it is, then I am for sure going to test it out.

[phairphan]

It is funny that you have Tiger 10.4.2 build 4D40 while i have 10.4.2 build 4C46.

Can any one check their builds and try to explain why he has a later built of Tiger.


I downloaded a slew of updates, so perhaps it's a different build because I just downloaded it. I'm pretty sure it didn't come with 10.4.2.

[Superhob]

Here's the overview screen and the graphics screen.

Phairphan,

Thanks for all the info and congrats on your so-new, it's-not-even-out-yet mac mini.

Can you run Xbench (http://www.xbench.com/) (run it right after a fresh restart) and post the results here, I would really appreciate it... :)

[SPUY767]

It's quite clear that Apple is migrating their strategy to upgrade on the schedule of the much more frequent, and insignificant intel upgrades vs the traditional, barring the 2.5-2.7, large upgrades from IBM.

[phairphan]

Phairphan,

Thanks for all the info and congrats on your so-new, it's-not-even-out-yet mac mini.

Can you run Xbench (http://www.xbench.com/) (run it right after a fresh restart) and post the results here, I would really appreciate it... :)

Sure, here you go. I can't believe I've been sitting on this machine since Friday.

[Chip NoVaMac]

It's quite clear that Apple is migrating their strategy to upgrade on the schedule of the much more frequent, and insignificant intel upgrades vs the traditional, barring the 2.5-2.7, large upgrades from IBM.


Which is good, if they keep up the multitude of Intel processor speed upgrades. As well as TRYING to keep up with the Dell offerings.

[iDave]

Might have to get one of these and eBay my current mini, just for the 64MB graphics.

[Superhob]

Sure, here you go. I can't believe I've been sitting on this machine since Friday.


Thanks, that was quick! I have a 1.42 mac mini and my xbench score was 39.40, so this upgrade represents a minor upgrade, at best.

Might have to get one of these and eBay my current mini, just for the 64MB graphics.


idave, do you think that 64mb (but still not coreimage compliant) will make enough of a difference to warrant selling the old one for a new one? I ask, because I'm running my mac mini on a 20" Dell widescreen and it certainly does lag when opening some windows, etc...

If the 64mb means better handling of my monitor, then that may be a worthwhile upgrade...

[cubist]

Does anyone know a way phairphan can check if his CPU is a 7448 or a 7447B?

And how about this thought: What if there was not going to be a replacement for the PowerMac? What if it was the Mac Mini that was going to be Apple's only headless desktop in the future? Would we all be building stacks?

[iDave]

idave, do you think that 64mb (but still not coreimage compliant) will make enough of a difference to warrant selling the old one for a new one? I ask, because I'm running my mac mini on a 20" Dell widescreen and it certainly does lag when opening some windows, etc...

If the 64mb means better handling of my monitor, then that may be a worthwhile upgrade...
I don't know about the 20", all I know is that 32MB JUST BARELY drives my 23" Cinema. Certain display behavior is bizarre and a bit annoying. I don't expect a big speed up or anything. And, if I don't eBay the old one, I think I know someone who will buy it. It'll probably only cost me a hundred bucks to upgrade.

[AidenShaw]

but update for min is good my grandmom is in the market for mac mini
babelfish says:

"I'm trying to get Grandmom to upgrade to a MiniMac, and an update would be good."

[DeSnousa]

http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30951

Take a look closer, why does the machine model say that it is a Powermac should it not say mac mini :confused:

[~Shard~]

Nice to see Apple starting to release more frequent updates to at least one of their product lines - hopefully this is a sign of what's to come, especially when the Intel switch takes place.

[Superhob]

Take a look closer, why does the machine model say that it is a Powermac should it not say mac mini :confused:

I have the current 1.42 ghz mac mini and mine says "Powermac 10,1"

[Jschultz]

I have the current 1.42 ghz mac mini and mine says "Powermac 10,1"

me too.

[Chundles]

My iBook is "PowerBook 6,5" so it's no surprise that the mini is listed as a PowerMac, I think all the desktops are.

[bigrustyjc]

Nice to see Apple starting to release more frequent updates to at least one of their product lines - hopefully this is a sign of what's to come, especially when the Intel switch takes place.

It does however seem that Apple is starting to do regular upgrades/updates on the consumer level stuff, like the mac mini, and the Ipod. Are they trying to get out of the professional level stuff with real power? Who knows...

I don't see the Ipod carrying their whole business for very long. It will only take one company to come up with something that blows the Ipod out of the water, and everyone will jump over to that player, leaving the Ipod, and Apple, in the dust.

[DavidCar]

Hi all-
I ordered a Mini last week (1.42, stock, combo drive), received it on Friday, and just got around to setting it up. I think it's the new model. ... If anyone received a new PowerMac on Friday, I'd appreciate it if they could check the hardware specs to see if it says 970MP, or maybe 4 CPUs (or cores).

Thanks,
DC

[phairphan]

If anyone received a new PowerMac on Friday, I'd appreciate it if they could check the hardware specs to see if it says 970MP, or maybe 4 CPUs (or cores).

Thanks,
DC

I need a larger iPod than the current 60 GB model. Given my luck with the Mini, perhaps I should have ordered an iPod too! :D

[MarkCollette]

Now I think they HAVE to update the powerbook soon. How can they justify the low end consumer machine only being 167Mhz slower than their top of the line professional portable? I understand that the video card, hard drive, etc are not as good, but still, it's a $700 machine vs one at least twice as expensive. I'm still holding out hope that we'll see an upgraded Powerbook before the end of the expo.... but that hope is getting smaller and smaller.


Sometimes I just don't get you guys. For what, like 15 years or so, it's been the expected fact, in the computer industry, that notebook computers have lower specs, and cost more, than desktops. Period. Yet somehow, some of you have some illusion that Apple could defy the laws of physics and economics, and make notebooks with better specs. Yes, true, it is possible, by intentionally crippling desktops that is. But somehow I think that would lack a little business sense...

[ininjacorndog]

Question.

I need some professional advice.

I want a powerbook badly, I have been waiting all month hopeing the powerbooks would update at the expo but they didn't. Should I buy one TODAY since the Student Union offer ends today, or do you think these pb's will have updates worth waiting for before christmas?

[powerbook911]

Question.

I need some professional advice.

I want a powerbook badly, I have been waiting all month hopeing the powerbooks would update at the expo but they didn't. Should I buy one TODAY since the Student Union offer ends today, or do you think these pb's will have updates worth waiting for before christmas?

I think there is a chance they will be updated. If so, the updates would probably value more than the $179 of the mini price, but that doesn't necessarily mean it would be worth it to you.

[MarkCollette]

Another thing about it: It shows capacity as 149 GB. That seem small when they call it a 160 GB.

Do you mean that the Finder shows 149 GB capacity? That's formatting overhead. Any filesystem, like HFS+, or Fat32, or NTFS, etc. takes up space just to set itself up, even without holding any operating system or user data.

[ininjacorndog]

I think there is a chance they will be updated. If so, the updates would probably value more than the $179 of the mini price, but that doesn't necessarily mean it would be worth it to you.

I would also be saving 100 off the powerbook its self. I plan to purchase a powerbook and an 20g ipod

[the_smiler]

Does anyone know a way phairphan can check if his CPU is a 7448 or a 7447B?

And how about this thought: What if there was not going to be a replacement for the PowerMac? What if it was the Mac Mini that was going to be Apple's only headless desktop in the future? Would we all be building stacks?

judging by the 512K of L2 cache, that's probably a 7447B

[Chundles]

Sometimes I just don't get you guys. For what, like 15 years or so, it's been the expected fact, in the computer industry, that notebook computers have lower specs, and cost more, than desktops. Period. Yet somehow, some of you have some illusion that Apple could defy the laws of physics and economics, and make notebooks with better specs. Yes, true, it is possible, by intentionally crippling desktops that is. But somehow I think that would lack a little business sense...


There was a time way back when (PowerBook G3, early PowerBook G4) when the laptops had the same specs as the desktops.

Now however with the size of the cases, bigger, hotter, faster chips are the norm and people want light, slim laptops so smaller, cooler, slower chips have to go in.

People are annoyed at the lack of G4 progress (all Moto's fault mind you) and the fact that the iBook has excellent performance for the price when compared to the PowerBook. They want the PowerBook to get a big update because the gap between the consumer and professional portable lines has never been closer. And in some ways I agree. It would be good to see the PowerBook reclaim some of it's former glory (it used to be the fastest laptop in the world bar none) but I don't think that this will happen until the switch to Intel when it will be competing with every other laptop on speed, specs and features. I really hope Apple have got Tiger and all the apps running at blazing speed on the new Intel Macs (I say Tiger cause at least some Intel Macs will be shipping long before Leopard comes out) because unless it's very quick and good to use it's gonna be hard to justify a price premium on hardware everybody else has. And once that happens, Leopard had better be mind-blowingly cool.

Either way, this is much more exciting than waiting for anything new from the Wintel makers...

[MarkCollette]

Cool.
I can finally get rid of this 500 MHz iMac G3 and get me a Mac mini to use with my 20 inch monitor.:) Good thing I held until after I got my financial aid money this week, but that's as long as I can wait. It's kind of aggravating running Tiger with this iMac, the beach balls kill me sometimes. Anyway, it has served me well in the 4+ years I've had it.
Can't wait 'till I get my mini! :D

You're telling me, my home computer is an iMac G3 333 running Jaguar !
All I was waiting for, to get a Mac mini, was a 5400 rpm hard drive and a Core Image computible GPU. Argh, so close...

[Chundles]

Do you mean that the Finder shows 149 GB capacity? That's formatting overhead. Any filesystem, like HFS+, or Fat32, or NTFS, etc. takes up space just to set itself up, even without holding any operating system or user data.

The formatting overhead is much less than the 11 gigs of so called "missing" space. The difference is much simpler than that, it's the difference between the accepted advertising definition of a gigabyte (one billion bytes) and the computer definition of a gigabyte (10 ^ 32 bytes) this leaves a difference of 73 741 824 bytes per advertised gigabyte when the drive is read by the computer, so the difference for a 160GB HDD is 11 798 691 840 bytes or roughly 11GB.

You're telling me, my home computer is an iMac G3 333 running Jaguar !
All I was waiting for, to get a Mac mini, was a 5400 rpm hard drive and a Core Image computible GPU. Argh, so close...

Jaguar! Man, a mate of mine's home computer is a 600MHz iMac running Jaguar and I can't stand it!! Safari is sooo slow, no exposé (that really sucks) let alone all the goodies Tiger brings.

Forget the graphics card, anything you get is going to make your life a lot easier.

The 5400 rpm drive will make more of a difference unless you're trying to run a massive screen.

[eji]

It's the iMac G5 bs all over again. I find it really difficult to recommend the mini to anyone because it can't deliver the flashier effects of the OS it ships with. True, most people in the mini's intended market won't notice their absence, and they may not ever task the mini's meager GPU to its full potential; but I think it should be a matter of principle that *all* of the Apple models introduced post-Tiger should support every one of its features at some basic level. Would it have really been a logistical or financial nightmare to put something like the 9550 in the new minis?

Whether I'm happy with the idea or not, stuff like that ripple effect is the wow factor that Apple sometimes needs to get average Wintel users to sit up and take notice. I know that every PC user who looks over my shoulder goes slackjawed when they see it; and the first thing my wife asked me when she got my old iBook was: "How do I make my widgets do that water effect like yours?"

[MarkCollette]

There was a time way back when (PowerBook G3, early PowerBook G4) when the laptops had the same specs as the desktops.

I just wish people would realise that that was an anomaly. Plus, didn't it suck back then, when the G4 first came out, that it didn't ramp up in speeds for, like, ever? Why would we want anything like that again?



I really hope Apple have got Tiger and all the apps running at blazing speed on the new Intel Macs (I say Tiger cause at least some Intel Macs will be shipping long before Leopard comes out) because unless it's very quick and good to use it's gonna be hard to justify a price premium on hardware everybody else has. And once that happens, Leopard had better be mind-blowingly cool.

Yeah, I hope it means that they'll totally focus on bringing software innovations, and form-factor innovations, once they can finally forget about CPU issues.


The formatting overhead is much less than the 11 gigs of so called "missing" space. The difference is much simpler than that, it's the difference between the accepted advertising definition of a gigabyte (one billion bytes) and the computer definition of a gigabyte (10 ^ 32 bytes) this leaves a difference of 73 741 824 bytes per advertised gigabyte when the drive is read by the computer, so the difference for a 160GB HDD is 11 798 691 840 bytes or roughly 11GB.

Ah yes, that makes more sense. But, when you say the computer definition, you mean 2^32 bytes, right?


Jaguar! Man, a mate of mine's home computer is a 600MHz iMac running Jaguar and I can't stand it!! Safari is sooo slow, no exposé (that really sucks) let alone all the goodies Tiger brings.

Forget the graphics card, anything you get is going to make your life a lot easier.

The 5400 rpm drive will make more of a difference unless you're trying to run a massive screen.

Yeah, I couldn't take the pain and switched to Firefox a while ago. I really only use this for Mail, Firefox and iTunes, so I can survive until I can get exactly what I want. Oh, but I did have to do some video editting once for a school assignment, and my god did that hurt! :D

[Chundles]

I just wish people would realise that that was an anomaly. Plus, didn't it suck back then, when the G4 first came out, that it didn't ramp up in speeds for, like, ever? Why would we want anything like that again?

Ah yes, that makes more sense. But, when you say the computer definition, you mean 2^32 bytes, right?


Yeah, all Moto's fault again.

And, yes, 2^32, sorry must've had a brain melt.

[spaceballl]

...the clockspeed isn't that big of a deal, but i'm pretty happy about the hard drive rpm being bumped up.

-Kevin

[lexfuzo]

Do you mean that the Finder shows 149 GB capacity? That's formatting overhead. Any filesystem, like HFS+, or Fat32, or NTFS, etc. takes up space just to set itself up, even without holding any operating system or user data.
Actually, it's the difference between 1kB being 1000 Bytes and 1 KiB being 1024 Bytes. Drive manufacturers calculate with 1000 to boost the capacity numbers, the computer calculates with 1024. The drive in question features 149 GiB or 160 billion bytes.

[MacSA]

So even with the second revision to the Mac mini - Apple STILL havent put a core image capable graphics card in it :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Was getting excited for a while.... :confused: :(

[advocate]

Yes... I've only seen a 5.25" hard drive once, in a circa 1995 machine. Today, the standard is 3.5" for desktops, 2.5" for portables. But in a small form factor machine like the mini, a 2.5" is used.I remember a 5.25" full height (about 3.5" tall) hard drive holding 120 megabytes costing about $1000 not so long ago. And before that, a 30 megabyte hard drive was 5.25" half height and took about 10 hours to format. *sigh* Those were the days..

[Hattig]

The issue is not for Apple suers looking for a new machine for the Mac mini, but more for switchers. To that end Apple needs to address the low end needs of Mac users, while making the Mac mini attractive spec and performance wise to some of the Dell/Intel offerings.

Not quite sure how the Mac mini would stack up against this Dell offering:

I would hope for something more from Apple.

Ugh. I used my girlfriend's mother's Dell (2.6GHz Celeron) and it made me want to go back to my old PII 266 based laptop. The low end Dells are poorly engineered. Never mind that it'll use crappy Intel integrated graphics that make a 64MB 9200 look like a Radeon X1800. Never mind that it has *no* style. XP Home?!

A 17" TFT (probably analogue too, what's the point?) can be bought for not much money. Couple that with the Mac Mini and you've paid a little more money, but got yourself something that works and isn't slowed down horrendously by the Dell bundled anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-working software.

[spinko]

what about the ethernet interface ? will it be limited to ethernet 100 ? Hope they upgrade it... 'cause then it would be a candidate for a nice osx server :-)

[JeromeOD]

will it play HD video files? I'm not buying one as a media server until it can. I'm suspecting not, as my firiend with a 2.5 dual powermac gets dropped frames on HD video...

[phairphan]

what about the ethernet interface ? will it be limited to ethernet 100 ? Hope they upgrade it... 'cause then it would be a candidate for a nice osx server :-)

Just went into System Preferences:Network and tried to manually configure the Ethernet connection. The list only gives me 10 and 100 options. However, none of my network equipment supports gigabit Ethernet speeds, so is there a more definitive place to check (the system profiler doesn't seem too helpful)?

[MacSA]

Just went into System Preferences:Network and tried to manually configure the Ethernet connection. The list only gives me 10 and 100 options. However, none of my network equipment supports gigabit Ethernet speeds, so is there a more definitive place to check (the system profiler doesn't seem too helpful)?

What about Bluetooth?

[phairphan]

What about Bluetooth?

What about it? As I said earlier, from what I can tell it appears to be the 2.0+EDR variety. Here are the particulars:

Phairphan's Mac Mini
9/22/05 6:40 AM

Bluetooth:

Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 1.6.3f2
Hardware Settings:
Phairphan's Mac Mini:
Address:
Manufacturer: Cambridge Silicon Radio
Firmware Version: 3.1965 (3.1965)
Bluetooth Power: On
Discoverable: Yes
Requires Authentication: No
HCI Version: 3 ($3)
HCI Revision: 1965 ($7ad)
LMP Version: 3 ($3)
LMP Subversion: 1965 ($7ad)
Device Type (Major): Computer
Device Type (Complete): Desktop Computer
Composite Class Of Device: 1057028 ($102104)
Device Class (Major): 1 ($1)
Device Class (Minor): 1 ($1)
Service Class: 129 ($81)
Services:
Bluetooth File Transfer:
Requires Authentication: Yes
Folder other devices can browse: ~/Public
State: Disabled
Bluetooth File Exchange:
Requires Authentication: No
Folder for accepted items: ~/Documents
When other items are accepted: Ask
When PIM items are accepted: Ask
When receiving items: Prompt for each file
State: Enabled

will it play HD video files? I'm not buying one as a media server until it can. I'm suspecting not, as my firiend with a 2.5 dual powermac gets dropped frames on HD video...

This is based on The Brothers Grimm trailer on the Apple website:

480P: Nary a dropped frame
720P: Tops out around 12 FPS
1080P: Unwatchable, as you can imagine. The video stutters and the rate oscillates between 5-ish and .5-ish FPS

[ScubaDuc]

I remember a 5.25" full height (about 3.5" tall) hard drive holding 120 megabytes costing about $1000 not so long ago. And before that, a 30 megabyte hard drive was 5.25" half height and took about 10 hours to format. *sigh* Those were the days..

My 386 Compaq I bought in 92 came with 120 Mb HD but it sure as hec was not a 5.25 inch. HDs were already in the 3.5" format then. I actually can still remember the days of NO hard drives in PCs.... You had to load the OS and then the program you wanted to use everytime and it would take an hr to boot :rolleyes:

[lickily]

I don't see the Ipod carrying their whole business for very long. It will only take one company to come up with something that blows the Ipod out of the water, and everyone will jump over to that player, leaving the Ipod, and Apple, in the dust.


I think you've fallen into the trap of many of the companies who keep releasing their misnamed 'ipod killers'. It's just as Steve said at the expo, the player specs aren't the whole story (although they are nice), its the entire package (player, itunes, music store) that keeps people buying the ipod.

[macnvrbck]

I think there is a chance they will be updated. If so, the updates would probably value more than the $179 of the mini price, but that doesn't necessarily mean it would be worth it to you.

Here is my current plan...

The US iPOD offer ends Saturday night. I'm going to buy the 12' powerbook and iPod then. When I get it in the mail I will wait a few days for an update before opening the box, while still sending in my rebate coupon.

If an update comes before they ship date, wont apple usually call or e-mail you about just upgrading your order or getting the product cheaper?

I also wonder what that will do to my rebate, they woudl probably deny it if they then shipped me an updated model... I wonder? Suggestions?

B

[AidenShaw]

Actually, it's the difference between 1kB being 1000 Bytes and 1 KiB being 1024 Bytes. Drive manufacturers calculate with 1000 to boost the capacity numbers, the computer calculates with 1024. The drive in question features 149 GiB or 160 billion bytes.
A "giga" is a billion, not an "advertising billion". Your gigabit ethernet is one billion bits per second, your 2 GHz G5 is 2 billion Hertz. Your 160 gigabyte disk is 160 billion bytes - but your 1 "gigabyte" of RAM is about 1 billion 74 million bytes.

The international standards organizations (SI/IEC/NIST/...) are trying to fix the misuse of K/M/G etc by the computer industry. They're proposing prefixes for "binary multiples", so that nobody needs to guess whether a "giga" is 10^9 or 2^30.

One kibibit (1 Kibit) is 2^10, or 1024 bits
One kilobit (1 kbit) is 10^3, or 1000 bits
One mebibyte (1 MiB) is 2^20, or 1,048,576 bytes
One megabyte (1 MB) is 10^6, or a round million bytes
One gibibyte (1 GiB) is 2^30, or 1,073,741,824 bytes
One gigabyte (1 GB) is 10^9 or a round billion (thousand million - that battle's over, we guess) bytes.

For more information on the standards work, please read:

http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/11/08/i_say_petabyte_you_say/
http://members.optus.net/alexey/prefBin.xhtml

[phairphan]

I'm flying to Chicago in a few hours, so I won't have access to my Mini until Sunday. If nobody else receives the new revision before then, I'll be happy to post more info when I return.

[tekmoe]

Here is my current plan...

The US iPOD offer ends Saturday night. I'm going to buy the 12' powerbook and iPod then. When I get it in the mail I will wait a few days for an update before opening the box, while still sending in my rebate coupon.

If an update comes before they ship date, wont apple usually call or e-mail you about just upgrading your order or getting the product cheaper?

I also wonder what that will do to my rebate, they woudl probably deny it if they then shipped me an updated model... I wonder? Suggestions?

B

you have to cut out both UPC's from the powerbook and ipod boxes for the rebate, thus, you are technically "opening" the boxes, which apple will not allow you to return to the store without a restocking fee.

[WRXHokie]

Will it come out before the September 24th deal ends?

You'll probably see the updates the next day just because of the deal.

[anthonymoody]

If the GPU is upgraded I'll probably swap my current mini out for a new one...
TM

[MacPhreak]

For all of the griping about the pace of Apple upgrades, I'd have to say they've done right by the mini. In two months, they will have updated 2 (and maybe all) of the 3 components that have crippled the minis performance: insufficient ram, slow hard drive, and non-Core-Image video card (we'll have to wait and see if this gets updated). Not bad for the price point, and don't forget all the other goodies they threw into the top two models.

I'm just starting to read this thread, so forgive me if this has been thrashed out.

I really don't see the mini as "crippled". $500 on the used market will buy much less than a new mini. Low-end iMac G4's, maybe a dual 533, with old video cards, worn out hard drives, etc.

I bought a mini in February for work, and I don't find anything crippled about it. So it doesn't "ripple"..oooohhhhhh. Big loss. I primarily do graphics work, with Deneba Canvas X GIS Edition, and the mini holds its own. For the $$$, it can't be beat.

I'm not saying it shouldn't be upgraded; of course it should. I have just grown weary of people complaining about the mini. Take $500 to Dell and see what it gets you: an Intel Extreme vampire-video card, 256mb Ram, a crippled Celeron, and a butt-ugly case.

For the target market, the mini is fabulous. If you're into gaming, it's not for you, period.

[weezer160]

Does the Mini's graphics card currently support the enhanced graphics effects in Tiger, eg, the "ripple" when new Dashboard widgets are used?

Unfortunately, not. My mom's doesn't at least. Perhaps when the graphics card gets an upgrade, there will be support. The only issue I find with the mini is a slow harddrive, other than that, it's a great bargain.

[jjd]

I have read many threads about the old and current Mini's being used as HTPC's. I had not realized until reading this thread quite how underpowered the GPU is. In fact, I am surprised that the Mini seems to perform fairly well driving, 40" and 50" displays.

I am planning to buy a mini to drive a 50" plasma. I will not be attempting to replace my PVR with it nor will I be looking to drive HD content. I rather will only be looking to stream music and photos to it from other Mac boxes and I would also like to be able to surf the web on it. I gather from other threads that even the 32mb GPU will suffice for this, but am I just being naive? If so, would 64mb help much?

[Naimfan]

Macphreak--

I think you are exactly correct. The Mini, as a package for its price, is (IMO) a terrific deal! And it does what it is supposed to--it offers a low cost way of entering the Mac universe.

Best,

Bob

[powerbook911]

Here is my current plan...

The US iPOD offer ends Saturday night. I'm going to buy the 12' powerbook and iPod then. When I get it in the mail I will wait a few days for an update before opening the box, while still sending in my rebate coupon.

If an update comes before they ship date, wont apple usually call or e-mail you about just upgrading your order or getting the product cheaper?

I also wonder what that will do to my rebate, they woudl probably deny it if they then shipped me an updated model... I wonder? Suggestions?

B

Ok, this might be an ok idea, but you wont' be able to send in the rebate, for you need the UPC labels (including the cardboard) off the boxes of the computer and iPod. They give you like 30 days to send it in, so just wait until you know, if you're going to return the products.

Also, make sure you do *not* build-to order anything on the computer, or get engraving on the iPod, for they won't take it back, if you do.

[Agent69]

You'll probably see the updates the next day just because of the deal.

I believe that deal excludes the Mac Mini anyway.

[KA2357]

Does that mean there'shope yet for upgreaded PB? :eek:

I wouldn't hold your breath...

[JazzyGB1]

Well its good to see updates even if they are minor ones :p I think its better this way as there is often too much expectation on the expo's and people tend to let themselves down because they hype themselves up so much reading into all the rumours.
Now if only we got something new every Tuesday... :p

Macmarino

Sorry, an 80 & 83mhz upgrade - what's the point?
Increase the memory to 512MB as standard, that's an upgrade that useful at least.I guarantee that no-one has ever walked into an Apple store & said 'I'd have bought that mini, if only they were 80mhz faster'! The last 'upgrade' to the mini pushed the price up £30.00. At £359.00 they aren't even cheap anymore. By the time you add a keyboard, mouse & monitor , you're getting close to £500. Ship this 5 year old (G4) technology with 512MB for £299.00 & it would be a good little buy.
Come on Apple, stop taking the piss!

Geoff

[shawnce]

Another thing about it: It shows capacity as 149 GB. That seem small when they call it a 160 GB.

Hard-drive manufacturers define a "GB" as 1000 x 1000 x 1000 bytes (1,000,000,000 bytes).

Software and RAM define a "GB" as 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes (1,073,741,824 bytes). It is defined that way since computers work in binary, otherwise known as base 2 and 2 raised to the power of 10 (2^10) is 1024. So a "GB" is 2 raised to the power of 30 (2^30).

So if the hard-drive says 160 GB then it has space for 160,000,000,000 bytes which in the software definition for "GB" is 149 GB (divide 160,000,000,000 by 1,073,741,824).

[callan]

Sorry, an 80 & 83mhz upgrade - what's the point?
Increase the memory to 512MB as standard, that's an upgrade that useful at least.I guarantee that no-one has ever walked into an Apple store & said 'I'd have bought that mini, if only they were 80mhz faster'! The last 'upgrade' to the mini pushed the price up £30.00. At £359.00 they aren't even cheap anymore. By the time you add a keyboard, mouse, monitor & the compulsery memory upgrade into the equation, you're getting close to £600. Ship this 5 year old (G4) technology with 512MB for £299.00 & it would be a good little buy. But in 2005 to expect £359.00 for a computer with only 256MB RAM & no keyboard & mouse is ridiculous. Computers are meant to go down in price over time, not up.
Come on Apple, stop taking the piss!

Geoff

Errr, it DOES ship with 512Mb of RAM!

[lickily]

Sorry, an 80 & 83mhz upgrade - what's the point?
Increase the memory to 512MB as standard, that's an upgrade that useful at least.I guarantee that no-one has ever walked into an Apple store & said 'I'd have bought that mini, if only they were 80mhz faster'! The last 'upgrade' to the mini pushed the price up £30.00. At £359.00 they aren't even cheap anymore. By the time you add a keyboard, mouse, monitor & the compulsery memory upgrade into the equation, you're getting close to £600. Ship this 5 year old (G4) technology with 512MB for £299.00 & it would be a good little buy. But in 2005 to expect £359.00 for a computer with only 256MB RAM & no keyboard & mouse is ridiculous. Computers are meant to go down in price over time, not up.
Come on Apple, stop taking the piss!

Geoff

Take Steve's advice: don't buy into the Mhz myth. The meat in this upgrade isn't the slightly upped processors (but I'll take those), but the faster HD, and the (apparent) boost to the video memory . These will significantly boost performance. I'm glad Apple is finally doing a better job (at least in the mini) with looking at overall system design and balance to optimize performance. Having the fastest processor doesn't mean anything.

[MacSA]

.....Thinksecret also say the mini will be upgrading to a faster hard drive - 5400 RPM.

[jfmartin]

If Apple is coming out with new updated Mac without too much fanfare, it is because they don't want to send mixed signals to the market regarding the PowerPC vs the Intel switch next year... they will keep making the Macs better in a more gradual manner and low profile way... customers will keep buying those ...

Apple Exec seems to think: 'we're switching to Intel fine, but we come out every few month with incremental upgrades on every Mac plateformes to keep the market live and well for the current PowerPC offerings... we won't make too much noise at every lunch because doing so would confuse the potential buyers regarding the future Intel Macs...'

Again, Apple Marketing is clever.

:o

[kenaustus]

My sister lives in Houston and is getting ready for Rita to hit. I told her to pack all of the important stuff in the car - including all backup CDs, program CDs (and keys), but leave her G3 PM for Rita - looks like insurance will be replacing her old Mac and the Mac mini upgrade will be perfect for her.

Since I use a 1.5 PB at work (hooked up to a 23" display) I don't think that the upgraded mini is a bad deal at all.

[rashdown_online]

I would also be saving 100 off the powerbook its self. I plan to purchase a powerbook and an 20g ipod

PowerBook Updates...

Next Tuesday, after Microsoft release Longhorn!!!

Oink, Oink, Swish... (That's a pig flying btw)

I'll be claiming my bus pass by then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:(

[AidenShaw]

My sister lives in Houston and is getting ready for Rita to hit. I told her to pack all of the important stuff in the car - including all backup CDs, program CDs (and keys), but leave her G3 PM for Rita...
Someone posted here that when he evacuated before Katrina he took his powerbook and removed the hard drive from the iMac G5 and took the drive.

Smart puppy.

[wdlove]

.....Thinksecret also say the mini will be upgrading to a faster hard drive - 5400 RPM.

Now just can't wait to see the new upgrades arrival. Should also mean a decrease in price for the older models.

[JazzyGB1]

Errr, it DOES ship with 512Mb of RAM!
I knew that, I was just testing!! <g>
I realised about 10 seconds after posting & had amended it straight away.
Would have gotten away with it too, if not for those medlin' kids!

[KA2357]

Can you run Xbench (http://www.xbench.com/) (run it right after a fresh restart) and post the results here, I would really appreciate it...

I agree with Superhob, I'd like to see those Xbench results, too. It would be nice for comparison. I have an iBook 83-800 w/128M RAM and a PM dual G4-450 w/1G RAM. I've attached these results, so it would great to be able to compare it with the Mac Mini.

[MacPhreak]

.....Thinksecret also say the mini will be upgrading to a faster hard drive - 5400 RPM.

The mini I bought in February has a 5400rpm 40gb drive. A lot of people who bought the cheaper mini got the faster drive. There was a big to-do about it over on XLR8YourMac.

[jiv3turkey748]

i like the idea of gradual updates and think apple should do this with all their computers small, but frequent updates are the bast way to keep their computers fresh

[~Shard~]

i like the idea of gradual updates and think apple should do this with all their computers small, but frequent updates are the bast way to keep their computers fresh

I think Apple will pretty much have to do things this way once they become a true Intel shop.

[macnews]

These might be coming sooner. I placed an order for a mini through the edu store over a week ago. It has been delayed with no reason given, and when proding is done from our edu buyer he is told it is on a "hold" with no more reason given. Didn't think much about it until the mini update rumor showed up.

[minimax]

The formatting overhead is much less than the 11 gigs of so called "missing" space. The difference is much simpler than that, it's the difference between the accepted advertising definition of a gigabyte (one billion bytes) and the computer definition of a gigabyte (10 ^ 32 bytes) this leaves a difference of 73 741 824 bytes per advertised gigabyte when the drive is read by the computer, so the difference for a 160GB HDD is 11 798 691 840 bytes or roughly 11GB.

The diference amounts to 0,93 x N (or 1000/1024 (KB) x 1000/1024 (MB) x 1000/1024 (GB). Apparently the same factor of 0,93 also applies to Apple's student discounts (at least in the Netherlands) :p

[SmileyDude]

For the target market, the mini is fabulous. If you're into gaming, it's not for you, period.

I wouldn't necessarily say that ... it all depends on what kind of games you're looking for. For example, I play Warcraft III all the time on my mini. It's not silky smooth like the dual 1.8 G5 at work, but it's certainly not annoying.

will it play the latest releases? probably not. But, it's certainly not useless for gaming.

[oskar]

going to a gradual cycle is going to make it a lot harder to guess when new models come out, and hence will make it harder to know when to buy and when to hold out.

then again, i'm not in the market for a mini... i'm in the market for a powermac.

You should buy one when you need one. If you can wait six months for a faster mac to come out probably means you don't really need it.

[~Shard~]

You should buy one when you need one. If you can wait six months for a faster mac to come out probably means you don't really need it.

Exactly. Buy the machine that you need, when you need it. If you play the waiting game, all you'll ever end up doing is waiting for the next best thing. :cool:

[parigo]

Today at aple expo, you can buy a Mini Mac 1,25Ghz for only 357 euro. The classic price is usuly around 500 euros. That resembles much a liquidation of stocks, before update?

[MarkCollette]

Actually, it's the difference between 1kB being 1000 Bytes and 1 KiB being 1024 Bytes. Drive manufacturers calculate with 1000 to boost the capacity numbers, the computer calculates with 1024. The drive in question features 149 GiB or 160 billion bytes.

Yes, thanks :o

But, I still think that people should realise, that above and beyond the decimal versus binary definition of a billion, is that the following issues will reduce your hard drive capacity:

- Formatting it with a filesystem will take up some space
- Journalling takes up space for the rollback log
- Spotlight taking up space for all of the indexing

So, if the person before felt they "lost" 11 GB before, they'll probably lose, for real, even more to the factors that I've mentionned, by the time they fill up their drive.

[MarkCollette]

You guys made me wonder something. I've been holding out for a fully Core Image capable mini, because I wanted something that would last as long as possible. With the upcoming Intel transition, I wonder if there's a point to that?

[DakotaGuy]

You're telling me, my home computer is an iMac G3 333 running Jaguar !
All I was waiting for, to get a Mac mini, was a 5400 rpm hard drive and a Core Image computible GPU. Argh, so close...

Yeah, like a 64MB FX 5200 Ultra GPU would cost Apple more then a dollar or two over the old 9200! It's silly not to upgrade it to a Core Image compatible GPU.

[iDave]

Yeah, like a 64MB FX 5200 Ultra GPU would cost Apple more then a dollar or two over the old 9200! It's silly not to upgrade it to a Core Image compatible GPU.
Keep in mind Apple's tendency to "cripple" certain hardware so it's not tempting to those who might buy higher-end stuff.

[Vis]

After following the mac mini through its first two versions, I have a theory on the lack of a core image GPU. In a nutshell, I think Apple has every intention of using the lack of a core image GPU as a clear point of differentiation between its low end machine and the machine next on list, the iMac. Your normal everyday user off the street isn't going to know the mini lacks core image abilities or even what that phrase means. If you DO know what it means, the mac mini isn't being made with you in mind. I really think it's that simple. In other words, the mini will always be lacking in functionality that the other Macs posses. Currently this amounts to no more than a ripple effect, but with future versions of Mac OS, who knows? I certainly hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[iDave]

Vis, I agree, except that IMO, the iMac is not next on the list; the Power Mac is. For those who don't intend to get an all-in-one, that's it. All the more reason for Apple to offer a mid-Mac that's much like the iMac without a display, but that's another topic.

[oskar]

Currently this amounts to no more than a ripple effect, but with future versions of Mac OS, who knows? I certainly hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Actually it's a lot more than that. Try running Motion 2 on a mac mini or playing Doom 3 on it. You can see the major differences there. But you know, the iMac is standard 128, so it would be logical for the PowerBook to go 128 standard as well and maybe the Mac mini could go to 64 at least for the middle model.

[minimax]

Why are people talking about 'frequent' gradual updates?? Last real update was 8 months ago with the launch of the mini. I'm not caunting the increased standard memory as it should have included that from the beginning and they upped the price in the EU with more then the price difference between 512 and 256 MB.

[lazydog]

The last mini update seemed a bit of a palceholder to me, as though the next big update wasn't quite ready at the time and Apple needed to show some movement on the mini. So I'm wondering if the speed bump due soon is really the introduction of a G5 Mac Mini @ 1.5GHz.

Ben

[Waynuzzo]

Little small improvement, but 1.5 GHz G4 will do the job just fine. :D

Agree :D

[Hattig]

The last mini update seemed a bit of a palceholder to me, as though the next big update wasn't quite ready at the time and Apple needed to show some movement on the mini. So I'm wondering if the speed bump due soon is really the introduction of a G5 Mac Mini @ 1.5GHz.

Ben

No, because that guy earlier in the thread showed that his faster Mac Mini was a G4.

However if the Intel switch wasn't going to happen then yes, I could see it happening. The 970FX processor is quite small, and you would only need a system controller with a single memory controller and a single processor interface. You could have, for example, a 1.6GHz low power G5 processor with a 400MHz (or 800MHz) FSB which would match 400MHz DDR memory nicely.

But alas I do not think that this is ever to be.

[lickily]

The last mini update seemed a bit of a palceholder to me, as though the next big update wasn't quite ready at the time and Apple needed to show some movement on the mini. So I'm wondering if the speed bump due soon is really the introduction of a G5 Mac Mini @ 1.5GHz.

Ben

wth :eek: my greedometer just went off the scales. Don't push it bub. :cool:

[BRLawyer]

OK guys, here is some confirmation of it, so you can all order yours, too:

- XBench for a MacMini 1.5:

http://www.macosx86.net/open/imgnews/benchnewmini.txt

- MacMini config with 1.5 proc and 64Mb VRAM, already delivered to a customer:

http://www.tcsmacs.net/ (for French readers)

System Profile:

http://www.macosx86.net/open/imgnews/graphics.jpg

Good luck with the cheap refurbs! ;)

[MacSA]

How can this single Mac mini accidentally make it off the production line to be shipped to a customer several weeks before its officially announced?

[lickily]

How can this single Mac mini accidentally make it off the production line to be shipped to a customer several weeks before its officially announced?

Maybe its also the only one to get sold under the 'test drive' program :)

[BRLawyer]

How can this single Mac mini accidentally make it off the production line to be shipped to a customer several weeks before its officially announced?

Simple...it's not "weeks before", but most probably 1 week or even days before the official announcement...and the guy had ordered a 1.42 Mini, not a 1.5...he just received it because it's already getting out of assembly lines, as previously reported.

In other words, it's gonna be sweet to buy a Mini now, or even a cheap refurb one (for my Dad at least..!) ;)

[MacSA]

Yes but other people here have received minis within the last 24 hours that are not the rumoured new ones. Also, when you add the shipping and delivery times..it probably is a couple of weeks before any announcment.

[SPUY767]

There was a time way back when (PowerBook G3, early PowerBook G4) when the laptops had the same specs as the desktops.

Now however with the size of the cases, bigger, hotter, faster chips are the norm and people want light, slim laptops so smaller, cooler, slower chips have to go in.

People are annoyed at the lack of G4 progress (all Moto's fault mind you) and the fact that the iBook has excellent performance for the price when compared to the PowerBook. They want the PowerBook to get a big update because the gap between the consumer and professional portable lines has never been closer. And in some ways I agree. It would be good to see the PowerBook reclaim some of it's former glory (it used to be the fastest laptop in the world bar none) but I don't think that this will happen until the switch to Intel when it will be competing with every other laptop on speed, specs and features. I really hope Apple have got Tiger and all the apps running at blazing speed on the new Intel Macs (I say Tiger cause at least some Intel Macs will be shipping long before Leopard comes out) because unless it's very quick and good to use it's gonna be hard to justify a price premium on hardware everybody else has. And once that happens, Leopard had better be mind-blowingly cool.

Either way, this is much more exciting than waiting for anything new from the Wintel makers...

Of the small form factor laptops the powerbook is still one of the best performing, if not on paper. The windows books typically run like crap, whereas my friend's PB is just as snappy and responsive as my dual 2.5. Windows laptop, claims to be a 1.8, not only does it respond to input more slowly than my powerbook, it runs substantially slower than my 800 Mhz celeron Desktop. It's kind of sad.

[jdm7]

Actually it's a lot more than that. Try running Motion 2 on a mac mini or playing Doom 3 on it. You can see the major differences there. But you know, the iMac is standard 128, so it would be logical for the PowerBook to go 128 standard as well and maybe the Mac mini could go to 64 at least for the middle model.

I've only become aware of the core image issue through this thread. Does this mean that one would not be able to make use of all the transitions in Keynote on a mac mini? Would someone be willing to test?

[BRLawyer]

Yes but other people here have received minis within the last 24 hours that are not the rumoured new ones. Also, when you add the shipping and delivery times..it probably is a couple of weeks before any announcment.

Probably because the person who received it was in the U.S., as far as I know...so whilst they are clearing stocks in Europe, they are already delivering the new ones for the local yankee market...

[wdlove]

Simple...it's not "weeks before", but most probably 1 week or even days before the official announcement...and the guy had ordered a 1.42 Mini, not a 1.5...he just received it because it's already getting out of assembly lines, as previously reported.

In other words, it's gonna be sweet to buy a Mini now, or even a cheap refurb one (for my Dad at least..!) ;)

I certainly hope that it will be soon. Next week would be very nice, ready to break out that Credit Card.

[MarkCollette]

I've only become aware of the core image issue through this thread. Does this mean that one would not be able to make use of all the transitions in Keynote on a mac mini? Would someone be willing to test?

Every Core Image effect, that is accelerated by the GPU, should have a corresponding effect that can be done by the main CPU.

It's just that some effects can both be done in realtime by a given CPU and a GPU, but the GPU version might have higher quality or look cooler in some way. I would expect a screen transition to fall under this category.

On the other hand, some effects are meant to be quite fast, or subtle, just as a quick user interface feedback, like the ripple in Dashboard. In this case, sometimes the CPU can't do the full effect in realtime, so the choice of doing a degraded variant becomes pointless, so nothing is done at all.

Of course, if I were you I would still get confirmation about you specific question about Keynote, but I doubt that something like page transitions would not work with Core Image. I suspect that there will be new transitions that will look flashier with GPU acceleration, but will show up regardless if done by the CPU.


The kind of thing that I, personally, don't want to miss out on, by getting a Mac mini that doesn't have a Core Image supported GPU, are:

1. I don't want to miss out on the stupid little flashy tricks like the Dashboard ripple. I want to be able to "nonchalantly" show those off to PC users ;)

2. I want to be able to do lightening fast image manipulation, whenever some image editor, or hell even iPhoto, can take advantage of Core Image.

3. I suspect that Core Video, which is built on Core Image, will enable us poor G4 bastards to be able to view videos that otherwise only Dual G5 people can view. This alone would add years of use to a computer.

[MarkCollette]

By the way, with 512 MB of RAM (from the last update), and a 5400 RPM drive, and a little CPU boost, I honestly think that a Mac mini would make a perfect server platform for geek homes, and also now, small offices.

There could be a whole new market that's just openned up to Mac mini sales.

[ibook30]

Perhaps one of the impacts of these frequent and gradual updates will be outdated version being sold really cheap.... In fact- todays paper has an ad for a 1.25 gh Mac Mini for $299 !!!! (At "Fry's Electronics" )I don't need it- but,,,

[budugu]

Perhaps one of the impacts of these frequent and gradual updates will be outdated version being sold really cheap.... In fact- todays paper has an ad for a 1.25 gh Mac Mini for $299 !!!! (At "Fry's Electronics" )I don't need it- but,,,

Which fry's are you talking about? :confused: :eek:

[captain kirk]

I just ordered the midrange model, hopefully if this happens I'll be bumped to the new spec although shipping time on my order is only 5 days.

[MacSA]

I just ordered the midrange model, hopefully if this happens I'll be bumped to the new spec although shipping time on my order is only 5 days.

:eek: .... it looks like you'll be getting the current model rather than anything new.

[Vis]

Whats the max rez i could run a mac mini at on a 20 inch monitor and that new 64 mb video card? I'd consider spending less and getting a new mini and a 20 inch apple (or identical dell) 20 inch monitor and then just upgrading to the new intel minis next year..but if I cant make it works decently (expose, etc) at higher resolutions, there's no point.

[msett]

So new graphics cards are not any better? I will not even think about a mini until I am able to play some sort of graphics game on it.

Matt

[Vis]

So new graphics cards are not any better? I will not even think about a mini until I am able to play some sort of graphics game on it.

Matt

If the rumors are true, they *are* slightly better. Doubling the ram from 32 to 64 will improve performance, but by how much remains to be seen. Macs just are not game machines, not by a long shot. :(

[~Shard~]

Macs just are not game machines, not by a long shot. :(

Sure they are - or at least, they can be - I have played all sorts of games on my Mac without difficulty or complaint whatsoever, so that very fact makes your statement false - Macs are game machines by the very fact that they play games. :p Civ III, Starcraft, Broodwar, SimCity, I've played many on my Mac... I think you should quantify your statement by instead saying that Macs are not necessarily hardcore game machines, for those gamers who have nothing better to do than demand playing UT2004 in 3498x2995 @ 76 fps with all textures turned on. ;) :cool:

[martinlk]

Whats the max rez i could run a mac mini at on a 20 inch monitor and that new 64 mb video card? I'd consider spending less and getting a new mini and a 20 inch apple (or identical dell) 20 inch monitor and then just upgrading to the new intel minis next year..but if I cant make it works decently (expose, etc) at higher resolutions, there's no point.

A 20" LCD monitor should only be run in it's optimal resolution (1680x1050). Any other resolution will look like crap. The only monitor the Mini does not want to play with is the 30". Exposé will work just fine, but not as fast as on the iMac.

[BRLawyer]

Sure they are - or at least, they can be - I have played all sorts of games on my Mac without difficulty or complaint whatsoever, so that very fact makes your statement false - Macs are game machines by the very fact that they play games. :p Civ III, Starcraft, Broodwar, SimCity, I've played many on my Mac... I think you should quantify your statement by instead saying that Macs are not necessarily hardcore game machines, for those gamers who have nothing better to do than demand playing UT2004 in 3498x2995 @ 76 fps with all textures turned on. ;) :cool:

Exactly...my iMac G5 2.0 plays games much better than most ordinary PCs out there, even though I don't have that many games/time to play (apart from Call of Duty)...

You may only complain if: 1) you want those games not available on the Mac; 2) you wanna play Doom 3, as above said, in 4000x4000 with 200fps on a monster tower with a SLI GTX7800.

For normal users and normal settings, Macs are more than capable for gaming...the opposite view is just another old myth still spread around.

[phairphan]

Uh, these were my System Profiler and XBench data from earlier in this thread, so people shouldn't view this as a sign that the new machines are flying out of the warehouse.

OK guys, here is some confirmation of it, so you can all order yours, too:

- XBench for a MacMini 1.5:

http://www.macosx86.net/open/imgnews/benchnewmini.txt

- MacMini config with 1.5 proc and 64Mb VRAM, already delivered to a customer:

http://www.tcsmacs.net/ (for French readers)

System Profile:

http://www.macosx86.net/open/imgnews/graphics.jpg

Good luck with the cheap refurbs! ;)

It wasn't purchased under the test drive program. I purchased it last Wednesday evening (9/14), had it sent overnight, and received it on Friday (9/16). The odd thing about it was that I received an email from Apple on that Friday saying due to unexpected delays, my machine wouldn't ship out until Monday (9/19). I was quite surprised when the our mailroom person brought the box down later that day. Even after I had the box in hand, the Apple Store still had a pending status attached to my order.

Maybe its also the only one to get sold under the 'test drive' program :)

I have a 20" Dell attached to my Mini (the standard one (2001FP?), not the widescreen model) running at 1600X1200. Performance is decent. I haven't tried to run any games yet.

Whats the max rez i could run a mac mini at on a 20 inch monitor and that new 64 mb video card? I'd consider spending less and getting a new mini and a 20 inch apple (or identical dell) 20 inch monitor and then just upgrading to the new intel minis next year..but if I cant make it works decently (expose, etc) at higher resolutions, there's no point.

[Hattig]

Whats the max rez i could run a mac mini at on a 20 inch monitor and that new 64 mb video card? I'd consider spending less and getting a new mini and a 20 inch apple (or identical dell) 20 inch monitor and then just upgrading to the new intel minis next year..but if I cant make it works decently (expose, etc) at higher resolutions, there's no point.


A 1680 x 1050 display is nearly 7MB in size. Mac OS X double buffers that, so that is 14MB of VRAM taken immediately.

Then each application (similarly double buffered?) will take up more memory - a full screen application will take up another 14MB of memory (probably only 7MB of VRAM, and 7MB of system RAM thinking about it). As you can see, with 32MB of memory a 20" display is nearly unusable (in terms of Expose and other things that rely on fast access to textures) with Mac OS X, however with 64MB it should be much more usable.

[BRLawyer]

It wasn't purchased under the test drive program. I purchased it last Wednesday evening (9/14), had it sent overnight, and received it on Friday (9/16). The odd thing about it was that I received an email from Apple on that Friday saying due to unexpected delays, my machine wouldn't ship out until Monday (9/19). I was quite surprised when the our mailroom person brought the box down later that day. Even after I had the box in hand, the Apple Store still had a pending status attached to my order.

Thanks for showing up and telling us the real story, Phairphan..! Hope you're enjoying your Mini now..!

Cheers

[wdlove]

I'm hoping that the newly updated Mac mini will show up soon, Tuesday would be a good day. Certainly ready to purchase, also thinking of a 20" LCD.

[brittney spears]

Personally I would buy a mac mini to replace my "silent" g3-400 imacDV and would be willing to spend up to 1500 bucks for a pro model of the mini that supports all the features of the full tower. The form factor is what I care about most smaller quieter is what I am in the market for! Over the last few years I have bought several pc's a shuttle xpc small form factor etc... none of them has been able to replace my seriously aging imac for stablilty viruslessness and most of all quietness "the imac is silent" it makes zero noise which makes for a completly different experience while designing or doing anything creative using my shuttle is like trying to get creative with a hair blow dryer going full blast in my ear and it is very quiet by pc standards there is a huge difference between quiet and "SILENT"

I paid 1,450 bucks for my imac DV g3 400 back in 2001 and as a web design professional money is not really an object compared to stability and quality that the imac has delivered over the years. When they first released the mini was released I was totally suprised that they didnt see the 1000s if not million aging imacs out there and give us a comparable or even better replacement.

Some things I would like to see on a pro model.

*more than one firewire plug and make it firewire 800

*custom portable "ie protected foldable LCD" just made just for mini with harmon cardon speakers.. the old imacs are killer

*scrap airport and give me PVR functionality preferably cable TV ready.

*fastest possible hard drive 7200 rpm with tons of cache 16mbs or if heat and noise is an issue a 5400 with tons of cache at least 8mbs

*decent graphics preferrably nvidia 128 mbs

price is not an issue like so many others here form factor is an issue.. and no I dont want a full tower or a laptop, nor do I wish to be stuck with a built in monitor again a la imac G5

[MacSA]

Mini update due in October?

http://www.macosxrumors.com/

UPDATE: More sources claim Apple will update the Mac mini during the month of October.

[MacSA]

Mini update due in October?

http://www.macosxrumors.com/

UPDATE: More sources claim Apple will update the Mac mini during the month of October.

.....suspects Phairphans mini isn't real. ;) ;) :p

[BRLawyer]

.....suspects Phairphans mini isn't real. ;) ;) :p

You seem to forget that "October" is just a week away...

[blenderdude]

.....suspects Phairphans mini isn't real. ;) ;) :p

I hate to spoil the fun, but I'm afraid this is correct.
If you open up Phairphan's image with Notepad, there is the following telltale line at the top:
ÿØÿà JFIF



ÿí Photoshop 3.0 8BIM

A guy on the applenova forums found this. Also, he found "telltale grey patterns around the 5 that look the same as other 5's on the page" (basically, the 5 in 1.5 GHZ was cloned from another 5 in the real image).

Still, I sure hope that apple *does* upgrade the mini with 64mb VRAM...
:(

[Bakey]

I hate to spoil the fun, but I'm afraid this is correct.
If you open up Phairphan's image with Notepad, there is the following telltale line at the top:
ÿØÿà JFIF



ÿí Photoshop 3.0 8BIM

A guy on the applenova forums found this. Also, he found "telltale grey patterns around the 5 that look the same as other 5's on the page" (basically, the 5 in 1.5 GHZ was cloned from another 5 in the real image).

Still, I sure hope that apple *does* upgrade the mini with 64mb VRAM...
:(

Can't you guys cut this fella some slack!? We'll know soon enough if the mini has indeed been updated with the 1.3/1.5 G4's, ie., we'll know 'real' soon if they're already out in the wild as surely more than one person has received such a unit.

As for the Photoshop info. in the header; would that not be there if the guy had taken a screen grab and then saved it back out from Photoshop???

Fingers crossed these updates do happen as I'm ordering one the moment they're confirmed... ;)

[Vis]

I hate to spoil the fun, but I'm afraid this is correct.
If you open up Phairphan's image with Notepad, there is the following telltale line at the top:
ÿØÿà JFIF



ÿí Photoshop 3.0 8BIM

A guy on the applenova forums found this. Also, he found "telltale grey patterns around the 5 that look the same as other 5's on the page" (basically, the 5 in 1.5 GHZ was cloned from another 5 in the real image).

Still, I sure hope that apple *does* upgrade the mini with 64mb VRAM...
:(

Heh. See, for me this is *good* news. Now I can still hope for a core image capable GPU..

[BRLawyer]

Can't you guys cut this fella some slack!? We'll know soon enough if the mini has indeed been updated with the 1.3/1.5 G4's, ie., we'll know 'real' soon if they're already out in the wild as surely more than one person has received such a unit.

As for the Photoshop info. in the header; would that not be there if the guy had taken a screen grab and then saved it back out from Photoshop???

Fingers crossed these updates do happen as I'm ordering one the moment they're confirmed... ;)

Exactly, it doesn't say anything...it's perfectly possible to use PS to take a grab or trim the image somehow...I still remember some "specialists" saying that the iMac G5 box images were not real either... :rolleyes:

[wdlove]

You seem to forget that "October" is just a week away...

Still next week would be preferable. If not let's hope that it will be at the beginning of October.

[MacSA]

Exactly, it doesn't say anything...it's perfectly possible to use PS to take a grab or trim the image somehow...I still remember some "specialists" saying that the iMac G5 box images were not real either... :rolleyes:

They weren't real lol...... There were lots of fake and hoaxed iMac G5 pictures circulating before they were released.

[damo]

we recieved a new 1.42ghz CD mac mini last thursday, and it wasn't a 1.5, if this means anything...

(probably not, as we are in .au, and the fact we received it the day after placing the order indicates apple .au have relatively high stock levels of the mini)

[aswitcher]

we recieved a new 1.42ghz CD mac mini last thursday, and it wasn't a 1.5, if this means anything...

(probably not, as we are in .au, and the fact we received it the day after placing the order indicates apple .au have relatively high stock levels of the mini)

Yeah Mac Minis are a bit over priced downunder. I think they have too much stock of the current and even last gen mac mini given stock I have seen in some stores.

[BRLawyer]

They weren't real lol...... There were lots of fake and hoaxed iMac G5 pictures circulating before they were released.

Some of them were, some others not, just like new PowerBook cases that ended up being real back in 2003/4...you believe in what you want to believe...the iPod Nano was, until the very last days before launch, just a highly dismissed Page 2 rumor...

Fact is, the Mini is being updated...and to be honest, I don't think it's worth the effort to "photoshop" a grab just to show a .08 speed increase and 32Mb of additional VRAM...it's kinda nerdy, to say the least... :rolleyes:

[MacSA]

Fact is, the Mini is being updated...and to be honest, I don't think it's worth the effort to "photoshop" a grab just to show a .08 speed increase and 32Mb of additional VRAM...it's kinda nerdy, to say the least... :rolleyes:

I'm not doubting the mini is being updated ....... there are other signs along with the info from Thinksecret that point to an update soon.

[wdlove]

I'm not doubting the mini is being updated ....... there are other signs along with the info from Thinksecret that point to an update soon.

There is definitely a lo of activity about the update being posted here. Just hope that the update will be sooner rather than later. Such as within two weeks or less.

[~Shard~]

There is definitely a lo of activity about the update being posted here. Just hope that the update will be sooner rather than later. Such as within two weeks or less.

To fully capitalize on the upcoming Xmas sales season, I agree, sooner rather than later will be in everyone's best interests, not just Apple's... ;)

Plus, if it isn't a major update, I don't see why it should taker any longer than this. I will be keeping my eyes open for an update this Tuesday!

[trqy]

Hi ppl,

It may seem too silly but i'm pretty new to the mac side of the world so excuse me..

What're the benefits of Core Graphics? What the gain if minis support that? Anything other then the ripple effect on dashboard? I plan to buy a mini generally for everyday use but can wait to the day it's supported.

[ammon]

Hi ppl,

It may seem too silly but i'm pretty new to the mac side of the world so excuse me..

What're the benefits of Core Graphics? What the gain if minis support that? Anything other then the ripple effect on dashboard? I plan to buy a mini generally for everyday use but can wait to the day it's supported.

Here is the basic idea:
Processing that is typically done on the CPU can be shifted to the GPU. This helps speed up the computer.

[phairphan]

This confused me since I don't own Photoshop. I used Preview to save the tiff screen grabs to jpgs (since this site doesn't support uploading tiffs). So I tried it again and discovered something interesting. When using Preview to save tiffs as jpegs it places Photoshop blah blah in the header. Apple has obviously licensed Adobe technology for use in Preview. Try it out.

I have attached the original tiffs from Grab. They're in a zip file created on my PC (since I can't seem to zip files on the Mac without extra software).

At the end of the day, I really don't care if readers believe me or not. I just know when rumors of new or updated hardware start I, like you, read these threads almost religiously looking and waiting for info. I had some to share, so I did.


I hate to spoil the fun, but I'm afraid this is correct.
If you open up Phairphan's image with Notepad, there is the following telltale line at the top:
ÿØÿà JFIF



ÿí Photoshop 3.0 8BIM

A guy on the applenova forums found this. Also, he found "telltale grey patterns around the 5 that look the same as other 5's on the page" (basically, the 5 in 1.5 GHZ was cloned from another 5 in the real image).

Still, I sure hope that apple *does* upgrade the mini with 64mb VRAM...
:(

[blenderdude]

Sorry about that phairphan. I didn't mean to sound accusing. The guy over on applenova seemed to have some better "evidence," plus I was just in a cranky mood that day :rolleyes: hope you'll forgive me.

That makes sense with the photoshop thing, that if Apple had licensed the technology for Preview from adobe. It also makes sense that you probably wouldn't have Photoshop 3.0--that's pretty old!

Hopefully the new mac minis will be announced on tuesday, as I'm planning on buying mine next saturday!

[dongmin]

As you can see, with 32MB of memory a 20" display is nearly unusable.

Then how do you explain my using the Dell 2005fpw with my iBook (yes, I use the spanning hack)???

I watch a DVD full-screen on the Dell while I do Mail, Safari, and Word on my iBook's 12". Without any problems. Even Expose runs decent.

For non-gaming purposes, a 32MB card will do just fine for 20" and under.

[~Shard~]

Then how do you explain my using the Dell 2005fpw with my iBook (yes, I use the spanning hack)???

I watch a DVD full-screen on the Dell while I do Mail, Safari, and Word on my iBook's 12". Without any problems. Even Expose runs decent.

For non-gaming purposes, a 32MB card will do just fine for 20" and under.

Actually a friend of mine does practically the same thing, and you're right - 32 MB definitely seems sufficient for a 20" screen.

This reminds me of all those "the FX5200 is utter crap" comments which ignorant people used to make at the time. Simply not true, I'm afraid! :cool:

[powerbook911]

Actually a friend of mine does practically the same thing, and you're right - 32 MB definitely seems sufficient for a 20" screen.

This reminds me of all those "the FX5200 is utter crap" comments which ignorant people used to make at the time. Simply not true, I'm afraid! :cool:

But you're really running 16MB on the external display, which I found to be a little underperforming. I'm sure it works very well, for your needs. It sounds like you have a great solution. However, I think some *might* need the full VRAM on the external.

[~Shard~]

But you're really running 16MB on the external display, which I found to be a little underperforming. I'm sure it works very well, for your needs. It sounds like you have a great solution. However, I think some *might* need the full VRAM on the external.

Fair enough, I appreciate that. :cool:

[Chundles]

This confused me since I don't own Photoshop. I used Preview to save the tiff screen grabs to jpgs (since this site doesn't support uploading tiffs). So I tried it again and discovered something interesting. When using Preview to save tiffs as jpegs it places Photoshop blah blah in the header. Apple has obviously licensed Adobe technology for use in Preview. Try it out.

I have attached the original tiffs from Grab. They're in a zip file created on my PC (since I can't seem to zip files on the Mac without extra software).

At the end of the day, I really don't care if readers believe me or not. I just know when rumors of new or updated hardware start I, like you, read these threads almost religiously looking and waiting for info. I had some to share, so I did.


Just on the zip file thing, put the files into a folder, ctrl-click on the folder and select "make archive of ...." This makes a zip file.

[wdlove]

Actually a friend of mine does practically the same thing, and you're right - 32 MB definitely seems sufficient for a 20" screen.

This reminds me of all those "the FX5200 is utter crap" comments which ignorant people used to make at the time. Simply not true, I'm afraid! :cool:

That is good news ~Shard~. I think that a 20" display would be awesome.

[maddav]

That is good news ~Shard~. I think that a 20" display would be awesome.

Yeah it works really with my ibook (see sig) :)

[~Shard~]

That is good news ~Shard~. I think that a 20" display would be awesome.

I do too - I'm envious of her, actually! Maybe when I buy a new Mac in a couple years I'll pick up a 20" as well... :cool:

[SonComet]

Yeah it works really with my ibook (see sig) :)
Ummm, that 20" display pushes less pixels than a 17" lcd. So maybe that it why your performance is so good?

[tkram01]

phairphan - where did you purchase your mac mini from?

[Surreal]

Ummm, that 20" display pushes less pixels than a 17" lcd. So maybe that it why your performance is so good?

it's my understanding that dell actually uses the same lcd as the apple 20"

they claim different specs..but not a different pixel count.

[danp]

it's my understanding that dell actually uses the same lcd as the apple 20"

they claim different specs..but not a different pixel count.

The native res of the 2005FPW is 1680x1050, which I believe is the same as the Apple 20".

Dell quote better figures for the response rate and contrast ratio - not sure if thats true in practice, but the price difference is undeniable (especially when Dell have a deal on).

On the flip side, the Apple looks nicer ;)

[ScubaDuc]

Fact is, the Mini is being updated...and to be honest, I don't think it's worth the effort to "photoshop" a grab just to show a .08 speed increase and 32Mb of additional VRAM...it's kinda nerdy, to say the least... :rolleyes:

And where did u get the "scoop" that the Mini will get additional VRAM? It is not mentioned in the Thinksecret article...Yours (and mine) is just wishful thinking :rolleyes: We might as well hope for a PB G5, I don't think Apple will upgrade the videocard before the intelmini is released

[iDave]

Ummm, that 20" display pushes less pixels than a 17" lcd. So maybe that it why your performance is so good?
How do you figure?

20" 1680 x 1050 = 1,764,000

17" 1280 x 1024 = 1,310,720

And where did u get the "scoop" that the Mini will get additional VRAM? It is not mentioned in the Thinksecret article...Yours (and mine) is just wishful thinking :rolleyes:
Going back to Phairphan's post that the new mini in his possession has 64MB.

[JustinCaseiMac]

Does the Mini's graphics card currently support the enhanced graphics effects in Tiger, eg, the "ripple" when new Dashboard widgets are used?

No, only the G5's will handle that...sorry

[lightsout]

No, only the G5's will handle that...sorry

Errr, what you really mean is only the G5s/iMac/eMac/iBook/etc will do it. e.g. every machine OTHER than the Mac Mini has a graphics chip that can do the core image stuff that the dashboard wibble requires!

[DirtyHarry]

I have a 1.2 Ghz Ibook SuperDrive I bought 18 months ago. Next buy will be a Mini, but not until it gets the G5 and a SuperDrive, not worth the upgrade yet for me.

[iDave]

I have a 1.2 Ghz Ibook SuperDrive I bought 18 months ago. Next buy will be a Mini, but not until it gets the G5 and a SuperDrive, not worth the upgrade yet for me.
The high end mini comes with a Superdrive. Don't hold your breath for a G5 in a mini. I'll expect it to have an Intel processor before that happens, unfortunately.

[BRLawyer]

And where did u get the "scoop" that the Mini will get additional VRAM? It is not mentioned in the Thinksecret article...Yours (and mine) is just wishful thinking :rolleyes: We might as well hope for a PB G5, I don't think Apple will upgrade the videocard before the intelmini is released

From the links that I've quoted above, along with Phairphan's personal confirmation...please check them out.

[nao2g]

I have attached the original tiffs from Grab. They're in a zip file created on my PC (since I can't seem to zip files on the Mac without extra software).

phairphan, thank you for your scoop. Regarding the zip, you can make it by your Mac with right-click or ctrl-click on a file or folder. Please try.

[1984]

So are they coming tomorrow or not? We usually have last minute confirmation of the specs from the rumor sites by now.

[Sporty G]

Guys, I'm just in the process of setting up my parent's brand new Mac mini.

Guess what? The clock speeding, according to "About this Mac", is 1.5Ghz!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I just checked, it also has 64mb of video memory!!! :)

Here is a screenshot!

[Sporty G]

Cool!

I can't say that I'm not thrilled. This machine has been sitting here since last week as well. Apple has always done me well and I was afraid after I'd ordered the 1.42Ghz machine that they would toss out a new model (prolly to be official tomorrow) and I'd be stuck with the old one. But it appears that they had dried out their old inventory already. Interestingly, the box still has stickers refering to the previous model.

[tech4all]

Here is a screenshot!

Interesting. I was a bit skeptical of your claims but I saw your earlier post about ordering the Mac mini a few days ago and put 2 and 2 together :)

Let's see what happens tomorrow :D

[tekmoe]

Guys, I'm just in the process of setting up my parent's brand new Mac mini.

Guess what? The clock speeding, according to "About this Mac", is 1.5Ghz!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I just checked, it also has 64mb of video memory!!! :)

pictures please! asap!

[Sporty G]

pictures please! asap!

The screenshot is above guys! ~~~did the previous models have PC3200 DDR Ram as well?

[iDave]

The screenshot is above guys! ~~~did the previous models have PC3200 DDR Ram as well?
No, PC2700.

[phairphan]

Great. Thanks!

Just on the zip file thing, put the files into a folder, ctrl-click on the folder and select "make archive of ...." This makes a zip file.

Ordered it from the Apple Store online. Education, if that makes a difference.

phairphan - where did you purchase your mac mini from?

Congrats! I'm glad someone else finally got their hands on one of the new machines. I was starting to feel a little odd (well, odder :rolleyes: ) being the only person with one.

Guys, I'm just in the process of setting up my parent's brand new Mac mini.

Guess what? The clock speeding, according to "About this Mac", is 1.5Ghz!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I just checked, it also has 64mb of video memory!!! :)

[iDave]

Guys, I'm just in the process of setting up my parent's brand new Mac mini.

Guess what? The clock speeding, according to "About this Mac", is 1.5Ghz!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I just checked, it also has 64mb of video memory!!! :)
Did they get the Superdrive model? Any indication of the rumored dual-layer support or burn speed?

[clayj]

Here is a screenshot!There's nothing in this screenshot that proves this is from a Mac mini... also, there is NOTHING on Apple's site about a 1.5 GHz, 64 MB VRAM Mac mini being available.

Explain? :confused:

[Sporty G]

Did they get the Superdrive model? Any indication of the rumored dual-layer support or burn speed?

No, I opted out of the Superdrive model since I already have one in my G5 in the event that they ever did need to use one.

There's nothing in this screenshot that proves this is from a Mac mini... also, there is NOTHING on Apple's site about a 1.5 GHz, 64 MB VRAM Mac mini being available.

Explain? :confused:

I'm quite sure that Apple will likely refresh their online offerings tomorrow to reflect the product that they are shipping and their current inventory.

I have no reason to come onto an online forum and lie about something as trivial as the contents of my parents' new Mac mini.

[tekmoe]

hm, wondering if anyone ordered a powerbook a few days ago and got something "different" today? =)

[iDave]

Would this be the first time Apple ever began shipping an upgraded product before announcing it?