Slight niggle here: Please, please, PLEASE keep this discussion limited to the Mac Mini. If someone wants to make a thread for the xMac like this, I would be happy to see one, but don't post any xMac ramblings here, please. Thank you in advance.
Updated to reflect posts as of 3/2/2009; 4:55 P.M.
This thread exists to compile information about the Mac Mini's next update. This needs to actually happen. As of 3/2/2009, it has been 573 days since an update, which thoroughly shatters the Mac Pro's record.
This first post will be edited as we gain more and more clarified information. The newest additions will be in red. Italics denote specs upon which we have not agreed or can never know before release.
Release Information:
Release Date: March. By all the crap that has been happening recently, I'm saying March.
Price: Probably the same, you know? $599/$699
Hardware Specifications:
2.0 and 2.4GHz Penryn (Montevina-clock on nVidia board) processors with a 1066MHz FSB
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 RAM standard, up to 4GB officially and 6GB unofficially
160GB HDD in the 2.0, 250GB in the 2.4, 128GB SSD option for both models
nVidia 9400M integrated graphics
SuperDrive on all models, the interface changing to SATA
I/O:
4 USB 2.0 (maybe a fifth?)
_____________ (What is the power draw on the Mac Mini?)
2x Mini DisplayPort (Mini DisplayPort-single link DVI adapter in the box)
Gigabit Ethernet
AirPort Extreme & Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
Analog audio input and output
Things we won't see:
USB 3.0 (2010, people)
WiMax (You caught it this time, didn't you?)
Blu-ray (more on this below)
Narrative:
Hey, hey. It's time for a concise prediction thread for the Mac Mini. I can't believe that there hasn't already been one. Anyway, here we go: The most recent "modern" insight into a Mac Mini update would have been in November with this story about Apple's chief of hardware engineering saying to be patient with them on the Mac Mini.
And so it began. Since then, we've heard some very confusing rumors, and so I figure that we should put it all together.
The processor... Penryn?:
Well, now... this is rather important, isn't it? The Mac Mini's current processor is WOEFULLY old. The whole set of hardware sucks, but I'll get to that later. We have heard reports of an Intel Atom-based Mac Mini, which in my opinion would kill the line entirely. I just don't like it, you know? It doesn't make sense to me. Sure, put the Atom in an updated Apple TV! Do that! But the Mac Mini is meant to be at least SOMETHING of a computer; let's give it some real power, eh? The Mac Mini specced above is pretty much a MacBook minus the screen, and I'll get to that relationship later.
The chipset, nVidia's MCP79:
We've heard the rumors, we've seen the kexts, now let's agree on it. The next Mac Mini will use an nVidia board and have the 9400M as its GPU. Even the people who are saying that it will be Atom-based say that it will utilize the 9400M, so there we go... unless it uses the Ion
I believe that the Atom/Ion combination will go to the next Apple TV for 1080p support and not in the Mac Mini.
The Little Things:
Second HDD: There was a rumor a while back about an option for a second HDD in place of the ODD. This is probably where the Mac Mini File Server rumor came from; just an extrapolation from the ability to have two 2.5" 500GB HDDs. If the case is similar to the Time Capsule in look, the ODD would be hidden in the lip, and then the slot left by its removal would not be conspicuous. Why does that even matter? It's Apple. This is the company that put two useless screws on the MacBook just to make it look symmetric. They care about aesthetics.
FireWire: Removing it entirely seems to be really likely, but there was one rumor of swapping the 400 for an 800. I don't think this will happen, but it's worth mentioning. I also don't believe that FireWire was dropped from the MacBook for concerns of space. There is plenty of room on the port-side of the MacBook for a FireWire port to be put there. Mini DisplayPort is even smaller than Mini DVI, so that isn't the reason, either.
Mini DisplayPort: Obviously, but there was a rumor of dual video-out. That rumor, however, stated that there would be one Mini DisplayPort and one Mini DVI. What's wrong with this picture, do you think? Probably the fact that it has FULL-SIZED DVI right now, and therefore this would go against Apple's BYODKM ideology by forcing people to buy an adapter to use ANY display they might have (if it has two Mini DisplayPort out, Apple would provide at least one Mini DisplayPort-single link DVI adapter in the box to keep to this).
Price Drop: It doesn't seem likely to happen to the new model coming out, but if Apple keeps the current one on as an even lower-end option, we'll see a price drop of probably $100 there. Makes sense, since they seem to be forced into keeping the old MacBook around.
Redesign Talk:
There's a lot of this going around. Here's where the MacBook relation becomes important. The MacBook logic board will fit inside a Time Capsule case unmodified. How does a Time Capsule-sized/shaped Mac Mini sound? Also, there was a rumor about the white plastic being replaced with black (in the Time Capsule case/look) to match the rest of Apple's lineup.
As before, the words in this sentence will become links as more people post their case mockups. Feel free to do so, of course.
Explanation Section:
SATA ODD: This is the current trend with Apple. I believe they'll go to SATA optical drives with the Mac Pro and Mac Mini after having done so with the MacBook line.
Blu-ray: Yes, this isn't the Mac Pro, and therefore it is a different marketbase. I don't care.
"Well, who cares what you think?!" I believe my position to be the same as Apple's, otherwise I wouldn't post it, and what Apple cares about is what matters. I believe that they don't care about Blu-ray in ANY market and will only add it when they are forced to admit that broadband Internet infrastructure is progressing too slowly for Super Hi-Vision iTunes movies to be a viable option. I stand by the 2015 date. If there is any evidence to the contrary, please post it.
If I missed anything, let me know and I will add it. Please also correct me if I have messed up and tell me what goes in the blanks that I have left. Thanks!
Contributors:
illegallydead: wanted clarification on FireWire
plumbingandtech: wanted to know bus speed
iMacmatician: nVidia board name, prices reminder, a few more rumors
iParis: bit about keeping the current model around, file server rumor
Updated to reflect posts as of 3/2/2009; 4:55 P.M.
This thread exists to compile information about the Mac Mini's next update. This needs to actually happen. As of 3/2/2009, it has been 573 days since an update, which thoroughly shatters the Mac Pro's record.
This first post will be edited as we gain more and more clarified information. The newest additions will be in red. Italics denote specs upon which we have not agreed or can never know before release.
Release Information:
Release Date: March. By all the crap that has been happening recently, I'm saying March.
Price: Probably the same, you know? $599/$699
Hardware Specifications:
2.0 and 2.4GHz Penryn (Montevina-clock on nVidia board) processors with a 1066MHz FSB
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 RAM standard, up to 4GB officially and 6GB unofficially
160GB HDD in the 2.0, 250GB in the 2.4, 128GB SSD option for both models
nVidia 9400M integrated graphics
SuperDrive on all models, the interface changing to SATA
I/O:
4 USB 2.0 (maybe a fifth?)
_____________ (What is the power draw on the Mac Mini?)
2x Mini DisplayPort (Mini DisplayPort-single link DVI adapter in the box)
Gigabit Ethernet
AirPort Extreme & Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
Analog audio input and output
Things we won't see:
USB 3.0 (2010, people)
WiMax (You caught it this time, didn't you?)
Blu-ray (more on this below)
Narrative:
Hey, hey. It's time for a concise prediction thread for the Mac Mini. I can't believe that there hasn't already been one. Anyway, here we go: The most recent "modern" insight into a Mac Mini update would have been in November with this story about Apple's chief of hardware engineering saying to be patient with them on the Mac Mini.
And so it began. Since then, we've heard some very confusing rumors, and so I figure that we should put it all together.
The processor... Penryn?:
Well, now... this is rather important, isn't it? The Mac Mini's current processor is WOEFULLY old. The whole set of hardware sucks, but I'll get to that later. We have heard reports of an Intel Atom-based Mac Mini, which in my opinion would kill the line entirely. I just don't like it, you know? It doesn't make sense to me. Sure, put the Atom in an updated Apple TV! Do that! But the Mac Mini is meant to be at least SOMETHING of a computer; let's give it some real power, eh? The Mac Mini specced above is pretty much a MacBook minus the screen, and I'll get to that relationship later.
The chipset, nVidia's MCP79:
We've heard the rumors, we've seen the kexts, now let's agree on it. The next Mac Mini will use an nVidia board and have the 9400M as its GPU. Even the people who are saying that it will be Atom-based say that it will utilize the 9400M, so there we go... unless it uses the Ion
I believe that the Atom/Ion combination will go to the next Apple TV for 1080p support and not in the Mac Mini.The Little Things:
Second HDD: There was a rumor a while back about an option for a second HDD in place of the ODD. This is probably where the Mac Mini File Server rumor came from; just an extrapolation from the ability to have two 2.5" 500GB HDDs. If the case is similar to the Time Capsule in look, the ODD would be hidden in the lip, and then the slot left by its removal would not be conspicuous. Why does that even matter? It's Apple. This is the company that put two useless screws on the MacBook just to make it look symmetric. They care about aesthetics.
FireWire: Removing it entirely seems to be really likely, but there was one rumor of swapping the 400 for an 800. I don't think this will happen, but it's worth mentioning. I also don't believe that FireWire was dropped from the MacBook for concerns of space. There is plenty of room on the port-side of the MacBook for a FireWire port to be put there. Mini DisplayPort is even smaller than Mini DVI, so that isn't the reason, either.
Mini DisplayPort: Obviously, but there was a rumor of dual video-out. That rumor, however, stated that there would be one Mini DisplayPort and one Mini DVI. What's wrong with this picture, do you think? Probably the fact that it has FULL-SIZED DVI right now, and therefore this would go against Apple's BYODKM ideology by forcing people to buy an adapter to use ANY display they might have (if it has two Mini DisplayPort out, Apple would provide at least one Mini DisplayPort-single link DVI adapter in the box to keep to this).
Price Drop: It doesn't seem likely to happen to the new model coming out, but if Apple keeps the current one on as an even lower-end option, we'll see a price drop of probably $100 there. Makes sense, since they seem to be forced into keeping the old MacBook around.
Redesign Talk:
There's a lot of this going around. Here's where the MacBook relation becomes important. The MacBook logic board will fit inside a Time Capsule case unmodified. How does a Time Capsule-sized/shaped Mac Mini sound? Also, there was a rumor about the white plastic being replaced with black (in the Time Capsule case/look) to match the rest of Apple's lineup.
As before, the words in this sentence will become links as more people post their case mockups. Feel free to do so, of course.
Explanation Section:
SATA ODD: This is the current trend with Apple. I believe they'll go to SATA optical drives with the Mac Pro and Mac Mini after having done so with the MacBook line.
Blu-ray: Yes, this isn't the Mac Pro, and therefore it is a different marketbase. I don't care.
"Well, who cares what you think?!" I believe my position to be the same as Apple's, otherwise I wouldn't post it, and what Apple cares about is what matters. I believe that they don't care about Blu-ray in ANY market and will only add it when they are forced to admit that broadband Internet infrastructure is progressing too slowly for Super Hi-Vision iTunes movies to be a viable option. I stand by the 2015 date. If there is any evidence to the contrary, please post it.
If I missed anything, let me know and I will add it. Please also correct me if I have messed up and tell me what goes in the blanks that I have left. Thanks!
Contributors:
illegallydead: wanted clarification on FireWire
plumbingandtech: wanted to know bus speed
iMacmatician: nVidia board name, prices reminder, a few more rumors
iParis: bit about keeping the current model around, file server rumor
