Apple Acknowledges Mac Mini Update?

[macduke]

Given the current economic conditions, Apple still needs the mini, regardless of iPhone sales. They draw lots of people into using Macs and OS X with this low cost option. My grandpa and roommate are both waiting to get one, and I'm thinking about picking one up next fall for my significant other to use after we tie the knot. Either that or a new Macbook, after I throw her POS Dell out the window! Also need to upgrade her 3rd gen iPod...

Hopefully the upgraded mini will have the new nvidia graphics chip. I could also see them cutting the size way down, removing the optical drive and firewire. That is, unless they combine it into the tv, which just makes a whole lot of sense to me. Also: aluminum, glass, and black!

 

[bigjohn]

I love my current mini, but it is two years old... with the addition of Mac support to Netflix streaming, it'd make a fine companion to the PopcornHour alongside the tv.

 

[opeter]

Steve, if you are reading this, give the Mac mini the current MacBooks specs and i will be happy!

ps: don't drop FW
ps2: would like full 4 GB RAM support

thank you!

 

[rittchard]

Steve, if you are reading this, give the Mac mini the current MacBooks specs and i will be happy!

Seems like that would be almost a no-brainer, why do they always have to draw things out and torture people?

For the Mac Pro, I can see maybe they are waiting on Nehalem/i7 which makes January seem like the right time frame.

 

[godslabrat]

1- Let's see if they keep the FW400 port !
2- Oh and the new monitor connection vs. DVI
3- FW800 would be nice, or even eSATA if there's room...
4- And I'm hoping they keep the Superdrive, there are some of us who still use CDs & DVDs and Archive our Media to them....

Did I forget anything??

Eh, honestly, I'd be happy if they just gave the thing a decent graphics card and a BluRay drive. Let them be CTO options, I'll pay the difference.

 

[tuc]

I'm still disappointed that there will apparently be no update in 2008, but at least it looks like miniature desktops aren't end-of-life as foretold.

 

[sfh]

I think the MINI is great but firewire is not a necessity for the mini at all. It would probably be a better choice to put HDMI or full DVI than Firewire if they "can't fit it in"

who knows maybe we will get something totally different like a short tower or "cube2" i guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[Courtaj]

If Apple updates the mini (stranger things have happened) them I'm going to stuff a banana into mine and go buy the new one.

Yes! Banana!

 

[Joe The Dragon]

I certainly hope they come out with a new one; I was hoping to buy the wife one to replace her aging Windows box (so I can reformat it with Linux )

Then you should have the right not to have to pay for mac osx with the system.

 

[Bitmap Frog]

A mini stack of separate components could form a cube. AppleTV, mini media storage, Blu-Ray player, ect.

This made me think of the fabled iRack.

 

[JoeDRC]

Then you should have the right not to have to pay for mac osx with the system.

i think he means installing linux on his wife's old computer, not the mac mini?

 

[allmIne]

I really, really doubt this is legit.

What's the point of phoning one customer to reassure him? Unless it's some new form of communication / quasi-marketing I'm as yet unaware of.

I know this is a rumour site, but this is as flimsy as it gets.

 

[zombitronic]

Because they haven't simply upgraded or discontinued it, I also feel that bigger things are coming. My fingers are crossed for a Mini/TV/Capsule/Airport Extreme combo.

 

[MrCrowbar]

A mini stack of separate components could form a cube. AppleTV, mini media storage, Blu-Ray player, ect.

I'm all for that:

- computer module (CPU, ram, system drive, networking, display connectors, USB, etc, no optical drive)
- storage module (big 3.5" HDD)
- optical drive module (choose between, combo, super and BD drive)
- TV connection module (more powerful graphics, Apple-TV connectors, i.e. digital audio and video)

You could have eSata connect all those. The current Mac Mini POwer brick could power a multitude of modules. Think 80s HIFI System, but it's a small computer.

You can buy the bas computer for starters, then add the TV connection module to hook it up to your TV and surround system. Pimp it up with the Hard Drive Module, make it a DVD or BD Player with the optical drive. Add the storage module and you got yourself a kickass media Centre cube.

I'd love Apple to lose the plastic clip paradigm and make it upgradable like the unibody Macbooks (HDD and RAM). Unscrew 6 screws on the bottom, and pull out the hard drive and RAM if you like.


For Developers and Cluster people, you could just stack a bunch of computer modules and have a nice number of cluster nodes with very fast networking.

 

[204467]

I have to agree; this does not sound legit. I think the Mini will probably be updated at MacWorld 2009, but I don't think it has anything to do with this phone call. However, judging from Apple's current marketing plan, the update will probably not be all that great, cutting back features while jacking up the price.

 

[JoeDRC]

- optical drive module (choose between, combo, super and BD drive)
-

why a combo drive, they REALLY need to be dropped!

 

[MattInOz]

I didn't realize MacWorld was so early this year.
Normally there is a Tuesday or two before it hits.

Not getting my hopes up,....

But MacWorld might be mostly about Mac's this year.

MacMini
iMac
MacPro

And Snow Leopard general public preview.

 

[204467]

I didn't realize MacWorld was so early this year.
Normally there is a Tuesday or two before it hits.

Not getting my hopes up,....

But MacWorld might be mostly about Mac's this year.

MacMini
iMac
MacPro

And Snow Leopard general public preview.

Isn't MacWorld generally about Mac's? I mean, it is called MacWorld for a reason.

 

[DaBrain]

Two month untill Macworld, and we're all excited already.

I'll believe it when I see it! For the life of me I can not understand Apple not giving some "minor updates before the xmas season". Dumb move!

All they had to do was update to 802.11n, add the new graphics chip and match the CPU's just introduced in the macbooks and many would have bought them now! But nope we get to keep our fingers crossed that maybe they will keep the mini alive a bit longer! Like that statement really gives us confidence.

Oh well someone else shall get the money I was going to spend on this xmass gift.

For those that say gee you can buy a mini now! We don't want almost 2 year old technology at today's prices, get it?

 

[DaBrain]

This just confirms my statement that the NEW CUBE is coming. You may thank me later for the scoop...

Oh Gee may we? Give us a break with your psychic lawyer abilities!

 

[204467]

Oh Gee may we? Give us a break with your psychic lawyer abilities!

I just realized you have the same avatar as Cleanup used to have. Goodness, I had forgotten how unnerving it is.

 

[MattInOz]

I'm all for that:

- computer module (CPU, ram, system drive, networking, display connectors, USB, etc, no optical drive)
- storage module (big 3.5" HDD)
- optical drive module (choose between, combo, super and BD drive)
- TV connection module (more powerful graphics, Apple-TV connectors, i.e. digital audio and video)

You could have eSata connect all those. The current Mac Mini POwer brick could power a multitude of modules. Think 80s HIFI System, but it's a small computer.

You can buy the bas computer for starters, then add the TV connection module to hook it up to your TV and surround system. Pimp it up with the Hard Drive Module, make it a DVD or BD Player with the optical drive. Add the storage module and you got yourself a kickass media Centre cube.

I'd love Apple to lose the plastic clip paradigm and make it upgradable like the unibody Macbooks (HDD and RAM). Unscrew 6 screws on the bottom, and pull out the hard drive and RAM if you like.


For Developers and Cluster people, you could just stack a bunch of computer modules and have a nice number of cluster nodes with very fast networking.

I love the idea of a modular computer, it's one that has been winning design competitions for 10years or more.

I would have thought the connection would need to be PCIe but that would tie nicely with nVidia chipset. Base model comes with intergrated grahpics, using Hybrid SLI it can switch over to the Graphics Module (MXM card in a box) when it's plugged in. Would mean Modules could have any function like Firewire.

Upgrades could be done but changing the head box. Would be the greenest way to build a desktop. I wonder if they would go for a two piece mini that pull apart to fit modules inbetween or a sealed case that with a dock connector.

[added]
this would be a great way to do Blu_Ray with all it's content protection hassles. Build a standalone Blu_Ray player with a HDMI port that hosts the drive itself as screen and drive sharing.

 

[Gadzooks]

Isn't MacWorld generally about Mac's? I mean, it is called MacWorld for a reason.

In the past, yes, but now it seems to be more about consumer products, including the Mac, but more towards the software side.

If they have a new Mini up their sleeves, I hope it's been this long because they're doing it right - but I'm not holding my breath for AppleTV inclusion, as Jobs called the AppleTV a "hobby" at the MacBook event Q&A.

It's needed, tho - my Mini is a server for my AppleTV and iTunes library, which it does very well, but it's not *great* for HD.

The living room is still up for grabs, Apple.

 

[Marx55]

A headless QUIET Mac is a must. The Mac mini is nice, but it would be much better to have a QUIET Mac mini tower. No expansion needed. No PCI slots needed. But raw power: at least 4 core chip and at least 1 GB of RAM for each core. And with at least two Firewire 800 ports to boot from external disks. And Gigabit Ethernet. That coupled with an Apple Cinema Display would be awesome.

 

[MattInOz]

Isn't MacWorld generally about Mac's? I mean, it is called MacWorld for a reason.

Well generally Yes.
The last two have been all iPhone and AppleTV.