Apple Releases New Mac Mini

[Plecky]

"So far, all i have read in this post is UK people cry and complain. Why even post? Boo Hoo!

As for the update, who says every Apple update has to knock your socks off. This is a modest, quiet update that needed to be done badly. 512 MB is really the best starting point for a Mac or PC running the latest OS. So, give Apple a break. They are just responding to the market, not reinventing the wheel."

Yeah great point brought up drewpage, Apple should reinvent the wheel! I mean, why can't all wheels be click wheels? I mean it responsed so well in the market with the iPod mini and iPods, I know I for one would DEFINITELY get Apple Click Wheels put on my car! Good thinking Just trying to liven up the mood, don't get too bent out of shape - I mean just because we're complaining does show that we expect more out of apple - we don't want to compare them to a PC company - we want them to be uncomparable with apple having the advantage. But in reality, do you really considor this a update or a "new" mac mini? Couldn't they have just easily had a sale on the BTO options of the Rev. A mac mini. Like dropped the prices 50-100 bucks on the base models and let people add (dicounted?) BTO options if they wanted them to get the same prices as this current line of Mac Minis? On that note, if people still wanted the base Rev. A mac mini they could get it for even cheaper! Also while on this tangent/topic, does anyone know where the old versions of the mac mini, 12" and 14" iBooks are going to be discounted and sold!? I've heard overstock for the mac minis, but I've heard nothing in regards to the old iBook models... Apples refurb/sales page is my best guess? Although there not up there (yet...) so wonder where they're hiding

 

[peharri]

In all honesty, this is what the Mac mini should have been to begin with. No, it's not the most powerful computer out there, but it's not supposed to be. What Apple are doing now is providing a usable configuration. The previous configuration, quite frankly, wasn't. You had to go BTO, because 256Mb of RAM with OS X is impractical.

So it comes with wireless and enough memory at $599 price, and with enough memory for the $499 price? It's good now. It's good value. As long as the "Intel is coming so all Apple machines are now out of date!" idiots are ignored, it should sell well.

 

[montex]

14 pages of whining. Scheech!!

I was planning on buying a Mac mini for the bf in October and upgrade the RAM - for a total of about $600. Thanks to this update, I can get him a mini with a faster processer, twice the HD storage, bluetooth and Wi-Fi for the same price. Awesome!

 

[ebmyszkow]

I for one am happy that they didn't change that much. I was worried that it was going to be such a fabulous upgrade that I wouldn't want the mini I just purchased of ebay for $630, but my mini is still fine with me!

 

[MarcelV]

If your took a poll of potential and informed buyers of what they'd rather have: A better GPU or Bluetooth/wireless, I bet the vast majority would opt for the better GPU because they can't change that themselves. If I'm correct, then it shows that Apple isn't listening to their market or doesn't want to bother with it.

If that was true, why do most people, and I am not talking about us or gamers, not care about and buy pc's with intel graphics (shared memory).
The mini and iBook are not for the informed buyer, they are for the average buyer. This buyer does not care about CoreImage. As long as they can use their photo, music and browser software. That will be 90-95% of their computing tasks and probably is 75% of the total computer user base. And they don't care about CoreImage, if they even know it exists.

 

[xStep]

Apple integrates Bluetooth and Wireless into Mac Mini and upped the RAM, and most of you turns negative, because, again, it's not enough. Don't you realize we are just all acting as a bunch of spoiled brats?
They deliver more machine for same price points! And loaded with a bunch of useful software for most of the people in the real world. (Ever seen the preloaded software on similar priced Windows machines?)

This negativity really makes me walk away from sites like this. It's not constructive and will not help Apple nor us. It really is pointless.
So, I am done with my rant!!!!

Maybe most of the people interested in an upgraded Mini, were not interested in the wireless add-ons. Personnaly what stopped me from buying a Mini for my mom was the VGA video issue many people have reported. You'd think Apple would have answered that question with some kind of video upgrade. Their answers on this issue have not satified all complainers.

Oh, and since Apple is pushing the 200 plus additions to Tiger, some of which includes the Core Image and Core Video code that requires a beefier video system, you'd think they would start selling systems that can take advantage of it.

It wil be very interesting to see Apple's Intel designs and how they will market them against their Wintel competitors. You think people are whining now. Wait for the first MacIntel model to be announced.

 

[MudLake]

If that was true, why do most people, and I am not talking about us or gamers, not care about and buy pc's with intel graphics (shared memory).
The mini and iBook are not for the informed buyer, they are for the average buyer. This buyer does not care about CoreImage. As long as they can use their photo, music and browser software. That will be 90-95% of their computing tasks and probably is 75% of the total computer user base. And they don't care about CoreImage, if they even know it exists.

Oh, now I get it. The Mini is for stupid people.

Guess what.... Even stupid people can tell that the GUI speed of computers made with Intel's integrated graphics is faster than the GUI speed of a Mini. That shared memory isn't capped at 32MB, either. Basically, all you need to do to get more VRAM is to put in a bigger RAM stick. I wish I could do that, too.

 

[Rangerhall6]

Well, i am a happy customer... this update has everything i need. I like it even more now that i found out that the ripple effect will work on the iBook. I know its something very little but thats why i like Apple, the little things that stand out.
EDIT - sorry, i meant to put this on the iBook thread

 

[ebmyszkow]

Oh, now I get it. The Mini is for stupid people.

Guess what.... Even stupid people can tell that the GUI speed of computers made with Intel's integrated graphics is faster than the GUI speed of a Mini. That shared memory isn't capped at 32MB, either. Basically, all you need to do to get more VRAM is to put in a bigger RAM stick. I wish I could do that, too.

No, a mini is not for stupid people. Just people who do not need core image. I have a mini and love it. It's my home computer which I only use for email, internet and iTunes. So, tell me why do I care if I have better a graphics card? If I wanted that stuff I would have bought a PM. Actually my G3 imac worked great and I would have continued to use it, but a program I wanted wouldn't run on a G3.

 

[ebmyszkow]

Maybe most of the people interested in an upgraded Mini, were not interested in the wireless add-ons. Personnaly what stopped me from buying a Mini for my mom was the VGA video issue many people have reported. You'd think Apple would have answered that question with some kind of video upgrade. Their answers on this issue have not satified all complainers.

Oh, and since Apple is pushing the 200 plus additions to Tiger, some of which includes the Core Image and Core Video code that requires a beefier video system, you'd think they would start selling systems that can take advantage of it.

It wil be very interesting to see Apple's Intel designs and how they will market them against their Wintel competitors. You think people are whining now. Wait for the first MacIntel model to be announced.

I have had no VGA issues with my mini. I use a Samsung monitor that can be digital or analog. I have it hooked up analog because that was the only cord it came with. No problems!

 

[oingoboingo]

Yes.

Nero 6 >>>>>> Disk Utilty, iDVD
WMP, iTunes, Real, QT > QT, iTunes
Photoshop Album, Sony Picture Studio, HP Image Zone => iPhoto
WMM2 << iMovie
Acid Xpress (Sony)/Music Studio <<<<<< GB2
Works 8 or Works Suite >>>>> iWork
Outlook Express << Mail
Streets and Trips >> ???
Money ?? Quicken
MSN Messenger 7 = iChatAV
Office 2003 >>>>>> ????
OneNote >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ????
Media Center >>>>>> DVD player

I think it's great the way all these comprehensive software bundles are made available on all PCs, in their entirety, and are all tightly integrated with each other and with the OS. Once again the PC industry has made Apple its bitch! Choke it down Jobs.

 

[MarcelV]

Oh, now I get it. The Mini is for stupid people.

That's a nice way of putting words iin someone's mouth. Nowhere did I state 'stupid people'. The average person is not stupid, but just doesn't care how it is delivered as long it is delivered. Just like a car. Some people care about the engine, but most people just want to go from A to B and without problems. Sorry Mudlake, but most people are not 'geeks' like us. Don't get me wrong, I would like to have the power of a PowerMac for the mac mini price, but guess what? Not happening soon! That's not a reason to trash it. The mac mini as well as iMac and iBook are pretty good systems for their price, especially now 512MB is standard.

 

[Plecky]

Too bad there is no such thing as a headless iMac... All the same specs as the iMacs except w/o the screen, keyboard, and mouse and at a price point a couple/few hundred dollars cheaper. Or even just a headless eMac sounds good. You have to admit there is a sorespot between the Mac Mini and Powermac for people who want to just add there own monitors/keyboards/mice w/o having them built-in or added into the price ala eMac and iMac. When will we get the headless middle-mac? We got the mac mini, and the powermac, how about the Powermini or the mac medium. Heck, I wish I could just get the eMacs specs w/o the whole monitor shell, keyboard, and mouse. I was hoping the mac mini's would once again go on par with the eMacs like they were when they were released (check out the eMac specs and the mac mini specs before they updated the two). Then they updated the eMac making it quite a nice not-so-little machine other then the built-in CRT and weight (also probably due to the CRT). If asking for a true headless iMac is too much, would asking for a headless eMac be too much to ask from apple? Now the Mini was finally updated, and stupid me thought it would once again be on par with the eMacs like it was prior to the eMacs recent update. But nope, not even close... I just wish the Mac Minis got the same value of update the eMacs received, then I'd really think the Mac Mini would be a force to be reckoned with. As some have mentioned throughout this post, I'm now wishing for a Mac Medium, or middle-headless-mac to rival either the eMac or iMac and be bigger and better then the Mac Mini but not as powerful, big, or expensive as the powermac line! The single core G5 powermac was close, although still boasted a large size/weight and cost... Didn't sell well and was discontinued I guess. But here's to hoping for a Mac Medium, or headless iMac/eMac soon! Something to serve as a stepping stone between the mac mini and the powermac... Cause seriously, after getting a Mac Mini - I've got the monitor keyboard and mouse and I'm not quite ready to pay a couple thousand for my next Mac Desktop, nor am I ready to purchase one with a built-in montior and included keyboard+mouse I don't want/need. Maybe once they get settled into intel they'll realize this gap?

 

[one3]

I have had no VGA issues with my mini. I use a Samsung monitor that can be digital or analog. I have it hooked up analog because that was the only cord it came with. No problems!

Just out of curiousity, which Samsung monitor do you have? I just bought a Samsung 930B which I have hooked up to my iBook using that "SpanDoctor" software to extend my desktop and be able to run 1280x1024 on the Samsung LCD. However I find the quality on the Samsung is not that great ... probably due to it being a combination of being analog, sharing the video ram, and using a third party software.
I am considering replacing the iBook with a Mac mini and hooking it straight into the DVI input on the monitor ... hoping that will make a difference in the quality on the display. Any experience from anyone out there on whether this should make a difference in display quality?

 

[MarkCollette]

The problem is that the low end headless desktop Mac uses notebook parts.

And by notebook parts I don't mean desktop-replacement notebook parts, I mean low performance notebook parts.

I there was a bigger brother to the mini, that was twice as tall, and could take a standard Pioneer DVR109 optical drive, and a standard 7200 rpm hard drive, and had one more RAM slot, then most of the performance issues would disappear. If they could throw in one of those mini-AGP slots in, then that would be the icing on the cake. Hell, I'm not saying that the base config would have to be any different than now, but at least you could BTO as high as you want to go, and I doubt the cost to Apple would be any higher.

It's just that something about their current strategy just doesn't makes sense. Why cram a notebook optical drive into a really small case, which then restricts the user to 4X DVD burning, when 5.25" 16X burners are very common and very cheap? Why cram a 2.5" 4200 rpm hard drive in, when 3.5" 5400 rpm drives are cheaper, faster, and double the capacity?

Why make it so difficult?

 

[Plecky]

...and with that I say Amen MarkCollette. In response to one3. I also own a samsung monitor, the SyncMaster 710mp displaying 1280x1024 via VGA adapter connection. It is beautiful on my mini, I tried a widescreen 17" (Westinghouse) and returned because the colors and everything didn't seem as crisp to me. So what if its 4:3, its much clearer/nicer to me. I love my SyncMaster 710mp and wonder if it would've been wiser to get the 910mp for 100 dollars more (since it does also work as a TV, I can also hook up TV/XboX/etc. with good clarity. Although I do agree TV doesn't look as crisp as it should or does on my 1080i HD rear-projection 47" akai, I got it with the intention of using it as a monitor and it is wonderful in my opinion. I don't know how this will help you with your samsung 930b question but my guess is that if i'm as satisfied as I am with a smaller (and I think cheaper) TV/monitor connected through the VGA adapter, you shoudl see quite a improvement using the mac mini's dvi w/o the adapter, 3rd party software, or sharing the video card like you're doing in the ibook (sharing the videocard with that program through your vga-adapter does sound like it would decrease your possible quality by a whole lot. I've also read that since 19" monitors with 1280x1024 tend to not look as crisp as 17" monitors with the same resolution, same issue that people complain about with the 1024x768 displays looking better on the 12" ibook then the 14" because its not used over 2" extra. That being said, I hope this helps but I like my 17" samsung with the same resolution quite a bit!

 

[Plecky]

...That of course is not the say if Apple dropped the prices on their 20" cinema display by about a hundred (or so) dollars I wouldn't buy one in a heartbeat (Okay maybe not a heartbeat, but if the 20" was under 500 bucks then definitely in a heartbeat, although I don't expect it, that probably is a bit TOO much to ask for huh?). But I settled for a 17" for less-than half the price so if I ever do update to a 20 or 23" apple cinema display or dell display (since their high-rez 19" apparently can be had for under 300 and there high-rez 20.1" widescreen for under 400!), I still have a nice 17" TV for the bedroom

 

[one3]

...and with that I say Amen MarkCollette. In response to one3. I also own a samsung monitor, the SyncMaster 710mp displaying 1280x1024 via VGA adapter connection. It is beautiful on my mini, I tried a widescreen 17" (Westinghouse) and returned because the colors and everything didn't seem as crisp to me. So what if its 4:3, its much clearer/nicer to me. I love my SyncMaster 710mp and wonder if it would've been wiser to get the 910mp for 100 dollars more (since it does also work as a TV, I can also hook up TV/XboX/etc. with good clarity. Although I do agree TV doesn't look as crisp as it should or does on my 1080i HD rear-projection 47" akai, I got it with the intention of using it as a monitor and it is wonderful in my opinion. I don't know how this will help you with your samsung 930b question but my guess is that if i'm as satisfied as I am with a smaller (and I think cheaper) TV/monitor connected through the VGA adapter, you shoudl see quite a improvement using the mac mini's dvi w/o the adapter, 3rd party software, or sharing the video card like you're doing in the ibook (sharing the videocard with that program through your vga-adapter does sound like it would decrease your possible quality by a whole lot. I've also read that since 19" monitors with 1280x1024 tend to not look as crisp as 17" monitors with the same resolution, same issue that people complain about with the 1024x768 displays looking better on the 12" ibook then the 14" because its not used over 2" extra. That being said, I hope this helps but I like my 17" samsung with the same resolution quite a bit!

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. I just purchased the 19" LCD monitor and have wondered the exact same thing about the clarity vs a 17" monitor as really it's the exact same resolution but stretched over a larger area. I'd be more than happy to sacrifice the size of the display if there would be an increase in quality / crispness.
I'm glad to hear you are having great results having it hooked up to a Mac mini.

 

[Plecky]

One3 ~ May I ask why you are making such a set up though with a 20" iMac, seems like that would be all you need desktop/monitor wise anyways...? And I don't know, but I don't think I'd expect the results out of a samsung that you may get out of your 20" widescreen iMac display at 1650x1050 or whatever it is, but good luck with whatever your next endeavor is

 

[JW8725]

I'm very very very very very happy! I was worried my 6 week old mac would go obsolete. I have the top of the line mac and got a nice student discount on top! The price works out about the same as what the price is now! Woohoo I love steve Jobs. Ha Ha! I'm over the moon!

 

[one3]

One3 ~ May I ask why you are making such a set up though with a 20" iMac, seems like that would be all you need desktop/monitor wise anyways...? And I don't know, but I don't think I'd expect the results out of a samsung that you may get out of your 20" widescreen iMac display at 1650x1050 or whatever it is, but good luck with whatever your next endeavor is

80% of the time I work out of my home office which has the iMac 20", however for the other 20% of the time I work out of another office. Since I don't do nearly as much work there I can't at the moment justify buying another iMac 20" so I'm trying to find a solution that's maybe not as good as having the iMac but at least a 'decent' solution that would allow me to do some design work etc.

Edit: This should have hit me earlier ... but the 17" LCD has a pixel pitch of 0.264mm while the 19" has a pixel pitch of 0.294mm .... accounting for the fact that the 17" displays running at the same resolution would look 'crisper' - so I think I'll get the "new" Mac mini, trade my 19" for a 17" LCD and I should be a happy little camper.

 

[Plecky]

Good point I also did not look close enough to notice the pitch, but sounds like a plan - and for 20% of the time I think the "new" mini and such a monitor (which even if you sell your 19" at a loss, you should be able to get the 17" version new anyways) should be a good set up. And with the more-for-your-money minis that came out, it should make sure you don't have to justify another 20" iMac purchase either!

 

[Caitlyn]

No Mac Mini for me, thanks...

Wow. This is very, very disappointing. I ordered a Rev. A Mac Mini last week. Hearing about all these updates, I canceled the order and decided I would order a Rev. B Mac Mini...

WRONG! These updates suck. What is difference besides like two BTO options standard? Horrible upgrade, IMO. Apple could have done MUCH better, but they didn't. I am sick of this "I am not doing anything big until I get the Intel chips" attitude with Apple.

The iBook updates on the other hand were very nice. I think I am going to buy a 12" iBook instead. It has more RAM capabilities, a better GPU that supports Core Image, BTO options for bigger HDDs than the Mini, portability advantage, scrolling trackpad. The iBooks are very good deals now, and I must solute Apple for those, but the Mac Mini--c'mon Apple, you know you could have done better.

 

[ebmyszkow]

Just out of curiousity, which Samsung monitor do you have? I just bought a Samsung 930B which I have hooked up to my iBook using that "SpanDoctor" software to extend my desktop and be able to run 1280x1024 on the Samsung LCD. However I find the quality on the Samsung is not that great ... probably due to it being a combination of being analog, sharing the video ram, and using a third party software.
I am considering replacing the iBook with a Mac mini and hooking it straight into the DVI input on the monitor ... hoping that will make a difference in the quality on the display. Any experience from anyone out there on whether this should make a difference in display quality?

I am using a Samsung Syncmaster 730b. Could not be happier with it. Works great with my mini.

 

[MudLake]

That's a nice way of putting words iin someone's mouth. Nowhere did I state 'stupid people'. The average person is not stupid, but just doesn't care how it is delivered as long it is delivered.

Hey MacelV, you gotta have a little bit of hyperbole sometime

However, you did say that the Mini was not for the informed buyer but for the average buyer (those are your words, not me putting them in your mouth). Well, that's saying that the average buyer is uninformed. I rode that a bit and simplified it to "stupid". Now should informed buyers stay away from the Mini? Should they spend $2000 for the entry-level PowerMac instead of $500 to $700 for a Mini? Is the now-included BT worth anything without spending yet another $100 for the BT keyboard and mouse?

It all strikes me as counter to what we've all assumed for more than a decade... the Mac buyer/owner is MORE informed than the Windows buyer. Maybe Apple is just saying that they want to sell to uninformed buyers now, too. Virtually by definition, that doesn't include most who already own a Mac (like me and most others here). I'm starting to get the message but I can't stomach the idea of spending $2000 plus monitor for the next rung on the ladder. It's way overkill for me and so not justifiable.