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Apple Releases New Mac Mini
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Plecky said:
I don't know if it helps or not, but I think you are right. Apple definitely needs what I call a Gamer series, like a small-tower box or an original concept (I don't know... Sphere, Pyramid, or even the dreaded normal case, whatever) for the 1,000-1500 range. Kind of like an iMac without the display or, even better, a stripped down version of the tower: one AGP slot, one/two PCIX (since we won't see PCIe right away) slots and two-four RAM slots. One drive bay would be enough, but two would be nice, and how about two optical drive bays for a change. It could feature two 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz G5s or even only one 2.3 GHz or 2.5 GHz (could have a $1,750 version with a dual 2/2.3 GHz). An integrated 24-bit 5.1 (or 6.1-7.1 if it's not too expensive) channels sound interface would be needed. Offer three video cards at a good price, and we've got a complete line-up for everyone. Throw in an iPod deal and possibly a headset with an iSight deal and that'd be a recipe for high sales.
*wipes the drool* Why not Apple? Why?!
MattG
macrumors 68040
Daaaaamn....a lot of hatin' goin on here 😉
Well, I'll have mine tomorrow. I think it'll be a great machine for me. I only do light video work at home (rarely ever); it's going to be more for processing photos, burning CDs, mail, and surfing the web.
I'll report once I get it!!
Well, I'll have mine tomorrow. I think it'll be a great machine for me. I only do light video work at home (rarely ever); it's going to be more for processing photos, burning CDs, mail, and surfing the web.
I'll report once I get it!!
powerbook911 said:
Yeah but didn't Apple just recently change the way they report their sales, to make it impossible to determine how each individual model was doing? Maybe there was a reason for that.
I dunno, man. If the Mini really were doing as well as all that, why drop the price and shuffle the options around without putting any effort into actually improving the product? That sounds an awful lot like something you'd do just to get rid of the thing. The only other answer I can think of to that question is, 'waiting till Intel', when they'll of course have no choice but to do a real update. But if that's the case, why is it the only model in their entire lineup to get such shabby treatment this year?
I agree with brianus well made point (as I often do in these forums oddly enough...) And I love your point Lord Kythe about the pyrimid, sphere or normal box. I wish there was a option of a mac desktop in the ballpark of 1,000 dollars with the features of the low-end iMac w/o the display/keyboard/mouse (and maybe instead of all that, superdrive even if its not a dual-layer, just something better then combo). I'd shell out the dough in a heartbeat, heck, even w/o the superdrive - if there was a $1100 model with it then I'd do that too. With or Without any promotion (ipod, isight, etc.) I'd pick up one of those machines with a single 1.8 or 2.0 G5 and 64 or 128 graphics card. I know this won't happen ever because the switch to intel, be no point in making a new model before the switch. but maybe after the switch they can offer a real headless-imac with a Intel Processor of some sort inside. Heck, you know - even the mini will improve (if its still around and being updated) by just having a 1.5-2.13 ghz Centrino inside. Or so MacWorld says the 1.5 centrino is more powerful then the 1.67 mhz G4 found in high-end powerbooks, so any one of those centrino could bump the mac mini (with native programs/software/applications/etc) to being more powerful then the current power-notebook line. But we'll see, I guess its true - nothing huge until intel, which takes the steam out of my sails a bit for Mac's Paris Expo or any other event until Mac World San Francisco where rumor/speculation is that the first intel mac(s) will be announced and maybe even shipped months following (by June 2006 being the latest?). So until then, I might seem a bit whiny/complaning/ranting/etc. towards apple (whether deserved or not) but I'm sure Apple will make me a happy camper once more after this whole intel switch/transition begins and especially after its completed! So hurry up and switch!! 😀
Edit: I mean to say hurry up and switch to intel already Apple!! But I guess that could also apply to Windows XP users to hurrying up and switching to OSX or Windows users switching to Macs or anything along those lines in these forums. But what I meant by it was for Apple to hurry up and switch to Intel ASAP, incase there was any confusion 😉
Edit: I mean to say hurry up and switch to intel already Apple!! But I guess that could also apply to Windows XP users to hurrying up and switching to OSX or Windows users switching to Macs or anything along those lines in these forums. But what I meant by it was for Apple to hurry up and switch to Intel ASAP, incase there was any confusion 😉
MikeTheC said:
Good point. I love how the promotional material on the apple site says you can just 'use your existing USB keyboard'. Uh, how many ex-Windows, brand new switchers do they think have USB keyboards? Sheesh.
That said, doesn't somebody make USB-to-PS2 adapters? Maybe they should bundle one with the Mini as they do with DVI-to-VGA.
powerbook911
macrumors 601
brianus said:
They would offer an update because prices go down on supplies, and they can no offer even more to the buyer, for the same amount of amount. Back to school season too. Just look at the Amazon.com best selling desktops. Mac Minis are always right at the top, amongst the iMacs. The Mac Mini is doing its job. No question in my mind.
brianus said:
I tried using a PS/2 to USB adapter with my PS/2 keyboard once but it didn't work, you need a USB keyboard as far as I know.
brianus said:
That's what I said after Q2 results were in and everybody was extatic about the growthrate year on year while in reality sales have stayed almost flat after the introduction of the mac mini contrary to the introduction of the imac. Also the new way of reporting was another clear signal that the mac mini was NOT winning over many windows users but that it was obviously eating away from the imac, the emac and, considering this update, also the ibook. A drop in the average sellingprice of it's macintosh line was another hint of this. Margins may be relatively the same for the mac mini as other products but in real absolute terms they earn less on each sold mac mini then on any other machine.
After the failure of the mac mini as a switcher/ adder device for windows users there new strategy is probably twofold:
- increase margin on mac mini to make it more profitable
- bring it more into line with the rest of the assortiment in 'bang-for-buck' to stop cannibalisation of more profitable products like ibook, powerbook and imac.
It's regrettable but in some way understandable. Still I don't understand why there wasnt a more aggressive campaign to promote the mac mini. Apple really dropped the mini in the marketing area imho.
tex210
macrumors 6502
minimax said:
Not that you're the only one who believes this, but, you've just stated it so clearly.
I'm confused.
The Mini CLEARLY isn't selling well/switching people...
vs.
The Mini is eating into sales of their iMac, eMac, and iBook...
I believe the second, not the first, and I really can't see how it could be both (unless you believe Mac users are buying it as their main machine).
I agree this will improve margins on the unit though.
To everyone who was agitated at the use of the word *NEW* earlier in this thread...
it's not refurbished.
tex210 said:
what I meant with it not winning over many windows users I mean it had a lot of exposure in the mac community with a lot of present mac users looking for a cheap new computer instead of a second hand or more expensive new one. From the windows side I don't think it had anywhere near the same exposure. I don't believe there are relatively that much more switcher-buyers for the mac mini then there are for the imac or ibook, so they have to reposition it and make it less attractive for the mac userbase.
i still believe this can be good for apple's profitability on the short turn but a bad business decision on the long term. Apple has a rapidly narrowing window of opportunity to steal users away from windows now that there is still no decent alternative to OS X, but when Vista arrives even less people will be inclined to make the switch. So this year and next year isnt the time for apple to think about it's profitability, it needs to sell as much computers as it can to newbies against cutting edge prices. From 2007 on the ipod hype will have lost it's shine and vista will no doubt consolidate the pc-consumer market. NOW is their 'windows' of opportunity, and it's sad to see they are letting it slip through their fingers with this amazing product.
tex210
macrumors 6502
I just wanted to add...
Lots of people are assuming the oem 9200 isn't programmable. That is simply not true. ATi has recently provided an update 4.5.1 that brings Versavision (screen rotation) to the Mac Minis with Tiger. I hope enough of these machines penetrate the market to keep it's continued development alive. Maybe that's what Apple is hoping too.
Lots of people are assuming the oem 9200 isn't programmable. That is simply not true. ATi has recently provided an update 4.5.1 that brings Versavision (screen rotation) to the Mac Minis with Tiger. I hope enough of these machines penetrate the market to keep it's continued development alive. Maybe that's what Apple is hoping too.
MattG
macrumors 68040
Just got mine...
Just got my Mini. It's a 1.42ghz w/ 512mb RAM, 80gb hard drive, SuperDrive etc. (the $699 version).
Initial thoughts -- definitely not what I'm used to using at work (G5 based machines), but I think it's going to do the jobs I need it to do at home just fine. I do see more 'beachballs' with this thing than I do with my other computers, especially when trying to switch between several programs at once. Maybe upgrading to 1GB of RAM someday will help this?
Otherwise, I'm really impressed. It's such a cool little package; amazing what they fit inside of there. It's very quiet (except for the optical drive...very LOUD in my opinion); even when the fan comes on it's not very loud.
Just got my Mini. It's a 1.42ghz w/ 512mb RAM, 80gb hard drive, SuperDrive etc. (the $699 version).
Initial thoughts -- definitely not what I'm used to using at work (G5 based machines), but I think it's going to do the jobs I need it to do at home just fine. I do see more 'beachballs' with this thing than I do with my other computers, especially when trying to switch between several programs at once. Maybe upgrading to 1GB of RAM someday will help this?
Otherwise, I'm really impressed. It's such a cool little package; amazing what they fit inside of there. It's very quiet (except for the optical drive...very LOUD in my opinion); even when the fan comes on it's not very loud.
anthonymoody
macrumors 68040
Congrats on the purchase. While the gig or ram may help somewhat, what you really need is a faster boot drive. Pick up any of the 7200rpm external fw drives that pair nicely with the mini (e.g. the ministack, the new lacies, etc though research noise issues) and use it as your boot volume.
My xbench scores went from 113 to 134 when I did this, an 18% difference, but in terms of feel, honestly it feels like a completely different machine. Lags, little hangs, spinning beach balls, etc. almost entirely a thing of the past...
If apple ever crams a 7200rpm drive into this thing it'll be a world beater 😀
TM
My xbench scores went from 113 to 134 when I did this, an 18% difference, but in terms of feel, honestly it feels like a completely different machine. Lags, little hangs, spinning beach balls, etc. almost entirely a thing of the past...
If apple ever crams a 7200rpm drive into this thing it'll be a world beater 😀
TM
oingoboingo
macrumors 6502a
MattG said:
A Mac mini owning friend of mine (1.25GHz, 512MB RAM) swapped out the original internal hard drive and replaced it with a new 2.5" 40GB 7200rpm model. He said the difference in overall speed was like having a whole new machine...he was very impressed. Something to keep in mind when you're looking to upgrade your mini.
oingoboingo said:
What about the heat issue with 7200rpm HDs? How often does your mates fan come on? 😕
I just got one of the new 512mb 1.42ghz models and noted that while Tiger (10.4.0, not .2) came preinstalled, the OS X discs provided are for 10.3.7.
Anybody else get one of the new minis and saw this???
Anybody else get one of the new minis and saw this???
oingoboingo
macrumors 6502a
rossoUK said:
He hasn't reported that the fan comes on any more than it did before the upgrade.
MarkCollette
macrumors 68000
I wonder if the swapped-out 2.5" hard drive would fit in an iBook G3 700?
Then I could get the lowest spec'd Mac mini, and bump my iBook up from 20 GB...
Then I could get the lowest spec'd Mac mini, and bump my iBook up from 20 GB...
robbieduncan
Moderator emeritus
MarkCollette said:
This would work, but be advised working on an iBook is not easy. The HD is not meant to be a user replaceable part.
MarkCollette
macrumors 68000
robbieduncan said:
Yeah, I'd definitely get a Mac shop to do the upgrade.
Too bad the iBook is so hard to upgrade, because there's this nice superdrive upgrade you can get, where the drive isn't so expensive, but it's the labour cost of installation that makes it uneconomical.