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Apple Releases New Sandy Bridge Mac Minis and Thunderbolt Display
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This is huge. the lack of firewire port on the new MBA will be solved with this display. The single thunderbolt port carries the audio, usb, firewire and ethernet. Less cables are always good but still NO MATTE OPTION. Also they renamed it from cinema display to thunderbolt display
.Some people still like to buy CDs, and now they have to pay extra for the privilege of ripping them.
Or don't get the Apple superdrive, pay half price for another brand. The superdrive is overpriced.
which one is better?
finally the new mac mini and macbook air is just released, and which one is better? mac mini or mba?
i cant get both of em
finally the new mac mini and macbook air is just released, and which one is better? mac mini or mba?
i cant get both of em
Dropping the optical disc drive on the Mini is possibly the most bonehead move I've ever seen Apple do. I have to say, considering this is widely regarded as the "switcher machine", I don't understand the logic even more.
I don't know about you, but the Windows users I know are all about physical media consumption. Now I've gone from explaining "Macs don't do games because..." to "Macs don't have CD drives because..." Do you know how many people are going to laugh at that statement?
I feel that this is just Apple's price increase to the Mini without actually increasing the price of the Mini. It had a $100 price hike not too long ago, and now (something as primitive as) using CDs / DVDs will cost you an extra $100 for an external device. Absurd.
Furthermore, Apple is All about eliminating clutter - how is having to have an external drive eliminating clutter? If anything, the Mini is all about simplicity. Having one more thing on the desk is not a selling point. Having one built in is. Only a select few Mac lovers / longtime users won't mind the lack of a drive. Even some who aren't still won't mind. The majority however, will spring for an external optical drive. I now consider the Mini's base price to be $699...
Guess what that optical drive is coming out of next. That iMac sure looks like it could trim some fat. Now, I've actually wanted that to be horizontal since the death of the iMac G4. That, I'll welcome. It had just better accompany a $100 price drop or a free bundle into the box.
Looks like most users don't agree, but I do. My thoughts exactly.
I don't know about you, but the Windows users I know are all about physical media consumption. Now I've gone from explaining "Macs don't do games because..." to "Macs don't have CD drives because..." Do you know how many people are going to laugh at that statement?
I feel that this is just Apple's price increase to the Mini without actually increasing the price of the Mini. It had a $100 price hike not too long ago, and now (something as primitive as) using CDs / DVDs will cost you an extra $100 for an external device. Absurd.
Furthermore, Apple is All about eliminating clutter - how is having to have an external drive eliminating clutter? If anything, the Mini is all about simplicity. Having one more thing on the desk is not a selling point. Having one built in is. Only a select few Mac lovers / longtime users won't mind the lack of a drive. Even some who aren't still won't mind. The majority however, will spring for an external optical drive. I now consider the Mini's base price to be $699...
Guess what that optical drive is coming out of next. That iMac sure looks like it could trim some fat. Now, I've actually wanted that to be horizontal since the death of the iMac G4. That, I'll welcome. It had just better accompany a $100 price drop or a free bundle into the box.
Looks like most users don't agree, but I do. My thoughts exactly.
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I'm not concerned about the lack of an ODD. It's clear that digital distribution is the way things are going to be, and especially with iCloud on the horizon, Apple is once again taking the initiative. I remember the exact same concerns people raised when the floppy drive was removed from the iMac back in 1998. A couple of years later, most people had moved on and were none the worse for wear.
Besides, if you really need an ODD, there is the option of the external one. I had an external floppy drive for a few months. I think the real question is why the server edition still exists, when aside from a quad core processor and a TB of storage standard, its functionality is mirrored in the non-server models.
Besides, if you really need an ODD, there is the option of the external one. I had an external floppy drive for a few months. I think the real question is why the server edition still exists, when aside from a quad core processor and a TB of storage standard, its functionality is mirrored in the non-server models.
The MBA Superdrive may be overpriced, but it only has a USB cable and gets its power from the Macbook Air/Mac mini. I think the extra cost is worth it for some people if it can eliminate another cable and another power brick. And it doesn't look out of place since it looks like a smaller Mac mini too.
Interesting what they've done... removed the optical drive from all Minis but still do a 2xHDD "Server" model.
Also interesting to see that basically you've got a choice between CPU grunt (i7 Dual vs i7 Quad) and Graphics (Proper ATi or naff Intel).
Think I'll be going for Graphics and making do with a Dual-Core.
Also interesting to see that basically you've got a choice between CPU grunt (i7 Dual vs i7 Quad) and Graphics (Proper ATi or naff Intel).
Think I'll be going for Graphics and making do with a Dual-Core.
Not in the next ten years it isn't. As long as broadband is underpowered, limited in reach, overpriced and constrained by providers owning physical media is going to be around a long time.
I'm still waiting for MP3 to kill the CD. What's it been? 15 years now?
not a perfect upgrade but still good, mostly
Well... there are some things I definitely like... like discrete graphics!! Better hard drives... I do think the base model should come with 4Gb of course... but that's apple for you.
I have mixed feelings about the lack of optical drive, but it doesn't really bother me much... which is kind of weird. I guess it's because I'd really use the mini as a tv computer, for my home theatre. So optical is not really that useful for me, with respect to that context.
However, for gaming and other purposes, an optical drive would be necessary... I do like the external superdrive, in and of itself, but of course it's an extra purchase. Wouldn't really mind the external drive for an Air, but for the mini, I suspect they took out the optical drive in part to make room for the discrete graphics, but ironically if I want a mini for gaming, I would also want the optical drive for installation and running games!
Go figure. Apple as a company... is kind of like this awesome hot girl... who's into you... but she's kind of weird and crazy sometimes...
All things considered, I still like these minis more than the old ones. And, I might be wrong, but for Canada I think there was a price drop too? Those are always good!
Well... there are some things I definitely like... like discrete graphics!! Better hard drives... I do think the base model should come with 4Gb of course... but that's apple for you.
I have mixed feelings about the lack of optical drive, but it doesn't really bother me much... which is kind of weird. I guess it's because I'd really use the mini as a tv computer, for my home theatre. So optical is not really that useful for me, with respect to that context.
However, for gaming and other purposes, an optical drive would be necessary... I do like the external superdrive, in and of itself, but of course it's an extra purchase. Wouldn't really mind the external drive for an Air, but for the mini, I suspect they took out the optical drive in part to make room for the discrete graphics, but ironically if I want a mini for gaming, I would also want the optical drive for installation and running games!
Go figure. Apple as a company... is kind of like this awesome hot girl... who's into you... but she's kind of weird and crazy sometimes...
All things considered, I still like these minis more than the old ones. And, I might be wrong, but for Canada I think there was a price drop too? Those are always good!
Looks like apple about did this right. Was hoping for a faster quad core but suppose apple couldn't keep the heat down. 256 VRAM stinks. Should have been at least 512. Chuck of change for ssd and hard drive but with thunderbolt port, no need to have 2 drives inside. Will have to wait for someone to bench the new mini before deciding. But my wallet says get it to go with my 2010 and network them to use the optical. Who is buying one?
I think now that you can BTO 2 hard drives, you will be able to purchase the base model with one drive and add the other after market, but still it may not be an easy task to add another drive yourself.
Drives that are half the price can also be powered straight through the single USB connector. Seriously, shop around, the Superdrive is overpriced.
Why not? What does an optical drive have to do with a media center? Everything's streamed now.
No Drive=Pathetic
Cmon Apple, what the hell are you doing?!? I know you led the way with the removal of the 3.5" floppy but really, no drive? This is just a way to force people to buy off the itunes store, which doesnt have everything on there at all! I think Apple has done this a few years too early imo.
Im so disappointed. I have been an Apple fan and user for a long time. If this keeps up, im going to make my own boutique computer and use unix.
Sad.
Cmon Apple, what the hell are you doing?!? I know you led the way with the removal of the 3.5" floppy but really, no drive? This is just a way to force people to buy off the itunes store, which doesnt have everything on there at all! I think Apple has done this a few years too early imo.
Im so disappointed. I have been an Apple fan and user for a long time. If this keeps up, im going to make my own boutique computer and use unix.
Sad.
