Apple Releases New Sandy Bridge Mac Minis and Thunderbolt Display

after year and a half of owning mini, i have used optical disc no more then 10 times.

So, thank u Apple 4 making Mini even more mini... Will buy one as soon as possible here in Ukraine :)
 
Can anyone explain some details of the addition of Bluetooth 4.0 to the new MBA and Mini's? What exactly will I be able to do? I know 3. can integrate with 802.11 and be used at up to 160ft, but will Apple allow for data transfer over this standard (dropbox maybe) or will it primarily be used for connecting devices???
 
chaosbunny said:
To all the super-cool people not needing an optical drive, because they are so super-cool that they happen to live in a super-cool area with super-cool high speed internet, just downloading everything with super-cool DRM build in:

Could you please lend the last 3 movies you bought on iTunes to a friend? Oh wait, you can't. Unless of course, all your downloads are illegal.

Digital distribution is all about DRM and killing the used-market, and you are even happy that this is happening.
Click to expand...



What were the last 3 physical movies you lent to a friend and got back in any reasonable amount of time if at all?
 
InuNacho said:
Dnix said:
What does this mean for the "old" 27-inchers?


Do you think they will continue to sell refurbs? And if so, could there be a slight price drop? :D
Click to expand...

I hope so, I'm torn between the Cinema Display and a Dell u2711.
Click to expand...

The refurb store now has the "Lion" TB Model as it's picture for the ACD...it's obviously the same one. They couldn't already have refurbs. :D

But we'll see if they end up offering them side-by-side, or something.
 
Well that stinks. I was thinking about moving my parents over to a Mac Mini. They have a cheap Windows Box and dealing with it when the have problems is a pain. There system isn't too old but was thinking a Mini would be perfect as they already have a screen, albeit a tiny one to me. BUT without an optical drive, who knows. I know they have put a few music Cds onto their computer and I know they've bought cheap games for the grandkids to play, whether they'd do that with an Apple not so sure.

Oh and buying one for my Aunt as well. BUT she likes music and has Cds…heck she still has a Film-based 35mm camera (though no computer other than at work). Again the Mac Mini would have been perfect though a tad pricey. Now I have to rethink things. I suppose a Refrub could work….

Would have been nice to have a version W/O an Optical Drive and one WITH an Optical Drive and see how those sales go.


PLUS, as a Media HUB?? Please only media via Apple.
 
Erwin-Br said:
If the sound is so important for you, then surely you would want to go for the CD instead of the inferior compression of AAC and MP3 files.

But I'm guessing you don't really care about sound quality at all, like most people. Plus, you won't be able to hear any difference anyway if you're listening through those cheap white iPod earbuds. :eek:
Click to expand...

Eh? why the hate... its just my personal pref... I didnt say you had to feel the same...

I dont listen to music on an iPod.... I listen to music on many devices and I use sennheiser headphones...
 
Erwin-Br said:
Not to mention the restrictions we have to put up with! "This movie is not available in your country"

Most iTunes stores in Europe don't even HAVE a movie/TV shows section yet!
Click to expand...

Exactly. That is why Apple's move has nothing to do with adopting great new techniques. No Apple wants a big chunk of the pie in digital distribution of content. Mainly in the USA at this point. By declaring physical media dead they try to force more content-providers in their digital stores.

This is digital war full of hidden agenda's and politics.
 
Over a £110 cheaper (base) in the US (with tx). As usual we get a raw deal!

Going to Orlando in Nov so might get one then!
 
Purchase previous Mac Mini?

Now that the 2011 MacMini is out, anyone know where those with optical drive needs can purchase the previous version (and hopefully for a cheaper price)?

Amazon still has the 2010 MacMini with unchanged prices...
 
BJMRamage said:
Well that stinks. I was thinking about moving my parents over to a Mac Mini. They have a cheap Windows Box and dealing with it when the have problems is a pain. There system isn't too old but was thinking a Mini would be perfect as they already have a screen, albeit a tiny one to me. BUT without an optical drive, who knows. I know they have put a few music Cds onto their computer and I know they've bought cheap games for the grandkids to play, whether they'd do that with an Apple not so sure.

Oh and buying one for my Aunt as well. BUT she likes music and has Cds…heck she still has a Film-based 35mm camera (though no computer other than at work). Again the Mac Mini would have been perfect though a tad pricey. Now I have to rethink things. I suppose a Refrub could work….

Would have been nice to have a version W/O an Optical Drive and one WITH an Optical Drive and see how those sales go.


PLUS, as a Media HUB?? Please only media via Apple.
Click to expand...

It has USB ports, just get a USB optical drive.

Seriously folks, not some big end of the world thing. A minor inconvenience if anything. I bought my MBA knowing full well I needed an optical drive for some stuff. 10 months later, I still haven't bothered going to BB to get it.
 
chaosbunny said:
To all the super-cool people not needing an optical drive, because they are so super-cool that they happen to live in a super-cool area with super-cool high speed internet, just downloading everything with super-cool DRM build in:

Could you please lend the last 3 movies you bought on iTunes to a friend? Oh wait, you can't. Unless of course, all your downloads are illegal.

Digital distribution is all about DRM and killing the used-market, and you are even happy that this is happening.
Click to expand...

Usually just ask them over and we can all watch it on :apple:TV :D

Great to watch motion picture together, Fanatical About Film ;)
 
tripjammer said:
This is 2011 you don't need a optical drive. Plus if you need one you can always get a USB external one.
Click to expand...
I thought Apple designs were all about having the less amount of cables and sleek designs. An external drive ruins the design completely.
 
KSpider said:
What were the last 3 physical movies you lent to a friend and got back in any reasonable amount of time if at all?
Click to expand...

Easy, three 007 movies from my 007 ultimate DVD edition. I got a german film called "Free Rainer" and a season of Friends in return. All of these were lent a month ago, watched, and given back this past weekend. We do this quite often you know. Saves a lot of money. ;)
 
chaosbunny said:
To all the super-cool people not needing an optical drive, because they are so super-cool that they happen to live in a super-cool area with super-cool high speed internet, just downloading everything with super-cool DRM build in:

Could you please lend the last 3 movies you bought on iTunes to a friend? Oh wait, you can't. Unless of course, all your downloads are illegal.

Digital distribution is all about DRM and killing the used-market, and you are even happy that this is happening.
Click to expand...
Perhaps it is time to head to your local library. :D
 
MattG said:
Wow...this is stupid on a grand scale. This is the perfect media-hub computer, and it doesn’t have an optical drive. I have the revision before this, and I’ve been using it to rip my DVD collection. To just assume people don’t need it anymore…it’s stuff like this that make Apple bashers bash Apple, and rightfully so. And, it’s still the same price for the base model, no real improvements other than the processor. For this price without the optical drive, they should have at least thrown in the option to get an SSD for a reasonable price ($600 is not reasonable).

Fail, Apple.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%

I've been waiting a few months for the processor and HD upgrade to the base model and now they take away the optical drive. I wanted to use this base machine for internet browsing, rip cds, rip dvds to use in my apple tv and to use it as a dvd player when renting movies from redbox.

I'm not interested anymore in the mac mini since I doubt that they will bring the optical disc back. I don't even want it, even they give the external one for free. It was not because of cost, for me it was the convenience of having only 1 small brick as a computer. I refuse to have around a second brick (no matter how small it is) around.

There is no justification for this, other than greed. Maybe if they made the dimensions smaller, it would be another story. But they took it away to force to buy everything for them. I will do that, whenever they have available ALL movie rentals for $0.99 (1.99 in HD). Otherwise, I will not fall into the trap.
 
I hoped that at least one of the updated Mac Minis would have a DVD. Now no Mac Mini has a DVD! At the beginning, I was kind of sad. But, after having a cup of tea and some thinking, I now take the absence of a DVD with ease. I can use USB sticks or mobile hard disks to transfer data in addition to the Internet. The OS can be installed with a USB stick.
 
RBR2 said:
I mistakenly thought you knew what daisy chaining was. There is a second port on the TB device that you use to connect the next TB device to. The devices are connected to each other and only one is connected to the Mac. You only need one port on the Mac to do that.
Click to expand...

You are right and Arn is (of course) right, but it is confusing as there is only one TB port visible on the back. The clarification is that you connect the display to your Mac with a "built-in" cable that comes from the display without using that visible port, leaving the visible port free to daisy chain out (perhaps by plugging the built-in cable from the second display into the visible port on the first display.

Hope that helps.
 
vito said:
Usually just ask them over and we can all watch it on :apple:TV :D

Great to watch motion picture together, Fanatical About Film ;)
Click to expand...

Doesn't do any good if you want to let your friends borrow it. My $4 DVD of Alien is playable on every DVD player on the planet meanwhile the $10 iTunes version only works on 6 computers and isn't compatible with things like PS3s.
 
clarkysdonga said:
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.
Click to expand...


Common man, tell me this honestly, how often do you use your optical drive?
I use mine maybe a handful of times in a year, and that's just to burn cd's for my car (which doesn't have aux out). Most applications can be done using usb drives. I'm happy no more optical drives.

With that being said, I'm sticking to my mbp for now, and hopefully we get a new design in 2012, so I can sell mine to get the new one
 
ViperDesign said:
It's obvious that Apple is moving to an all digital future. And to be honest, whatever apple does usually happens.

I am actually happy about that, I hate having to deal with DVD's, cd's, etc...

Much easier to download and backup on a hard drive these days.
Click to expand...

Using hard drives will seem quaint in the future too if Apple's iCloud takes off.
 
tripjammer said:
This is 2011 you don't need a optical drive. Plus if you need one you can always get a USB external one.
Click to expand...

Speak for yourself. Despite what Apple might try to force feed us, optical media is not dead. A lot of us still have a it in our homes. Just because having an optical drive in there doesn't benefit Apple doesn't mean it doesn't benefit us.
 
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