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Apple to Launch New Mac Mini at Next Week's Media Event?

NewbieCanada said:
You've just described the current MacBook Pro line - but I suspect what you really mean is change the current line into something that won't sell at all, but will appeal to people who won't actually buy them, but will praise them on forums like this.
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I've described the very current MacBook Pro line, but not the near future of it. Believe it or not, most people don't care so much about thickness (judging by the fact that the MacBook Pro sells better than the MacBook Air).

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KnightWRX said:
Thunderbolt is more expensive due to the nature of its engineering. It requires multiple controllers per device, adding up the costs. It has nothing to do with rarity.

Also, it's overkill, meaning why would a vendor bother trying to sell you a more expensive disk using Thunderbolt controllers (requiring the more expensive Light Ridge controller if you want to provide 2 channel daisy chaining) when the less expensive USB 3.0 device provides the same performance since the bottleneck is not the I/O interface, but the actual physical spinning platters inside the case ?
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The rarity must be a big factor of it. I can see why FireWire and Thunderbolt would cost a little more, but not by that much.

The advantage of Thunderbolt drives is that you can daisy-chain them together and that TB and FW devices don't use as many computer resources. TB is, of course, great for hubs. They work well for ethernet and digital video, too.
 
faroZ06 said:
I've described the very current MacBook Pro line, but not the near future of it. Believe it or not, most people don't care so much about thickness (judging by the fact that the MacBook Pro sells better than the MacBook Air).

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The rarity must be a big factor of it. I can see why FireWire and Thunderbolt would cost a little more, but not by that much.

The advantage of Thunderbolt drives is that you can daisy-chain them together and that TB and FW devices don't use as many computer resources. TB is, of course, great for hubs. They work well for ethernet and digital video, too.
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That, and they can actually house PCIe cards. It'll take some time to come down in price and for optical cables to become standard, but when those happen, consumer Macs will no longer be limited to their pre-config'd graphics.

korgri said:
Has anyone seen the skit from the 1980's where Shatner is hosting SNL
and he does this skit where he tells the Trekkies at the convention
to "get a life"?
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Troll post is troll post.
 
mganai said:
That, and they can actually house PCIe cards. It'll take some time to come down in price and for optical cables to become standard, but when those happen, consumer Macs will no longer be limited to their pre-config'd graphics.



Troll post is troll post.
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I would love a Mac the size of the ill-fated G4 Cube that utilizes TB. Imagine:

A box small enough to store with PCIe slots, RAM, processor(s), 2-4 HDD/SDD SATA III bays and TB (USB 3.0 as well). Using a TB cable, connect the device to graphic boxes, external storage devices, and run a cable from the small footprint system to ones workstation HID's and display(s). That would be a perfect revamp for a Mac Pro; power in a smaller form factor with the ability to expand and upgrade based on ones needs (and possibly lower entry level price point akin to what PowerMac's used to cost before switching to Intel).
 
And the ability to upgrade to the CPU of your choosing (i. e. 3570K), I would hope.
 
faroZ06 said:
Still, profit is profit. I think they'd make more money if they made their Macs more competitive.
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No. The brand damage from making Macs more competitive is not worth it. PCs are losing out to mobile devices in sales now so Apple has transitioned to where they can maximize profit. They are no longer even called Apple Computer, Inc.

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mganai said:
And the ability to upgrade to the CPU of your choosing (i. e. 3570K), I would hope.
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In a mini? No.
 
faroZ06 said:
The advantage of Thunderbolt drives is that you can daisy-chain them together....
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I would never call "daisy chaining" an advantage, especially for storage devices.


bedifferent said:
I would love a Mac the size of the ill-fated G4 Cube that utilizes TB. Imagine:

A box small enough to store with PCIe slots, RAM, processor(s), 2-4 HDD/SDD SATA III bays and TB (USB 3.0 as well). Using a TB cable, connect the device to graphic boxes, external storage devices, and run a cable from the small footprint system to ones workstation HID's and display(s). That would be a perfect revamp for a Mac Pro; power in a smaller form factor with the ability to expand and upgrade based on ones needs (and possibly lower entry level price point akin to what PowerMac's used to cost before switching to Intel).
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Remember this?

apple-imac-vx-dell-xps-410.jpg

Dude, you're getting the Dell with that T-Bolt erector set monster!
 
"Who buys mac minis anymore? I dont see apple giving them much more than some spec bumps. I would think with the iPad out, Mac Mini sales have been steadily decreasing."

I'll buy one.

I've been thinking about replacing my PowerMac g4/1.25dp that I bought in 2004 - and am typing on right now.

I don't really have the need for a Mac Pro, and they've become too expensive in any case. I already have an iMac on another table, don't really care for another. The Mini (probably server w/2 hard drives) will give me 'way more power than the old g4 at a decent price, and I already have a monitor, mouse, and keyboard I like (all non-Apple).

The Mini will likely be just what I need...
 
flopticalcube said:
No. The brand damage from making Macs more competitive is not worth it. PCs are losing out to mobile devices in sales now so Apple has transitioned to where they can maximize profit. They are no longer even called Apple Computer, Inc.

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In a mini? No.
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I was talking about the G4 Cube hypothetical.
 
D.T. said:
I've been talking about this for several months! I think this may be the last year of NFL/Superfan with DTV and if so, we may "cut the cord" too.
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I have received several messages asking about my setup, so we should share anything, even the obvious.

My setup is a dedicated single port cable modem at 30mbps but they reluctantly admitted 100 mbps service uses the same hardware and provisioning. That goes via Ethernet to a router (11ac :D ) which goes via Ethernet to an ooma box (phone) $3.54/mo in federal taxes, and a Roku (TV) $0/mo with Hulu Plus service $8/mo. Also Ethernet cord for fast MacBookPro attachment when needed, otherwise 802.11N default. Open local network so any wifi device has access.

Thinking of ATV, but don't have a bunch of ripped stuff to tilt that decision. Looking for a mirror. :)

Looking forward to installing a hard wire Cat6 Ethernet to the lower story with some wifi interference. IPTV soon? 11AC alternative for the TV? That's where a Mini and any external accessories might go as well as any desktop station. Where's the software to capture meaningful snippets of TV 5-20 minutes at a time and metadata for notes?

Thinking of the Wilson cell repeater so the cell phone reception is good. The ooma uses existing phone hardware and the signal is far clearer than landline. It has a dial tone and makes and receives calls normally. No special dialing or codes. It supports 911 but not 411. The cable internet connection is faster than DSL all the time and occasionally scary fast, and out about the same amount of time.

Haven't tried it in a power outage yet but presume it continues.

Overall impressions. CHEAP on a monthly basis. Lots of boxes and wires and power bricks to do all this. Why hasn't someone solved that? The up front cost of boxes is notable.

Ooma $179
11AC router $150
Bag o Ethernet cables $20
Roku $60-100
Old fashioned TV (people will pay you $20 to take it) Composite connection RWY RCA.
or HDTV with HDMI to ROKU

The TV is like a hard to use DVR with each of many but not all or even a lot of TV shows and movies available. I looked up West Wing, Hogans Heroes, and LA Law to see if they had those. Nope.

We aren't there for truly replacing satellite TV yet. I figure to see CNBC I have to watch a crappy res stream of the SD version of the feed.

Rocketman
 
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My friend is thinking of getting a mini to use at his workplace. Basically, he doesn't like the school-issued laptops and the accompanying restrictions on what he can do with it. Throw in a mobile broadband dongle and he can sync everything across his air and iPad via Dropbox.

Nor is he willing to plug his air to an external display because he fears such constant plugging / unplugging may result in damage of parts.

So yeah, you want a cheap and portable Mac desktop, there is clearly still a market for the Mac mini. :)
 
Finally! But instead of launching an ipad mini, I would much prefer a 13" or 15" ipad... Magazine size that would be the perfect work/entertainment consumption device
 
AidenShaw said:
Describe what you have to do to remove the first of three drives in the daisy chain, without risk of data corruption, for the three major desktop operating systems.
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Okay, but you said never. Implying there are no possible advantages to daisy chaining.
 
Rocketman said:
I have received several messages asking about my setup, so we should share anything, even the obvious.

My setup is a dedicated single port cable modem at 30mbps but they reluctantly admitted 100 mbps service uses the same hardware and provisioning.
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Curious, what do you get for speed? I'm using DSL at 40Mbps as it is cheaper than anything even remotely close on paper from cable. But some say the DOCSIS 3 cable modems will give higher speeds than advertised. I never really saw it when I had the "16Mbps" (20Mbps burst) cable connection, always topped out for long downloads at 16Mbps pretty much exactly. Speedtest's tests are small enough files to fit into the burst speed size limit, and for those I saw all sorts of wild speeds (20, 30, 60+), but not for big stuff and streaming.

My taxes on the ooma went to $4.35 or so. :(
 
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