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Intel Atom-Based Mac Mini Due in March?

Wolfpup said:
Okay, now I'm going to look silly...you're joking, right? :D
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Haha, yeah, I'm joking.
Actually, I have nothing against the Atom cpu. On a netbook.
But I'd like something more on a Mini.
The only way I'd accept the Atom on the Mini would be if Apple also had a small tower of some sort.
Have the Mini on the lowest end, kind of like a desktop version of a netbook, with the mid-tower the next step up. If you wanted more than that you could go to the Mac Pro.
But I doubt they'll ever bring out a mid sized tower computer, so I would need a Mini that has decent specs ( not an Atom cpu, that's for sure).
 
Evangelion said:
What do you want to don with it?


The CPU would be slower. But then again, the GPU would be faster. In some tasks it would be slower, while in some other, it would be faster.
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Not it wouldn't be faster in ANY task. It would be painfully slower in MOST tasks.
 
mosx said:
So for the 9400M to make ANY different in any Mac its put in, Apple needs to finally bring OS X into the modern world and fully support what these GPUs have offered for many years now, the same way Windows has been taking advantage of them since the 90s.
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They have. Several G3 Macs including the iMac DV (400 MHz) used GPU acceleration for DVD Playback. Otherwise smooth DVD playback on these machines would not be possible. But they never documented the interfaces so other vendors could not use it. For example ElGato said this was the reason why they were unable to support digital EyeTV on G3 systems even tough it was nearly the same format as DVD (at non HD).

Christian
 
look at the bright side chaps if apple use the atom, we would get to see those lovelly spinning beach balls so much!

they are lovelly:eek:
 
kastenbrust said:
The netbook market started in 2007 with the eepc, you clearly dont know much about netbooks.

Apple already has the Macbook Air

Business models. End of story.
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eh, what?

What has the MBA to do with netbooks?
What "business models" are you talking about?

According to your logic, Apple would not need to release any new Macbooks at all, since the notebook market surely IS saturated.

The netbook market on the other hand is far too young to be all packed-up already. In fact, it's growing like crazy in these times. It would make sense for Apple to build a high-end model around the 500-600 USD price point, which would still give them a good margin. (and Apple, kill off that plastic white Macbook while you're at it) Personally, I think all netbooks are useless, but if people are buying them like mad, you'd better start selling soon.
 
kastenbrust said:
The netbook market started in 2007 with the eepc, you clearly dont know much about netbooks.

Apple already has the Macbook Air

Business models. End of story.
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I am well aware of the eepc but as I said before the market didn't really get started until Sept. of this year when Dell, HP, and Acer made the market legit.

The Macbook Air is not a netbook. It is a light weight laptop. The price points and the footprints very different from a true netbook.

"Business models. End of story." What is that suppose to mean?

You are clearly naive and mistaken about what constitutes the Netbook market. This is clearly the direction for future computing. Smaller more powerful devices which interact with network applications via cloud computing.

Apple needs to be in this market. As the traditional computing markets are changing.
 
I'm kind of semi-confused by netbooks, but I sort of hope to replace my PDA with one.

Velocity Micro showed off a <$500 (ie $499.99 ;) ) "UMPC" style (ie tiny tablet with a keyboard that slides out the bottom) which seems like theoretically it could replace a PDA. big issue might be battery life. And I don't know that any "big" OS can really handle being put to sleep and back quickly and frequently.
 
digitalbiker said:
You are clearly naive and mistaken about what constitutes the Netbook market. This is clearly the direction for future computing. Smaller more powerful devices which interactf with network applications via cloud computing.
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Cloud computing and wimpy devices can go to Nastrond. I just want a powerful mobile computer (which I actually control...unlike these "cloud" devices).
 
Wolfpup said:
I'm kind of semi-confused by netbooks, but I sort of hope to replace my PDA with one.

Velocity Micro showed off a <$500 (ie $499.99 ;) ) "UMPC" style (ie tiny tablet with a keyboard that slides out the bottom) which seems like theoretically it could replace a PDA. big issue might be battery life. And I don't know that any "big" OS can really handle being put to sleep and back quickly and frequently.
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For an example of a typical Netbook and it's functionality, go to the Dell website and look at the demo movies for the Inspiron 9" mini laptop.

For a glimpse of the possibilities go to the OSX86project.org website and look at the OS X 10.5 hackintosh versions of the Dell 9" mini.
 
wizard said:
Exactly. Well almost, playing with BluRay is a waste of time right now.
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I dunno. I know what you're saying, but there are a lot of people buying PS/3s right now because they have BlueRay and can be hacked. I wouldn't ship any fusion device without an optical drive, and it just feels wrong to use a standard DVD now.


wizard said:
However it could make a fairly decent gaming machine depending on just how fast that Ion can go. Processor wise ATOM isn't much different than what is currently in the big game boxes. Imagine if Apple could deliver a quad core machine with a mid to high end range GPU. Such a machine would perform very well against the 360 and PS2.
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But it would perform very poorly against other PC gaming platforms, and that's your competition here. There are no PS2 game equivalents that can play on a mac. If you wanted to use it as a gaming machine, you've got to run PC-style games, and they simply wouldn't perform.

wizard said:
However I do see people look at Mini and ask why it uses so much power.
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Good point. It also runs really hot.

wizard said:
There is a wide range of potential TV products that could come from Apple. It is certainly one way to employe ATOM. But I also see opportunities outside of media serving.
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Can you elaborate?
 
Puaggh

If this is true then, for consumers, there will be 3 product to choose for a desktop computer:
The iMac, the iMac and the ... iMac.
I guess I'll tell my parents not to wait for this and buy another Winbox: OS X is not for them ! :mad:
 
kironin said:
A mac mini needs to be $399

and Apple needs an Atom netbook.

otherwise they will miss it and their growth will stall completely in the next year.
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Absolutely insane. NetBooks are the final, dying gasp in the end days of notebooks. Notebooks are primitive design and will be swept totally sideways once the tablet emerges on the scene. There may still be uses for notebooks in the future, but not really... they are so cumbersome unless you are a major keyboardist transferring mass data. If tablets have great writing detection people can revert to shorthand for notes again, or just write on the tablet and have it convert writing to text.

While notebooks and netbooks are nice and have a good market, they are secondary computers. Specifically the netbooks.... they are serious low-end computing Apple can't break into.
 
Wolfpup said:
Cloud computing and wimpy devices can go to Nastrond. I just want a powerful mobile computer (which I actually control...unlike these "cloud" devices).
Click to expand...

There is no doubt that there will always be a place for traditional powerful computers in the home and for many mobile users but it is clear that cloud computing and cheap highly portable computing devices are the future for the masses.

The general population is happy just to access email, access the internet, play videos, music, and run minor applications. Doing this on the go with a small portable and a price point under $500.00 is extremely attractive.

This is the primary reason Intel created the atom processor. The atom is not meant to be used as a replacement for the C2D Duo or Xeon processors.

How many general consumers really "NEED" to run CS4 apps on the go?
 
#1 the MBA is a netbook it is meant for simple tasks. It is just large and expensive for no reason.
EDIT: yes I know custom chip. Still doesn't warrant the price I do not think at least.

#2 Wolfpup: The iPod Touch would be a decent replacement. I think if Apple wasn't so damn restrictive the Touch would be considered a UMPC. Check these sites: http://www.umpcportal.com/ http://www.pocketables.net/

#3 I do not want to see any type of Apple TV/ Mini merger!. Leave the Apple TV in it's own crappy corner. With that said the atom is a bad idea. I have been hungering getting a mini for a while now to use as a DVD,DVR, Video Stream, play emulators, as well as other games like COD, GTA etc. So I hope the mini is upgraded not downgraded.
 
SilentCrs said:
The Mac Mini is not for "real" desktop use.

It's been pretty clear from the beginning that it's for hobbyists and those new to the platform to get their feet wet before buying a "real" Mac (iMac, Power Mac, MacBook, MacBook Pro). Use of the atom just cements this.

For the home theater enthusiasts, you can easily buy a Shuttle and put some decent hardware to handle HDTV (along with everything else you can throw at it).
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But it's the user experience that would suffer. :apple:TV is compelling not because it is more feature filled than everything out there, but because it just works. I hook it up, and I'm streaming media from iTunes in 5 minutes. I can buy/rent videos without having to figure out how - and it all just works.

I can buy a shuttle (and I may - I'm really looking at a home media PC to replace cable) but I'm sure I would get a lot of resistance from my wife (and younger kids) because it is simply too hard to figure out how to use it. Programs like Boxee help this, but no one has really come close to the :apple:TV ease of use.

But if Apple doesn't deliver in March, I'll bet I'll end up with a Shuttle (or something like it). I won't buy a mini in its current configuration - the shuttle is cheaper - hooks directly to HDMI and would have essentially the same user experience with iTunes and Boxee installed.
 
Lesser Evets said:
Specifically the netbooks.... they are serious low-end computing Apple can't break into.
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I completely disagree.

If Apple can produce a multi-touch screen, gps, phone, camera, app store phone applications, accelerometer gaming device,running OSX, for under $200.00,
then Apple can produce a 9" Netbook that is well designed, under 1.4 pounds, and networks to cloud computing storage and net applications.
 
puffnstuff said:
#1 the MBA is a netbook it is meant for simple tasks. It is just large and expensive for no reason.
EDIT: yes I know custom chip. Still doesn't warrant the price I do not think at least.
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Wrong!

The MacBook Air is not a Netbook. It is more powerful, larger, and much more expensive than a Netbook. It is not designed nor intended to compete with the Dell 9" mini style Netbook.

The MacBook Air is designed for the mobile professional who wants to run professional applications on the go without carrying a 7 lb. laptop.

The new MacBook Air uses the exact same chipset as the MacBook. There is no longer a custom cpu in the MBA. It uses the same graphics and CPU chipset as the MB only the CPU speed is slightly underclocked.
 
digitalbiker said:
Wrong!

The MacBook Air is not a Netbook. It is more powerful, larger, and much more expensive than a Netbook. It is not designed nor intended to compete with the Dell 9" mini style Netbook.

The MacBook Air is designed for the mobile professional who wants to run professional applications on the go without carrying a 7 lb. laptop.

The new MacBook Air uses the exact same chipset as the MacBook. There is no longer a custom cpu in the MBA. It uses the same graphics and CPU chipset as the MB only the CPU speed is slightly underclocked.
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I didn't know it was not longer a custom cpu. Why the price then?:confused:
 
I suggest we flood Apple with emails to make sure this does not happen. If they see the negative opinions maybe they will change their plans.
Start emailing or use their feedback page (if they still have it)
 
Settle down, settle down...

Ok Everyone... take a deep breath and just relax a minute...

Think about it...

First, Will the new Mac Mini stay on par with a Macbook Pro or a Mac Pro? Of course not... but Apple is not going to push a system out the door that doesn't perform.

Second, this is an entry level system. It will be on the minimum edge of computing for the price-point they're aiming for. Keep your expectations realistic and don't expect everything for next to nothing!

Third, think about this... Soon Apple will be releasing Snow Leopard which makes use of multiple processing units including graphics processors... It's feasible in my mind that the reason they are holding out on releasing the Mac Mini is because they are waiting for Snow Leopard to be released. If Snow Leopard performs as described, it may very well make up for the "short-comings" everyone perceives in the Atom processor and could very well be a reasonably decent entry-level machine. End-user performance is all that REALLY matters doesn't it? Apple's NOT going to ignore that. In ANY system, max out the RAM and you'll significantly speed up your system's performance which is where it really counts. I have an old Mac Mini that performs just fine as a media center and there's no chance in hell that Apple is going to release a NEW computer that can't perform to at LEAST the current specs, if not better.

That's my perspective on this matter and I have no worries that Apple won't reach my expectations, but I keep my expectations anchored closer to reality, so I recommend that you reflect on that before you freak out about what processor Apple's going to use.

Peace in '09,
~ Will:D
 
puffnstuff said:
I didn't know it was not longer a custom cpu. Why the price then?:confused:
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Why did Apple charge $100.00 more for Black MB as opposed to the White MB?

The primary reason is because the market would support the higher price.

However in Apple's defense they probably have the price elevated a little to help recoup the R&D price put into the original MBA. Also some of the components are a little pricier than the equivalent MB. For instance the back lit LED screen on the MBA is better quality than the MB and the MBA uses the more pricey SSD or ipod sized HDD rather than the standard sized HDD used in the MB.
 
Lesser Evets said:
Absolutely insane. NetBooks are the final, dying gasp in the end days of notebooks. Notebooks are primitive design and will be swept totally sideways once the tablet emerges on the scene. There may still be uses for notebooks in the future, but not really... they are so cumbersome unless you are a major keyboardist transferring mass data. If tablets have great writing detection people can revert to shorthand for notes again, or just write on the tablet and have it convert writing to text.

While notebooks and netbooks are nice and have a good market, they are secondary computers. Specifically the netbooks.... they are serious low-end computing Apple can't break into.
Click to expand...

I would hardly refer to the notebook as 'final" and "dying". It might be supplanted in a generation or two, but I do not see it as happening as soon as you imply.
 
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