Yeah I doubt there will be anything less than 2.0 GHz, as the 2.0 GHz is an OEM CPU, a step down from the normally lowest-end 2.27 GHz. Whether the high-end Mac mini will have 2.27 GHz or 2.4 GHz I don't know.
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Intel Atom-Based Mac Mini Due in March?
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it wont be...it cant be.... that wouldnt even be an update!! it would be equal with what it currently is!! (CPU-wise anyways).
i do hope you're wrong on that one. i'd prefer apple to go by the WMB example this time.I smell no FireWire in new MacMini.
Yes, it seems that the Mini follows the basic MacBook, and the new White MacBook makes it seem feasible that they would use a regular C2D.
I'm now thinking:
$599 (same as White MacBook)
2.0 GHz C2D
GeForce 9400M
2 Gig RAM
120 Gig hd
Superdrive
$699 follows the high-end MacBook
2.4 GHz C2d
GeForce 9400M
2 Gig RAM
250 Gig hd
Superdrive
If for some reason they go for the $499 pricepoint, I can see a basic model with only 1 Gig RAM, 80 Gig hd, no Ethernet, no FW, and have those ports available in the higher models...
We shall hopefully see in March...
that seems very likely. i can only hope that a high-end BTO 2.8GHz is added, or that we can buy the chip ourselves and put it in
firewire in those two models is of course a given, both FW400 & FW800 (i still use FW400).
You guys are retarded.
How the hell did this rumor get started? There is no way Apple would use an Atom CPU in a Mac Mini refresh. I only see them using an Nvidia nforce based board with a Core2duo and or quad. Most likely a duo. OR they would make an AppleTV refresh with the nforce based board with an atom which IS capable of playing 1080P.
-Stell
How the hell did this rumor get started? There is no way Apple would use an Atom CPU in a Mac Mini refresh. I only see them using an Nvidia nforce based board with a Core2duo and or quad. Most likely a duo. OR they would make an AppleTV refresh with the nforce based board with an atom which IS capable of playing 1080P.
-Stell
The $499 model may be the current $599 Mac mini with a price drop. If we're lucky we'll see it get an NVIDIA chipset.
On Wikipedia I see two CPUs released on January 6:
2.0 GHz dual-core, 2 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB
2.2 GHz dual-core, 2 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB
I wonder if Apple will use those CPUs in the Mac mini to try to keep prices down. I don't really think they will (1067 MHz FSB ones instead), but who knows, given that the Mac mini has been behind for 2 and a half years now.
Good catch on the CPU's. Definitely nVidia to match the new White MacBook. Apple may have been waiting a while until that chipset has gone down in price to put it in the Mini.
A price drop to $499, I think is unlikely. Steve on a call said that Apple "doesn't know how to make a $500 computer". A $599 Mini with nVidia, FW800, Mini Display Port, Mini-DVI (for total of dual monitor support), and Ethernet, ( and even without the Remote) would be a great value still.
No, use a FW800 to FW400 adapter...
meany!
find me one of them in australia and ill agree with you.
(oh p.s. i take it that a connector will still only run at 400 speeds right? what about if i cloverleaf a 400 then an 800?? will the 800 still run at full speed?) confused.
wow. 2 intelligent comments in a row. the mac mini was purely a "switcher" mac - a gateway drug, if you will. it's the cheapest apple was willing to go. it will always have the lowest end parts possible that will still provide a decent user experience. that's the whole point of it. apple doesn't care if it can do 1080p video. they didn't make it to be your HTPC. if they had, they would have given it hdmi out.
The key word there is "was" (purely). Certainly one of the Mini's original purposes was to appeal to tentative would-be switchers who needed to keep using Windows. Since Boot Camp, however, most switchers now how many better options.
Realistically, Apple can only do one of 2 things with the Mini because keeping GMA for much longer isn't an option: they'll either have to update it on a par with MacBooks, so it can take advantage of Snow Leopard's advanced capabilities & because Intel have finished producing GMA. Or they simply must scrap it, probably replacing it with something else. The cheapest option for Apple will be keeping it with a 9400M chipset. Preferably, 9600M on the higher-end Mini, but now I'm dreaming.
& because Intel have finished producing GMA. Or they simply must scrap it, probably replacing it with something else. The cheapest option for Apple will be keeping it with a 9400M chipset. Preferably, 9600M on the higher-end Mini, but now I'm dreaming.
I thought Intel is still producing the GMA950 for the Atom in the NetBooks/NetBoxes...
The memory controller is built into the Atom 330, not the motherboard chipset, so why would the RAM be significantly faster with the Ion platform?
Not meaning to split hairs here but who says that the memory controller is built into the Atom 330. Intel just started putting a memory controller on chip with the I7.
Not meaning to split hairs here but who says that the memory controller is built into the Atom 330. Intel just started putting a memory controller on chip with the I7.
Apple should double the height of the Mini and perhaps increase its width a bit and load it up with two 1TB+ drives and sell it as an NAS device that also happens to be able to drive an HDTV directly. In other words, its size would be comparable to an NAS device and it could be used purely as such AND/OR it could drive a home theater (and other rooms as well). With some of AppleTV's software loaded into the Front Row interface, it could double as an AppleTV, NAS, iTunes Airtunes controller (ATV can do this now already), DVD player and yet could also run any computer stuff you might want/need (i.e. it's also a computer).
I mean look at the cost of most two drive NAS units out there right now. ReadyNAS with ONE 1TB drive is over $500. Imagine a Mini with 2TB (mirrored 1TB), a DVD-RW drive (or Blu-Ray in the future), throw in some media card reader ports and have HDMI + Mini-Displayport dual outputs, Gigabit ethernet + 802.11N and the thing could EASILY be the most flexible/powerful combination NAS/Media Center out there. If they could throw in some automated DVD-backup to HD software (as you watch your DVD, it copies it to the internal drive to play without the DVD the next time), it'd be worth its weight in gold (look how much stand-alone systems there run). The key would be to make it do all the media stuff with the Mac OS touch (i.e. EASY for ANYONE to use). With Bluetooth mice and keyboard, it'd be great for a large HDTV (I've got a 93" screen and HD projector for example). That'd easily be worth $1000+ to me with the right software included since it could run my whole house system and replace both my PowerMac server and one of my AppleTV units (and let me move the older one elsewhere). Since it could run iTunes itself, it could directly serve iTunes media around the house (something no NAS out there can do so far since devices like ATV cannot (or will not) read directly from an NAS. iTunes has to be running on something.
Here's the kicker. Such a system with the right GPU could not only do all that, but ALSO double as a game box as well. Look how well the app store is doing for the iPhone/Touch in terms of gaming. Get enough of these things out there and you've got a viable gaming platform that could be backwards compatible with ALL Macs (i.e. get Mac games moving again and use this little box to do it).
Yes, a PS3 or Xbox360 can do a lot of media streaming these days, but they're no NAS system or backup solution. You need those IN ADDITION to your PS3 or Xbox so you have to consider the total cost. And they still won't run regular computer apps or act as Airtunes devices. Basically, the Mini could be the next living room "box" to have.
Such a configured Mini could replace all this equipment in one box:
-Time machine capsule / Airport Extreme
-AppleTV
-NAS Device
-DVD Player (and possibly Blu-Ray in the future)
-Gaming Box
AND it would also double as a low to mid-range Mac computer as the Mini currently does (with updated graphics and a better hard drive system).
Now imagine throwing a docking connector on top of the unit and you'd have an instant home for your iPod to both load up new music and recharge and even play through the stereo that the unit is already connected to. Throw in the ability to stream directly to the unit from across the room and a Touch becomes a keyboard/trackpad and remote control for the device as well. In fact, including a Touch WITH the system wouldn't be a bad idea in that scenerio...maybe an updated touch model that has extra tactile controls on it to use it as a joystick for games with the system as well and you can start to see by simply combining existing technologies Apple has already developed into one unit, they'd have a killer media centerpiece for the digital age.
Of course, they won't do it as it might cannibalize sales of said existing equipment above....
I mean look at the cost of most two drive NAS units out there right now. ReadyNAS with ONE 1TB drive is over $500. Imagine a Mini with 2TB (mirrored 1TB), a DVD-RW drive (or Blu-Ray in the future), throw in some media card reader ports and have HDMI + Mini-Displayport dual outputs, Gigabit ethernet + 802.11N and the thing could EASILY be the most flexible/powerful combination NAS/Media Center out there. If they could throw in some automated DVD-backup to HD software (as you watch your DVD, it copies it to the internal drive to play without the DVD the next time), it'd be worth its weight in gold (look how much stand-alone systems there run). The key would be to make it do all the media stuff with the Mac OS touch (i.e. EASY for ANYONE to use). With Bluetooth mice and keyboard, it'd be great for a large HDTV (I've got a 93" screen and HD projector for example). That'd easily be worth $1000+ to me with the right software included since it could run my whole house system and replace both my PowerMac server and one of my AppleTV units (and let me move the older one elsewhere). Since it could run iTunes itself, it could directly serve iTunes media around the house (something no NAS out there can do so far since devices like ATV cannot (or will not) read directly from an NAS. iTunes has to be running on something.
Here's the kicker. Such a system with the right GPU could not only do all that, but ALSO double as a game box as well. Look how well the app store is doing for the iPhone/Touch in terms of gaming. Get enough of these things out there and you've got a viable gaming platform that could be backwards compatible with ALL Macs (i.e. get Mac games moving again and use this little box to do it).
Yes, a PS3 or Xbox360 can do a lot of media streaming these days, but they're no NAS system or backup solution. You need those IN ADDITION to your PS3 or Xbox so you have to consider the total cost. And they still won't run regular computer apps or act as Airtunes devices. Basically, the Mini could be the next living room "box" to have.
Such a configured Mini could replace all this equipment in one box:
-Time machine capsule / Airport Extreme
-AppleTV
-NAS Device
-DVD Player (and possibly Blu-Ray in the future)
-Gaming Box
AND it would also double as a low to mid-range Mac computer as the Mini currently does (with updated graphics and a better hard drive system).
Now imagine throwing a docking connector on top of the unit and you'd have an instant home for your iPod to both load up new music and recharge and even play through the stereo that the unit is already connected to. Throw in the ability to stream directly to the unit from across the room and a Touch becomes a keyboard/trackpad and remote control for the device as well. In fact, including a Touch WITH the system wouldn't be a bad idea in that scenerio...maybe an updated touch model that has extra tactile controls on it to use it as a joystick for games with the system as well and you can start to see by simply combining existing technologies Apple has already developed into one unit, they'd have a killer media centerpiece for the digital age.
Of course, they won't do it as it might cannibalize sales of said existing equipment above....
I don't see Apple ever incorporating a docking station on the top of any of their computers.
It just wouldn't look good, and that does not mix with any Apple product
It just wouldn't look good, and that does not mix with any Apple product
intel never stopped producing the gma - the series don't end with gma950.I thought Intel is still producing the GMA950 for the Atom in the NetBooks/NetBoxes...
ps: don't read too much into the average macrumors post. people often speculate without the slightest factual backup.
