Yet in the real world the single core Atom runs OSX just fine.
Using a dual core, it should get be better for people with light to mid level computing tasks, especially when Snow Leopard comes out.
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Intel Atom-Based Mac Mini Due in March?
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Yet in the real world the single core Atom runs OSX just fine.
Using a dual core, it should get be better for people with light to mid level computing tasks, especially when Snow Leopard comes out.
1.6GHz is slower than the current Mini processor speeds and OS X mighn't be optimized for Atom processors currently.
So you're saying that the Cell Processor (in the PS3) or the PPC (similar to the G5) in the 360 is like a Pentium 1?!
So you're saying that the Cell Processor (in the PS3) or the PPC (similar to the G5) in the 360 is like a Pentium 1?!
Those AREN'T like the PowerPC 970. In a lot of ways they're incredibly primitive, as is Atom. None of those compare to a Pentium 3 or 4 (or PowerPC 970), let alone a Core 2, let alone a Core i7.
Jobs: "Hmm, how can we under power this more? Anyone?"
"Luckily," the Atom is an x86 processor, so OSX will run as is. Unfortunately, like usual clock speed isn't the whole answer. The Atom has very few of the instructions that modern processors have (SSE, etc). A 1.6Ghz core 2 or core would run circles around it.
This would be kind of neat if it was $300, in fact I think I'd buy one just to play with. However, $500+ is ridiculous regardless of the hard drive, memory, or anything else that it could have. Also, this means that the past rumors of Apple redesigning it with some server functionality is out the window.
"Luckily," the Atom is an x86 processor, so OSX will run as is. Unfortunately, like usual clock speed isn't the whole answer. The Atom has very few of the instructions that modern processors have (SSE, etc). A 1.6Ghz core 2 or core would run circles around it.
This would be kind of neat if it was $300, in fact I think I'd buy one just to play with. However, $500+ is ridiculous regardless of the hard drive, memory, or anything else that it could have. Also, this means that the past rumors of Apple redesigning it with some server functionality is out the window.
Hi to all the lurkers!
I like coming here as well, just to see a rabid bunch of angry nerds get indignant over a telephone line of miscommunicated and misinterpreted speculation and rumor. It's funny as hell. This was a great thread so far, if you like the comedy.
I like coming here as well, just to see a rabid bunch of angry nerds get indignant over a telephone line of miscommunicated and misinterpreted speculation and rumor. It's funny as hell. This was a great thread so far, if you like the comedy.
I agree. This information is probably correct in terms of the chips being used by Apple, but not for the Mini.
The Atom currently uses a 533MHz FSB, while the NVIDIA 9400M based laptops have a 1066MHz FSB-the mini would use the latter FSB speed.
That's not a MacMini that a AppleTV hacked to be a server.
Which isn't a bad idea for the AppleTV
The Ion board is made specifically for the Atom, and just happens to have the 9400m on it. The bus speeds are unrelated.
The Apple Gaping Lineup Hole: Bigger Than Ever.
There is no logic, on this plane of existence, why Apple would do such a stupid thing as use an Atom or use anything less than a core2 quad.
There is no logic, on this plane of existence, why Apple would do such a stupid thing as use an Atom or use anything less than a core2 quad.
I need a new mini ... but its got to be core 2 or higher!
My first gen 1.42Ghz G4 Mac Mini is not man enough to drive my new 1080p HDTV at full pelt ... and I can also notice some jitter in the 1080p output from my core duo 1st gen macbook ... so CPU power is extremely important for my requirements.
The current mini is a perfect machine for me and I know that if I bought one now then next week a new one would come out 8-( However, if I waited until March and some crippled mini (mac micro!) came out then I'd be jumping on the refurb store or ebay because the Atom just won't cut it.
I have an Acer Aspire One and it runs OSX fine (better on hard drive than SSD though) for web browsing, email and other mobile computing things but a home cinema system it does not make!
My first gen 1.42Ghz G4 Mac Mini is not man enough to drive my new 1080p HDTV at full pelt ... and I can also notice some jitter in the 1080p output from my core duo 1st gen macbook ... so CPU power is extremely important for my requirements.
The current mini is a perfect machine for me and I know that if I bought one now then next week a new one would come out 8-( However, if I waited until March and some crippled mini (mac micro!) came out then I'd be jumping on the refurb store or ebay because the Atom just won't cut it.
I have an Acer Aspire One and it runs OSX fine (better on hard drive than SSD though) for web browsing, email and other mobile computing things but a home cinema system it does not make!
Dumb.
$599 is far too much for an atom-based Mini.
I estimate the Intel CPU they get now costs around $150-175. A DC atom is about $53. The Ion platform costs nowhere near the difference.
If anything, Apple needs to offer it at $399. The eeebox from Asus that uses one is $299.
I like the idea - OSX runs really well on my single core Atom-based Dell Mini9 with 2GB of RAM and a Runcore SSD. It'll be fine for every-day stuff. The Ion handles the video and heavy lifting - and with Snow Leopard, anything intense like video processing and transcoding can be handed off to the GPU via OpenCL.
$599 is far too much for an atom-based Mini.
I estimate the Intel CPU they get now costs around $150-175. A DC atom is about $53. The Ion platform costs nowhere near the difference.
If anything, Apple needs to offer it at $399. The eeebox from Asus that uses one is $299.
I like the idea - OSX runs really well on my single core Atom-based Dell Mini9 with 2GB of RAM and a Runcore SSD. It'll be fine for every-day stuff. The Ion handles the video and heavy lifting - and with Snow Leopard, anything intense like video processing and transcoding can be handed off to the GPU via OpenCL.
nasty
i dislike the pentium-Dual Core it runs hot and uses to much power, i can't see apple using one of thoughs chips in anything they make. i would take a atom over it if they dropped the price to $400.
I want a mac mini that is performance based i'm looking into a new mac and don't want to spend $1600 on a laptop if i can get the same specs in a mac mini for $600. I know several other people who feel the same way in my digital art classes.
i dislike the pentium-Dual Core it runs hot and uses to much power, i can't see apple using one of thoughs chips in anything they make. i would take a atom over it if they dropped the price to $400.
I want a mac mini that is performance based i'm looking into a new mac and don't want to spend $1600 on a laptop if i can get the same specs in a mac mini for $600. I know several other people who feel the same way in my digital art classes.
