iPod Nano, Mac Mini Announcements This Month?

[gkarris]

Maybe Apple will do away with the Mac Mini and mac is an Apple TV Pro. It will have all the things that that other guy said with HDMI and what not and a super drive for watching DVDs and stuff on it. Then you can switch it over to computer mode and use your keyboard to surf the web and type papers and what not. I think it is feasible.

I think we need the Mini, I love mine, and so does everyone else I know that has bought one.

We need something better than a computer-Tivo and not as expensive as an iMac or MacPro...

 

[Chupa Chupa]

As far as the HiFi goes, I would like to see them turn it into a pair of powered stereo monitors with wireless connection to the Apple TV.

Ugh. I'd like to see the Hi-Fi go bye-bye. The Hi-Fi isn't an impressive product and way overpriced, even by Apple standards. There are too many other GOOD speaker companies. Let them make the Wi-Fi speakers.

 

[notsofatjames]

Is the Mac Mini working as a switching machine for those with screens, keyboards and mice that came with their PCs, or are people simply going for the iMac? It is a great idea, but gone for example are the iSight cameras for Mac Mini users, and the longer it stays as a Core Duo product the more basic it looks and the less it is in line with all the animation built into Leopard.

Too powerful and it steals from the MacPro market, too weak and it loses out to the iMac, too much of a Media Hub and it becomes the Apple TV with DVD player (which makes the Apple TV less appealing). It just doesn't seem to fit in the product line up anymore. I don't know what sales are like but it might be time to knock this product on the head and leave it as a well-loved Mac of days gone by.

i used the mini when i switched from PC. it was a lowly g4 with 512MB or RAM, which i popped the top off to upgrade to 1GB. it was a fantastic machine for switchers. it only cost £250 or so, and i could use my old monitor keyboard and mouse. at the time i wasnt sure if i wanted to spend £900 on an iMac or iBook. and selling secondhand, i wouldnt lose much if i didnt like OS X. here i am, 2 years later, checking macrumors everyday, on my iMac, wondering why I ever owned a PC.

As for a media centre, it is much better than an AppleTV, because you can put DVDs and CDs in there. You can lose the DVD player, lose the stereo, and replace it with a mini, which isnt that much bigger than the AppleTV. I'd pay an extra £200 for that. and you get the added bonus, its a proper computer too, so you can do whatever you need to if you need to too. I'm just wondering if Apple will pair up with TV manufacturers to make TVs with AppleTV built in. But then its practically an iMac. If only iMacs had video in....

 

[mrthieme]

Ugh. I'd like to see the Hi-Fi go bye-bye. The Hi-Fi isn't an impressive product and way overpriced, even by Apple standards. There are too many other GOOD speaker companies. Let them make the Wi-Fi speakers.

I agree that it needs some help, I'd like to see them get it, from an experienced audio company. Also, is anyone making such a product?

 

[Rod Rod]

Updated iMac photos found on Apple's website:

http://tinyurl.com/34mu9k

That's too bad that Apple misspelled "Dalmatian."

A 2007 update to Flower Power and Dalmatian would be nice though.

 

[ChrisA]

I would like a Mac Mini with....an HDMI port.

Buy a DVI to HDMI cable. I got one from Amazon for under $20 and it plugs right into a 40" Sony LCD I do expect them to putr the C2D chip in the Mini soon. My guess is that Apple wants all their hardware to be 64-bit when Leopard ships. Lileky there is some feature inside Leopard or maybe iLife 07 that wants 64-bits. Leopard will be out in June

 

[iGuy]

mini still higher res than apple tv

The Apple TV only supports up to 720p/1080i.

It does not support 1080p.

Whereas the Mac Mini can support displays up to 1920 x 1200.

So the Mini is still a higher resolution and more versatile unit than the Apple TV.

A refreshed Mini with an HDMI port with HDCP would, to me at least, be a better option. Obviously at a higher price point.

Those who want the extra functionality of the Mini would expect to pay more and those who just want a set-top box would appreciate the lower cost of the Apple TV.

For me, until the Apple TV supports 1080p, I don't see the point. Clearly a lot of others do so it works for them.

FYI, I have a 30 inch Apple Cinema Display and my TV is a Sharp Aquos LCD-37D90U which supports 1080p.

~iGuy

 

[ChrisA]

Ugh. I'd like to see the Hi-Fi go bye-bye. The Hi-Fi isn't an impressive product and way overpriced, even by Apple standards. There are too many other GOOD speaker companies. Let them make the Wi-Fi speakers.

I agree that it's expensive for what you get but it just happens to be one of the best selling speakers for the iPod. it is doing very well.

There really are NOT many good speakers being made. Not any more. Most are cheaply made. Very few, if any sound as good as my 25 year old Infinity speakers

 

[ChrisCarr]

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/59345?&utm_source=digg_1

I think this sums up all the recent frenzy of product rumors!

 

[aswitcher]

Black options would be nice for new iMacs and minis.

 

[milo]

it obviously won't have new graphics card. It will continue with integrated video processor.

It won't have a card, but they can upgrade the integrated video chip. They really just need to go to C2D, 3 gigs ram max (same as laptops) and version N wifi card, especially since the aTV uses N. And probably standardize on DVD burner in all models, those are dirt cheap.

Way overdue for an update. It's a nice box, but the tech is way outdated.

 

[fistful]

I'm hoping the top end Nano gets bumped up to 16GB shortly. I've been waiting the last 2 years for a flash based iPod that could fit all of my music, my library is currently around 14GB atm.

 

[0tim0]

PMA Tomorrow

PMA starts tomorrow. Apple's web site says they will be there. I had been kinda expecting an Aperture update or announcement or something. Maybe they'll roll out some new hardware....

--t

 

[yagran]

whats PMA?

edit - http://www.pmai.org/

 

[MagicWok]

The Apple TV only supports up to 720p/1080i.

It does not support 1080p.

Whereas the Mac Mini can support displays up to 1920 x 1200.

So the Mini is still a higher resolution and more versatile unit than the Apple TV.

A refreshed Mini with an HDMI port with HDCP would, to me at least, be a better option. Obviously at a higher price point.

Those who want the extra functionality of the Mini would expect to pay more and those who just want a set-top box would appreciate the lower cost of the Apple TV.

For me, until the Apple TV supports 1080p, I don't see the point. Clearly a lot of others do so it works for them.

FYI, I have a 30 inch Apple Cinema Display and my TV is a Sharp Aquos LCD-37D90U which supports 1080p.

~iGuy

What he said

 

[dmelgar]

I vote for a Mini. I'd like to use it as a media PC. Waiting for C2D, 802.11n, Leopard.

Apple has come close but missed the target on several products recently...

Mini: Original Mini missing digital audio output to be used as a media center. Apple did a good job with the update, adding the remote, frontrow, digital audio in/out, built in 802.11, bluetooth. However, being stuck with one 2.5" drive as a media center PC is a hard sell. I wish they would have made the case a little bigger and allowed a user replaceable 3.5" drive. Hitachi has announced a 1TB 3.5" drive. Thats some serious storage.

iPhone: Should have 3G, otherwise whats the point of a internet connected device with snail slow connectivity.

iPod: They need an iPhone without the phone.

Apple TV: All this hype. There's no support for composite video output, so you much be targetting new HDTV consumers. Yet the device can't handle 1080p?!!!! I think thats a huge mistake, marketing wise if nothing else. People love numbers. HDTV folks learn 1080p=good. Spend $ on a Apple TV with only 720p? No way.

The Mini is a better choice than Apple TV because it can do everything an Apple TV can do PLUS it can handle 1080p, has a DVD player, can play DIVX, can be used as a PVR with a USB addition, could be used as a HDTV receiver/PVR with a USB addon, and can be used as a general purpose computer to watch youTube etc. And it can run Parallels and Windows. I wonder if anyone will buy an Apple TV.

What the deal with the hard drive pricing too. Brand new 160GB 2.5" hard drive are $100 at newegg, yet Apple charges $250 UPGRADE from a 60GB. Most laptops are now coming with 120GB drives because they're so cheap.

 

[bretm]

I've been waiting for Apple to add the Duo 2 to the Mac mini to replace my aged Blueberry iMac at home. With 19" and 22" flat panels so cheap, it seems like a better deal than the iMacs.

Carleton in Austin, TX

Cheap LCDs are just that. The iMac LCD is as good as LCDs get. So yeah, you could get a mini with a Core Duo and a crappy LCD for about the cost of a Core2Duo iMac and an awesome LCD. Oh, and it comes with a mouse and keyboard. iMacs are probably apple's best deal around.

 

[Macula]

Oh, did you hear? Merom MBPs coming next Tuesday.

 

[BenRoethig]

if you look at the redirect, it says imac_toyko whatever that means.

There used to be a Tokyo MacWorld. Like MWNY, it went the way of the dodo.

 

[BestBuyBoy]

There is always a Tuesday somewhere.

Actually that isnt quite true.. from the US, china begins thier tuesday as alaska finishes Monday.. at no point does any day take more than 24 hours to make it around the globe.. the overlap occurs because of time diffrences that account for delays , but never greater than 36 hours will anywhere in the world be tuesday... correct me if I am wrong..

 

[yagran]

when i got my mac mini i was switching from a pc. i had just bought a 19" samsung monitor which is great for me (plenty big enuff for a desk monitor). that is why i didnt get an iMac (mouse and keyboard irrelevant)

 

[Mr Skills]

I don't think there's any question that the HiFi will be changed or dropped soon.

Argos (huge UK chain) have been running a "buy an ipod HiFi and get a 30GB iPod for £99" offer for quite a while. And if you go to other chains (e.g. Currys Digital) they will happily match it. Since everyone will discount, it must be coming from further back in the chain - i.e. Apple. But they are insisting that the discounts are cleverly hidden so as not to drop perceived value.

If Apple are discounting iPod hifis this heavily, they must be due for replacement - and since press for it has been mixed at best, it would make sense. I don't think it has been a huge success.

I actually meant to submit this to the MacRumors about a month ago but I forgot

 

[Applespider]

The company that I work for is selling through the current Macbooks, iMacs and Minis with a free camera until the end of March. The wording on the memo was 'End of Line' and we have no more deliveries scheduled until after that date...

Still, I'm not buying my iMac until Leopard comes out.

 

[bonafide]

Release a new iMac.. and get a new customer.. simple enuff

 

[zap2]

Mac Minis, iPod (if we get a Nano update first I'll be mad, but the Nanos are still "newish", iPod Hi-Fi this week(they all need it)

Then iMac and Macbook Pro w/ new iPod Nanos


Then MacBooks and Mac Pro