Leaked Photo of Next Generation Mac Mini?

[Hawkeye411]

CSI Mac

There should be a new TV Series called CSI Mac

LOL .. I love this stuff

Cheers,

 

[Dmich116]

lol awesome!

 

[danielwsmithee]

It makes perfect sense. The mini DVI is there to support legacy hardware and Apple has plenty of adapters for this type of connection. The mini DisplayPort is for Apple's updated displays. Hopefully, we will be able to use two monitors with the updated Mac mini.

There is already adapters for the mini DisplayPort to get to any legacy hardware ... I could see them having two min DisplayPorts but not one of each.

 

[JohnnyLemonhead]

the picture is a fake, and an obvious one at that. fact.

 

[Wiska]

I can't believe arn would promote "an anonymous forum post" image to the front page of MacRumors.

Quality, credibility standards are slipping.

 

[takao]

Care to source your claim?

My Samsung HDTV (that's less than 1 year old) does not technically support a PC connection over HDMI either. In fact, the manual warns against it.

There are probably a few things that go into this:

1. If you have 720p HDTV, it's actual resolution is likely 1366x768. For whatever reason, most PCs and all Macs don't support this resolution natively. Additionally, if you try setting the resolution at 1280x720 you'll likely get overscan issues. The only way to truly get the correct resolution is to create a custom resolution with something like DisplayConfigX or SwitchResX. This is tedious and will take an ample amount of time as custom resolutions vary per TV.

I've read that this has something to do with 1366x768 not being divisible by 8.

If you want to avoid this issue, purchase a 1080p HDTV.

2. HDTVs are designed to scale and process images over the HDMI port. Many don't include options to turn image processing off. Therefore, if you decide to go against the manufacturer's suggestion (with something like a DVI to HDMI cable) your TV will continue to color balance, sharpen and scale the output from your computer.

For video content, this is absolutely fine. However, many manufacturers assume you're going to use your HDTV as an actual display with your PC or Mac, not just as media center screen (Front Row, Boxee, WMC, etc.)

If you use the DVI or VGA port, this usually doesn't happen. The TV will just display the input unprocessed. The computer will then have full control over all processing (on Windows, the ATI and NVIDIA control panels will allow you do color balancing, etc). This is why you see complaints from people who say their picture is "muddy" or "dark" when using the VGA port. Additionally, 1366x768 is generally not supported over VGA or DVI either (although most TVs get close, you'll likely lose a strand of vertical pixels along the edge of your screen).

There is something that can be done in software to fix issue one. For example, Windows Vista does not support 1366x768. However, if you launch Windows Media Center within Vista and select your HDTV as 720p, the screen resolution changes to be compatible (using DVI to HDMI) filling the full frame.

If you just select 1280x720 within the Windows display control panel, this does not happen (centered frame, no scaling up to 1366x768 occurs).

I don't know for sure (as I've never seen it discussed officially) but Media Center must be doing something to emulate a video signal. At that point, your HDTV knows it's OK to scale up 1366x768.

Manufacturers could easily fix issue two by allowing the ability to turn off all image processing (this is usually only available via complicated service menus). Then, consumers could decide how they want to their HDTVs to scale and process inputs.

that's why the 1366 resolution should have never happened in the first place .. that some panel manufactures went with that was idiocity at it's best

and on the muddy and dark VGA ports: that's part of the graphics card in nearly all cases as it was on the original mac mini (which i own): low analog output voltage on the pins ...
and if we are at cheap graphics on the mac mini: apple/atis decision to use a cheap low frequency pixel clock is still annoying to no end

funnily enough the vga connector on our panasonic plasma with 1080p does only support 1366 input yet connecting my mac mini wia dvi-> hdmi connector works fine (even though it means routing my sound extra to the receiver since no sound over dvi)

that's why i'm all for hdmi ports on macs: routing audio + video separately doesn't make sense and only creates clutter

i'm not going to buy a computer without HDMI .. for me and others that's a hard requirement

 

[Tallest Skil]

The dimensions were completely different. it was thinner and wider. It uses a 2 latch system. The Airport antenna is relocated to the hinge area. The trackpad is bigger. The case looks the same on the outside but If you've ever seen the 2 side by side the differences are apparent.

Edit: plus, your powerbook photo is flipped the wrong way.

I mentioned that when I first posted it, but I took it away because I wasn't sure if it had been flipped, having never had a PowerBook.

That's just one less point for your "It got redesigned" argument, though.

 

[localoid]

its a damn fake!!!

But a 22 pages worth of comments fake never-the-less... I'd give it 3 1/2 s.

 

[Outsider]

I mentioned that when I first posted it, but I took it away because I wasn't sure if it had been flipped, having never had a PowerBook.

That's just one less point for your "It got redesigned" argument, though.

I have 2 of them side by side. They look similar on the surface but are completely different. Especially on the bottom.

 

[gkarris]

But a 22 pages worth of comments fake never-the-less... I'd give it 3 1/2 s.

Mini threads automatically get hundreds of posts...

 

[arkmannj]

Why is there no HDMI port?

Because they want to sell you an adapter, which really isn't all that bad. I'm just VERY glad to see FireWire still on there
Now if we're really lucky it will have something other than integrated Intel graphics

 

[jackjason]

I think apple's witing for summer.
we will not see updates before July

 

[QCassidy352]

The actual photoshop users say it's real.

The rest say its fake because of illogical things like "number of USB ports" and "two display outputs" when these things are not illogical. What is illogical is the case design that hasn't changed.

So the informed opinion is that it is real, but that it isn't necessarily anything but a prototype.

there's no real way to get around this though:

the Mini DisplayPort and Mini DVI aren't lined up with where the motherboard is.

I've yet to see an "informed opinion" that adequately addresses that point.

 

[Sehnsucht]

Ahhh, yes.

This group of eager fanboys is like a cappuccino, and MacRumors is frothing the milk. It's going to get more and more worked up here.

Go away.

 

[iWaldo]

Firewire? DisplayPort? Who needs all that stuff? Here's a REAL photo of the new mini:

 

[tshort]

that's why the 1366 resolution should have never happened in the first place .. that some panel manufactures went with that was idiocity at it's best

1366 / 768 = 1.778

16 / 9 = 1.777

The 1366 number is to maintain the 16x9 ratio (with 768) used by HDTV. However, since digital television defines 480 (4x3), 720 and 1080 lines (16x9), the resolutions should be:

640 x 480 (4x3 SDTV)
1280 x 720 (16x9 HDTV)
1920 x 1080 (16x9 HDTV)

The big question is... why use 768 on a TV? It doesn't follow any of the standards. This is probably based on old school 1024x768 and 1280x768 monitors.

 

[JasonUKBristol]

I think I found the real picture!

drat! someone got there before me.

 

[mdhwoods]

Firewire? DisplayPort? Who needs all that stuff? Here's a REAL photo of the new mini:

Haha, pretty good for a quick edit.

 

[podiki]

the iMac kind of falls in that category as well, it's a better balanced product though.

Yup... still waiting for that midtower Apple priced between the mac mini and the mac pro... I guess it'll never come.

 

[kdarling]

Heh.

I kind of like the look of this version...

Steampunked Mini

 

[krye]

Come on! Did anyone one the internet actually fall for this? First off, who thinks Apple is going to use the same case design?

 

[BlizzardBomb]

Here's my question:

Allegedly it has a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo with 1066 MHz RAM. My last gen MacBook has a 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo, but with 667 MHz RAM.

Which is going to be faster? Processor is faster in the MacBook, but the memory speed is almost half that of the mini's. Just curious which would win out in a compute-off. Thanks.

Geekbench says:
2 GHz + DDR3 RAM (i.e. Current MacBook) = 2700 points
2.4 GHz + DDR2 RAM (last gen) = 3000 points

 

[dex22]

there's no real way to get around this though: I've yet to see an "informed opinion" that adequately addresses that point.

Here's your informed opinion:

The PCB in that case design is bottom mounted, and the connectors are mounted on the upper side of the PCB. They align along their bottom edges. Extending the connector moldings upwards to align the connectors cosmetically would weaken them by allowing leverage on the solder pads. Note the USB ports are on one alignment, the ethernet and firewire on a higher alignment and the two display outputs on a third and fourth alignment. Also, I note the mini DVI port has a different surround thickness and is not "cool gray 2" plastic. Apple uses custom molded parts using cool gray 2 plastic in the mini.

Conclusions that can be drawn:

If real, the board has three separate PCBs for connectors (it doesn't) or it uses mechanically unsound connectors (it doesn't). If it's a prototype, it still makes no sense. If it's a mock-up, it would not be plugged in, would it?

If fake, it was done by someone concerned with aesthetics, but not concerned with PCB design or connector support.

Mechanically, this photo is fake.

I am the "Dave" cited by 9to5mac.com, and I've been designing PCBs since the early 80s.

I note that many sites have linked to the 9to5mac story and presumed *I* did the image analysis. I did not - readers of this forum did. All credit to them, and I am sorry that some sites are attributing your good work to me. Credit where credit is due. I just brought my PCB design experience to the table.

 

[alexlovesmacs]

I'm sure the mini will be discontinued and Apple will offer a cheaper iMac for switchers.

 

[macJC50640]

Now that I think about it, I'd only buy that if I had a little extra money and I suspect the specs to be a little different.
It will most likely have a new body, relate to the way the MacBooks are, and will not be photoshopped...

Mac mini (current gen, well it will be previous gen when the new ones come out. - $499
- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
- 120GB HDD (upgradable to XXXGB)
- 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- Superdrive
- Silver Aluminum and white plastic casing
- No Mini-DVI port
- Four USB ports
- Firewire 400

^^^I'm a little skeptical about that happening but it's a possibility since something similar happened with the MacBooks.

Mac mini - $599
- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
- 160GB HDD (upgradable to 320GB)
- 2GB DDR3 Memory (upgradable to 4GB)
- 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- Superdrive
- New Aluminum Black casing
- Mini-DVI port
- Five USB ports
- Either firewire 400 or 800.

Mac mini - $799

- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
- 250GB HDD (upgradable to 320GB)
- 2GB DDR3 Memory (upgradable to 4GB)
- 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Due
- Superdrive
- New Aluminum Black casing
- Mini-DVI port
- Five USB ports
- Either firewire 400 or 800

I dream of this happening. Do you guys see something familiar?

Wonderful. Thanks a lot for making a much better prediction than me...