Leaked Photo of Next Generation Mac Mini?

[11800506]

I think in regards to the video, I doubt someone would go to the effort to create a mock-up, but I think the argument that the ports don't line up to the motherboard is pretty valid, which would lead to the argument that this is just a prototype. The video pretty much proves that it is a physical object, but in light of the other circumstances I doubt this is a final product.

 

[57004]

Well that video looks real enough!! I really hope it's coming out soon and if it has a Core 2 Duo (not Atom as rumoured) and nVidia 9400m I will buy one straight away!

My 1.66 Mini is sooooooo overdue for an update, especially the GPU side (which is why I won't consider the current mini). It's painfully slow, especially now that World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King is out (2-5 fps in the new capital city on low settings ).

I even tried the Hackintosh way but I never got it working right. I love the Mac because it 'just works', if I want to tinker with drivers and config files I'll just use one of my Linux boxes

Here's to a new mini!

 

[poundsmack]

Well that video looks real enough!!

I don't think anyone is question if it is a real video or not

but I to remain skeptical of it being "The" next mini. If Apple is providing (free or sale) video adaperts for the mini displayport to other formats, why have 2 video outs? unless its for dual displays, but even then it wouldnt make sense.

also why do people think it will use DDR3? DDR3 is expensive still (though its constantly getting cheaper) and due to the economic meltdown there is a ton of DDR2 lying around that still needs to be sold.

 

[KissStephanie]

Firewire(800) on a Mac-mini but not on a MacBook? That doesn't make sense.

Of course it makes sense. For a long time certain features of a desktop were not available on a portable. I definitely think that FireWire 800 will be included in the MacMini, particularly as Apple need to do something to boost desktop sales.

It seems odd that it would have both DVI and mini-Display Port.

Why is that odd? Support for dual displays doesn't seem odd to me.

Also, 5 USB ports? The iMac only has 3.

The curremt iMac has four USB ports, and how do you know how many USB ports the next iMac will have? You surely can't compare the next MacMini that is yet to be released with the current iMac that is 10 months old now. They both could have five each by the time they are released.

that's the exact reason I think it's a fake

But as I said, the current iMac is 10 months old, and the next iMac could have five USB ports as well. You're not think laterally enough to assume that it is fake for that reason.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

That's a pretty good PhotoChopped VIDEO.

Is this the start of McRumorsVideos?

 

[pobox3721]

Fake, Fake, Fake ... and here is why

This is VERY simple. This is a FAKE, and here is why ...

The ONLY difference between THIS Mac Mini and the CURRENT Mac Mini, is it's ports. So take a look at them closely ... the poster (or poser) of this photo overlooked a major detail ... the port's ICONS.

Apple has started to place icons over each and every port, on every computer. If a computer has three USB ports, there is a USB icon over each port. This computer has five USB ports, and only one icon over the center port. Even on the new MacBooks, as small as they are, there are two USB ports, but each one has its own USB icon.

Additionally, the icon for the display is centered between the two display ports. Ironically, the position of the display icon hasn't moved at all from the original Mac Mini. It's in the same exact spot, and again, there is only one icon for the two (different) ports.

 

[pobox3721]

I suspect the next Mac Mini to be all Aluminum, and possibly glass, with slimmed down, curved design features that mimick more closely the new MacBooks.

Besides, why would Apple be taking a step back in replicating the same design they have made for nearly four years now? Do you really think the next revision is only going to add extra USB ports, and a mini display jack?

They are looking FORWARD in their designs. Next thing you know, people will start posting photos of the next new Mac Mini with blue/gray plastic and ZIP drives.

Believing this is the next Mac Mini is as absurd as getting a Zune tattoo.

 

[tuc]

the poster (or poser) of this photo overlooked a major detail ... the port's ICONS.

Apple has started to place icons over each and every port, on every computer. If a computer has three USB ports, there is a USB icon over each port. This computer has five USB ports, and only one icon over the center port.

Um, have you even taken a look at the current mac mini?

As you can plainly see, it has but one USB icon centered over its four USB ports.

Additionally, the icon for the display is centered between the two display ports. Ironically, the position of the display icon hasn't moved at all from the original Mac Mini. It's in the same exact spot

No it's not. In the current mini the display logo is centered below one of the ventilation holes. On monthy's image it has moved slightly to the left, so the left part of the display logo is below a divider between ventilation slots. (I pointed this out yesterday in another thread, btw.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For what it's worth, here are my thoughts on topics people have brought up:

A) 5 USB ports: I know people for whom the current 4 ports aren't enough. One has a keyboard, mouse, webcam, printer, and USB camera. The keyboard doesn't have USB ports, so he unplugs the printer when he needs to import images from the camera.

B) new enclosure: I like the current enclosure. Yes, it has been in production for many years, but that's fine with me. I see no reason to change the white plastic to black and/or glass, though that would also be fine with me.

C) firewire800: This is a surprise. It should make the macminicolo.net types happy. (Scroll down a bit for the awesome picture.) And for the person who asked, they do make firewire800-to-firewire400 adapters.

D) miniDVI + miniDisplayPort: This doesn't strike me as something Apple would not do, as some are claiming, but it's hard to see an advantage over two miniDP ports. Perhaps the graphics chip (GeForce 9400M, right?) isn't capable of generating two simultaneous DisplayPort signals??

E) HDMI: I have no use for HDMI so it's absense doesn't bother me, but I can understand why some feel otherwise. I don't understand the loud complaints, though, because both miniDVI-to-HDMI and miniDP-to-HDMI adapters exist. And if you really need audio through HMDI for some reason, there are even some (pricey) ways to do that.

 

[realityking]

E) HDMI: I have no use for HDMI so it's absense doesn't bother me, but I can understand why some feel otherwise. I don't understand the loud complaints, though, because both miniDVI-to-HDMI and miniDP-to-HDMI adapters exist. And if you really need audio through HMDI for some reason, there are even some (pricey) ways to do that.

Maybe it isn't even so pricey, it all depends on how it's wired up but at least the full size display port is perfectly capable of carrying audio.

 

[MrZebra]

I believe the phrase is, "they do it for the lulz"

They have a lot of spare time, don't they?

 

[Tallest Skil]

The curremt iMac has four USB ports, and how do you know how many USB ports the next iMac will have?

Three.

 

[iSnow]

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?

Uhm with all due respects, I don't think that's conclusive. Look at the shot I took from some old PC. Connectors all over the place - internally it does not use riser cards, but elevated connectors with metal supports relieving the soldered contacts from mechanical strain. Obviously this is mechanically sound enough, since about any ATX PC looks similar.

My take on the "new Mac mini":
Sadly it is a fake, for three reasons:
- AFAIK we have yet to see a prototype of any future Apple product finding its way out of Infinite Loop. The Powermac prototype PCB, the Pippin and the MBA prototype were all discovered long after the products had shipped.

- To include both mini-DVI and mini-DP makes absolutely no sense. DP->DVI adapters are available - and to connect the computer to any DVI-Monitor, you'll need an adapter anyway, so why bother with DVI? (besides it's not very Apple-like).
The only explanation (and sadly, I could not find any in-depth specs for the 9400 M) would be if the GPU was able to drive two displays, but only one 30" and the other limited to single-channel DVI. THEN, the distinction would make perfect sense as mini-DP would be the designated primary connector and DVI the one for smaller displays.

- Apple Legal has not summoned their killer-droids serving cease-and-desist orders left & right.

I am no disturbed by the oldish look, because the Mini survived the PPC->intel transition without a facelift, let alone a redesign. Same goes for the PowerMac/Mac pro. The Mini was always loved by buyers and neglected by Apple, so it could easily keep its looks for years.

Unibody is unlikely. This is an extremely expensive process geared at providing strong, durable, yet light enclosures at a very negative enviromental footprint. Doesn't make sense for a desktop machine.

Alu/black design is not so likely either - black is used mainly around the display which the Mini lacks and at back panels and parts. It would look strangely depressive as the top plate of the little guy.

However, the self-proclaimed Photoshop gurus pointing to disturbed macroblocks and micropixels and artefacts here but missing there now have some egg all over their faces - obviously, the blurry image was not a p'shop after all.

All said and done, the image and vid aroused my curiosity, but I am 90% convinced this is nothing like the new Mini.

 

[PracticalMac]

I don't see a need for 5 USB ports. One for keyboard, one for mouse, one for backup drive or external. Still two left. One for flash drive and still one left. Maybe one for a camera?

Um.

Multifunction Printer?
iPod??
WebCam???
GPS????
USB Gizmo?????

 

[PracticalMac]

Firewire(800) on a Mac-mini but not on a MacBook? That doesn't make sense.

Apple shot themselves in the foot with MB, and they have publicly stated they will be adding more FW equipped products in the future.

That image is likely a prototype case, empty inside. 5 USB ports may be excessive but not over kill.

The 2 different DVI ports is overkill. Replace both (and maybe take out 1 USB) with a standard DVI with all the pins for Dual Link, and 2 monitor support can be done with a Y connector.

For all you FireWire detractors:
Even if this Mini is not the final version, the fact it has FW800 tells you FW will be in the"consumer" level products.

 

[JAT]

Um.

Multifunction Printer?
iPod??
WebCam???
GPS????
USB Gizmo?????

No doubt.

Permanent:
keyboard
mouse
gamepad
flash card reader
printer
iPod dock (also a hub, most useful)
UPS (soon)
remote control hookup

Occasional:
phone
3 "other" mp3 players
USB stick drives

Luckily they make hubs. Even with my 2 hubs, if I actually had a reason to plug everything in at once, I'd be out of space currently. Buying the kids mp3 players sealed that.

I'm not even counting HDDs or the video camera, which many people might. All those are Firewire.

Oh, wait. That printer isn't hooked up right now since it is dying. So subtract one, maybe the UPS can go there, the cord is still plugged in. Future printers will be ethernet. Yaayy!

 

[marbles]

Apple shot themselves in the foot with MB, and they have publicly stated they will be adding more FW equipped products in the future.

That image is likely a prototype case, empty inside. 5 USB ports may be excessive but not over kill.

The 2 different DVI ports is overkill. Replace both (and maybe take out 1 USB) with a standard DVI with all the pins for Dual Link, and 2 monitor support can be done with a Y connector.

For all you FireWire detractors:
Even if this Mini is not the final version, the fact it has FW800 tells you FW will be in the"consumer" level products.

I really hope they do for those of us who actually use are computers for more than facebook etc.

Do you have a link?

thanks

~M

 

[iMacmatician]

Apple ... have publicly stated they will be adding more FW equipped products in the future.

Link?

 

[maestro55]

From what I can see, I like the amount of ports they have on this tiny little Mac. I think that I may end up getting my work to buy one when they come out, it all depends. Right now I use the MacBook Pro at work but I would like to have a stationary machine on my desk at all times and the Mac Mini would suit my needs for that without a problem.

 

[marbles]

Link?

still no link from the guy guess Apple never publicly said it then.

 

[obeygiant]

haha

 

[marbles]

^ now that made me laugh out loud.

cheers

~M

 

[OneMike]

^^^^

lol finally can ditch the belkin hub

 

[roski11]

It's probably a decoy.

 

[Aea]

haha

Now all you need is 60 Cheap USB Drives and a processor beefy enough to do a 60 Disk RAID 10.

 

[iMpathetic]

I hope it's cheaper, like $499, because if so, I'm gonna be on that sucker like flies on a garbage can.