Leaked Photo of Next Generation Mac Mini?

[robeddie]

So did they achieve that goal. did they create a well spec'd 'beginner/light user' mac that is also cost effective for the parts that are included. etc.

if they don't achieve that, then yes it is an epic fail. anything else is just folks like you trying to make a cat bark

Very well said.

I just bought the new Mini. for $800 I got a silent, small system that is light years faster than the machine it just replaced, a powermac g4 1.42ghz. And get this, even with it's 'slow' 9400 video card, it's still a FAR better gaming machine than that g4 with it's radeon 9800.

To be able to buy a machine that's several times faster in every regard and less than half the price of the 'pro' machine I bought 6 years ago is quite alright with me. (not to even mention that it's about 1/20th the size!)

 

[gkarris]

but the goal if the mac mini is NOT to be a HTPC. As you pointed out, they have the apple tv. so they are not going to upgrade the mac mini to be worthy as an HTPC, which is what YOU (and pretty much everyone else on this thread) wants them to do. so when they don't, you call the mac mini a disappointed, a failure etc.

You wouldn't judge the Watchmen movie as a romantic comedy or a thriller because that's not what it is. It's an adaption of a comic book and a dark film noir style comic set in an alt universe for the time it was written (the 1980s).
So stop trying to judge the Mac Mini or any of any company's systems by what you want and look at what they are trying to do with it.

The Mac Mini is and has always been the machine for those that don't need a lot of kick or upgradability. The people, typically PC switchers, that have all the other bits and just need the computer part without having to spend the money to buy all the rest.

So did they achieve that goal. did they create a well spec'd 'beginner/light user' mac that is also cost effective for the parts that are included. etc.

if they don't achieve that, then yes it is an epic fail. anything else is just folks like you trying to make a cat bark

Or for people that don't want to spend $2,500 on a Mac Desktop (not All-In-One)...

 

[Eidorian]

The Mac mini is the only Mac I'd suggest to someone right now. Get a nice 1 TB external and dual identical displays. Now that's a computer.

 

[DoFoT9]

The Mac mini is the only Mac I'd suggest to someone right now. Get a nice 1 TB external and dual identical displays. Now that's a computer.

it really is! it has so many uses because its so small and can be tucked away somewhere. it would most certainly be an upgrade from my current laptop.. if only i could *dreams*

 

[urbanskywalker]

Yesterdays super computer is todays mini. It's all a matter of perspective. The low end always gets denigrated but it's plenty powerful for many applications.

 

[djellison]

To be able to buy a machine that's several times faster in every regard and less than half the price of the 'pro' machine I bought 6 years ago is quite alright with me. (not to even mention that it's about 1/20th the size!)

For a third less money - you could have bought something silent, 50% faster, 100% more storage, 200% more ram, and a Blu ray drive. But Steve Jobs doesn't want OSX running faster, with more features, on cheaper hardware - so he wont let you.

From any perspective, the Mac Mini is a rip off.

 

[Tallest Skil]

For a third less money - you could have bought something silent, 50% faster, 100% more storage, 200% more ram, and a Blue ray drive

That doesn't run OS X and will lose half of its resale value in four months.

 

[KnightWRX]

For a third less money - you could have bought something silent, 50% faster, 100% more storage, 200% more ram, and a Blu ray drive. But Steve Jobs doesn't want OSX running faster, with more features, on cheaper hardware - so he wont let you.

From any perspective, the Mac Mini is a rip off.

And 300% the size. The Mac mini is well priced in it's segment. Price a Dell Studio Hybrid and try to have what you listed at 1/3 the price.

 

[titancomputing]

Oh Look it's got 3 Mini Display ports now!!!!!!!!!111!!one!!!eleven11twelve

Nice, wanna toss on a new color and some dual video outputs?

 

[lftrghtparadigm]

For a third less money - you could have bought something silent, 50% faster, 100% more storage, 200% more ram, and a Blu ray drive. But Steve Jobs doesn't want OSX running faster, with more features, on cheaper hardware - so he wont let you.

From any perspective, the Mac Mini is a rip off.

Yea, any perspective except every single customer of the product.

But yea, you've got a clue.

 

[DrinkGuinness]

Why? Why? Why?

Why do so many PC-builders continue to troll these forums?

 

[jnc]

This is this. It ain't something else. This is this.

What he said.

 

[iMpathetic]

Why do so many PC-builders continue to troll these forums?

Oh, for Christ's sake.

I am a PC builder.

The opinion of one who is experienced with PC's and their cost/value ratios is not automatically deemed invalid.

You really call differing opinions trolling? Hah.

Find a better argument next time.

 

[Sehnsucht]

Why do so many PC-builders continue to troll these forums?

I really don't know. I swear I've almost s**t myself several times after reading several exchanges that go a little something like this:

User #1: I want a Mac Pro for the power and upgradeability but can't afford to spend $7,000 right now.
PC troll #1: OMFG you can buy a Dell for $799 that's like 4,000,000 times faster and yeah it's fugly but who cares it's cheaper!!!

DOES THE DELL RUN MAC OS X?! NOOOOOOOO!!! IT DOES NOT!!!!! IT RUNS WINDOWS!!!! A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE REASON FOR GETTING A MAC IS FOR OS X!!! IT'S NOT WINDOWS!!!! IF THE OTHER POSTER HAD WANTED WINDOWS/DELL, HE WOULDN'T HAVE SAID "I WANT A MAC" TO BEGIN WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, SERIOUSLY, what the hell...some people.

OK I'm done. Just had to get that one out.

That doesn't run OS X and will lose half of its resale value in four months.

Tallest Skil, everyone!

 

[iMpathetic]

www.insanelymac.com

Be enlightened.

 

[Genl. Ludd]

I LIKE THE MINI as a compact machine that fits anywhere

I have had a Mini since January 2008. The new one looks even better. Our Mac User Group recommends it to those who are considering switching from Windows systems. It is especially appropriate to those who have keyboards and monitors already. The Monitors which are usually VGA will require an adapter. My Mini had a Mini Video (can never remember precise terminology on these things) to VGA adapter.

The only problem i have had is the Super Drive got dirty (lots of dust can get sucked into those vents) and wouldn't read/write CDs; DVDs were OK. The "experts" including the Apple Genius Bar said i had a defective drive and should replace it. I found that a $10.00 cleaning disk from Staples fixed the problem. That is probably the weak spot in the Mini.

Many prefer them to the Mac TV which is the same size for use with a large-screen TV as an entertainment center for Internet offereings.
New edit on 12/29/10 21:25MST.
Apple Care warranty is useful:In Prescott, AZ we have a local AppleCare warranty service, Argosy West. They have mostly abandoned selling Apple Products because outlets like Best Buy can carry a more complete line, BUT the local BB store is NOT an Apple Certified Repair center.

Anyway, realizing my three years were up on Dec. 25, I took my mini in on Dec 17. Immediately the owner Tony Baltera ordered a new drive and on the following Monday (Dec. 20) I got my Mini back with a new super drive which works fine.

Thought you all might like to know.

 

[DrinkGuinness]

You assume too much.

Oh, for Christ's sake.

I am a PC builder.

The opinion of one who is experienced with PC's and their cost/value ratios is not automatically deemed invalid.

You really call differing opinions trolling? Hah.

Find a better argument next time.

I've worked in I.T. for 2 decades and built my own PCs and happen to like Macs, too (i.e. the right tool for the right job).

However, I am not going to go to ExtremeTech.com and talk up Macs in the forums while crapping all over those who are passionate about building their own PCs. Those that do are D-bags, pathetic, and the best example of a troll.

I apologize if my earlier critique was too general, but scour these forums and you will see plenty of examples of to what I refer: people with waaaaaay too much time on their hands.

 

[charlituna]

I've worked in I.T. for 2 decades and built my own PCs and happen to like Macs, too (i.e. the right tool for the right job).

agreed. in the end isn't it more important that you can do what you need to do. if MLS in LA doesn't want to support Macs then you have to use a Windows machine (or set up boot camp which I just helped a friend do). if you are a grad student in film, chances are you are going to have to use Mac cause the school is going to want you to use Final Cut because it's the way the studios are working these days.

but if you are just doing email, web surfing etc who really cares. use what you are comfortable with. some folks that's PC, some it is Mac. so that is how 'the right tool' is defined. and if someone is willing to pay the cost then it isn't 'over priced' for that person. maybe it is for the next guy, which is fine. he can go do something else. my only beef is the folks that try to justify hacking software as legal and legit because the price is too high. sure you are going to do it, but don't brag about it like you had no choice and it is not breaking the law and violating someone's rights as much as ripping a movie and putting it up on a torrent site so hundreds of folks can not pay for it.

However, I am not going to go to ExtremeTech.com and talk up Macs in the forums while crapping all over those who are passionate about building their own PCs.

yep. around here we have way too many folks that basically do that same thing. and then launch into nasty lectures about how stupid we are for using our over priced, shoddy macs (when in fact the parts are 90% the same as those PCs), blah blah. and duck if you have a legit point against a PC/Windows. they won't take what they dish.

however, we should take the high road and just ignore those folks. assume someone is NOT a troll for the first replies but if the trolling games start just ignore them. don't play into it. don't even talk back to them. most troll get bored with being ignored and go away.