Leaked Photo of Next Generation Mac Mini?

[ChrisA]

Why are people saying the case is not re-designed? The photo shows the edges rounded off as if this were a very larg iPod nano (or mini). The current case uses a horizontal aluminium band. Looks like a new case to me.

I paid $380 for my G4 mini. It was a 1.25Ghz refurb. New Minis went for just over $400. Apple needs to get the price back to those levels and then this could take off. But at $600 I doubt they will.

 

[toonshorty]

So I guess reports of Firewire's demise were greatly exaggerated.

If the picture is real, there doesn't seem to be a physical redesign in size, shape or color. Which kind of makes you wonder what is taking them so long to release it.

I'm guessing the configuration will be based on the White MacBook. Namely 2GHz Core 2 Duo on a 1066MHz FSB, with the 9400M but using 2GB DDR2 667 memory instead of DDR3. Although the 2GHz P7350 has actually been replaced with the 2.13GHz P7450 so maybe Apple will be nice enough to use that instead, but I doubt it seeing they stuck with the 2GHz P7350 for the White MacBook.

Now that there just gave me an idea...

Apple gave the white macBook a 9400m and 2GB of memory as standard because they wouldn't sell right.

Why not use the parts from the white macBook which they can't sell for the new mac mini.

A 2GHz mac mini with a 9400m and 2GB of DDR2 should do me just fine. At least use the white macBook parts for the low end mini. Then use DDR3 for the higher end mini and throw in a 2.4GHz CPU or something.

Instant win for

 

[ddTaylor]

Because its not an Apple TV. If it was an Apple TV, it would be HDMI and Mini DVI.

If Apple wants to sell more they should put in an HDMI port for everyone I know hates the fact that an adapter is needed - and some have flat refused to buy one for that reason. The adapter does not function on my Hitachi Directors Series - so the Mini cannot be used on my TV. That is a shame as I would like one for use with Hulu, DVD's and other media based applications. The AppleTV SUCKS for that and without hacks cannot be used for the things that a Mini can. I wind-up using my PS3 with Linux for my media use and web-work.

D

 

[gglockner]

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

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

I noticed these two issues as well. Others have noted that the iMac doesn't have 5 USB ports. That's why I believe this is a fake.

 

[wetrix]

 

[Consultant]

If anything, it'll use similar mobo as the low end MacBook.

 

[Deelron]

2) The last thing that Apple would put on the Mac Mini is 5 USB ports

Nah, as pointed out it already has 4. The last thing they'd put on it is a real video card .

 

[dacreativeguy]

If I could run the Apple TV software on it without any hacks, I'd be interested.

Isn't front row good enough? I've always thought a mini would be a better choice than Apple TV because you get a DVD player as well. I'm assuming the Mini would have an IR port to accept the remote.

 

[Small White Car]

I noticed these two issues as well. Others have noted that the iMac doesn't have 5 USB ports. That's why I believe this is a fake.

You know that the iMac is due for an update, right?

Likely, the next Mini and the next iMac will come out at nearly the same time.

So however many USB ports are on THAT iMac is what we should be comparing this to. But we don't know what will be on that iMac.

It doesn't matter what's on the last iMac.

 

[ddTaylor]

I hope it doesn't have the Atom inside.

Why not? With the Ion platform it can handle 1080P video and run Photo Shop well according to reports. If the price is right it would be close in performance for MOST applications to the older CD 1.66 or 1.8GHz systems.

Just my thought - but most know what that is worth...

D

 

[kolax]

Nah, as pointed out it already has 4. The last thing they'd put on it is a real video card .

Already pretty much confirmed it'll have the 9400M..

 

[alexbates]

one little problem..

white plastic!

apple is off aluminum and white, onto aluminum and black.

The top might not be white plastic though. You are right that it does look almost exactly like the last generation Mac Mini because of the white back.

 

[milo]

So if it's going to include not one but two oddball video connections, is apple going to include an adapter at no extra charge, or make users pay more for it?

I can see not including an adapter with a laptop, but not doing it for a desktop machine, particularly one supposedly aimed at "switchers" seems like it would not go over well with buyers.

 

[macphisto]

It's a fake

- The reflection on the base of the power cord is not showing the Ethernet port correctly.

- Also the base of the power cord isn't straight out, it is 5 degrees or so off from perpendicular. It is not consistent with the lens barreling (distortion).

- The DisplayPort inner shadow is not same as the other ports. It is too dark. Plus the perspective inside the port is off as well for its placement in this photo.

 

[Eidorian]

I noticed these two issues as well. Others have noted that the iMac doesn't have 5 USB ports. That's why I believe this is a fake.

The current Mac mini already has 4 USB ports. It's entirely possible to slap another one since they're using the mini-display connectors now.

 

[chewietobbacca]

DDR3? What

 

[alexbates]

That's what we could call a real photoshopped picture.

 

[Small White Car]

Isn't front row good enough?

No.

You can't shop/rent on iTunes. You can't access YouTube or Flickr or MobileMe.

I'm sure if I sat down and thought about it I could come up with a whole bunch of other things.

 

[maclanes]

All the ports on the back of Macs have an icon to display the connection type of each port. If this was real, there would probably be 5 individual USB icons.

 

[kabunaru]

The leaked Mac Mini photo looks real enough. I say this is very plausible guys.

 

[alexbates]

DDR3? What

Its the memory. All the new Mac's are starting to have the DDR3 because its faster. I'm almost positive that it will be on the next generation Mac Mini.

 

[shawnce]

DisplayPort can technically carry sound, just Apple has appeared to have disabled it.

Correct, you can intermix audio on the main link channels along with video (multiple channels of audio).

Nothing really disabled... just not supported at this time by any of Apple's systems.

 

[milo]

I noticed these two issues as well. Others have noted that the iMac doesn't have 5 USB ports. That's why I believe this is a fake.

The mini has always had more USB ports than the iMac. And that makes sense, it ships with a smaller hard drive and no webcam. And since it ships with no keyboard, there will be users who use a USB keyboard without the two extra ports to plug in the mouse. When less stuff is included, more ports are needed.

 

[ghettochris]

Photoshop?

Anyone else think this is fake? compare to the image of the back on apple website, all the symbols are in exactly the same place except the usb one, but the first 4 ports are in exactly the same spot, with the extra one and display ports where the dvi connector was. could be from leaving what they could from the previous design intact or photoshop. Lighting in the display port vs ethernet port seem consistent and not sure where the source of the display ports and firewire would be from if fake.

 

[GoBruins!]

Why HDMI?

Here's my personal reasoning: I want the Mac Mini I buy to be my next "media center". I want to burn all my music on it, watch videos, etc. I know AppleTV is slated for that role, but I am not happy with the limitations of that product. I would like to hook my future Mini to my Sony HDTV, which of course has HDMI. Sure, I could go Displayport to DVI or PC (assuming there are dongles for those), but again I'd lose the sound.