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Mac mini add-ons: image mockups
- Thread starter dejo
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Yvan256 said:
A) so that I have two headphone ports. One for my desktop speakers, and another for my wireless headphones
B) So that I have a line out/headphones port on the front instead of the back.
There's already USB ports on the back, why would anyone want ports on the front? Same reasons.
Yvan256 said:Forget any video upgrade, not gonna happen (I got a college degree in computer electronics, so I know what I'm talking about here).
Unless some weird company starts making FireWire videocards....
these guys seem weird
http://www.villagetronic.com/
I think a combined CD drive/FW/USB hub would work just fine, and fit in with the tiny philosophy, if it were engineered well enough.
There might also be a market for that RAID controller, since the Mini would make a cracking webserver - only downside is the FW400 bus it would probably use. It may also be useful as a combined router/switch, so it could be powered separately and offer the advantages of NAS... but again, you'd probably want base1000T for that, base100 is just too slow.
There might also be a market for that RAID controller, since the Mini would make a cracking webserver - only downside is the FW400 bus it would probably use. It may also be useful as a combined router/switch, so it could be powered separately and offer the advantages of NAS... but again, you'd probably want base1000T for that, base100 is just too slow.
johnbro23 said:
From the Mac mini Tech Specs page:
Audio
Built-in speaker
Headphone/Audio Line-out jack
roadapple, sorry, but ew. It reminds me of those "Made for Windows..." stickers on the front of PC's.
-Chase
-Chase
Yvan256 said:Forget any video upgrade, not gonna happen (I got a college degree in computer electronics, so I know what I'm talking about here).
Unless some weird company starts making FireWire videocards....
Or USB2 video cards, like this? Tritton SEE-2 USB2 video adaptor
http://www.trittonsales.com/products/TRIUV100.htm
There are no (repeat, no) drivers for Mac for this unit. But USB video is a reality, within SVGA resolutions.
Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com
Wouldn't it have been cool if the Mini had a cardbus port on the back??? If it uses the Intrepid chip just like the iBook and PowerBook (I suspect it does), the interface is already there. Nevermind, just dreaming here...
Anyway... If third parties come up with stackable modules, I hope they won't have much trouble with making them exactly the same color and shade of metal. That's really important, it has to look good.
I don't really mind about a USB/FW hub, but a FW hard disk case would be great. Will a 3.5" drive fit in such a small box?
Anyway... If third parties come up with stackable modules, I hope they won't have much trouble with making them exactly the same color and shade of metal. That's really important, it has to look good.
I don't really mind about a USB/FW hub, but a FW hard disk case would be great. Will a 3.5" drive fit in such a small box?
CanadaRAM said:
Yeah, but judging from their description, I'm pretty sure that's no full-screen, full refresh device. Don't plan on playing any 3D games with such a thing. This external device seems to act kinda like a remote terminal display, but connected to a USB 2.0 port...
The Mac Mini has built in speakers...... i messed with them at Macworld.johnbro23 said:
edit: whoops didnt see the second page here
How about this as a plan - an office system based off of Mac Minis:
You come into work, bringing with you your highly portable Mini, and dock it in a large box at the end of the line of cubicles (urg), that resembles a removable raid drive system. Inside the box, cables lead to your desk, and the computer acts as a punch card - so when it docks, you punch in, and when you take it out, it punches out. Now - here are the advantages: It leaves you with just a monitor and mouse at your desk, and you only have one computer, no more hassles with leaving files on the work computer. Now, some may say that a laptop is easier, but why force yourself to use a smaller screen and pay more for the computer - use a mac mini docking station!
Hmmm...reading back on this idea it seems a little, well, dumb, but hey, what the hell.
You come into work, bringing with you your highly portable Mini, and dock it in a large box at the end of the line of cubicles (urg), that resembles a removable raid drive system. Inside the box, cables lead to your desk, and the computer acts as a punch card - so when it docks, you punch in, and when you take it out, it punches out. Now - here are the advantages: It leaves you with just a monitor and mouse at your desk, and you only have one computer, no more hassles with leaving files on the work computer. Now, some may say that a laptop is easier, but why force yourself to use a smaller screen and pay more for the computer - use a mac mini docking station!
Hmmm...reading back on this idea it seems a little, well, dumb, but hey, what the hell.
OutThere761 said:I shudder at the thought of what the speakers must sound like...
I can only see one speaker on that opened-up Mac mini picture. I shudder at the thought of what that speaker must sound like!
Then again, it's better than the integrated BEEP-BEEP of PCs... (ok, that was a cheap one, even low-cost PC motherboards now come with built-in audio)
LOL. Thanks.
dejo. You missed the iPod docking chunk. I was thinking it could sit under the main unit and be at a 60* angle to the base. So instead of sliding it in so it might push the unit back you slide it in at an angle so you are pushing down and back.
The below item could also be the UPS for the mini. Maybe have 4 little lights that show the remaining charge on the battery. Like they have on the ibook and PowerBook batteries. Remember folks Jonathan is spelled with a Jon not John. I expect those royalty checks to be spelled right.
Seriously though another thought is a communication expansion package that sits ontop of the mini. So for those who want to go BlueTooth post mini purchase you can simply plug in the .3" high unit and, BAM! you got 802.11G, BlueTooth. Also each one of these devices is going to need an additional USB or Firewire slot to daisy chain with. It really is too bad that Apple didn't add a FireWire 800 port as well.
dejo. You missed the iPod docking chunk.
I was thinking it could sit under the main unit and be at a 60* angle to the base. So instead of sliding it in so it might push the unit back you slide it in at an angle so you are pushing down and back.The below item could also be the UPS for the mini. Maybe have 4 little lights that show the remaining charge on the battery. Like they have on the ibook and PowerBook batteries. Remember folks Jonathan is spelled with a Jon not John. I expect those royalty checks to be spelled right.
dejo said:
Seriously though another thought is a communication expansion package that sits ontop of the mini. So for those who want to go BlueTooth post mini purchase you can simply plug in the .3" high unit and, BAM! you got 802.11G, BlueTooth. Also each one of these devices is going to need an additional USB or Firewire slot to daisy chain with. It really is too bad that Apple didn't add a FireWire 800 port as well.
yippy said:I blieve the mac mini has a built in speaker. Look right below the CD drive in this picture from the apple website.
edit: Beaten to the internal speaker thing.
The idea of a speaker block came to mind as well but I blew if off because people want stereo sound at the minimum. Which means having another block on the other side. If this block on the other side isnt symmetrical it would look weird so it would have to be as big as the mini with the block under it. Ick.
OK. So Im going on a bender on this. How about this? An entertainment hub?
Its about 2.1 inches high, 2 feet wide, and 6.8 deep. Heres how it works. The devices has an external (but internal) 100GB hard drive in it along with an Eye TV type device, and a forward facing IR port. The left side of the unit slides off revealing 3 cables.
1 to the IR port, one to the hard drive, and one to the TVIO like unit. The mini slides in smoothly so that the front is flush with the from of the device. Why? Because there is a slot to slide in your DVD disks into the mini. Once youve connected the various plugs, installed the mini, and placed the cover back on the side of the unit, and plugged it into your DVI port on your TV (Or used the provided adapter.) you hit the power button on the front corner, right side of the unit. The Apple logo on the front of the device glows white and softly blinks as it boots up. Once you are in OS X you pop in the provided CD. This installed a media center type interface that guides you through how to use your remote control and the media center. It also guides you through setting up your wireless connection because since this IS a tivo like system it needs listings which it downloads off the net either via your WIFI network (The unit also comes with 802.11B/G) or the modem on the mini.
Gah. Its 6AM. I gotta get to bed. Damn you Apple and your cool little computer!!
Its about 2.1 inches high, 2 feet wide, and 6.8 deep. Heres how it works. The devices has an external (but internal) 100GB hard drive in it along with an Eye TV type device, and a forward facing IR port. The left side of the unit slides off revealing 3 cables.
1 to the IR port, one to the hard drive, and one to the TVIO like unit. The mini slides in smoothly so that the front is flush with the from of the device. Why? Because there is a slot to slide in your DVD disks into the mini. Once youve connected the various plugs, installed the mini, and placed the cover back on the side of the unit, and plugged it into your DVI port on your TV (Or used the provided adapter.) you hit the power button on the front corner, right side of the unit. The Apple logo on the front of the device glows white and softly blinks as it boots up. Once you are in OS X you pop in the provided CD. This installed a media center type interface that guides you through how to use your remote control and the media center. It also guides you through setting up your wireless connection because since this IS a tivo like system it needs listings which it downloads off the net either via your WIFI network (The unit also comes with 802.11B/G) or the modem on the mini.
Gah. Its 6AM. I gotta get to bed. Damn you Apple and your cool little computer!!