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Mac Mini End Of Life?

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PeckhamBog said:
Perhaps we'll see the old white mini maintained as the entry level and a new metal version with new chip set and higher price point introduced. But that strategy would be contrary to the idea of the mini as a low price entry point to Mac PCs. They do offer two configurations currently though.
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I don't think so, because the CPU in present Mini is EOL, so it could not go for ever with present Mini
 
yrsonicdeath said:
I personally wouldnt buy such a thing, and IMOI'm willing to bet most people don't want red, blue, orange, etc. computers.
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Those different coloured computers might have saved Apple but they almost killed it too.

I worked retail at the time and there were a few colours that were hot and we couldn't keep them in stock and a few we almost couldn't give away.

Some people really didn't care and would have bought what ever colour we had in stock but others were looking for that special colour and wouldn't take any other colour but that one.

Rumour had it that Apple had warehouses full of certain coloured machines that no one wanted. The only way that coloured computers makes sense is if you do 'BTO' (Build To Order) and ship them direct from the factory. Especially in this age where sitting on inventory you can't sell is a death sentence. I wonder what hole in what desert Apple buried those they couldn't sell?
 
As I've said before, I think the mini could have a second life if Apple released a car kit for it. Think about it. Many cars now have lcd screens, why not a car based computer/media centre? It does make sense...

It's not that huge of a stretch when you consider that many people have ipod integrated car stereo units and new satellite radio and the advent of satellite radio based weather and traffic reports on the horizon. How long until there is 2-way satellite in cars? A cell phone linked car mounted mini isn't a bad idea...

I use a mini with a Russound system in my house to distribute music. Why not a car too?
 
zombitronic said:
So now it's new iMacs? Well, if the Mini were to be upgraded, it would seem more fitting to be upgraded alongside another desktop than a laptop.
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Don't hold your breath. It's like no one even cares about a Mac Mini except us. Everytime I read about new Macs it's either iPods, iPhones, MacBooks, or iMacs. Even now reporters are trying to get the scoop on new iMacs. The Mini is all but dead. I pretty much gave Apple until Nov. 12th. If nothing new is even rumored, then it's a new PC for me. It's a shame, really. I really wanted a new Mac Mini, but no one cares enough about it.
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
Those different coloured computers might have saved Apple but they almost killed it too.

I worked retail at the time and there were a few colours that were hot and we couldn't keep them in stock and a few we almost couldn't give away.

Some people really didn't care and would have bought what ever colour we had in stock but others were looking for that special colour and wouldn't take any other colour but that one.

Rumour had it that Apple had warehouses full of certain coloured machines that no one wanted. The only way that coloured computers makes sense is if you do 'BTO' (Build To Order) and ship them direct from the factory. Especially in this age where sitting on inventory you can't sell is a death sentence. I wonder what hole in what desert Apple buried those they couldn't sell?
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Also if Im not mistaken Apple would force resellers to buy bundles of colors so they coudnt just order a certain color that was selling.
Like Not updating Mini for a year and half Apple on occasion does some really stupid stuff. I think they wanted to kill Mini a long time ago but sales prevented this. Instead of embracing a great product and making it better like the Pods on the computer side of things they play the cripple game, cant have Mini to good for iMac etc.

Throw a "real" gpu into Mini and its near perfect.
 
I don't think that they should kill off the Mini, I have one and it is a perfect introduction (re-introduction in my case) to Macs and when I have the cash I'm getting an iMac. Surely that's what Apple wanted to happen with it, and a new generation would really help them sell more models all across the market. It could also gain them a bigger market share if people are buying Mac Mini's instead of PC's. I think it's only a matter of time before a new one is announced.
 
Has anyone tried to do anything massively parallel with them?

Link like 1,500 together for a super computer? I've read where people have used Intel Atom based boards for that. It would seem that the Mini would be a near perfect compute node for an MP system... Interesting idea...
 
TiggsPanther said:
it will probably be my last Mac purchase, which will be a shame. But I shall be using the Linux machine I need to get as well to slowly figure out how to transition all of my needs to the Linux platform.
(And I'd rather figure that out at my leisure, hence needing one final Mac to keep me going for a few years)
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I have bought my last Apple computer! I built a Hackintosh, and I can configure it the way I want, not the way Apple shoves their designs in my face.
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
Has anyone tried to do anything massively parallel with them? Link like 1,500 together for a super computer? I've read where people have used Intel Atom based boards for that. It would seem that the Mini would be a near perfect compute node for an MP system... Interesting idea...
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You already can. It's not the hardware, it's the software. If your app is xgrid aware, you can connect Minis by ethernet (or firewire) for distributed computing. The problem is, there's not many apps out there that do it. One that can is VisualHub.
 
dollydolman said:
I don't think that they should kill off the Mini, I have one and it is a perfect introduction (re-introduction in my case) to Macs and when I have the cash I'm getting an iMac. Surely that's what Apple wanted to happen with it, and a new generation would really help them sell more models all across the market.
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The switch Mac of choice is now the MacBook, not the Mini. Ask any college student. That's right, the same ones who've never heard of firewire.

AC.
 
iDave said:
Sorry if it sounded certain...just a prediction. Early September I posted an estimate for a mini upgrade, based on when I expected MacBooks would be updated and a reasonable number of weeks after that before the mini would get a quiet, no-fanfare update.

I really don't see a major redesign coming for the mini but would love to be proven wrong.
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I think that these iMac rumours are not actually about the iMac , more to do wit the Mini ....well that's my hope , besides Apple could do with a lower financial cost machine on sale just before Christmas , what with the iPod event , now the Macbook event ....hmm , and finally for our last trick this year to tempt folk to part with their hard earned .... Apple presents a machine priced a little more (ahem) sensibly to make all those who are dithering on purchase ..jump right on in and pull the trigger :apple: bring it on Mr Jobs , we need it and we need it now :apple:
 
New Mini, No Firewire

If Apple ever updates the mac mini it would make sense that, like the new macbooks, it will have no firewire.
I am waiting for the new mac mini, but since I need firewire, I'll consider getting an old one somehow in case firewire is gone.:(
 
Bregalad said:
Steve should be embarrassed to have the current Mac mini on the Apple website.

The smartest move for Apple would be to take the MacBook, remove the display, keyboard and battery and call it the new Mac mini. They'd gain huge economies of scale by leveraging almost all the components of their best selling model and the mini would go from being a gutless joke to a serious consideration for a lot of people.

Connected to a notebook the iSight and speakers on the new 24" display look redundant, but hooked up a tiny desktop and they make perfect sense. I think we're going to see a new mini either in November or January.
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The new manufacturing process would make this easy to do. With CNC it's a matter of reprogramming for a different cut, and you only have to do this once.
Without a keyboard or battery there's room for other hardware too, but I wouldn't count on it. More likely is a smaller footprint.
 
iDave said:
Seriously. It seems like a simple idea. No screen, no hinge, no keyboard, no battery, no latch, and the power switch moved to outside. Just about everything else could be identical and it would make a nice new mini.
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+1

Couldn't agree more. I have been out today looking at Dell's Hybrid thingy and also at EeePC's. I have been tempted to get a second hand Mini off eBay or to keep checking the Apple store for a refurb. But I would like something that has a little more grunt. If they were to do this I would be on the Apple site and purchasing a New Mini straight away (I already have a 22" Samsung TV, Keyboard and mouse which I am using hooked up to my Dell Laptop)...

Dammit Apple!!!! I have been using your computers since the IIe, but this is getting crazy now! :eek:
 
Hmm, yea, its funny and very sad that Apple is not upgrading its MacMini yet still selling it. The new Nvidia and mini display port should have forced Apple to release a new Mini yet they don't.

So for me it goes to this 2 condition. Apple will just leave the product stagnant there for like years or a new MacMini in MW 09. I vote for the second one cause if Apple would really want to kill the mini, they could have done it months ago. ;)
 
George.D said:
I look forward to another Mac mini being announced -- it is way overdue...
I need to replace an old G3 iMac that my daughter uses and that's an affordable option, and I'm sure not going to spend money on what is at this point, an old Mac mini.
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Even better, buy an old G4 mini for half the price. Specs are pretty close so you're getting a better deal in the end.
 
marbles said:
I want one of those ....right , I think I've had it ...anyone point me in the direction of the necessary to do a hackintosh ? ...(really appreciate not having to spend 3 weeks finding out what bits will and won't work)
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Yeah, I would be interested. I put together a shuttle computer in 05 and it just died this year (there was a short in it somewhere). I am itching to build another one myself and to put OSX into it - SWEET! :D

I would be quite interested in this too... I used XP on the shuttle and prefer it to vista, but even on my 12" G4 OSX is still better than either of them.

Give me some details and I'll be looking. :rolleyes:
 
This thread reborn

marbles said:
...right , I think I've had it ...anyone point me in the direction of the necessary to do a hackintosh ?)
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Awesome. The shift has happened. Suddenly this thread is turning into a make-it-yourself hackintosh support group! But I'm still not jumping until November.
 
Bootsy said:
Awesome. The shift has happened. Suddenly this thread is turning into a make-it-yourself hackintosh support group! But I'm still not jumping until November.
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They would have to eventually stop making the Mini as they would be running out of parts - doesn't Intel no longer even manufacture the components?

I'd be happy if they just started using the same components as the Aluminum MacBook.. 2.0 GHz, 1066 bus, and nVidia Graphics.
 
jodelli said:
The new manufacturing process would make this easy to do. With CNC it's a matter of reprogramming for a different cut, and you only have to do this once.
Without a keyboard or battery there's room for other hardware too, but I wouldn't count on it. More likely is a smaller footprint.
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the new process is not necessary for the mini the sole purpose is to make portables stronger. how often do you move a desktop.
 
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