Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Mac Mini End Of Life?

Status
Not open for further replies.
OK, here's one for you....

Since the MacBook Air has come out and Apple has shown that they're introducing a computer with no optical drive, what if the next Mac Mini uses the Apple TV case, HAS NO OPTICAL DRIVE, uses a Santa Rosa chipset, and has computer outputs - DVI, audio in/out, firewire and USB ports, etc. Comes with 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1

For those that want an optical drive, you can buy the external MacBook Air DVD burner for $100. However, Apple would ship the Remote Disk software that allows you to use another Windows or Mac optical drive.

The options would be how much RAM you want, processor speed, and hard drive capability. I'm guessing price points would range from $499 to $899.

I know what all of us WANT in a Mac Mini, but what I'm thinking here is what Apple is most likely to introduce.
 
CyberBob859 said:
Since the MacBook Air has come out and Apple has shown that they're introducing a computer with no optical drive, what if the next Mac Mini uses the Apple TV case, HAS NO OPTICAL DRIVE, uses a Santa Rosa chipset, and has computer outputs - DVI, audio in/out, firewire and USB ports, etc. Comes with 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1

For those that want an optical drive, you can buy the external MacBook Air DVD burner for $100. However, Apple would ship the Remote Disk software that allows you to use another Windows or Mac optical drive.

The options would be how much RAM you want, processor speed, and hard drive capability. I'm guessing price points would range from $499 to $899.

I know what all of us WANT in a Mac Mini, but what I'm thinking here is what Apple is most likely to introduce.
Click to expand...

If Apple removed the optical drive, I would love to see a full sized Desktop Hard Drive in there which could then have capacities of up to 1TB
 
CyberBob859 said:
Since the MacBook Air has come out and Apple has shown that they're introducing a computer with no optical drive, what if the next Mac Mini uses the Apple TV case, HAS NO OPTICAL DRIVE, uses a Santa Rosa chipset, and has computer outputs - DVI, audio in/out, firewire and USB ports, etc. Comes with 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1

For those that want an optical drive, you can buy the external MacBook Air DVD burner for $100. However, Apple would ship the Remote Disk software that allows you to use another Windows or Mac optical drive.

The options would be how much RAM you want, processor speed, and hard drive capability. I'm guessing price points would range from $499 to $899.

I know what all of us WANT in a Mac Mini, but what I'm thinking here is what Apple is most likely to introduce.
Click to expand...

Already discussed here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/417147/

We are more enthusiastic about keeping the Mini, hence didn't post here. This thread seems to be about the doom and gloom of the Mini.. ;)
 
CyberBob859 said:
Since the MacBook Air has come out and Apple has shown that they're introducing a computer with no optical drive, what if the next Mac Mini uses the Apple TV case, HAS NO OPTICAL DRIVE, uses a Santa Rosa chipset, and has computer outputs - DVI, audio in/out, firewire and USB ports, etc. Comes with 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1

For those that want an optical drive, you can buy the external MacBook Air DVD burner for $100. However, Apple would ship the Remote Disk software that allows you to use another Windows or Mac optical drive.

The options would be how much RAM you want, processor speed, and hard drive capability. I'm guessing price points would range from $499 to $899.

I know what all of us WANT in a Mac Mini, but what I'm thinking here is what Apple is most likely to introduce.
Click to expand...

This sort of miniaturization is irrelevant for the desktop PC. Who here is complaining that the Mac Mini is too big? No one I know of. If anything, people are calling for a Mini with MORE features, even with the "sacrifice" of desk space. And what point would it make to have it require Remote Disk... i.e. ANOTHER DESKTOP... or a laptop. There's no point in having a desktop that supplements another computer... If anything another computer is supposed to supplement the desktop.

A desktop modeled after the MacBook Air would make absolutely no sense at all. Like I said, that degree of miniaturization in the desktop market is irrelevant.

-Clive
 
Clive At Five said:
This sort of miniaturization is irrelevant for the desktop PC. Who here is complaining that the Mac Mini is too big? No one I know of. If anything, people are calling for a Mini with MORE features, even with the "sacrifice" of desk space. And what point would it make to have it require Remote Disk... i.e. ANOTHER DESKTOP... or a laptop. There's no point in having a desktop that supplements another computer... If anything another computer is supposed to supplement the desktop.

A desktop modeled after the MacBook Air would make absolutely no sense at all. Like I said, that degree of miniaturization in the desktop market is irrelevant.

-Clive
Click to expand...

I agree to a point. It still has to stay small and "pretty" so people will put it in their living rooms. 5" tall max I'd say.
 
saltyzoo said:
I agree to a point. It still has to stay small and "pretty" so people will put it in their living rooms. 5" tall max I'd say.
Click to expand...

5" tall Macs max? Are you kidding me? My Wii takes up more vertical space than that. Are you saying Nintendo should shrink the Wii too?

I don't think Apple should cater a computer to the HTPC and carputer people because we are far too few to be a major demographic. Just make the Mac Mini an entry-level computer, but make it MAKE SENSE. I can't imagine a computer nowadays that doesn't have a DVD-burner, for example. There is absolutely no reason that a technology that wasn't even new when I got it with my 6-year-old G4 iMac isn't a standard by now.

It makes me laugh because I'm thinking of getting a Mac Mini, but it's so hard to justify getting a computer with a less-sophisticated optical drive than that of my G4 iMac. C'mon, Apple, you're supposed to LEAD the industry. Even my wife's crappy $500 Best Buy laptop has a DVD-burner.

-Clive
 
Considering it's less than 3 inches now. Keeping it under 5" shouldn't be any big shakes.

Clive At Five said:
5" tall Macs max? Are you kidding me? My Wii takes up more vertical space than that. Are you saying Nintendo should shrink the Wii too?

I don't think Apple should cater a computer to the HTPC and carputer people because we are far too few to be a major demographic. Just make the Mac Mini an entry-level computer, but make it MAKE SENSE. I can't imagine a computer nowadays that doesn't have a DVD-burner, for example. There is absolutely no reason that a technology that wasn't even new when I got it with my 6-year-old G4 iMac isn't a standard by now.

It makes me laugh because I'm thinking of getting a Mac Mini, but it's so hard to justify getting a computer with a less-sophisticated optical drive than that of my G4 iMac. C'mon, Apple, you're supposed to LEAD the industry. Even my wife's crappy $500 Best Buy laptop has a DVD-burner.

-Clive
Click to expand...
 
Clive At Five said:
5" tall Macs max? Are you kidding me? My Wii takes up more vertical space than that. Are you saying Nintendo should shrink the Wii too?
...
-Clive
Click to expand...

hey, have you thought about using equivalent specs before comparing? yes, you wii is about as tall as the mini is wide, but the mini is taller than the wii is wide, so the gib about which takes up more vertical space is irrelevant.
 
phoxrenvatio said:
hey, have you thought about using equivalent specs before comparing? yes, you wii is about as tall as the mini is wide, but the mini is taller than the wii is wide, so the gib about which takes up more vertical space is irrelevant.
Click to expand...

I know, I know. Different orientations, different dimensions. Thanks for getting technical on me.

It was a bad comparison anyway because the Wii is incapable of being a home media center. I should've named an Xbox or PS3, both of which are much larger than a MacMini but are still expected to fit in an entertainment unit.

-Clive
 
Clive At Five said:
It makes me laugh because I'm thinking of getting a Mac Mini, but it's so hard to justify getting a computer with a less-sophisticated optical drive than that of my G4 iMac. C'mon, Apple, you're supposed to LEAD the industry. Even my wife's crappy $500 Best Buy laptop has a DVD-burner.
Click to expand...

getting a mini with a superdrive shouldnt be a problem.


but the graphic card thats completely out of date makes me wait for the next generation (hopefully) to come. i couldnt stad the fact that my mobile MB had the better architecture than a always power-connected desktop computer
 
dadudeness said:
but the graphic card thats completely out of date makes me wait for the next generation (hopefully) to come. i couldnt stad the fact that my mobile MB had the better architecture than a always power-connected desktop computer
Click to expand...
Me too. Given the short (scheduled) timeframe, I'm hoping the Mini skips Penryn and goes directly to Nehalem. That is a machine I'd buy immediately.
 
emotion said:
It's possibly more realistic that the next revision is a Montevina/Penryn based machine.
Click to expand...
If there's going to be a short time gap between that and Nehalem, why bother? I'm assuming the Mini likely won't be revised, if it is revised, until summer. That leaves what, 3-4 months till Nehalem? At that point engineering a new Mini for Penryn is wasted since you probably already have pre-release Nehalem parts in-house, why not skip Penryn entirely?
 
bigwig said:
If there's going to be a short time gap between that and Nehalem, why bother? I'm assuming the Mini likely won't be revised, if it is revised, until summer. That leaves what, 3-4 months till Nehalem? At that point engineering a new Mini for Penryn is wasted since you probably already have pre-release Nehalem parts in-house, why not skip Penryn entirely?
Click to expand...

I follow the logic but Apple never put the latest chipsets in the Mini. I mean look at what we have at the moment (one or two revs behind). Even with Montevina/Penryn it's unlikely in the next 6 months.

I'm hoping though.
 
bigwig said:
If there's going to be a short time gap between that and Nehalem, why bother? I'm assuming the Mini likely won't be revised, if it is revised, until summer. That leaves what, 3-4 months till Nehalem? At that point engineering a new Mini for Penryn is wasted since you probably already have pre-release Nehalem parts in-house, why not skip Penryn entirely?
Click to expand...

Even if it is revised in the summer, it would leave over half a year till Nehalem's mobile chips come out. Add to that the fact that Apple could get the Penryn chips at a (bigger) discount with Nehalem out and you've got yourself one happy Apple.
 
It's gone...

I sold my old MacMini PPC today :(
It had been in storage for a year and a half, since my iMac 24" came home.
I never used it, but it was so reliable that it was a comfort to know it was there, in case of need.

Anyway, the macMini has a place in the market, but the margin can't be big enough for Apple, so they don't push it. I don't doubt that they'll replace the design, and I sure hope it isn't replaced with a Apple t.v hybrid. (Isn't tv a dying media? if it isn't it should be)

I'm so in agreement with those who think a dedicated graphics version with a real hard drive, lots of memory and ports would be the cats meow. A screenless iMac. Same footprint as the MacMini, but taller.

Won't happen.
 
Has been coming

if the mini dosent get a major update within the next couple of months, I'd say its time has come and past. It just dosent really feel like an apple machine. Sorry mini, but I think there's a meeting between your motherboard and the guillotine coming up pretty soon.
 
Lord Sam said:
if the mini dosent get a major update within the next couple of months, I'd say its time has come and past. It just dosent really feel like an apple machine. Sorry mini, but I think there's a meeting between your motherboard and the guillotine coming up pretty soon.
Click to expand...

Doesn't feel like an Apple machine? Then can someone tell me who put that big Apple logo on top of it?!
 
Let's hope they don't kill the beloved Mac mini. The Mac mini is a great cheap Macintosh, and I love mine. 
 
Father Jack said:
The mini was my first Mac and I'm sure it was the first for many switchers ... :)
Click to expand...

It is my first foray into Mac ownership :)

The only reason I'm still holding on to my PC is for games ( I have a 360 and a PS3 for games, but there are a cetrtain few that I love, that only work on PC - the Civ series for example ).

If Apple were to release an updated Mini, with a decent graphics chipset, I'd junk my PC for good and move my current Mini under the TV to handle media work :)
 
Lord Sam said:
if the mini dosent get a major update within the next couple of months, I'd say its time has come and past. It just dosent really feel like an apple machine. Sorry mini, but I think there's a meeting between your motherboard and the guillotine coming up pretty soon.
Click to expand...

Ditto the other posts...my mini feels very much like an Apple machine, and I've had many. Long live the 'a bit overpriced but still lovely' mini!!!
 
I love my mini too! (oh wait, I don't have one yet! waiting for updates)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back