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.
gregorsamsa said:
Who knows what's up anyone's skirt these days, but I'll bet it won't be "hackintosh envy". :D

Most people buy Macs expecting a seamless experience, valuable time saved, for things to "just work". etc. The Hackintosh is a direct contradiction of all that it means to have a Mac. At least building a (legit copy) Vista PC gets you full support from MS.

Still, good luck to those who venture the Hackintosh way. It can only ever appeal to a tiny minority, but hey, whatever floats your boat... that's until more choppy seas arrive with the next Apple updates. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yea, on these Pystars, Firewire, Leopard and iLife are extra, so there goes your savings.

I guess if they can position themselves between the Mini and iMac, it will cater to those who want an upgradeable minitower.
 
gregorsamsa said:
Still, good luck to those who venture the Hackintosh way. It can only ever appeal to a tiny minority, but hey, whatever floats your boat... that's until more choppy seas arrive with the next Apple updates. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The hackintosh poll in the iMac/Mini forum sort of surprised me. More than half the respondents indicated that they were at least thinking about building a hackintosh, and some 40% indicated that they already had or are building one right now. In addition, there are more than 200,000 registered users at insanelymac.com forums, which is principally a hackintosh site. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more than 100,000 hackintoshes out there right now. Not sure how many of those would buy and Apple alternative if one were available, though.

At any rate, another Tuesday has gone by with no Mini update.
 
Cave Man said:
Not sure how many of those would buy and Apple alternative if one were available, though.
Click to expand...

Actually, the longer it takes for a new mini, the more it looks like a significant upgrade is going to go into it. At least updated graphics. I'm back to thinking no hackintosh, but could use a little advice. What I really want is a machine for video recording (already have eyetv). How good is an external drive for this purpose? Can I record live onto an external drive using a USB 2.0 connection, or am I going to have to record to the internal mini drive and then archive it on the external? Firewire?
 
1500+ post and 323 days since an updated mini... Sigh.

I too feel the longer they make us wait, the more radical the update will be. My main fear is Apple will do something lame in the name of making it smaller, ie air'ification, ie dropping firewire and optical drive.

With luck, they won't do anything too drastic and give us Montevina.

July belongs to iPhone 3G
August belongs to mini, mb, mbp updates
Sept belongs to ipod.

I'm waiting till the end of August, if no update I will consider my options.

Though I'm capable of easily building a hackintosh, the idea is still not appealing. This might change if Apple does not update the mini soon!
 
spatlese44 said:
Actually, the longer it takes for a new mini, the more it looks like a significant upgrade is going to go into it. At least updated graphics. I'm back to thinking no hackintosh, but could use a little advice. What I really want is a machine for video recording (already have eyetv). How good is an external drive for this purpose? Can I record live onto an external drive using a USB 2.0 connection, or am I going to have to record to the internal mini drive and then archive it on the external? Firewire?
Click to expand...

External 7200rpm firewire drive will likely perform better than the internal drive or usb 2.0 for your purpose.
 
mandoman said:
With luck, they won't do anything too drastic and give us Montevina.
August belongs to mini, mb, mbp updates
Click to expand...

PS. The earliest availability of Centrino2 Montevina/x4500/802.11n chips is the first week of August, unless intel has another delay. Let's hope Apple get's priority on these like they have in the past and hope they earmark them for Minis before or at same time as MBs. But if Intel has a slow ramp up and/or Apple prioritizes macbooks (likely), it could be an even LONGER wait for a montevina mini. Sigh.
 
mandoman said:
1500+ post and 323 days since an updated mini... Sigh.

I too feel the longer they make us wait, the more radical the update will be. My main fear is Apple will do something lame in the name of making it smaller, ie air'ification, ie dropping firewire and optical drive.

With luck, they won't do anything too drastic and give us Montevina.

July belongs to iPhone 3G
August belongs to mini, mb, mbp updates
Sept belongs to ipod.
Click to expand...

An our souls belong to Steve Jobs... :eek:
 
snberk103 said:
That leads to an interesting thought.... What if Apple sold a rebranded version of OS X, separate from the hardware - specifically for people who want to build hackintoshes? They could sell it under a different name (so people weren't expecting an "Apple" experience), with no support whatsoever, other than the normal security releases, etc. Add a licensing restriction that this version could only be used for home use, keep the "may not be copied and distributed" clause, etc.etc.

IBM did that with OS/2 - they sold the rights to sell OS/2 to a 3rd party who called it EcomStation. It was OS/2, just called something else. I don't think IBM makes alot of money from this, and I don't think Apple would either, but the costs are negligible - and you are putting OS X into some areas that they might not otherwise get into.

Instead of $129 (US$) they could charge $59 or $79 - a reduced price since there is no support attached - and I'll bet enough people will want to stay legal. Perfect product for Apple - think of the profit margins!

As I said, call it something completely different so you don't confuse the brand. When the "off-sale" customer finally wants to move to an Apple machine, the migration should be a snap.

Hmm

Of course the hackintoshers would likely want to move to the new Mini that my sources tell me is being introduced next tuesday, first. :) (That last comment was to keep this post on-topic.....)
Click to expand...

Personally, I have no beef with your idea, but I don't see Apple doing anything that may even remotely endorse Hackintosh systems. But selling OS X at $79 (even without support) & risking compromising Mac hardware sales, just wouldn't make sense for Apple.

Apple only sell OS X for $129 because it's considered merely an upgrade for existing Mac owners with older versions of OS X. For it to be viable to sell OS X for non-Mac hardware, I'm sure they'd want far more than $79, or even $129. It's the Apple way, I'm afraid.

Btw, to stay on topic, should that "new Mini" be released next tuesday, have drink or two on me. ;)
 
gregorsamsa said:
Who knows what's up anyone's skirt these days, but I'll bet it won't be "hackintosh envy". :D

Most people buy Macs expecting a seamless experience, valuable time saved, for things to "just work". etc.
Click to expand...

Sure. IAWT.

The Hackintosh is a direct contradiction of all that it means to have a Mac.
Click to expand...

A computer that opens up with one pull of a tab and the works are all laid out right there before you. The ability to upgrade anything including the processor in minutes if not seconds. Etc...

Contradiction: I just described my G4 Power Mac that is just about maxed out expansion wise.

Still, good luck to those who venture the Hackintosh way. It can only ever appeal to a tiny minority, but hey, whatever floats your boat... that's until more choppy seas arrive with the next Apple updates. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm a hobbyist, not just a user. Of course it floats my boat, screwing with them is my idea of fun. I'm sure some ITs have similar feelings.

Besides, Hack or Mini is not a vs thing; there's room for both.
The Mini is priced OK, it just could be more capable than it is. Just about everybody here would love to see a new, updated one.
Hoping though that it's not 'Air' ed, accepting even less capability for the sake of an anorexic FF.

Apple already has an extreme FF with the Touch and iPhone; they don't need to compromise on the desktops.
 
mandoman said:
PS. The earliest availability of Centrino2 Montevina/x4500/802.11n chips is the first week of August, unless intel has another delay. Let's hope Apple get's priority on these like they have in the past and hope they earmark them for Minis before or at same time as MBs. But if Intel has a slow ramp up and/or Apple prioritizes macbooks (likely), it could be an even LONGER wait for a montevina mini. Sigh.
Click to expand...

The Intel Socket M processors (which the current Mac mini uses) are being phased out. Production (of Socket M processors) will be limited to a few "custom" production runs for specialty products. Apple will likely upgrade the mini when the supply of Socket M CPUs dries up (which should be soon).
 
spatlese44 said:
Actually, the longer it takes for a new mini, the more it looks like a significant upgrade is going to go into it. At least updated graphics.....
Click to expand...

mandoman said:
1500+ post and 323 days since an updated mini... Sigh.

I too feel the longer they make us wait, the more radical the update will be.
Click to expand...

Sadly, it's thinking like this that lead to the most giant collective sigh of disappointment ever LAST August...I was so convinced after 10 months of waiting that a fantastic new mini, at least with dedicated graphics and .11n, was on its way. I really hope y'all are right this time though ;). Until then, my sole consolation is the smug and useless thought that the mini I bought last August is still the best that mini-money can buy.
 
shikimo said:
Sadly, it's thinking like this that lead to the most giant collective sigh of disappointment ever LAST August...
Click to expand...

I think we'll hear a bigger sigh this August :)

With all the pent up frustration it'll be almost impossible for Apple to deliver anything that satisfies everyone. A year between updates really is shameful.

My only hope is that Apple, seeing others coming out with similar form factors, will try to do something different with the mini. Of course along with that goes the fear of something tiny with an atom chip in it.
 
ihabime said:
I think we'll hear a bigger sigh this August :)

With all the pent up frustration it'll be almost impossible for Apple to deliver anything that satisfies everyone. A year between updates really is shameful.

My only hope is that Apple, seeing others coming out with similar form factors, will try to do something different with the mini. Of course along with that goes the fear of something tiny with an atom chip in it.
Click to expand...

I just don't think Apple are that interested in attracting consumers that are likely to buy the Mini anymore.

If it does get an update, it will be to GMAX3100/Penryn, basically Intels leftovers. But still at an extortionate price.
 
MacSA said:
I just don't think Apple are that interested in attracting consumers that are likely to buy the Mini anymore.

If it does get an update, it will be to GMAX3100/Penryn, basically Intels leftovers. But still at an extortionate price.
Click to expand...

I never quite gotten the idea that the mini is over-priced, I will qualify that statement with two things though, when it's been recently updated and given its form factor. In it's current state it is over-priced and even when it is updated it can't compete with bigger boxes, you can bang those together for much less. Of course if you're looking at it as your only desktop then yes, it's not a great value, but as a second PC to set next to the TV and Watch movies or rip DVDs it is pretty price competitive for that size.

And yes it'll have integrated graphics and yes it will suck and it's made even worse by the fact that Apple won't use the hardware video decoders built into the chips.
 
snippet

ihabime said:
and it's made even worse by the fact that Apple won't use the hardware video decoders built into the chips.
Click to expand...

Just why is that ?, does anyone have an idea ?

seems a bit on the silly side to not use something that is built in to improve performance , maybe it clashes with a part of the OS or something ??
 
Steve knows what he is doing... get a new younger generation hooked on the :apple: way thru the iPod and iPhone... then must pick up an affordable and reliable mini for myspace and schoolwork... then a macbook or MBP for college, and of course the mac pro line once they enter into a career. It's a progressive illness... just like the :apple: drug dealer knows - gotta start them young.:p

Just checking in on the mini thread that won't die here, my G4 1.42GHz mini is three years old now and running Leopard just fine, still hasn't made a sound... still haven't had a single issue with that $600 Mac.;)
 
Collective Disappointment

This is the thread that won't die, but until Apple decides one way or the other about the Mini, update or EOL, this will remain topic of conversation. One thing that seems clear from the thread is that no matter what Apple does, there are going to be a whole lot of unhappy geeks out there, and I use geeks in the nicest sense.

The reason that I posted previously was because I wanted to see a more robust Mini, I didn't want to use a small monitor, and I now use a 32" Vizio as a monitor. I think Apple realizes with Apple TV that there is a market segment that wants to use their TV as the central point for their media and computing needs.

I think the problem is that Apple has a number of other priorities right now, iPhone being the most prominent, but all of the upgrades that Intel is forcing as well with its processor upgrades and Mini is too small a niche for Apple to give it the attention that we all wanted. I gave up and bought a Mac Pro, it does offer the hardware flexibility to serve as my media center, thought the box and most everything about it is maximum overkill for what I use it for.

The unfortunate reality here is that everyone's desires here have gotten so whetted by the upgrades to the rest of the Apple line-up, I can't imagine Apple being Apple to upgrade the Mini to satisfy them. Realistically, given the Mini's form factor, the natural course for Apple is an upgraded processor, graphics card, and some flexibility in input and output. From what I've read here, that just won't cut it. For me that would have been enough, but even though I gave up, I can't say I don't care, I still have an iMac that I'd like to upgrade from, but I won't be getting one of those, because there's no way I will ever connect a computer I use regularly to such small monitors, wide screeen HDTV or bust.:D
 
srf4real said:
Steve knows what he is doing... get a new younger generation hooked on the :apple: way thru the iPod and iPhone... then must pick up an affordable and reliable mini for myspace and schoolwork... then a macbook or MBP for college, and of course the mac pro line once they enter into a career. It's a progressive illness... just like the :apple: drug dealer knows - gotta start them young.:p

Just checking in on the mini thread that won't die here, my G4 1.42GHz mini is three years old now and running Leopard just fine, still hasn't made a sound... still haven't had a single issue with that $600 Mac.;)
Click to expand...
I have to agree that Steve's marketing strategy has always been brilliant to say the least. But I can't help the feeling that Apple's line up *could* be better, including the Mini, if only update/upgrade would follow a 3 to 4 months cycles.

As for your G4, wait until Snow Leopard is released... You might have to sell it and look for a Intel machine instead, regrettably.
 
Anyone think of what the next next mini will be? The mundane has the attractive quality of sustainability. If the next, next mini has Nehalem (likely), what does that make this one?

Easier to think about next next mini. Certain not to come out soon.
 
FullGaz said:
As for your G4, wait until Snow Leopard is released... You might have to sell it and look for a Intel machine instead, regrettably.
Click to expand...
Actually, I have given the mini to my dad to use at the summer cabin in Maine... light video, photo and music editing along with internet browsing for them and their guests. If it is anything like my G3 iMac, it will still be running ten years from now, on an outdated system...yes. But running smoothly for what it does.:D

(check my sig...);)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back