Unfortunately I think the Mac Mini only supports up to 2 GB memory still. Its the only Mac computer that is severely handicapped in this area. MacBooks can now go to 4 GB, as well as MBP's, and iMac's. For Mac Pro's, if you can afford it, you can opt for a whopping 32 GB of memory.
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Mac Mini Prediction
- Thread starter robrose20
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Unfortunately I think the Mac Mini only supports up to 2 GB memory still. Its the only Mac computer that is severely handicapped in this area. MacBooks can now go to 4 GB, as well as MBP's, and iMac's. For Mac Pro's, if you can afford it, you can opt for a whopping 32 GB of memory.
Mini memory
Well, according to Apple it only supports 2gig
But from what I understand the system can actually address up to 3gig. Apparently some people install 4gig (2 2gig pairs) to avoid using mismatched RAM sticks (I'm not sure how much having matched pairs really matters). Anywho, I'll put "support for 4gig RAM" in my list of Mini update wants. It ain't askin fer much!
Well, according to Apple it only supports 2gig
But from what I understand the system can actually address up to 3gig. Apparently some people install 4gig (2 2gig pairs) to avoid using mismatched RAM sticks (I'm not sure how much having matched pairs really matters). Anywho, I'll put "support for 4gig RAM" in my list of Mini update wants. It ain't askin fer much!
Taiwan's supply...
For what it's worth the supply of Mac minis in Taiwan is down to near zero.
I've been wanting an iMac or BlackBook upgrade since summer or so for my aging PowerBook but with them out of my price range I decided on a Mac mini to hold me over. I have checked at the following stores:
F'nac (2 stores), 3C (lost count, 7? 8?), Be (2 stores), Studio A, Apple Youth and Data Express (3 stores).
The only minis I could find were at Studio A and Apple Youth which are Apple specific authorized retailers listed on Apple's Taiwan site. These guys had one or two of the lower end model in stock and none of the higher end one. When I asked when they'd restock I was told stuff to the affect of "I don't know" or "It's been a while, but so far we've no restock date". These are multi-million dollar stores that keep one of everything in stock and on display and they don't even have display models of the Mac minis any more and have no idea when or if they'll get a restock. When I ask about any other model they have it or know when they'll get more and ALWAYS have a display, but not the mini.
This, to me, screams out that something is up. This happened to me last time with the iMacs in the summer before the new design. I was wanting a 17" one back then and no one had them. No one knew when they'd get more or why they didn't have any in stock. I went all over. Then, within a month, the new models were released.
I'm hoping that it's time for the minis to catch up to the MacBooks they have trailed alongside in the past and bump to Santa Rosa with the newer x3100 GPU, but I'm deathly afraid the mini is going the way of the Cube and I'm running out of time to buy one.
Apple Youth will order me a high-end model but despite Apple's Taiwan website stating 24 hours, they say 2-3 days at best and they're not sure if they can get them. They'll also bump the internal to 250GB and the RAM to 3GB so it'd be a nice little holdout system, but I HATE the GMA 950 so I'm hesitant.
What are your thoughts, people?
For what it's worth the supply of Mac minis in Taiwan is down to near zero.
I've been wanting an iMac or BlackBook upgrade since summer or so for my aging PowerBook but with them out of my price range I decided on a Mac mini to hold me over. I have checked at the following stores:
F'nac (2 stores), 3C (lost count, 7? 8?), Be (2 stores), Studio A, Apple Youth and Data Express (3 stores).
The only minis I could find were at Studio A and Apple Youth which are Apple specific authorized retailers listed on Apple's Taiwan site. These guys had one or two of the lower end model in stock and none of the higher end one. When I asked when they'd restock I was told stuff to the affect of "I don't know" or "It's been a while, but so far we've no restock date". These are multi-million dollar stores that keep one of everything in stock and on display and they don't even have display models of the Mac minis any more and have no idea when or if they'll get a restock. When I ask about any other model they have it or know when they'll get more and ALWAYS have a display, but not the mini.
This, to me, screams out that something is up. This happened to me last time with the iMacs in the summer before the new design. I was wanting a 17" one back then and no one had them. No one knew when they'd get more or why they didn't have any in stock. I went all over. Then, within a month, the new models were released.
I'm hoping that it's time for the minis to catch up to the MacBooks they have trailed alongside in the past and bump to Santa Rosa with the newer x3100 GPU, but I'm deathly afraid the mini is going the way of the Cube and I'm running out of time to buy one.
Apple Youth will order me a high-end model but despite Apple's Taiwan website stating 24 hours, they say 2-3 days at best and they're not sure if they can get them. They'll also bump the internal to 250GB and the RAM to 3GB so it'd be a nice little holdout system, but I HATE the GMA 950 so I'm hesitant.
What are your thoughts, people?
That means something is definitely up. Apple may very well dish out a serious update to the Mac Mini's, or get rid of them altogether. I doubt the later, as Apple would have said something about them rather than let it die quietly. Therefore, I can see a serious update to the Mac Mini's:
All that is my wish-list actually.
- Dedicated graphics option
- Up to 4 GB memory, thats user-replaceable
- 500 GB HD, spinning at 7200 RPM's, also user-replaceable
- $499 model: 2.0 GHz Penryn, 2 GB memory, 320 GB HD, Intel X3100
- $599 model: 2.4 GHz Penryn, 2 GB memory, 500 GB HD, NVidia 8600 GT w/ 256 MB
- $699 model: 2.8 GHz Penryn, 2 GB memory, 750 GB HD, NVidia 8600 GT w/ 512 MB
All that is my wish-list actually.
I'd be happy with the GMA X3100 or X3500 GPU since I just want it for a more flexible (if more complicated) HTPC then the Apple TV is (even though I just bought a "Take 2").
something more along the mobile hd2400 (or better) is better for a HTPC ... those have hardware accelerated playback of h.264 afaik which the intel GPUs don't offer yet
hd2400 can be had with dvi + hdmi out put and passive cooled on the PC side so those are msotly recommended there
(i have no idea if apple's driver support that feature yet
Not a bad list -- but it's unfortunately unrealistic. Don't expect the mini's specs to exceed the macbook's. If they keep the HD to 2.5", the maximum 7200RPM drive it could accomodate would be 200gb.
In a Mini?? Wow, man. Either the Apple would have to put a black hole inside it in order to fit everything, or redesign it.
Actually, these specs sound very similar to my xMac (uh oh, here we go again...) wish list. Trust me, though, there's no way Apple will sell a Penryn computer for under $1000... especially with 2GB RAM and a 750GB HDD AND a video card. Granted, you could probably build this system for that same $699 off New Egg, Apple is no component retailer. Even if Apple charged $1699 for this system, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
-Clive
Yes, please
But I'm not holding my breath...
Wow, do you all really think that the mini will be updated soon? We had to practically beg for the last update and it was just a handful of months ago. I admire your optimism, but . . .
trust in the MacRumors buyer's guide
Well, according to the MacRumors Buyer's Guide it's been 175 days since the last Mini update, and the average time between updates is 188 days. Couple that with the fact that newer processors do exist, and the fact that the Mini seems to sorta follow the MacBook (which semi-recently received an update) in specs... well, I hope it's not blind optimism. Optimism, maybe; but not blind
Pie-in-the-sky wishlists aside, I'd be happy with a proc boost, 802.11n, and maybe a bigger HD as standard (at same pricepoints).
Well, according to the MacRumors Buyer's Guide it's been 175 days since the last Mini update, and the average time between updates is 188 days. Couple that with the fact that newer processors do exist, and the fact that the Mini seems to sorta follow the MacBook (which semi-recently received an update) in specs... well, I hope it's not blind optimism. Optimism, maybe; but not blind
Pie-in-the-sky wishlists aside, I'd be happy with a proc boost, 802.11n, and maybe a bigger HD as standard (at same pricepoints).
Discontinued Intel Processors
Not sure what current Intel Processors are used in the Mac Mini but here is a link to an Intel Change Notification pdf that lists processors that are up for cancellation. This could point to an update to the Mac Mini if any of these are used. A total of 7 are being discontinued, T7200, T7600, T5500, T5600.
More processors listed here.
http://content.intel.pcnalert.com/dm/d.aspx/D54CCA5F-F7CC-45A8-9FFE-A0D5DAD31E31/PCN108192-00.pdf
Not sure what current Intel Processors are used in the Mac Mini but here is a link to an Intel Change Notification pdf that lists processors that are up for cancellation. This could point to an update to the Mac Mini if any of these are used. A total of 7 are being discontinued, T7200, T7600, T5500, T5600.
More processors listed here.
http://content.intel.pcnalert.com/dm/d.aspx/D54CCA5F-F7CC-45A8-9FFE-A0D5DAD31E31/PCN108192-00.pdf
First they will get the MBA to the stores, then theyll update the MBP, Then the iMac and THEN maaaybe the mini, unless they drop it completely.
Just my thougts.
Just my thougts.
According to the sheet companies have until May 26 to place their orders and Intel has until July 27, 2009 to ship them.
Apple can use them for the next year if they want...
gkarris, this is true... i didn't imply when, just that it could lead to an update
I definitely agree with you about giving the MBA its time in the limelight. But why wouldn't they update the MBP, iMac, and mini at the same time? Especially considering that the iMac and probably the MBP will be upgrades rather than full redesigns.
Well, according to the MacRumors Buyer's Guide it's been 175 days since the last Mini update, and the average time between updates is 188 days. Couple that with the fact that newer processors do exist, and the fact that the Mini seems to sorta follow the MacBook (which semi-recently received an update) in specs... well, I hope it's not blind optimism. Optimism, maybe; but not blind
Pie-in-the-sky wishlists aside, I'd be happy with a proc boost, 802.11n, and maybe a bigger HD as standard (at same pricepoints).
Your optimism is a breath of fresh air in contrast to my pessimism. I honestly hope you are right. It is more than a bit disconcerting to me that Apple has let several products go record lengths lately without an upgrade. I guess I automatically assume they will do the same to the mini, which is clearly the product to which they give the least respect. I hope I'm wrong about this!
I agree! I'm looking at the Mac Mini strongly now and am hoping Apple releases an update to it. All I'm looking for is a version with a dedicated graphics option such as an Radeon 2400 XT or NVidia 8400 GT, and increase the max supported memory to 4 GB. Is this too much to ask for, Apple?
It won't die
The Mac Mini won't die anytime soon. It's a sort of Trojan horse to get people to use Tiger/Leopard. Get people away from Windows. Once they are hooked on OSX, they do more and more until they slowly come to the realisation that something more powerful would be nice, like an Imac or MacPro or Laptop. So eventually they end up selling two machines to the "switcher" which is what happened to me. I switched to a mini two years ago, and keep the aged PC for non-critical applications otherwise known as games. My next purchase is a MacPro when the dust has settled on the 8800GT lead times. Would I have switched if I had to go straight to an Imac? Probably not, the Mac Mini was not expensive, so if it failed, I'd not have wasted too much money.
Long Live the Mini!
What I really want is something between a mini and a pro, that I can use with my screen and stuff, with perhaps the capability to change hard drives, graphics cards. They'd sell heaps of them. I fear that if they don't address this market then the hackintosh WILL become more prevalent. Give the customer what he wants Mr. Jobs or we will get it elsewhere!
btw I think the MBA is the biggest waste of engineering time I've seen in a long time!
For those that are interested the cost of a basic optical drive is around $2.50 in mass production quantities, a floppy is $0.70. These are ex works prices from the Japanese electronics corporation I used to work for. They do make millions of them each month, and yes the floppy is still alive!
The Mac Mini won't die anytime soon. It's a sort of Trojan horse to get people to use Tiger/Leopard. Get people away from Windows. Once they are hooked on OSX, they do more and more until they slowly come to the realisation that something more powerful would be nice, like an Imac or MacPro or Laptop. So eventually they end up selling two machines to the "switcher" which is what happened to me. I switched to a mini two years ago, and keep the aged PC for non-critical applications otherwise known as games. My next purchase is a MacPro when the dust has settled on the 8800GT lead times. Would I have switched if I had to go straight to an Imac? Probably not, the Mac Mini was not expensive, so if it failed, I'd not have wasted too much money.
Long Live the Mini!
What I really want is something between a mini and a pro, that I can use with my screen and stuff, with perhaps the capability to change hard drives, graphics cards. They'd sell heaps of them. I fear that if they don't address this market then the hackintosh WILL become more prevalent. Give the customer what he wants Mr. Jobs or we will get it elsewhere!
btw I think the MBA is the biggest waste of engineering time I've seen in a long time!
For those that are interested the cost of a basic optical drive is around $2.50 in mass production quantities, a floppy is $0.70. These are ex works prices from the Japanese electronics corporation I used to work for. They do make millions of them each month, and yes the floppy is still alive!
Thinner is in in apple's mind. I doubt it will get any bigger, or smaller, so I doubt that there will be a dedicated graphics card.
Give me better speeds and Santa Rosa and I'm game. Id like dedicated but it would throw it into another price bracket and TBH I doubt it would fit.
Give me better speeds and Santa Rosa and I'm game. Id like dedicated but it would throw it into another price bracket and TBH I doubt it would fit.