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Mac Mini Refresh Soon?

Core 2s will be nice, but if you've already got a Core-based Mac now, I wouldn't rush to sell it. The Meroms coming out are an "initial" version according to Intel, designed to be pin-compatible as an easy replacement for the Yonahs. But next year, Intel will be releasing a new platform called Santa Rosa that the Meroms are really designed for, which will increase the frontside bus to really take advantage of the speed of the Meroms, as well as include new WiFi and the "Robson" flash technology for fast-booting.

I suspect we'll see slight case redesigns for Santa Rosa-based Macs. Santa Rosa will be the real Core 2 platform. This year's Meroms are a stopgap.
 
slb said:
I suspect we'll see slight case redesigns for Santa Rosa-based Macs. Santa Rosa will be the real Core 2 platform. This year's Meroms are a stopgap.
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Isn't everything a stop gap, in that sense? Just with sweet spots along the way :)

slb said:
as well as include new WiFi and the "Robson" flash technology for fast-booting.
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I'll have to look up Robson... I imagine Boot Camp will work quite well if it only takes 10 seconds to switch from an active Mac to an active Windows machine...
 
Oddly, I hope a new line just send the price of core solos plumetting in the refurb store. Was looking forward to doing the upgrade myself. I know I'm weird...

Watch.. just for giggles, the upgrades are released next week... just in time for labor day shopping.
 
a bit off topic... does any one know of a comparable pc and cost? the mini seems a bit expensive at 799 for a 1.6 dore duo
 
Shoot. I was actually hoping they would do this at MW in Jan. I need to get my mom a new computer and $600 is too much. I was hoping for a nice post release discount on the mini. :( Right now I'm tapped for funds what with my Prius showing up next month.
I guess I'll have to wait until the NEXT round of updates. dang. :(
 
slb said:
Core 2s will be nice, but if you've already got a Core-based Mac now, I wouldn't rush to sell it. The Meroms coming out are an "initial" version according to Intel, designed to be pin-compatible as an easy replacement for the Yonahs.
Click to expand...

In addition, Core 2 Duo vs Core Duo performance increase really isn't all that dramatic:

http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2808

Certainly not worth buying one to upgrade your current Yonah machine, assuming that really would be possible without some sort of EFI update.

While Merom isn't much faster than Yonah, Conroe in an iMac would be superb with the faster clock and bus speeds.
 
Hoping for a MacBook Pro with Meron

I am just hoping for a MacBook Pro with Merom.
Hopefully it will make the laptop lighter too.

Any idea if the new laptops will have LightScribe?
 
bokdol said:
a bit off topic... does any one know of a comparable pc and cost? the mini seems a bit expensive at 799 for a 1.6 dore duo
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If you check CNET.com they acctually have a few... In about 15 minutes I can try to find some links for you, but if you want to do some quick searching yourself they have a few PC mini-like comps.
 
poppe said:
If you check CNET.com they acctually have a few... In about 15 minutes I can try to find some links for you, but if you want to do some quick searching yourself they have a few PC mini-like comps.
Click to expand...


i was looking at dell and could not make one comparable.

thanks i'll check cnet
 
viccles said:
People and their meroms :rolleyes: Anyone would think the messiah is coming :eek:
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Imagine Steve Jobs announcing the G6. Its about on par to that. I don't think people realize what Core 2 is going to do for laptops. Faster performance at the same or lower power consumption that is found in the MBP? Yah what's not to like. I just wish my MBP was ZIF socketed. :( Oh well.
 
Yeah! I was looking at a bunch of minis for a rendering farm, and given the SSE performance improvement over the yonahs (the Pentium-M series have been weak in FP traditionally) this should be fun.
 
lets hope they do more than just put in a new CPU.

ie a bigger better macmini

Also, i echo the thoughts of looking forward towards a new MBP (hopefully in new design also)

People also believe the iMac is due for a refresh, even new form.

To be honest, I hope Apple does over all those units and announces some killer new ipods.

basically to launch an entire new line of consumer products for the fall winter season. Would love that!!
 
IF the mini do get refreshed it will be minor speedbump, maybe a faster CPU, maybe bigger HDD, hopefully a better GPU (or a real GPU for that matter) :rolleyes: personally hoping for price decreases, besides a mid range, apple does need a lower costing machine as well! :D
 
This is Great News • Meets My Most Optimistic Expectations

I've been thinking of the Mini as a new dedicated Mac for the new ElGato EyeTV Hybrid Digital-Analog Dual Broadcast USB2 Tuner that is just out now for only $149
Lollypop said:
IF the mini do get refreshed it will be minor speedbump, maybe a faster CPU, maybe bigger HDD, hopefully a better GPU (or a real GPU for that matter) :rolleyes: personally hoping for price decreases, besides a mid range, apple does need a lower costing machine as well! :D
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It will be 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo for $599 and 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo for $799. Apple rarely lowers prices and there is certainly no reason for them to do so now.

Just add a Dell 24" Display for $704 and you have a native HD TV with Tivo Like Recorder for only about $1452

Plus it's a Mac! :D
 
jakemikey said:
In addition, Core 2 Duo vs Core Duo performance increase really isn't all that dramatic:

http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2808

Certainly not worth buying one to upgrade your current Yonah machine, assuming that really would be possible without some sort of EFI update.

While Merom isn't much faster than Yonah, Conroe in an iMac would be superb with the faster clock and bus speeds.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's quite dramatic. From those benchmarks, Intel's claims are correct; at the SAME CLOCK SPEED, Merom is 20% faster than Yonah, however, Merom comes at a higher clock speed at the same price as Yonah, making the difference even more dramatic. A 2.33 Merom is the price of a 2.16 Yonah.

And it's 64-bit.

Apple rarely lowers prices and there is certainly no reason for them to do so now.
Click to expand...

Actually, there is. Apple just bumped the price up by $100 on all their consumer machines when they made the Intel switch (MacBook is $100 more than iBook was, same with Mini).
They might want to return to the original pricing and hit the "under $1000" point for the MacBook and "under $500" for Mac Mini. $500 and $1000 are magic numbers for marketting.
 
I think the 64 bitness isn't really necessary for a Mac mini. You're not going to shoehorn >4 GB of memory into two slots, unless memory manufacturers are going to change their minds which I don't think will happen just yet.

The 20% increase in performance only applies to media and content creation. I guess that would be good for a HTPC, but Word won't run any faster. (Tt may start faster though).

There is no reason for Yonah owners to upgrade just yet. It's really more of a nice bonus for those people who could wait until now to get a computer.

Apple prices were lower before because the stagnant tech demanded it. For all we know, the $599 could be the maximum on Apple's profit curve.
 
HecubusPro said:
http://www.kusnetz.net/prius/
I have a Prius, and when I saw this guy put a mac mini in his Prius, I nearly died with envy. I would love to do this, but I have feeling the cost/trouble would be way out of my realm, and I don't know that I would trust someone to void the warranty on my car.:)
Still it's a cool idea.
Click to expand...

do it.

and there's other sites with loads of detail, and additional hardware you can buy to make life easier. like DC-DC power supplies that will turn on/off/sleep your mac mini as you operate the car's ignition, etc.

touchscreens, remote power buttons, etc, etc... Hell even an old ppc mini would work a treat as a media player in a car :) and think about GPS, etc.. loads of ideas! :)
 
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