Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac Mini Released
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Wow, the day has come when I can finally become a switcher!
I've been lurking on MR for a while, but could never justify buying a Mac as I support Windows for a living. Well, I'll be moving to another state soon so my parents can no longer call me over to fix their spyware-infested PC. They really are clueless when it comes to computers and could benefit greatly from Mac OS X.
I'm going to buy them a Mac mini, and then buy one for myself so I can answer their Mac questions. It's really sad, but my younger brother was the first in my family to get a Mac, after I recommended an iBook for college. He's equally as computer-illiterate as my parents but has yet to call me with questions about his machine!
Back to the Mac mini itself:
My only complaint, if I dare speak up, is that they made the enclosure so small it doesn't appear to house a standard 3.5" IDE drive. I was hoping to stick a 200GB ATA100 drive in there and use it as a massive iTunes server.
Way to go Apple! I'm very impressed.
I've been lurking on MR for a while, but could never justify buying a Mac as I support Windows for a living. Well, I'll be moving to another state soon so my parents can no longer call me over to fix their spyware-infested PC. They really are clueless when it comes to computers and could benefit greatly from Mac OS X.
I'm going to buy them a Mac mini, and then buy one for myself so I can answer their Mac questions. It's really sad, but my younger brother was the first in my family to get a Mac, after I recommended an iBook for college. He's equally as computer-illiterate as my parents but has yet to call me with questions about his machine!
Back to the Mac mini itself:
My only complaint, if I dare speak up, is that they made the enclosure so small it doesn't appear to house a standard 3.5" IDE drive. I was hoping to stick a 200GB ATA100 drive in there and use it as a massive iTunes server.
Way to go Apple! I'm very impressed.
slo said:
Everything is different this time around. When the cube was released, windows PC's weren't anywhere near as mired in difficulties as they are now. Apple was a fairly obscure company in the eyes of the public. The OS wasn't near as appealing as what OSX is now.
Everything has changed. Windows machines hooked up to the internet are a liability. OSX is here, polished, and a joy to use. Apple has a core of excellent, highly integrated and FREE apps that come with these new machines. Apple is nearly a household name, thanks to the iPod.
And of course, the huge difference is that this machine is priced to be competitive.
The time is now, Apple sees it, and they are acting. Even the decision to launch after Christmas may seem like a mistake, but in fact its pretty wise. Christmas was used to bring 4.5 million more iPod users into the fold. They can be considered targets for this machine, but if it had been released before Christmas, it would have likely affected iPod sales.
Its funny too how all of us who already own Macs (many of us with faster or more robust machines) are trying to give ourselves reasons to buy one of these things. Apple produces yet another piece of fine art that just happens to be a computer.
Wow, I didn't think Apple would make it so small that they couldn't fit a standard hd in it, but it looks like they did. That means an external enclosure for any HD expansion, which is too bad, but not a deal breaker by any means.
The other nitpick: Are we for sure that this thing doesn't support Core Image? It seems like Apple would have tweaked the hardware enough to make them work together, because Tiger is due to ship so soon.
The other nitpick: Are we for sure that this thing doesn't support Core Image? It seems like Apple would have tweaked the hardware enough to make them work together, because Tiger is due to ship so soon.
digitalbiker said:
We'll just have to agree to disagree.
IMO, when you look at the market at large, the vast majority of these buyers will not buy a 20" LCD monitor, probably not even a 15". Look beyond what you want. Apple does their homework before releasing a product and they decided to offer it sans KB, mouse and monitor. They know people already own these. I'll admit the lack of KB and mouse probably had as much to do with packaging of the Mac mini and who the hell wants a 1 button mouse anyway. If they thought they could sell a ton of monitors, they would have introduced one.
OK, I want to try a MAC, because like most people I'm sick of the crashes, anti virus software incompatibilities, and spyware. So I have a few questions. First I have a SAMSUNG 51" DLP HDTV, and would like to know if the Mac Mini would work with this. If it would I'm surely interested in purchasing this. I would configure it with the Wireless Keyboard and mouse and it still is cheaper than any other MAC you can find, plus I get the educational discount. So will it work with my TV. I have a DVI port, and a HDMI port on the TV. This is what I've been waiting for. I didn't want to spend more than $1000 for a MAC and than have to learn the OS all over again only to find I didn't like it. This solves that problem. I love Apple and if this works out and I like it I'm ditching my Dimension 8300, for a G5 or something. Also can I find a wireless keyboard and mouse that will work with the Mini at Officemax or Staples,and will it be cheaper?
Bluetooth now installable post purchase!
I haven't read all the posts in this thread - I tried, really I did, but I keep getting the now-familiar "server busy" screen - but has anyone noticed that BT is now installable afterwards? Yes, it requires an "Authorized Service Provider", but it's the first time I've seen it as even an option post-purchase.
Note: I've been trying for quite a while to post, so sorry if this ends up making it through after 20 people have already said it.
I haven't read all the posts in this thread - I tried, really I did, but I keep getting the now-familiar "server busy" screen - but has anyone noticed that BT is now installable afterwards? Yes, it requires an "Authorized Service Provider", but it's the first time I've seen it as even an option post-purchase.
Note: I've been trying for quite a while to post, so sorry if this ends up making it through after 20 people have already said it.
It does what it was designed for!
tried to post similar earlier, but the server was too busy.
Wow, how myopic. Many just don't get it. If it's not what you want it, don't get it!
The Mac mini can serve many purposes. First off a great replacement for my mom's iMac G3-350. She can reuse her iMac keyboard and Promouse and my old 17" CRT. Bam! $479 upgrade.
I'm thinking about using it as an entry Media Center to hook up to my soon to be HDTV with Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It'll play my dvds, do my slide shows, show my iMovies, be my jukebox, even let me have a WebTV (not that I want it). Hook up an eyeTV and it's golden.
Also, a nice xtra mac for the kiddies!!
It meets a range of needs for many different people from entry level --> media center. If it doesn't for you, get the iMac!
I do agree however, that they should start to offer 15 and 17 "econo-lcds", but you can get them anywhere, and choose VGA or DVI, depending on how much $ you wanna spend.
BTW, The iMac has no ADC connector!! Also, go configure a Dell or HP w/ the same specs and software and see what prce you end up with.
Funny how every one wanted a cheap mac w/out monitor, and now they complain! typical.
digitalbiker said:You are the one making the unfair comparison. The iMac G5 comes with a 20" LCD display driven by an ADC connection. You are comparing a $300.00 15" driven by VGA or a $100.00 CRT driven by VGA. Give me a break!
Swissmann is correct! The macmini low price is misleading. I configured one the way I would want to buy one and it came to $1500.00 with Applecare before tax. This was without a monitor. Add Apple's cheapest monitor (currently a 20" LCD @ $999.00) and it comes to $2500.00.
Apple needs to offer lower ram price, low priced mouse & keyboard & 15" LCD bundle to make this a popular seller.
Otherwise value buyers will buy a cheap $449.00 Dell that includes monitor, keyboard, mouse, faster cpu, equivalent gpu, word perfect, and XP home media package.
tried to post similar earlier, but the server was too busy.
Wow, how myopic. Many just don't get it. If it's not what you want it, don't get it!
The Mac mini can serve many purposes. First off a great replacement for my mom's iMac G3-350. She can reuse her iMac keyboard and Promouse and my old 17" CRT. Bam! $479 upgrade.
I'm thinking about using it as an entry Media Center to hook up to my soon to be HDTV with Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It'll play my dvds, do my slide shows, show my iMovies, be my jukebox, even let me have a WebTV (not that I want it). Hook up an eyeTV and it's golden.
Also, a nice xtra mac for the kiddies!!
It meets a range of needs for many different people from entry level --> media center. If it doesn't for you, get the iMac!
I do agree however, that they should start to offer 15 and 17 "econo-lcds", but you can get them anywhere, and choose VGA or DVI, depending on how much $ you wanna spend.
BTW, The iMac has no ADC connector!! Also, go configure a Dell or HP w/ the same specs and software and see what prce you end up with.
Funny how every one wanted a cheap mac w/out monitor, and now they complain! typical.
Let's be reasonable...
You failed to mention that configuring the Mac mini "the way you would want it" is equivalent to maxing out all the BTO options and adding Applecare. If you max out the options for a Dell it also gets considerably more expensive. Plus, you can't compare the pack-in Dell monitor to the 20" cinema display. Come on... think about it, do you honestly think that's fair?
With that said, I can see how people might think they should have included a wired mouse and keyboard standard. Better yet, make it a BTO option - but have the mouse and keyboard included by default and let customers choose to exclude them if they don't need them. But Apple probably needed to drop them to make that magic sub-$500 price tag while maintaining Apple-acceptable margins.
The only thing that really irritates me is that upgrading the RAM from 256 MB to 1 GB costs $425. That's a joke, a 1 GB DDR 166 MHz SDRAM stick can be obtained for about $200, $250 max. This upgrade from Apple should cost no more than an additional $200. The $75 price to move up to 512 MB is reasonable, but the 1 GB upgrade is insulting to my ability to do arithmetic. This is nothing new with Apple memory upgrades though. All and all, I'm impressed.
digitalbiker said:You are the one making the unfair comparison. The iMac G5 comes with a 20" LCD display driven by an ADC connection. You are comparing a $300.00 15" driven by VGA or a $100.00 CRT driven by VGA. Give me a break!
Swissmann is correct! The macmini low price is misleading. I configured one the way I would want to buy one and it came to $1500.00 with Applecare before tax. This was without a monitor. Add Apple's cheapest monitor (currently a 20" LCD @ $999.00) and it comes to $2500.00.
Apple needs to offer lower ram price, low priced mouse & key
Otherwise value buyers will buy a cheap $449.00 Dell that includes monitor, keyboard, mouse, faster cpu, equivalent gpu, word perfect, and XP home media package.
You failed to mention that configuring the Mac mini "the way you would want it" is equivalent to maxing out all the BTO options and adding Applecare. If you max out the options for a Dell it also gets considerably more expensive. Plus, you can't compare the pack-in Dell monitor to the 20" cinema display. Come on... think about it, do you honestly think that's fair?
With that said, I can see how people might think they should have included a wired mouse and keyboard standard. Better yet, make it a BTO option - but have the mouse and keyboard included by default and let customers choose to exclude them if they don't need them. But Apple probably needed to drop them to make that magic sub-$500 price tag while maintaining Apple-acceptable margins.
The only thing that really irritates me is that upgrading the RAM from 256 MB to 1 GB costs $425. That's a joke, a 1 GB DDR 166 MHz SDRAM stick can be obtained for about $200, $250 max. This upgrade from Apple should cost no more than an additional $200. The $75 price to move up to 512 MB is reasonable, but the 1 GB upgrade is insulting to my ability to do arithmetic. This is nothing new with Apple memory upgrades though. All and all, I'm impressed.
gonenuts15792 said:
http://www.apple.com/macmini/graphics.html
It should work fine. However, the maximum DVI resolution is 1920x1200 so your icons may look a little large on your huge flat screen. With a wireless keyboard and mouse, you are going to have one sweet setup.
I have to wonder if this is the next step in bringing the Mac into the living room. Are there any future "set-top box" enhancements in the future. With the growing popularity of flat screen TVs, this little baby would be a great complimentary piece.
As usual, I'll butt in with my 2 cents.
Extreeeeemely cool looking.
But they went slightly too small. Upgrading to 1GB of memory costs $425 extra?! even on a G4 I consider 512 a bare minimum with OSX (or XP, or a fullblown Linux Distrib if it's running X), they should have used 2xSODIMM slots instead of the single desktop DIMM slot, or made the machine a centimeter wider to fit 2 slots. It would have been far more cost effective for real-world memory options.
And 32 MB VRAM is painful for OSX. Say what you want about lowend PCs having integraded memory, but this isn't a PC, OSX demands video memory like no other desktop OS. A 64 meg option for another $50 should have been a minimum inclusion.
And a slightly taller version with a single PCI slot would have absolutely ruled for options for a home theater PC...err, Mac
I'm looking forward to the changes that will probably happen to this design in the next year or two.
In the meantime, it will make a good dent in the mini-itx target market, and the second computer, kid's computer, grandma's computer markets.
Extreeeeemely cool looking.
But they went slightly too small. Upgrading to 1GB of memory costs $425 extra?! even on a G4 I consider 512 a bare minimum with OSX (or XP, or a fullblown Linux Distrib if it's running X), they should have used 2xSODIMM slots instead of the single desktop DIMM slot, or made the machine a centimeter wider to fit 2 slots. It would have been far more cost effective for real-world memory options.
And 32 MB VRAM is painful for OSX. Say what you want about lowend PCs having integraded memory, but this isn't a PC, OSX demands video memory like no other desktop OS. A 64 meg option for another $50 should have been a minimum inclusion.
And a slightly taller version with a single PCI slot would have absolutely ruled for options for a home theater PC...err, Mac
I'm looking forward to the changes that will probably happen to this design in the next year or two.
In the meantime, it will make a good dent in the mini-itx target market, and the second computer, kid's computer, grandma's computer markets.
mini is ~size of Lacie d2 drives
For those who own a Lacie d2 drive, I just wanted to point out that the mini is almost exactly the same size. I just measured mine, and now I have a much better feel for the mini.
And, damn, it's small.
For those who own a Lacie d2 drive, I just wanted to point out that the mini is almost exactly the same size. I just measured mine, and now I have a much better feel for the mini.
And, damn, it's small.
But will it run OS 9?
I'd love to toss the dual 500 i've kept around as a spare and to run the odd OS 9 app.
it's loud and in the way. As for the mini, the only OS X requirements i see from a hardware perspective are the optional airport express and bluetooth modules. And perhaps radeon drivers.
What are the odds? (it's zero, i know).
I'd love to toss the dual 500 i've kept around as a spare and to run the odd OS 9 app.
it's loud and in the way. As for the mini, the only OS X requirements i see from a hardware perspective are the optional airport express and bluetooth modules. And perhaps radeon drivers.
What are the odds? (it's zero, i know).
Just wanted to say that the 20" display is a much better display than the 20" display that comes with the iMac G5... The $1000.00 display is a professional series display. The iMac has a consumer level LCD. Please don't confuse the two.
People will NOT buy a display and the Mac Mini together anyway. The intent is to place the Mac Mini in the place of that crap Dell. (You already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor... provided the mouse and keyboard are USB.)
People will NOT buy a display and the Mac Mini together anyway. The intent is to place the Mac Mini in the place of that crap Dell. (You already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor... provided the mouse and keyboard are USB.)
Some people are clueless. The mini is not for power users. If you are trying to configure a 25k mini mac, your just foolish for not getting an Imac. I guess these message boards allow perpetual whiners a formum for whining. Then again, makes me feel good about my analytical abilitites.
Your premise is broken. First of all this isn't aimed at people who need to buy a screen/keyboard/mouse, it's aimed at people who already have those things. Second of all, if you were weighing the difference between the various kludged Windows' apps bundled, plus the security/spyware/adware/virus issues with Windows versus iLife and clean slate security which would you choose? Third of all, it looks great in comparison to beige Windows' boxen and takes up a tiny amount of deskspace. Fourth of all, if I couldn't afford an iMac I would definitely consider the Mac Mini with a generic screen/keyboard/mouse combination. Sheesh.digitalbiker said:
stevesien said:
It's not an underpowered toy. It's a great toy. And that graphic card is excellent. It will do well with OSX. I run OSX on machines with much older graphics hardware just fine. Stop whining and buy a top end machine if that is what you really want. This machine is designed for people who are price sensitive who don't need top end machines. The Mac Mini is an excellent balance and will sell like hot cakes.
devwild said:
Why is 32 MB VRAM "painful" to run OS X? I have a 500 mHz G3 iBook as my primary computer with 8 MB VRAM and it runs OS 10.3.7 just fine. I can't get the user-switching fanciness but don't share the computer anyway. There's definitely nothing "painful" about it.
I'm a PC user, and I'm sold
I had Macs about 10 years ago (a 4 mb Mac Plus, an LC2, LC475 and PB150 at the same time). I gradually sold them or gave them away, and now that I'm no longer at college, I've been using PC's. But I have been following the Mac scene and have been dithering about whether or not to buy a 20" imac G5 (don't need it, but could use it). But this? I'll probably buy a couple of them and plug them into my routers and use switchers to hook up to my keyboards/mice/monitors. I'll probably end up giving a couple as gifts.
This is too cool for words, and I feel that this what should have been done long ago.
Tom
I had Macs about 10 years ago (a 4 mb Mac Plus, an LC2, LC475 and PB150 at the same time). I gradually sold them or gave them away, and now that I'm no longer at college, I've been using PC's. But I have been following the Mac scene and have been dithering about whether or not to buy a 20" imac G5 (don't need it, but could use it). But this? I'll probably buy a couple of them and plug them into my routers and use switchers to hook up to my keyboards/mice/monitors. I'll probably end up giving a couple as gifts.
This is too cool for words, and I feel that this what should have been done long ago.
Tom
Wait, I've got a complaint, it won't do my dry cleaning. What a rip off. Anyway, seems like a good market move. Just like the Ipod mini last year. Yeah, the same ipod mini that everyone was saying that was going to fail miserably because for $50 bucks more you can get three times the gigs. Some people just don't understand marketing. Given what has happened with Apple during the last couple of years, apparently they do.
It's a cube
Mac Mini has a market (simple entry level system that also happens to have nice/good/great Industrial Design / Looks, and a $$$ premium for the "mac" experience that doesn't seem too great.)
Cube didn't (specs & expandibility vs price not enough to cover the premium $$$$ for the industrial design for enough people.)
Only time will tell, but I think Mac mini will do a lot better than the Cube....
Now if I could only take the video out to the video in on my FP iMac 800, wouldn't need a new FP monitor.... ;-)
slo said:
Mac Mini has a market (simple entry level system that also happens to have nice/good/great Industrial Design / Looks, and a $$$ premium for the "mac" experience that doesn't seem too great.)
Cube didn't (specs & expandibility vs price not enough to cover the premium $$$$ for the industrial design for enough people.)
Only time will tell, but I think Mac mini will do a lot better than the Cube....
Now if I could only take the video out to the video in on my FP iMac 800, wouldn't need a new FP monitor.... ;-)
how about DOOM3?
You guy's think this might handle DOOM3? I know it is not a gaming machine but the ATI 9200 in this mini is not bad. Way to GO Apple.
P.S Allready ordered one.
You guy's think this might handle DOOM3? I know it is not a gaming machine but the ATI 9200 in this mini is not bad. Way to GO Apple.
P.S Allready ordered one.