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Mac Mini Released

perfect companion to my shuttle...

well, i've had a powerbook for over a year now, so i'm hardly a new switcher. however, i've never really been a fan of imacs, and G5s are basically just too big for me. but this is just perfect.

I like my computers small, quiet, yet packing a punch. i've stuck with shuttles for my pcs over the past couple of years, and they have been excellent. the mac mini, however, will now take pride of place on the desk.

it sits perfectly with all my other gear, and will work brilliantly with my Samsung 181T - DVI for the PC, VGA for the miniMac.

for people like me this is just what we've been waiting for - a very cheap, modern version of the cube.

perfect, apple. have an.... apple.

doh.
 
Upgrade potential ?

I'm wondering about the upgrade possibilities for this machine.

Memory - Appears to be one slot only of full size PC3200 DDR DIMMS, with no built in memory. I wonder if the 1GB limit is due to the memory controller, or the ready availability of larger DIMMS, say 2GB.

Airport - I'm assuming it's using standard Airport extreme cards, which you could add yourself later on if you wished.

HDD - Based on the dimensions of the unit, I'm guessing it's using laptop IDE hard drive, but I may be wrong. This limits upgrades somewhat, and makes them much more expensive.

Bluetooth is likely to be a BTO only option, but you might be able to get creative and modify a USB bluetooth module to work somehow. Better to order this a BTO at purchase I guess.

The optical drive mechanism appears to be the regular slot load mechanism fomr factor apple's been using for a while, so this could be upgraded as time goes by as faster drive mechanisms come onto the market.

Graphics & CPU are likely soldered to the mobo, with no upgrade option. Ethernet is 100 Mbit only, but a slower G4 and single HDD can't realy push anything faster than this for any length of time anyway,

One problem could be just getting into the case - it appears to be held together with a large number of plastic clips - perhpas a special case cracking tool may be needed. Wait and see what the guys at Kodawarisan find out when they crack one open in the next few days ...

I note also that the FSB is 167 MHz - this machine is closer to a stripped down 12 in powerbook than a stripped down ibook.
 
Trying to decide if I will order a MiniMac now or wait till Tiger hits. So it isn't a matter of IF but when.

I did have a question. Just how well will this system run Halo? They are advertising the game with it. Even bragging how much better it will run on the Mac Mini than a similar Dell.

Note: I'm not looking at buying the system to run Halo. I have a AMD 64 and ATI x800 that runs halo just fine... I'm just curious....
 
This is great. I just woke up to see the product annoucements since I was working the night shift.

This would be great for my cheapskate brother-in law who I had been trying to get to use a mac for the last 5 years.

If this mini wont do it, im going to tell my sister to divorce him.
 
The Return of the Cube

Here it is guys - the cube has finally returned!

I think this is a great move on Apple's part. I know many people that this computer will be perfect for. The price/performance blend is perfect.

Nice job Apple!

JOD8FY
 
Rob_Merritt said:
I did have a question. Just how well will this system run Halo? They are advertising the game with it. Even bragging how much better it will run on the Mac Mini than a similar Dell.

Note: I'm not looking at buying the system to run Halo. I have a AMD 64 and ATI x800 that runs halo just fine... I'm just curious....
Click to expand...

Where did you hear this? I can only say, don't get your hopes up. The mini has a 32MB 9200 - no where near as good as your X800. Don't count on it running well.

JOD8FY
 
maxvamp said:
I think another application for this thing that I have seen mentioned would be a web / domain controller / file / print / etc. server for small offices ( running Panther server ).

Howabout a Kiosk computer? A media server? A threat to DELL!!

Imagine, you server is smaller than the switch it connects to.

Max.
Click to expand...

It certainly has the capability of being a web server, etc. for small offices. And, as your needs increase, you can just add more of them.

When Tiger ships, this little jewel can be a metadata/content server that acts as a repository and search engine for everything it comes in contact with...

both in the business office and the home!
 
Booga said:
With optional wireless and optional s-video/composite out for the video port, you can see where they're going with this thing...
Click to expand...

yep, right before the "ihome" photos popped up I thought that if they ever do release a small headless option, it sure would be great to integrate into the stereo/dvd especially when I get around to purchasing a wide screen lcd television which usually have a dvi port. I just wish the ram option was better, its awfully pricey to bump it up to 1 gig, especially knowing that the kind of ram that it uses sells for $250 and apple wants $425. Plus, I wonder if after the fact if I would to bring it, would it be $425 plus the install fee??? Could I purchase my own ram and have them install it (probably not). All in all, cool minil system.
 
this thing looks so much like appleinsider's artist rendition of "asteroid", the firewire breakout box, its scary.

4 years ago, the smartest analysts in the world said that no one would pay $500 for a 5 GB iPod... they've wisened up, so should everyone else who is doubting the potential here.

i love how people wont shut up till this thing comes out, now all they do is complain. apple knows what they are doing, and this system isnt for 95% of the people posting on these boards, its for pee-cee users who currently never had an affordable option. apple now has a computer that is briced below its top of the line iPod, and these things are going to fly off the shelves.
 
JOD8FY said:
Where did you hear this? I can only say, don't get your hopes up. The mini has a 32MB 9200 - no where near as good as your X800. Don't count on it running well.

JOD8FY
Click to expand...

Again, if it's equal to my iBook 1.07 GHz (and it should be better) it will play it quite acceptably.

~J
 
I'm a PC user looking into a switch

My main question is:
Is the .17 jump in cpu speed worth 100$(I don't care about the extra hdd space)? In the pc world a .17 jump for an amd or intel would be un-noticable, however with the mac mini, would it be worth it?
 
Faraday said:
I'm wondering about the upgrade possibilities for this machine.

Memory - Appears to be one slot only of full size PC3200 DDR DIMMS, with no built in memory. I wonder if the 1GB limit is due to the memory controller, or the ready availability of larger DIMMS, say 2GB.
Click to expand...

The Mac Mini is identically specced (minus the monitor and a few ports, plus a faster G4 in the top model) to the eMac. This suggests that the 1GB limit is likely to be in the memory controller, as the eMac will only work with 1GB DIMMs of a particular bank/device layout (and Apple never claimed support for them).

This (plus the desire to maximize profits and make the box cheap to assemble with plastic friction-fittings) may explain why Apple only supports memory they add themselves to the Mac Mini.

(Much as I think the Mac Mini is a necessary machine, I'm not convinced it's a better deal than a refurbished eMac for $649 that can be upgraded beyond the maximum mac mini)

-vga4life
 
greenstork said:
I'm sorry to say that you just don't get it. These minis are designed for PC users who bought that uber cheap Dell and it has been nothing but problems since they bought it. They had to wipe the drive because of viruses, they still can't understand how to manage digital photos because their computer offers them the option of opening one of six programs when they plug in their digital camera, and they still don't quite understand what an MP3 is. They have a monitor, mouse and keyboard already and their son-in-law keeps recommending these new fangled Apples.

They're relying on you and me to recommend these machines to all of our family members and it's damn good marketing. How many of you on this forum are going to recommend Dells, even if price is a big factor? There is your target market.
Click to expand...
Amen brother... :D
After the success of the iPods, I think Windows users finally are ready to give Mac's a try.
The Mac Mini will be a hit!
 
I bit the bullet (spent a little more than I expected), I never expected to get just the base model. This is where apple will make its money. I did not expect to have to buy a keyboard but oh well.

Mac mini 1.42GHz
512MB DDR333 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA drive
SuperDrive
Internal Bluetooth
 
The Mac Mini is totally for Switchers

For all the people on this forum who like to disect the Mac Mini and say that there are better deals, there are more powerful machines, etc..

The Mini is for one niche, if you can call it that. It's for PC users. They expect bare bones, the average PC user does not even care about internal expansion. They care that it's cheap and things plug into it. The Mini hits right on both accounts.

It is still a Mac though, and mac users are going to be confused as to where it fits in their lives. Apple has a history of offering one product per segment. Powerbook, iBook, eMac, Powermac, iMac... where does the mini fit.

The answer. Right next to your TV.
Think of this as the Mac OS Media Center.

or take it from place to place as a luggable.

It's not an iMac, it's not an eMac, and it's certainly not a Power Mac. It's for people who know it's limitations and are not going to try and do Final Cut Pro HD on it (although I plan on using it as a Logic Head).

Terrac
 
Dahl said:
Amen brother... :D
After the success of the iPods, I think Windows users finally are ready to give Mac's a try.
The Mac Mini will be a hit!
Click to expand...

Yes it will. Wouldn't be surprised if they announced some huge number of pre-orders for it on their Q1 financial conference call this week.
 
Faraday said:
Ethernet is 100 Mbit only, but a slower G4 and single HDD can't realy push anything faster than this for any length of time anyway,
Click to expand...

If you need it, you should be able to do TCP/IP over FireWire.
I'll expect to do this when I connect across to my Windows behemoth, in fact :)
 
Finally Here!!!!

I am a Mac user at home, but I have 12 wintel boxes at the office (along with a PowerMac and TiBook for myself), I had to go with them because of the price factor, but now with the mini I am definetly switching all 12 of them as soon as they are available in Mexico. My staff loved them when I showed them the pictures. They are always kind of jealous because I never have to deal with windows crashing, the blue screen of death and viruses, but hey I am the boss. :)

So with the mini I can keep al 12 17-inch lcd´s I already own, as well as the keyboards and mice...GREAT!!!! Hopefully I can also eventually be upgrading those to apple lcd´s.

Imac Mini G4, will definetly cover the e-mailing, excel, word (err, pages) documents as well as all the other office tasks they do.
 
.mac promo bundle?

Is it just me, or are others unable to add the .mac $69 promo to their shopping cart when trying to order this puppy?

Maybe the cart hasn't yet been told that the mac mini qualifies... anyone wanna tell me .mac sucks and I shouldn't get it, anyway? Are there better 3rd party virus scanners, etc.?
 
Most people will:

1. Have a monitor already.

2. Can buy a 17" flat panel for 300.00 or less.


It is kind of lame to have to buy the keyboard and mouse, I guess.

I won't be buying one, but the half PC half Mac setup in my office just went goodbye.

I can't wait to throw the PC's in the dumpster.
 
Tiger??

I have one question. Will these Mac mini's run Tiger? I'm not a swither per se but I would like one of these along side my PC gaming rig . I can't imagine that it won't but since I don't currently own a Mac I don't have anything to base it on.


Thanks
 
artifex said:
Is it just me, or are others unable to add the .mac $69 promo to their shopping cart when trying to order this puppy?

Maybe the cart hasn't yet been told that the mac mini qualifies... anyone wanna tell me .mac sucks and I shouldn't get it, anyway? Are there better 3rd party virus scanners, etc.?
Click to expand...

Virus scanner. That's cute. Welcome to the Mac experience.

Regards,
Gus
 
iJWC said:
I have one question. Will these Mac mini's run Tiger? I'm not a swither per se but I would like one of these along side my PC gaming rig . I can't imagine that it won't but since I don't currently own a Mac I don't have anything to base it on.


Thanks
Click to expand...
Tiger won't run optimally (won't do all the most GPU-intensive bells and whistles) but it'll run fine on these. The processor is fine, and the GPU is adequate.

Edit: current Tiger beta runs on my 800MHz G4 iMac (I'm a registered developer; it isn't a pirated copy). Tiger will run nicely on the mini. Of course, not with 256MB RAM.
 
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