Mac Mini Still Alive? New Model Coming?

[takao]

if they go mini displayport then we have to wait till january for sure that the macpro gets it as well

that said .. if they replace dvi with it they should add HDMI as well.. that simply would be perfect

1. (mini)displayport for those using it as computers
2. hdmi for those using the mini for multimedia purposes

combined with the 2 harddisk rumor (perhaps having a model with 1 3,5" instead)

only missing then is the 9400 chipset

if they do that i'm sure few people would be missing the firewire

 

[nanofrog]

if they go mini displayport then we have to wait till january for sure that the macpro gets it as well

Notebooks and the Mini are consumer products. As is the new 24" ACD that was just released.

The Mac Pro is a completely different market, and the Mini DisplayPort wouldn't do well here. Apple doesn't produce the graphics cards, and I doubt the vendors would be willing to use this connector, as they'd have to spend more money in a license/royalty to Apple to use it.

Mini DisplayPort isn't actually a standard, as it uses a proprietary connector with the DisplayPort standard. A small change, but just enough for it to be an issue with other manufacturers. It allows Apple to generate additional sales on cables to make anything else work. 🙄

that said .. if they replace dvi with it they should add HDMI as well.. that simply would be perfect

Not going to happen, as Apple doesn't want to pay a $0.04 royalty per HDMI device produced.

 

[aswitcher]

I would just be happy if they did a dirt cheap model with few advances.

 

[DoFoT9]

I would just be happy if they did a dirt cheap model with few advances.

yes me too!! lower the price up the specs keep the DVI port!

 

[marbles]

...it's getting closer everyday ......before mid November please ...I'm desperate here , I'm running a G3 ,....was going to get a Macbook but......

 

[takao]

Notebooks and the Mini are consumer products. As is the new 24" ACD that was just released.

The Mac Pro is a completely different market, and the Mini DisplayPort wouldn't do well here. Apple doesn't produce the graphics cards, and I doubt the vendors would be willing to use this connector, as they'd have to spend more money in a license/royalty to Apple to use it.

Mini DisplayPort isn't actually a standard, as it uses a proprietary connector with the DisplayPort standard. A small change, but just enough for it to be an issue with other manufacturers. It allows Apple to generate additional sales on cables to make anything else work. 🙄

Not going to happen, as Apple doesn't want to pay a $0.04 royalty per HDMI device produced.

i all know that already thank you very much (that's why i put the "mini" from displayport in brackets 😉 ) .. see the other discussions on that

still i want hdmi as well ... why apple is so stingy because of the 4 cents is beyond me .. after all they have no problem with hdmi on the apple tv

(and why apple doesn't even bother with a minidisplayport to displayport connector is beyond me but that's part of another discussion .. apple has chosen the proprietary connector _again_ and they wont do something about it until they failed miserable again with it

and on the mac pro: of course it will get the new minidisplayport .. since all the apple screens will get the very same connector)

on the mini back again i somehow fear it's gonna be a disappointing update ... like improved wireless + intel x3100 + speed bump + ultra minimal hd increase + dropping of firewire + superdrive standard

 

[pol0001]

Am I the only one who remembers Steve Jobs comment in this week phone conference? "We don't know how to build a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk." .... The Mac Mini is dead! Steve Jobs also mentioned that Apple is going for the premium market. So I guess we won't see anything for less than $800 for quite a while. And from $800 it's not that far to the price of the cheapest iMac. ... Don't get me wrong. I have a Mac Mini and use it for my home theater. And I love it. But Apple killed that product 444 days ago. Otherwise the Mini would already have the 144 MB Intel GPU.

 

[Shagrat]

must have firewire.......must have firewire~

No Chance. This, apparently, at least according to some 🙂D), is a PROFESSIONAL feature, so won't be on a new Mac Mini.

Assuming that there is one in the offing!

 

[Courtaj]

. . . here's the most simple explanation (Occam's razor) . . .

That's not quite what Occam's razor is . . .

This is often paraphrased as "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ockham_razor)

.

 

[dernhelm]

444 Days?

If this is selling well, I need to understand who is buying a new computer with components that were introduced nearly 1.5 years ago.

I've got a bridge I'd like to sell them.

 

[cv01]

Yeah, hope I can replace my old Mini G4 soon!

 

[iMacmatician]

I'm thinking the update is coming in November with the updated iMacs.

 

[nanofrog]

i all know that already thank you very much (that's why i put the "mini" from displayport in brackets 😉 ) .. see the other discussions on that

I've written a few posts in those threads....So many popped up. 😉 😛

Still, it might help someone else who hasn't seen them. 🙂

still i want hdmi as well ... why apple is so stingy because of the 4 cents is beyond me .. after all they have no problem with hdmi on the apple tv

I understand your point. Apple just doesn't seem to like paying out money for royalty/licensing to other companies. They're happy to accept it though. 😉

As they are also quite happy to produce adapter cables for additional income of course. 🙄

As for the tv, it's a product aimed specifically for the HDTV market, and they had to make an exception. 😱 Rare indeed. 😉

(and why apple doesn't even bother with a minidisplayport to displayport connector is beyond me but that's part of another discussion .. apple has chosen the proprietary connector _again_ and they wont do something about it until they failed miserable again with it

It's reasonable to think they would release with the professional line of ACD's and the new Mac Pro. They seem to like grouping these things together. 😀

and on the mac pro: of course it will get the new minidisplayport .. since all the apple screens will get the very same connector)

This is where I'd have to disagree. Most graphics cards are still DVI, and slowly adding/switching to DisplayPort. It's an open standard, and they don't have to pay to use it, and would resist the proprietary Mini DisplayPort vehemently. I think ATI and nVidia would win this one, and the new professional ACD's would release with a standard DisplayPort instead.

Assuming they did attempt the Mini DisplayPort, it would be a massive mess, as existing equipment Mac Pro users own might just be rendered useless. At best, would reluctantly attempt to locate adapter solutions. Not good for customer relations. 😉

on the mini back again i somehow fear it's gonna be a disappointing update ... like improved wireless + intel x3100 + speed bump + ultra minimal hd increase + dropping of firewire + superdrive standard

I wouldn't expect too much. It is after all, a $500 machine. 😛

 

[latchthekid]

No Chance. This, apparently, at least according to some 🙂D), is a PROFESSIONAL feature, so won't be on a new Mac Mini.

Assuming that there is one in the offing!

I really really REALLY hope they don't off firewire on the mini. There has been some talk that even the iMacs will loose it but there is no way that will happen. Everyone keeps saying how Apple must think firewire is obsolete now but come on? Apple just wants all the people who have DV cameras, massive storage, or firewire audio interfaces to go ahead a jump up 700 bucks to the MBP. Basically there is no more choice involved. Your either a consumer or a professional, no more of this PROsumer crap. Just make up your mind already, right? At least thats how I see it. Apple won't get rid of firewire on the next iMacs. I can see them doing it with the mini. But if they care at ALL about their dedicated customers and what we want, then give us options. Don't limit us to what they 🙂apple🙂 deems as adequate for our usage. We will see.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

This is good new but I think we killed the mac mini end of life thread a little early. Come on Apple its been over a year whats wrong with you guys?

 

[VaDor]

I'd like to see one with black glass, however impractical.

I think the Mini is the ideal home-theatre system. Much better than the tv

And with boxee installed must be a dream... 😀

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I didn't see one, or at least take note of one, at the Apple Store I visited yesterday. They did have an open spot on the along the wall counter though which I thought odd...

 

[phatcat]

I love my mini. after upgrading it I'm happy the way it is.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

If this is selling well, I need to understand who is buying a new computer with components that were introduced nearly 1.5 years ago.

I've got a bridge I'd like to sell them.

I've got 2 of them. One is used for music through a whole house music distribution system. It beats the hell out of their 'ipod dock' hysterical idea. I know of a few retirees that have them. Perfect for the people that flee the snow up here for the warmth of the south. Not much to pack...

Don't discount the system so quickly. There aren't many, if any, real options like the mini in the pc world. It just needs an update. They can't make it into a mini supercomputer though or they might cannibalize sales from the iMac and Mac Pro lines. I'm sure that much heated discussions are and have happened in California and China regarding the mini...

 

[DanielJvdBerg]

Just dump the damn thing already..

 

[BJMRamage]

I think this would be a much better Holiday item for Apple to upgrade.

many people will be happy, it is lower cost and they can then sell their new display. rathe than redo teh imac right before the holiday season.

 

[iEdd]

Be really nice if they made the mini a screenless MacBook Pro, but with a 3rd USB, 2nd FireWire, full DVI and 1 PCIe card (even if these means doubling its height). Of course, what we will get, if anything is a computer about as good as a base macbook, sans screen that is hard to justify.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Notebooks and the Mini are consumer products. As is the new 24" ACD that was just released.

The Mac Pro is a completely different market, and the Mini DisplayPort wouldn't do well here. Apple doesn't produce the graphics cards, and I doubt the vendors would be willing to use this connector, as they'd have to spend more money in a license/royalty to Apple to use it.

Mini DisplayPort isn't actually a standard, as it uses a proprietary connector with the DisplayPort standard. A small change, but just enough for it to be an issue with other manufacturers. It allows Apple to generate additional sales on cables to make anything else work. 🙄

Not going to happen, as Apple doesn't want to pay a $0.04 royalty per HDMI device produced.

Apple doesn't 'own' DisplayPort, it's a VESA standard. I imagine that VESA decides how much and who...

Companies voicing support for DisplayPort are: AMD, Analogix, Apple, ASRock, ASUSTeK, Dell, Genesis Microchip, Hewlett-Packard, Hosiden Corporation, Intel, Integrated Device Technology, JAE, Lenovo, Luxtera, Molex, NVIDIA, NXP Semiconductors, Palit Microsystems, Parade Technologies, Philips, Quantum Data, Samsung, Sparkle Computer, Texas Instruments, and Tyco Electronics.

It seems hard to believe that the move isn't going to happen at some level. Apple has already started their product line transition. I'm curious as to how the connector stays attached. It looks too much like a SATA connector. This move to smaller and smaller connectors is potentially both good and bad...

 

[iEdd]

Apple doesn't 'own' DisplayPort, it's a VESA standard.

Exactly what he said. He said the MINI DisplayPort is a proprietary connector.

 

[dernhelm]

I've got 2 of them. One is used for music through a whole house music distribution system. It beats the hell out of their 'ipod dock' hysterical idea. I know of a few retirees that have them. Perfect for the people that flee the snow up here for the warmth of the south. Not much to pack...

Don't discount the system so quickly. There aren't many, if any, real options like the mini in the pc world. It just needs an update. They can't make it into a mini supercomputer though or they might cannibalize sales from the iMac and Mac Pro lines. I'm sure that much heated discussions are and have happened in California and China regarding the mini...

I'm not discounting the system. But any computer that hasn't been updated in a year and a half (almost) should just about be considered to be abandoned. A LOT happens in a year and a half.

That said, I hope they do update the mini - I've recommended them in the past to people looking for a low-cost update to their windows system. But when my Sister-in-Law wanted to get one a couple of months ago, I steered her away from it. It was already slow, and I was by no means certain that it wasn't going to be dropped entirely.

At this point, I also can't understand why Apple hasn't dropped the price $100 or so, the components cannot be that expensive anymore - and they'd move that many more.

I think the thing for Apple is they don't want to be in the low-cost market. They see the Apple TV as a hobby, and I think they view the mini the same way. I suspect (like many) that they'll end up fusing their two hobbies together somehow - but I just can't see how. No one wants to use a TV screen as a computer screen (Job's has said that numerous times as well).