I agree! SJ said something along the lines that you can't make a $500 computer and not have it be crap. He messed up, since it's plenty possible to make one and make money on it, but not make Apples 30% margins on one. Since SJ is insanely rich he probably doesn't notice that the economy is slowing. Premium products are going to suffer. People will hold off spending money for a new iPod, want cheaper phone plans (no iPhone then), and make do with their current computer. Apple needs to be careful to not price themselves out of the current market share they have worked so hard to build.
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Mac Mini Still Alive? New Model Coming?
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I agree! SJ said something along the lines that you can't make a $500 computer and not have it be crap. He messed up, since it's plenty possible to make one and make money on it, but not make Apples 30% margins on one. Since SJ is insanely rich he probably doesn't notice that the economy is slowing. Premium products are going to suffer. People will hold off spending money for a new iPod, want cheaper phone plans (no iPhone then), and make do with their current computer. Apple needs to be careful to not price themselves out of the current market share they have worked so hard to build.
My thoughts exactly,
I think some people just want away with it and read into it differently when Apples other products
MBP Stock stops being shipped to retailers = "Oh must be a refresh coming"
Mac Mini stocks stops being shipped to retailers = "Must be being discontinued"
Maybe I'm not the first to think this, but it would be very cool if the new mini included the same MagSafe power port as the laptops, making them fully compatible with the new monitors.
While that would be cool, wouldn't the use of MagSafe on a desktop computer pose risk of it going "pop!" and then the entire computer shuts down...in order to make the MagSafe adapter functional, they would need a backup battery in the Mini that lasts 10 minutes or so as back up in case the adapter gets popped out.
It was my first mac as well, some place I used to work had all the guys doing office work on minis. The guy who owned the gig liked they were silent.
- Sounds like wishful thinking on a certain hosting provider's part.
- "We don't know how to build a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk." Hmm!
- If true, combine with Mac Mini to be Discontinued? and Mac Mini Not Dead Yet?. That means major redesign, not a minor refresh, which also means...
- Goodbye Firewire, it was nice knowing you. This, despite the fact that your premature demise is contrary to Apple's positioning as the easiest way for consumers to make movies of their kids/vacations/honeymoon, as well as ads like this. And I could swear they had one about connecting your existing peripherals (ie, Firewire DV cam) to Macs and "it just works" but that seems to be myteriously missing...
- Still glad I bought my refurb mini last month. Works great, has Firewire for sure, and no more waiting forever.
Hard drives are, but not other devices (e.g., video cameras, web cameras, etc.). Have to have a hub if you want to use those things (which aren't too expensive, but require another power cable).
Right. I believe Apple considers Firewire a desktop feature rather than a pro feature. Apple doesn't want you using Macbooks as desktop replacements, but they're OK if you use a Macbook Pro for that.
You've gotta admit though, they've shown a distinct lack of interest in it for some time now. I count two laptop refreshes since the last Mini refresh. And all without so much as a price drop. Must be nice having such loyal customers.
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3D: Godzilla/5.0; AppleWebKit/525.18.1; stereoscopic glasses 3.1.1) Mothra/5F136 Safari 3D)
MacMiniColo.net's financial interest in the Mac mini may make them more likely to know its future, but at the same time it may mean that they have reason to avoid looking like a lame duck if the product is due to be phased out. It's hard to judge conflicting rumors based only on their claim.
It's also hard to know what ports/connectors Apple would likely put, or not put, on a new mini, because they won't necessarily make the same changes they've made in the MacBook line. The mini meets different market requirements.
And, apparently, also you.
MacMiniColo.net's financial interest in the Mac mini may make them more likely to know its future, but at the same time it may mean that they have reason to avoid looking like a lame duck if the product is due to be phased out. It's hard to judge conflicting rumors based only on their claim.
It's also hard to know what ports/connectors Apple would likely put, or not put, on a new mini, because they won't necessarily make the same changes they've made in the MacBook line. The mini meets different market requirements.
Digital Signage
I hope they are not discontinued they have the perfect form factor for digital signage applications especially when used in tandem with Sedna Presenter: http://www.sedna.de/
More Info:
http://www.activatethespace.com/Activate_The_Space/_sedna_.html
Looking to set this up for a huge setup. Dropping the Mac Mini would put a serious dent on the project.
I hope they are not discontinued they have the perfect form factor for digital signage applications especially when used in tandem with Sedna Presenter: http://www.sedna.de/
More Info:
http://www.activatethespace.com/Activate_The_Space/_sedna_.html
Looking to set this up for a huge setup. Dropping the Mac Mini would put a serious dent on the project.
This strikes me as the reporting equivalent of the financial "dead cat bounce".
If the Mini still had any serious role in Apple's line-up, why would they wait 444 days to update it? It just doesn't make any sense.
Yes, I know some will say "but the Mac Pro went 500+ days", but that was because Apple was at the mercy of Intel releasing a chipset and CPU.
The Mac Mini uses the same chipsets and CPUs that the MacBook and MacBook Pro and iMac use so as those machines were updated there was nothing stopping them from being used in an updated Mac Mini. And yet, Apple just ignored it. Ignored it to the point they likely are having issues getting those parts anymore.
So yes, this could be forcing Apple's hand to update the Mac Mini because they can't build any more current models due to no more Memroms and i95x chipsets being available.
But again, why wait? What did it gain Apple? Either sales are strong enough to justify keeping the model and updating it or they are not. I posit that the model is not selling and therefore Apple has made the decision to end of life it. And that it's selling so slowly that a year after Apple might have made that decision, they are still sitting on inventory...
If the Mini still had any serious role in Apple's line-up, why would they wait 444 days to update it? It just doesn't make any sense.
Yes, I know some will say "but the Mac Pro went 500+ days", but that was because Apple was at the mercy of Intel releasing a chipset and CPU.
The Mac Mini uses the same chipsets and CPUs that the MacBook and MacBook Pro and iMac use so as those machines were updated there was nothing stopping them from being used in an updated Mac Mini. And yet, Apple just ignored it. Ignored it to the point they likely are having issues getting those parts anymore.
So yes, this could be forcing Apple's hand to update the Mac Mini because they can't build any more current models due to no more Memroms and i95x chipsets being available.
But again, why wait? What did it gain Apple? Either sales are strong enough to justify keeping the model and updating it or they are not. I posit that the model is not selling and therefore Apple has made the decision to end of life it. And that it's selling so slowly that a year after Apple might have made that decision, they are still sitting on inventory...
Mac Mini + Apple TV = Mini 2.0?
Why not just combine these two products? Network media hub, with computing to boot...
just sayin'
Why not just combine these two products? Network media hub, with computing to boot...
just sayin'
The Mac Mini is worth it's weight in gold simply as a HTPC.
It seems there are 3 real applications for the Mac Mini - business as mentioned in the appleinsider article, entry level desktop PC (my sister just bought one, she wanted an Apple but already had a monitor), and it's amazing as a HTPC.
Now being that my use is primarily as a HTPC, here's what I want (and have been waiting patiently):
UPGRADED GPU
CPU AND MEMORY BUMPS
INTERNAL PSU
IMPROVED SOUND
HDTV TUNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course I would like Blu Ray as well.
Make the Mini bigger.... who cares. It could be twice it's current size and still fit wonderfully anywhere you need it.
Apple failed in their approach to the Mini. It was marketed at two different people.... those who are cheap and cheapest. Not actually a horrible plan in reality. But so many other people need an Apple like the Mini and Apple missed out. Instead they built it with outdated components and sold it as the cheap alternative.
Make the Mini a little bigger and move it in between the
tv and MacPro... which means move it close to the Mac Pro. Give the tv web browsing and you will cover the market. Why Apple took the approach that it would force consumers into purchases regarding Macs is beyond me. iMacs and Mac Books have plenty of options that cover the spectrum. But with the stand alone desktop.... they offered the minimum and the maximum and nothing in between. Not smart. Apple only makes up a small percentage of the computer market. They need to get into as many homes as possible.
It seems there are 3 real applications for the Mac Mini - business as mentioned in the appleinsider article, entry level desktop PC (my sister just bought one, she wanted an Apple but already had a monitor), and it's amazing as a HTPC.
Now being that my use is primarily as a HTPC, here's what I want (and have been waiting patiently):
UPGRADED GPU
CPU AND MEMORY BUMPS
INTERNAL PSU
IMPROVED SOUND
HDTV TUNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course I would like Blu Ray as well.
Make the Mini bigger.... who cares. It could be twice it's current size and still fit wonderfully anywhere you need it.
Apple failed in their approach to the Mini. It was marketed at two different people.... those who are cheap and cheapest. Not actually a horrible plan in reality. But so many other people need an Apple like the Mini and Apple missed out. Instead they built it with outdated components and sold it as the cheap alternative.
Make the Mini a little bigger and move it in between the
tv and MacPro... which means move it close to the Mac Pro. Give the tv web browsing and you will cover the market. Why Apple took the approach that it would force consumers into purchases regarding Macs is beyond me. iMacs and Mac Books have plenty of options that cover the spectrum. But with the stand alone desktop.... they offered the minimum and the maximum and nothing in between. Not smart. Apple only makes up a small percentage of the computer market. They need to get into as many homes as possible.
Bump the standard memory to 2 gigs; faster processor; larger standard HD; I'm on board. (lower price too??)
What I'd love to see...
I have been waiting for a Mac Mini upgrade for some time. I want to make the jump to HDTV, and other upgrades... but I want a computer that will REPLACE components, not just add another component, like AppleTV does.
Here is what I would like to see, and if apple comes close, I will be happy, and buy one.
1: A slightly more versatile case design. The mini looks nicely minimalist, but it is not very upgradeable without a puttyknife. Shouldn't be necessary. From the company that brought us the G3/4 series cases, and the G5/MacPro cases that are all VERY simple to open. Even the G4 Cube was easy to open if you disconnected it, and turned it upside-down. I would not have a problem with a slightly larger case, within reason. It should still be quiet, and should still be elegantly simple. But also simple to open.
2: Brought up to date. Penryn, and Nehalem-ready, or whatever the near-term approaching, easy for Apple to speed-bump. Maybe even Quad-core optional, at a price that comes up into iMac territory, for a headless computer below the MacPro. Perhaps BTO only for quad-core. I would settle for Quad-core compatible for third party upgrade.
3: DDR3 RAM, up to 8GB or even 16GB (4 RAM slots x 4GB modules) capacity, for future capability. Apple doesn't need to configure it with that much RAM at the time of sale... but the mere compatibility would be a good thing. Maybe they only sell it with 4x512MB (2GB), or 4x1GB (4GB) configuration, but if someone wanted to spend a boat-load of cash for 4x2GB (8GB), or 4x4GB (16GB), the computer could address it and use it.
Plus it would be less expensive to offer 1 or 2 gigabytes of RAM on 4 smaller capacity, cheaper modules, instead of only two, or one, and probably can take advantage of paired memory schemes. than a single, or un-matched pairs.
4: New NVidia subsystem and graphics, of course. Similar to MacBook and MBP, low option for base graphics, upgradeable to HybridSLI, or whatever they are calling the switchable video system... OR at least an option for a nice dedicated GPU system. MiniDisplayPort for compatibility with new Apple display. MiniDisplayPort adapters to VGA, DVI, or HDMI, Dual DVI, or Dual MDP, to run dual monitors, apple or otherwise. It is ridiculous that the only Mac that can run dual matched monitors is the MacPro.
The option should be there for video performance and dual displays at full speed, or to down-option it for headless use for less money.
5: Ports. All the essentials. USB, of course. E-sata AND FW800, preferably on a chipset that can just be enabled to run FW1600 or 3200, either right away, or at a future date. FW800 is the base, and FW400 users can port-adapt to FW400 devices. It would be nice to have FW400 and FW800 ports, to maintain separate bus speeds, but if I have to choose one, FW800+ has to be it.
It has to keep audio in/out hybrid analog/optical digital. It has to replace my AirPort Express, hooked to my optical-input home theater audio receiver.
It should of course have bluetooth and Wifi-N standard, as well as Gigabit Ethernet. It should have software that can allow the machine to receive AirTunes, and Video streams from other computers on the local network. A SUPER AirPort Express/AppleTV.
It also should definitely keep the IR port, for FrontRow and other home-theater options.
All the things that would make it a GREAT media machine would also probably make it a nice headless desktop, and nicely externally expandable headless server.
6: SATA internal bus.
two drive bays. One for a 3.5" or 2x2.5" hard drives. The second drive bay for an optical drive, or to repurpose for at least one more internal hard drive in place of the optical drive, and a little plate to block the drive slot. I am not sure one could fit two 2.5" hard drives in place of a laptop-style slot-loaded optical drive.
One could run
1x3.5", and 1 optical
2x2.5", and 1 optical
1x3.5", and 1 2.5" instead of optical,
or 3x 2.5" hard drives internally. In addition to external expandability.
Optical drive should be an optional BluRay drive, and HDCP compatible system, to output to an HDTV via MiniDisplay port adapted to DVI or HDMI.
Or you can BTO remove the optical drive, and run optical drive sharing like MacBook Air, to lower costs and moving parts. A headless server might not even need an optical drive at all, if the initial setup can be done by borrowing the optical drive of another mac, like MBA can, or use a removable external optical drive via e-Sata, Firewire, or USB2.
I think the machine should be very configurable, with a good hardware base. Drive systems, and video subsystems should be variable from absent or very basic, to fully involved for a media center or desktop system.
It CANNOT lose firewire, like MacBook did. One can argue for space and power conservation in a laptop. (I still think it was a mistake for MB to lose Firewire, though)
In a desktop, especially a versatile one, it becomes less of an issue of space, and no battery life consideration. Such a mini desktop might actually take up a slight bit of the slack of the people who want a portable little computer with some audio and video capabilities. it isn't a laptop, but if you have the equipment, displays, and peripherals in more than one place, a small box is easy enough to tote between work areas.
I have been waiting for a Mac Mini upgrade for some time. I want to make the jump to HDTV, and other upgrades... but I want a computer that will REPLACE components, not just add another component, like AppleTV does.
Here is what I would like to see, and if apple comes close, I will be happy, and buy one.
1: A slightly more versatile case design. The mini looks nicely minimalist, but it is not very upgradeable without a puttyknife. Shouldn't be necessary. From the company that brought us the G3/4 series cases, and the G5/MacPro cases that are all VERY simple to open. Even the G4 Cube was easy to open if you disconnected it, and turned it upside-down. I would not have a problem with a slightly larger case, within reason. It should still be quiet, and should still be elegantly simple. But also simple to open.
2: Brought up to date. Penryn, and Nehalem-ready, or whatever the near-term approaching, easy for Apple to speed-bump. Maybe even Quad-core optional, at a price that comes up into iMac territory, for a headless computer below the MacPro. Perhaps BTO only for quad-core. I would settle for Quad-core compatible for third party upgrade.
3: DDR3 RAM, up to 8GB or even 16GB (4 RAM slots x 4GB modules) capacity, for future capability. Apple doesn't need to configure it with that much RAM at the time of sale... but the mere compatibility would be a good thing. Maybe they only sell it with 4x512MB (2GB), or 4x1GB (4GB) configuration, but if someone wanted to spend a boat-load of cash for 4x2GB (8GB), or 4x4GB (16GB), the computer could address it and use it.
Plus it would be less expensive to offer 1 or 2 gigabytes of RAM on 4 smaller capacity, cheaper modules, instead of only two, or one, and probably can take advantage of paired memory schemes. than a single, or un-matched pairs.
4: New NVidia subsystem and graphics, of course. Similar to MacBook and MBP, low option for base graphics, upgradeable to HybridSLI, or whatever they are calling the switchable video system... OR at least an option for a nice dedicated GPU system. MiniDisplayPort for compatibility with new Apple display. MiniDisplayPort adapters to VGA, DVI, or HDMI, Dual DVI, or Dual MDP, to run dual monitors, apple or otherwise. It is ridiculous that the only Mac that can run dual matched monitors is the MacPro.
The option should be there for video performance and dual displays at full speed, or to down-option it for headless use for less money.
5: Ports. All the essentials. USB, of course. E-sata AND FW800, preferably on a chipset that can just be enabled to run FW1600 or 3200, either right away, or at a future date. FW800 is the base, and FW400 users can port-adapt to FW400 devices. It would be nice to have FW400 and FW800 ports, to maintain separate bus speeds, but if I have to choose one, FW800+ has to be it.
It has to keep audio in/out hybrid analog/optical digital. It has to replace my AirPort Express, hooked to my optical-input home theater audio receiver.
It should of course have bluetooth and Wifi-N standard, as well as Gigabit Ethernet. It should have software that can allow the machine to receive AirTunes, and Video streams from other computers on the local network. A SUPER AirPort Express/AppleTV.
It also should definitely keep the IR port, for FrontRow and other home-theater options.
All the things that would make it a GREAT media machine would also probably make it a nice headless desktop, and nicely externally expandable headless server.
6: SATA internal bus.
two drive bays. One for a 3.5" or 2x2.5" hard drives. The second drive bay for an optical drive, or to repurpose for at least one more internal hard drive in place of the optical drive, and a little plate to block the drive slot. I am not sure one could fit two 2.5" hard drives in place of a laptop-style slot-loaded optical drive.
One could run
1x3.5", and 1 optical
2x2.5", and 1 optical
1x3.5", and 1 2.5" instead of optical,
or 3x 2.5" hard drives internally. In addition to external expandability.
Optical drive should be an optional BluRay drive, and HDCP compatible system, to output to an HDTV via MiniDisplay port adapted to DVI or HDMI.
Or you can BTO remove the optical drive, and run optical drive sharing like MacBook Air, to lower costs and moving parts. A headless server might not even need an optical drive at all, if the initial setup can be done by borrowing the optical drive of another mac, like MBA can, or use a removable external optical drive via e-Sata, Firewire, or USB2.
I think the machine should be very configurable, with a good hardware base. Drive systems, and video subsystems should be variable from absent or very basic, to fully involved for a media center or desktop system.
It CANNOT lose firewire, like MacBook did. One can argue for space and power conservation in a laptop. (I still think it was a mistake for MB to lose Firewire, though)
In a desktop, especially a versatile one, it becomes less of an issue of space, and no battery life consideration. Such a mini desktop might actually take up a slight bit of the slack of the people who want a portable little computer with some audio and video capabilities. it isn't a laptop, but if you have the equipment, displays, and peripherals in more than one place, a small box is easy enough to tote between work areas.
"Junk" is a highly variable word. One man's junk is another man's tool.... or whatever.
I believe Apple could make very nice, low-low-end computers for under $500. They would be a joke to all but kids, but they would be cheap and Apple.