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Mac Mini To Be Discontinued?

Please, No

All our desktops and our server are Minis. They're cheap and reliable. I like the fact I can keep the monitors and swap out the Mac.

Only a midrange tower would make this acceptable.
 
Be a shame if they kill it - I've been kicking around the idea of buying a mini to stick under my HDTV (my macbook spends a suprising amount of time patched into the TV and I'm getting a bit fed up with constantly wiring it in :) ) The Apple-TV is too restrictive for my tastes.

And besides which I would *never* buy an iMac - I don't like all-in-one desktop PCs under any circumstances, let alone one as butt-ugly as the iMac :)
 
Chimaera said:
Be a shame if they kill it - I've been kicking around the idea of buying a mini to stick under my HDTV (my macbook spends a suprising amount of time patched into the TV and I'm getting a bit fed up with constantly wiring it in :) ) The Apple-TV is too restrictive for my tastes.

And besides which I would *never* buy an iMac - I don't like all-in-one desktop PCs under any circumstances, let alone one as butt-ugly as the iMac :)
Click to expand...


Hence the need for a mid-range tower. Apple are you getting it?
 
The Mac Mini is basically for switchers, right? Who else has a decent keyboard, mouse, and display besides a switcher. Because of that, its an incredibly useful strategic product for Apple. I really don't think they'll give that up.

Also, the next logical upgrade from a Mac Mini, assuming you're happy with your display, is a PowerMac, which is likely the most profitable system that Apple can sell.
 
tristan said:
Also, the next logical upgrade from a Mac Mini, assuming you're happy with your display, is a PowerMac, which is likely the most profitable system that Apple can sell.
Click to expand...

What?
A PowerMac costs 3 to 4 times as much as a Mini
That's like going from a Rabbit to a 911 when what you really want is a Passat.
 
so i just went on ebay to see if i could pick up a mini for cheap, no such luck. after reading this thread i want one really bad now and don't have the money for one right now. oh and there are a few refurbished minis on apple.com. still to much money. darn!
 
I, like everyone else one earth, have my heart set on a mac mini set up for media center/sever purposes.
The idea:
Mac Mini + A couple of daisychained LaCie external HDs + Dell monitor = great.

Now throw in Apple Remote Desktop (or CenterStage, I suppose, if it ever gets finished), and that means I could control everything on my Mac Mini from my MacBook Pro...which means I could simultaneously use my MacBook Pro for work/whatever and also use it to remotely control all the media stored on the Mini + external HDs.

...I want that. I want that a lot.
The only way I'll be willing to accept the death of the Mini is if it's replaced by a dedicated media center: meaning I want a cable card in it and some better audio outs.

Otherwise, Apple, don't DARE kill the mini (and/or my fantasies).
 
For some reason I was thinking there was a free version now? Or maybe it's just the client that's free, so I got confused.
 
absurdio said:
I... have my heart set on a mac mini set up for media center/sever purposes.
The idea: Mac Mini + A couple of daisychained LaCie external HDs + Dell monitor = great.

Now throw in Apple Remote Desktop..., and that means I could control everything on my Mac Mini from my MacBook Pro...which means I could ... use my MacBook Pro ... to remotely control all the media stored on the Mini + external HDs.
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The thing is, we're looking at the "Mac Mini To Be Discontinued" in isolation from the "Apple releases X, Y, & Z".

I mean,
* we already suspect AppleTV will have various models before long.
* 10.5 is supposed to have remote desktop built in (ie a free, more limited version), and
* AppleTV was rumoured to have OSX Lite (like the iPhone) but has a 10.4.7 Lite which is certainly much too large to run on the iPhone. So we may be seeing a new AppleTV OS shortly - and AppleTV functionality will change.

We simply don't know, but we will know much more very soon.
The only way I'll be willing to accept the death of the Mini is if it's replaced by a dedicated media center: meaning I want a cable card in it and some better audio outs.
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So if (to make an example) Apple renames the Mini the "AppleTV+" - leaving the CPU as is (unless Intel has a cheaper newer chip), adding a good video card with 1080p, same outputs as AppleTV, leaving the price as is, and running OSX 10.5 Lite (with expandability)... would you call it the death of the Mini? Would you accept it without cable card?

Just saying that we don't know where Apple is going - and while the Mini MAY be forgotten, the AppleTV certainly hasn't been (which is good for you since you are talking about a MacMini media centre).
 
-hh said:
So perhaps the "new mini" is going to be very specifically designed to be a companion to the @TV?

I'm wondering if the strategy is: Apple TV + New Mini = iTiVO?

Looking for the "mystery port" that would let the pieces fall together.

-hh
Click to expand...

Maybe that explains the ethernet port on the back of the Apple TV? :)
 
I'm dubious about this rumor, but if it's true then I'd expect the Mini is being replaced by a mini tower, aka new Cube.

In which place it would be great news!

The guts don't have to be too different from the existing Mini, some expansion slots, upgradable graphics, and a 3.5" drive. Great!

They should be able to come in at around the same price as existing Mini's, and would then be a much better value (at least for people wanting any form of expandability.)
 
Chimaera said:
Be a shame if they kill it - I've been kicking around the idea of buying a mini to stick under my HDTV (my macbook spends a suprising amount of time patched into the TV and I'm getting a bit fed up with constantly wiring it in :) ) The Apple-TV is too restrictive for my tastes.

And besides which I would *never* buy an iMac - I don't like all-in-one desktop PCs under any circumstances, let alone one as butt-ugly as the iMac :)
Click to expand...

Amen, I HATE the idea of an AIO. I've just recently switched via a refurb blackbook, but I've been waiting and wanting to buy a mini since last August. I STILL want to buy a mini, but refuse to do so until it's c2d & .11n -- not so much because I think I'd somehow be limited by the performance of the current product, but just out of principle. I don't want an out of date product, and since I started looking at the mini it's always been intentionally crippled & lagging behind the rest of the lineup. If Apple would keep it up to date, it'd be a fantastic seller.

I'll wait to see what happens, if they actually do discontinue it I might pick it up clearance or refurb on its way out, the $519 refurb isn't too outrageous given that I've got the original 1GB of RAM from the blackbook after upgrading it to 2, so the 1.66 CD w/ 1GB of RAM should suffice for media center duties. But it would really bother me that they're killing a great little product after they've neglected it so badly...
 
mac mini discontinuation...yeah right.

This a brilliant piece of faux free advertising to boost its sales,...lol.

599. and 799. is a great deal if everyone rushes out to buy them expecting that the resale market will pad the price.

How do you say?....250.00 isights?
 
MacMino to be repalce with MacNano

Yhe new MacNano will be based on the AppleTV and will sell for $299 as well.
 
Media PC

I hope they replace it with something better aligned with a media center PC.

My main issue with the current Mini is that it should have a 3.5" drive. That would LOWER cost and allow much larger drives making it more reasonable as a media server. It still needs to be relatively small (for an entertainment center) and quiet, have digital audio output, and video able to play 1080p HDTV.

Like many others I've been waiting to get a Mini, but wanted at least C2D and 802.11n. But I've been skeptical about Apple's plans since they delayed Leopard. I've seen Apple have products miss the market, like the Apple TV and the original Mini. I won't be surprised if they don't replace it with anything arrogantly thinking that people will pay for some high end system if they want to buy an Apple.
 
Sorry, I purchased a mini last Friday, this is my fault. Steve was waiting for me to buy one and then discontinue the whole line. Its a game we play. Sorry to the Mac Commmunity.
 
xnu said:
Sorry, I purchased a mini last Friday, this is my fault. Steve was waiting for me to buy one and then discontinue the whole line. Its a game we play. Sorry to the Mac Commmunity.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. :) Your sacrifice will be remembered.
 
This would suck if Apple discontinued the Mac Mini, I really want to get one when I have enough money. I was planning on doing a really cool mod with it, hopefully this will prove to be false.
 
Apple does not know what to do with Mini

The Mini is a product looking for a market and Apple has never really decided what that market should be. I am using one as media centre and also a backup in case my portable fails. It is affordable and the performance is very respectable. It is also quiet and unobtrusive next to my TV.
 
If they do discontinue the Mini (and I'm more than inclined to believe that they are, seeing as AI went out of their way to say how much they trusted/respected their source), that totally, totally sucks. They are GREAT machines and not only are responsible for getting a ton of really computer savvy geeks into the Mac for the first time in ages, but they were great media servers too. Plus, having a low-priced Mac line-up might not be the most profitable thing for Apple's product line-up, but it does a lot to build it credibility with shareholders (because you can now argue that you do in fact have an alternative to the low-cost PC market, which as has been pointed out, is less important now that laptops have become the defacto choice for most users, unless you are into hardcore gaming or need a desktop for a specific purpose (or you are like me and like to have a monster rig running at all times in addition to having a laptop and a media server), but it is still a market that absolutely exists) and also consumers, who still see Mac as a more expensive option.

If they do discontinue it, I hope the replacement is something similar in vein to the Cube (but without all the overheating issues -- yeesh) -- but I have a feeling it will basically just be a more suped up version of the Apple TV.

Once you hack into the ATV (a friend bought one and we applied most of the available hacks to it -- it's pretty cool once you do that, it sucks if you use it out of the box, I mean, unless you really love the quality of the iTunes movies store...), it basically becomes very similar to a Mini anyway. If they sell a more expensive ATV, that unlocks all the features the current ATV has only through hacks, plus offers consumers a way to use it as a regular Mac, without a lot of strain, that would actually be pretty awesome.

Chances are, they'll supe up the processor, hard drive, OS running underneat the ATV interface, but still require hacks to actually get to the "guts" of the machine. And that's a shame.
 
Well ruse or not I went to the apple store today and got me a base mac mini. Seeing as how I have all kinds of laptop parts lying around I figure why not. Upgraded it to 100gb 7200rpm HD and 2gb of ram and it flies. Pretty fast for 1.66 C2D. Plays full screen 1080i HD no problem. I replaced my desktop PC with it. Now I have another mac and a pc in my office and you can't tell its here.

Love the mac mini.
 
filmgirl said:
Once you hack into the ATV (a friend bought one and we applied most of the available hacks to it -- it's pretty cool once you do that, it sucks if you use it out of the box, I mean, unless you really love the quality of the iTunes movies store...), it basically becomes very similar to a Mini anyway. If they sell a more expensive ATV, that unlocks all the features the current ATV has only through hacks, plus offers consumers a way to use it as a regular Mac, without a lot of strain, that would actually be pretty awesome.
Click to expand...

Do you know whether the Apple TV hacks somehow allow 5.1 surround sound? That's the biggie for me, in terms of the Mac Mini's advantage over ATV.
 
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