Exactly!! I can't believe that Apple would use mini-DVI when they have made such a big deal about the mini-displayport. I would say if anything it would be 2 mini-displayports or 1 DVI and 1 mini-displayport.
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Mac Mini to Gain Support for Dual Displays?
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Exactly!! I can't believe that Apple would use mini-DVI when they have made such a big deal about the mini-displayport. I would say if anything it would be 2 mini-displayports or 1 DVI and 1 mini-displayport.
If this is true it would be AMAZING. Apple will finally provide an entry level desktop (of sorts) that has dual monitor support. Right now I'm on the fence with my latest Mac purchase because I don't need the power or the price tag of a $2600 Mac Pro and I really don't want an all-in-one like the iMac. As it stands I have no options (save for a Hackintosh) so this new Mini would be extremely tempting for me.
I suppose my only question is, how decent is this chipset? I don't expect to do any real gaming here but it'd be nice to be able to play Warcraft. Worst case scenario I go just use my PC for that (it's got an ATI-Radeon HD 2600) but I'd like to stay on the Mac, if possible.
you are wrong it is precisely for this reason it makes total sense. It is a computer designed to work with the display you already have, so they can't alienate those people by forcing them to buy an apple display, it defeats the purpose, but at the same time, they want it to work with their product hence the mini display port.
the real question is not will it have two inputs but will you actually be able to use two monitors with it, having two inputs doesn't mean the video card will support two monitors it just means it can support a wider selection of monitors. this is especially a concern on a mac mini.
A bit off-topic, but my brother brought his white MacBook during the holidays, and let me tell you: the MagSafe connection of his MacBook feels stronger than the power connection of both my G4 and Core 2 Duo Mac minis.
And as others said: it could allow Apple to streamline power supply inventories by moving all products to MagSafe (only stock 110W power supplies, etc).
As for the mini DisplayPort, as long as there is a mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter included, I don't care. I hope they also make a mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter because IMHO not all potential switchers have a DVI-capable monitor. Heck, I had a 14" CRT VGA monitor when I bought my Mac mini G4.
As for the rumor of supporting dual displays, doesn't the DisplayPort standard allows that? ex: If you use the VGA/DVI adapter you can only use one display but if you use the mini DisplayPort directly you can use two displays?
And as others said: it could allow Apple to streamline power supply inventories by moving all products to MagSafe (only stock 110W power supplies, etc).
As for the mini DisplayPort, as long as there is a mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter included, I don't care. I hope they also make a mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter because IMHO not all potential switchers have a DVI-capable monitor. Heck, I had a 14" CRT VGA monitor when I bought my Mac mini G4.
As for the rumor of supporting dual displays, doesn't the DisplayPort standard allows that? ex: If you use the VGA/DVI adapter you can only use one display but if you use the mini DisplayPort directly you can use two displays?
Hdmi?
HDMI would be the best, to bridge that gap, but it's doubtful, though it'd be great.
I think two mini display ports with maybe one mdp to dvi adapter would be best if no HDMI. Hey how about all three??
As far as the magsafe, it doesn't make sense, BUT I have barely tapped the power on the mac mini when trying to plug in the firewire and the mac mini has restarted. So.. maybe a MagSafe wouldn't be any worse?
HDMI would be the best, to bridge that gap, but it's doubtful, though it'd be great.
I think two mini display ports with maybe one mdp to dvi adapter would be best if no HDMI. Hey how about all three??
As far as the magsafe, it doesn't make sense, BUT I have barely tapped the power on the mac mini when trying to plug in the firewire and the mac mini has restarted. So.. maybe a MagSafe wouldn't be any worse?
Well, I'm glad Apple finally invented the ability for computers to have two displays running at once. Maybe PC vendors will take note and add this to their products.
Current trends? The MBA removed most ports, not just firewire and it was quite clearly for size/space issues - design took priority over all those ports. With regards to the MB, this isn't a direct comparison in the slightest, one is a desktop for switchers (designed to maximise compatibility with their previous products) and another is a laptop. So to be honest, it's quite unclear whether or not firewire will still be there.
With regards to the Mini itself, I'd been quite interested in buying them once they went to C2D but graphics held me back as I'd like to be able to at least play my old(er) games from my PC. Basically, if this new Mini can play HL2 source engine well then I'm pretty much sold (Once my uni scholarship comes through in January!)
HDMI would certainly simplify home theater setups, but I just don't see it hapening. They would rather have you buy an ATV
maybe now they would rather have you buy a mac mini and start to phase the appletv back.
For starters when data is coming out of a port its called an output.
You obviously didn't read everyones posts before yours because you would have caught on that having Mini DisplayPort still allows you to use DVI and VGA monitors with an Apple adapter. If you need to have an adapter to use Mini DVI then why not just have Mini DisplayPort with a DVI adapter and cease confusion and waste of space.
On another note...
I'm not sure what to think about the Firewire issue, I think they removed it from the MacBook solely to create enough distinction between the Pro and non Pro models. They haven't removed it from any other system yet, so we will see. If Apple nixes Firewire they better offer their Home Server solution at MWSF.
That would be awesome. This would allow me to purchase a semi low-end mini and run dual monitors, which is a luxury I don't have with OSX for under $1000 currently without a lot of effing around.
AppleInsider has one of the longest standing and most consistent records in the realm of Apple rumors. Just look at how many Mac Rumors articles come from AI. Not to mention they do great articles outside of rumors, the Snow Leopard ones in the last year were excellent.
Off topic
Hadn't thought about it before, but I'm thinking it would look pretty awesome. Since the glass is edge-to-edge, the two monitors would much more easily blend "as one". There'd be a "dead zone" in the middle, of course, but at least it would all look like a continuous screen surface. I think it's the odd, raised plastic/metal bezels on all other monitors that is the most distracting in a dual-monitor setup, not the distance between the two center pixels.
(And the new bezel isn't particularly thick in the first place.)
Hadn't thought about it before, but I'm thinking it would look pretty awesome. Since the glass is edge-to-edge, the two monitors would much more easily blend "as one". There'd be a "dead zone" in the middle, of course, but at least it would all look like a continuous screen surface. I think it's the odd, raised plastic/metal bezels on all other monitors that is the most distracting in a dual-monitor setup, not the distance between the two center pixels.
(And the new bezel isn't particularly thick in the first place.)
Have to agree with the poster who said:
"why DVI, if mDP is compatible?"
They HAVE to put adapters in the box. This machine is not initially configurable without a monitor, in a practical sense, and for 98% of it's use, it will be connected to some sort of video output device.
Why would they go to MiniDVI, when they can just do TWO miniDP ports?
One miniDP->DVI output adapter
One miniDP->VGA output adapter.
Extra cost (like 17$, or something) to buy a second one if you want to run dual monitors. Hardly an issue compared to the cost of purchasing two identical monitors. AND, if they want to they can run two new Apple LED displays side by side, without ANY adapters, and a spare magsafe port.
And why not magsafe on a mini? I have 3 magsafe adapters on my workbench and plug laptops in and out all day every day. I work on them for a living. It is a decent system, in that it holds better than a friction fit under normal circumstances, and pulls cleanly away if something gets tugged accidentally, usually before it pulls the computer off it's table or desk.
I have been waiting for an inexpensive, modest-power Mac to run my workstation. I don't need a MacPro for Excel, web-interface, e-mail, and information display. I certainly don't need the furnace or jet turbine sound on my desk. But I do use dual monitors for screen real estate. I don't like the bulky DVI to ADC Adapter I have to use to run dual ADC apple monitors, though. But I already have that hardware. A small little dongle adapter is not nearly as much of a problem.
I could also use one for a little NetBoot server, with a big archive-store hard drive, and might not even need a permanent monitor with the OS's screen sharing abilities, but I would need FIREWIRE, for said external storage and backup.
I also want one for a HTPC, so adapters from mDP -> DVI or the third party adapter to HDMI are fine for that, or a HD monitor with DisplayPort, if that ever happens.
IF they do this right, it will be very versatile, and that is what will save and promote this little gem of a computer, is an upgrade that brings even more versatility.
"why DVI, if mDP is compatible?"
They HAVE to put adapters in the box. This machine is not initially configurable without a monitor, in a practical sense, and for 98% of it's use, it will be connected to some sort of video output device.
Why would they go to MiniDVI, when they can just do TWO miniDP ports?
One miniDP->DVI output adapter
One miniDP->VGA output adapter.
Extra cost (like 17$, or something) to buy a second one if you want to run dual monitors. Hardly an issue compared to the cost of purchasing two identical monitors. AND, if they want to they can run two new Apple LED displays side by side, without ANY adapters, and a spare magsafe port.
And why not magsafe on a mini? I have 3 magsafe adapters on my workbench and plug laptops in and out all day every day. I work on them for a living. It is a decent system, in that it holds better than a friction fit under normal circumstances, and pulls cleanly away if something gets tugged accidentally, usually before it pulls the computer off it's table or desk.
I have been waiting for an inexpensive, modest-power Mac to run my workstation. I don't need a MacPro for Excel, web-interface, e-mail, and information display. I certainly don't need the furnace or jet turbine sound on my desk. But I do use dual monitors for screen real estate. I don't like the bulky DVI to ADC Adapter I have to use to run dual ADC apple monitors, though. But I already have that hardware. A small little dongle adapter is not nearly as much of a problem.
I could also use one for a little NetBoot server, with a big archive-store hard drive, and might not even need a permanent monitor with the OS's screen sharing abilities, but I would need FIREWIRE, for said external storage and backup.
I also want one for a HTPC, so adapters from mDP -> DVI or the third party adapter to HDMI are fine for that, or a HD monitor with DisplayPort, if that ever happens.
IF they do this right, it will be very versatile, and that is what will save and promote this little gem of a computer, is an upgrade that brings even more versatility.
This assumes Apple won't include an adaptor for those who purchase this unit.
The "switchers" that the Mac Mini would attract, would have NO idea if they needed DVI or VGA
