Very cool idea.. that would be awesome.
Correction: that will be awesome.
I do have a few other products to complete before this one, however.
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Much Smaller Mac Mini Coming?
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Correction: that will be awesome.
I do have a few other products to complete before this one, however.
What I want to know is why on earth doesn't the mini have an 8 core, 3.2GHz processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB HDD, NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 with 1.5GB of GDDR3 RAM and a Blu-Ray burner for $399?
Seriously though, the mac mini seems impossible to justify, considering it has always been poor value compared to the iMac:
Mac Mini + Apple 20" display = $2050AU
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
120GB hard drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive
Intel GMA 950
20" iMac = $1700AU
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory
So the iMac is smaller (more mini than mini) overall and has better specs for $350 cheaper. The only advantage of the mini setup is you get more versatility with the display.
Apple should either kill the mini off or change it into a DVR setup with HDMI, Blu-Ray, apple tv type setup with an HD Tuner.
This is a good reason why your assessment is flawed. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/463920/
Other reasons are:
- The iMac doesn't fit very well in my media center under my TV
- I may find a 20" screen adequate today, but in a year or two, I may need a larger screen. I don't want to have to buy another computer to upgrade my screen. I also don't want to have to migrate 100+ gig of data to a new computer just so I can enjoy a better screen
- If my screen breaks, I don't want to have to send in my computer, I can use a spare screen with a mini until it is repaired.
- If my computer breaks, I don't want to send in my monitor. I could use a spare computer if I had a monitor to use with it.
- If I want to upgrade my computer, I don't want to have to upgrade my screen as well. I love my screen, why should I deal with an outdated computer to stay with a screen I like?
The iMac has most of the downsides of a laptop computer and none of the upsides. Good value? Only for the short-sighted or people with computing needs that rarely if ever change.
Correction: that will be awesome.
I do have a few other products to complete before this one, however.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's been done.
Ironic that you should say that, seeing as that's exactly what you are doing if you do buy a mac mini.
Hencesaltyzoo said:
iEdd said:
The other idea, as said, is to make it slightly larger with a proper hard drive and most things expandable/interchangeable so that it's a more configurable machine.
Really? If I am so short-sighted than why the hell would a buy something that I can't even add a second monitor to. And video editing on a mini, ew.
Video editing on a iMac? ew. A mac pro isn't that much more (if any at all) than a high end iMac.
LoopRumors? Seems reliable??
Just because you want it to be true doesn't make LoopRumors reliable... ever.
Anyone who's been a part of the Apple rumor community for over twelve minutes should know that
I'm not saying Apple won't do this (Heaven forbid! Devine intervention is needed here!) but I am saying that LoopRumor's reliability is exactly why it's Page 2.
-Clive
I think they should put a GPU that's worth a s*** in it. =P
As Ben said, it won't happen.
-Clive
Yeah, I agree - the real GPU and card slot won't happen. Really, it's the hard drive which I think should be replaced with a desktop hard drive, but that probably won't happen either. The Mac Mini will probably stay anemic, the iMac will be better, but no good for people with a second device on the desks (360, PS3, PC, second Mac, etc.), and the Mac Pro will remain out of budgetary reach for many of us, leaving us feeling excluded and unconsidered by Apple lineup.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Don't get me wrong, the iMac is an important piece in Apple's lineup... it is the epitome of simple computing. Unfortunately, there exist non-basic users out there who need more than an iMac, but not 8 cores of server-class processing.
Likewise, the MacMini is an enticing choice for would-be switchers and should stay as a basic, INEXPENSIVE PC.
I've said this for a while, but I truly think the iMac is trying to be more than it should. If Apple were to ease up on the stats of the "top-end" iMac, and offer another Mac (NOT AN AIO!) between the iMac and MacPro, all of the moaning will be alleviated. It doesn't need to emulate "crappy Windows boxes." It just needs to be customizable for the users who want more out of their Mac... and know how to get it themselves!
-Clive
+1
Well put. minis are £400ish, pros £1700, where's my £1k mac I can put a 1TB drive in now, put a 2nd in in a couple of years, and can share my current big TFT (that's got plenty of life in still) with my PC. This is the whole reason I'm at macrumors once again, but am still a "PC guy". And in the meantime I'm gradually getting a complex about my fat chin, brown suit, unfashionable haircut and inability to produce anything other than spreadsheets (and actually some good music too, when I'm not buggering about rebooting as my audio's decided to have a "funny day").
Oh well, at least my PC case has flashing flames on the front to entertain me whilst I make grey pie-charts, and I don't have my friends PC that still doesn't have proper vista drivers for his new pro soundcard, and vista seems to keep corrupting his XP partition that does have drivers...
um. left behind? the mac mini uses very little power. not to mention the cube was even more innovative on this front. and lets not forget the aluminum and glass material used in the new cases. apple is doing fairly well on that front.
I actually followed the link to the source artice and read it. It says "the Mac mini will see a dramatic change in its form factor, with a design that is 'less than half the size' of the current offering. The mini will also see modest speed increases, with significantly larger storage."
So if it's not daydreaming and is actually factual, then maybe we would get a "proper" size HDD if it has "significantly larger storage". However, I don't see how the HDD increase, and a DVD drive can be 'less than half the size' without putting a tiny overpriced-per-gig and not-very-large HDD?!!? Maybe it's a medium-size HDD of ~320GB 5400rpm or small 200GB 7200rpm, and no DVD then?
Mmmm... time to stop my wild speculation, and get back to work...
So if it's not daydreaming and is actually factual, then maybe we would get a "proper" size HDD if it has "significantly larger storage". However, I don't see how the HDD increase, and a DVD drive can be 'less than half the size' without putting a tiny overpriced-per-gig and not-very-large HDD?!!? Maybe it's a medium-size HDD of ~320GB 5400rpm or small 200GB 7200rpm, and no DVD then?
Mmmm... time to stop my wild speculation, and get back to work...
As it has been said over and over again, the Mac Mini is plenty small. I don't understand why Apple would bother working to make the Mac Mini smaller when they should be working on packing extra performance into the Mac Mini. If they can make the current Mini smaller, they should be able to fit some better performance into the Mini at its current size.
If Apple focuses on putting better hardware into the current size Mac Mini, I think that the Mini would be a better and actually worth-while piece of equipment.
If Apple focuses on putting better hardware into the current size Mac Mini, I think that the Mini would be a better and actually worth-while piece of equipment.
I don't think anyone is doubting that this is a possible design direction for the Mini... I just think there's a deep fissure separating people who want a smaller mini and people who want a larger mini.
A larger HDD alone is not going to solve the problem for either camp. For the "shrinkers," it means axing the optical drive, which suits some people, but will widely give the mini the "crippled" or "incomplete" label, requiring either a host PC or another external piece of hardware to be complete. The "growers" are interested in gaining a larger HDD, but also a worthwhile GPU (not a screamer, just something better than the wimpy x3100 - though some are asking for more, but I think this is the most reasonable consensus without being considered a member of the xMac camp).
Obviously Apple can't please both camps and that's why there's such a passionate debate going on about the future of the MacMini.
-Clive
A larger HDD alone is not going to solve the problem for either camp. For the "shrinkers," it means axing the optical drive, which suits some people, but will widely give the mini the "crippled" or "incomplete" label, requiring either a host PC or another external piece of hardware to be complete. The "growers" are interested in gaining a larger HDD, but also a worthwhile GPU (not a screamer, just something better than the wimpy x3100 - though some are asking for more, but I think this is the most reasonable consensus without being considered a member of the xMac camp).
Obviously Apple can't please both camps and that's why there's such a passionate debate going on about the future of the MacMini.
-Clive
What about Apple splitting the Mac Mini product line into too products...
The Mac Air - smaller (ATV size, no superdrive, same current specs, half the price)
The Mac Mini / Nano - a little larger (height wise, more cube like), iMac specs 2.4ghz / 4gb ram / 500gb hd / superdrive, proper sized 3.5" hard drives at a similar price to the current mac minis
Might seem stupid at first but you know we would all want a pimped out Mac Mini with a 500 - 1000 gb hard drive. I'm done with laptop hard drive sizes in desktops.
The Mac Air - smaller (ATV size, no superdrive, same current specs, half the price)
The Mac Mini / Nano - a little larger (height wise, more cube like), iMac specs 2.4ghz / 4gb ram / 500gb hd / superdrive, proper sized 3.5" hard drives at a similar price to the current mac minis
Might seem stupid at first but you know we would all want a pimped out Mac Mini with a 500 - 1000 gb hard drive. I'm done with laptop hard drive sizes in desktops.
I reckon the Superdrive will be an optional accessory, like with the Air.
They'd probably make it stackable though, in the same way as the external hard-drives for the Mini are...Maybe Apple will go crazy about stackable extras, lol...Along with HDs/Superdrives, maybe stackable speakers, stackable routers, stackable USB/FW hubs...the list goes on.
Just a thought
They'd probably make it stackable though, in the same way as the external hard-drives for the Mini are...Maybe Apple will go crazy about stackable extras, lol...Along with HDs/Superdrives, maybe stackable speakers, stackable routers, stackable USB/FW hubs...the list goes on.
Just a thought
Instead of just making it smaller, they should go all the way and just create some kind of all-in-one monitor/computer so you don't have to look at a desktop at all. Then they'd have room in their lineup for a mid-range desktop!!!
Exactly the kind of innovation Apple are looking forInstead of just making it smaller, they should go all the way and just create some kind of all-in-one monitor/computer so you don't have to look at a desktop at all. Then they'd have room in their lineup for a mid-range desktop!!!
Exactly the kind of innovation Apple are looking for
Why all the anti-xMac sarcasm? Who says an Apple-branded tower would liken itself to a typical PC tower? I happen to recall back in 2000, Apple innovated on the tower and created the Cube. It had an upgradable dedicated GPU, HDD, optical drive, RAM, and was so freaking easy to open up. And it was a masterpiece on the outside. Truly a piece of art.
Unfortunately, Apple decided to innovate again, but instead of innovating on the tower, they innovated on the Cube and ended up with the Mini, which is doggone small, but has lost the essence of a tower. That has its advantages, but also its disadvantages. We xMac-ers long for a computer with the essence of the Cube: a perfect harmony of beauty on the outside, yet power and expandability on the inside.
C'mon, Apple: innovate on the tower, and make your long-faithful prosumers happy once again. Free me from this Apple dystopia!!!
-Clive