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Much Smaller Mac Mini Coming?

sighlent said:
I'm going to reiterate the sentiment that the Mac mini is small enough and only needs to be more powerful. [...]
Blu-ray
256MB GeForce 8600M
10-in-1 multicard reader,
HDMI/VGA out (DVI with adapter)
+Multimedia Keyboard and Mouse
Click to expand...

The Mac mini is targeted at switchers. It's an entry-level desktop computer. It doesn't need HDMI. It's pointless to include a keyboard and a mouse. It will not have Blu-ray before the Mac Pro, MacBook Pro and iMac, probably not before the MacBook either.

A 10-in-1 multicard reader requires too many slots for Apple to be able to integrate it into their nice designs. Besides, you can connect your camera directly into a USB port, the camera serves as your card reader.

As for the GeForce 8600M/256MB, I wish. ;)


Shotglass said:
Because most people use them as media centers.
Click to expand...

I wish people would stop saying that as if they had any statistics about it. The Mac mini is a desktop computer, not a media center box. There is even dedicated websites for Mac mini users, such as 123Macmini.com.

Saying that most people use the Mac mini as media centers is as annoying as Windows users who say that most people use Macs for design and art stuff.
 
Yvan256 said:
I wish people would stop saying that as if they had any statistics about it. The Mac mini is a desktop computer, not a media center box. There is even dedicated websites for Mac mini users, such as 123Macmini.com.

Saying that most people use the Mac mini as media centers is as annoying as Windows users who say that most people use Macs for design and art stuff.
Click to expand...
Both assumptions are essentially correct, it just depends on how you define "most". By the way, I use mine as a desktop computer, my mother uses hers as a desktop computer, my father uses his as a desktop computer. Judging from the galleries on 123macmini.com, however, there are a lot of people who do in fact use them as media centers.

As far as that Windows users claim goes, I would say that every Mac user uses their computer for either Art or Music. That's how we're built.
 
Shotglass said:
Both assumptions are essentially correct, it just depends on how you define "most". By the way, I use mine as a desktop computer, my mother uses hers as a desktop computer, my father uses his as a desktop computer. Judging from the galleries on 123macmini.com, however, there are a lot of people who do in fact use them as media centers.

As far as that Windows users claim goes, I would say that every Mac user uses their computer for either Art or Music. That's how we're built.
Click to expand...

Yes, a lot of people use Mac minis as media center computers. However that doesn't make them "most of the users".

And as long as you include beautiful, efficient code in "art", then I agree. :D
 
Yvan256 said:
And as long as you include beautiful, efficient code in "art", then I agree. :D
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I'm all for the beautiful/efficient part (same thing), but being a visual person, I never really liked code. I dabbled in it, but only to realize if I ever was to be a web designer, WYSIWYG was the way to go.
 
Yvan256 said:
The Mac mini is targeted at switchers. It's an entry-level desktop computer. It doesn't need HDMI. It's pointless to include a keyboard and a mouse.
Click to expand...

But how many switchers already have an apple keyboard? ;) (Or at least one with ctrl opt :apple:)
 
I have four clients with Minis and none of them use them for multimedia centers. Unless I see specific data, I'm not willing to assume anything about "most" Mini users.

Even if people in this forum are using Minis for this or that purpose, this forum isn't really going to represent the overall market all that accurately is it?
 
yadmonkey said:
I have four clients with Minis and none of them use them for multimedia centers. Unless I see specific data, I'm not willing to assume anything about "most" Mini users.

Even if people in this forum are using Minis for this or that purpose, this forum isn't really going to represent the overall market all that accurately is it?
Click to expand...

completely agree.

this forum is for MacFanatics. The peeps that use minis 4 media centers probably have MacPro's in their basement and iMac's in their kids bedrooms....

i'd go out on a limb and say 98% of all mini's sold are used as a primary/sole computer.
 
I just think they should put a dedicated video card in it, even if it's just a 8400GT/HD2400PRO

These entry card are way better than integrated, but at the same time have dedicated chips for playing 1080p minimizing the use of the CPU, support HDCP, and support A/V via a DVI to HDMI adapter. These chips are also very cheap. Just 128MB VRAM is enough. Maybe even just 64MB, as long as it's for decent video playback.
 
I just think they should put a dedicated video card in it, even if it's just a 8400GT/HD2400PRO

These entry card are way better than integrated, but at the same time have dedicated chips for playing 1080p minimizing the use of the CPU, support HDCP, and support A/V via a DVI to HDMI adapter. These chips are also very cheap. Just 128MB VRAM is enough. Maybe even just 64MB, as long as it's for decent video playback.
Click to expand...

The thing is X3100 is quite capable in terms of what you have just said. Maybe no HD content acceleration like discrete graphics but we all must remember that Mini is intended to be the cheapest Mac possible. Discrete graphics could increase the price tag by at least 80-100 USD.

Intel is on the works for a proper GPU for quite some time now. Having the biggest market share in graphics business - for people who do not know this, Intel has 60+ % of PC graphics market - Intel is developing a new powerful line of GPUs, and they recently made nVidia's CEO quite angry. HERE

The thing is, Intel's upcoming integrated graphics core, X4500, will be capable of decoding HD content, as well as offering almost 2x performace compared to X3100.

I'm no fan of integrated graphics as they offer no satisfactory performance. I have tested integrated graphics of ATI and nVidia, too and they seem to be slightly better then Intel's offerings bus still far from being enough for creative user.

Again, a 8xxx series discrete graphics would be too expensive for Mini.
 
Yvan256 said:
The Mac mini is targeted at switchers. It's an entry-level desktop computer. It doesn't need HDMI. It's pointless to include a keyboard and a mouse. It will not have Blu-ray before the Mac Pro, MacBook Pro and iMac, probably not before the MacBook either.

A 10-in-1 multicard reader requires too many slots for Apple to be able to integrate it into their nice designs. Besides, you can connect your camera directly into a USB port, the camera serves as your card reader.

As for the GeForce 8600M/256MB, I wish. ;)

I wish people would stop saying that as if they had any statistics about it. The Mac mini is a desktop computer, not a media center box. There is even dedicated websites for Mac mini users, such as 123Macmini.com.

Saying that most people use the Mac mini as media centers is as annoying as Windows users who say that most people use Macs for design and art stuff.
Click to expand...

Maybe my post wasn't clear. I was citing the specs of the new Asus mini PC that they are releasing, not desired for the Mac mini. However many of those points would be nice to see in the Mac mini and most of Apple's other machines.
 
I am using my Mac Mini as Mediacenter. And I switched to Apple, because I needed a stylish, small, quiet and capeable HTPC (HTMAC?) ;)

Now I have a MacBook and will order 2 iMacs after the next upgrade.

I also think, that most users don't use their Minis as Mediacenters. Although, it is perfect to be used as Mediacenter on a LCD TV.

My Mini is 1,83 GHz, 2GB Ram and the Intel 950 shared Graphic on board. I is fast enough to play 720P HD Videos from Quicktime Website.

If the next Mini would come with a HDMI connection with a BluRay drive and would support HDCP, it might be a real break trough.

The underpowered Apple TV is capeable of showing HD Videos, so why shouldn't the much more powerful Mini...?
 
Perhaps if Apple is unwilling to give us our Mid-range headless Mac, perhaps Psystar is?

No doubt you've seen the front-page story about the Psystar "Open Computer" they are selling in violation of Apple's EULA? Suppose Apple issues a Cease-and-Desist (which is frankly quitelikely) and Psystar refuses. Court time ensues. This end one of two ways:

  1. Apple crushes Psystar, but can't help but take not of the buzz thier product generated in the Community
  2. Apple loses to Psystar, and the EULA is deemed not enforcable. Psystar re-opens the Clone market, even without official Apple support.

In either case, the chances are good that someone seeing that the market exists for what we are looking for.

EDIT: I just went to Psystar's site, and evidently, they have an Open Pro workstation... Could this be the precursor to what we're after?
 
MacMini as HTPC

I agree that the mini is for switchers. I was one of them. The low cost enticed me to give OS-X a whirl. Like most, I was hooked and converted. That mini seed led me to buy a Mac Pro. Apple's marketing worked! Now what to do with the mini....it ended up in my family room as a HTPC.

The mini is small, quiet and quite capable of HDMI with the addition of a $15 cable from Ebay. No need to incorporate HDMI into the 'new' mini, but a better GPU and more ram capacity would certainly be welcome!

Does the mini have to be smaller? I don't think so. I don't think it would be wise to eliminate the optical drive either. It would make switching awkward making converts purchase an external optical, if it were targeted to switchers as it is today.
 
rshanahan said:
The mini is small, quiet and quite capable of HDMI with the addition of a $15 cable from Ebay. No need to incorporate HDMI into the 'new' mini, but a better GPU and more ram capacity would certainly be welcome!
Click to expand...

I have tried DVI to HDMI, but the Mini would not address my 42" LCD correctly :(

Also, we do neet the Mini to be HDCP capeable to run copy protected HD Material
 
Yes, but..................

I know the Mini is targeted to switchers, but..........I bought one for my wife (PowerPC version, Tiger OS) because she was being assaulted every day by malware and viruses and I got tired of having to sweep and restore her PC. Since the switch two tears ago, I have NOT ONCE had to lift a finger to "fix" her computer. I recently bought a Core 2 Duo version (basic - Leopard OS) specifically to access multimedia content on my Vizio 37" LCD HDTV. The Vizio is one of the (sadly) few sets that still include a RGB input, so all I needed was a monitor cable and stereo patch cable. set the resolution to match the Vizio and I was in business. If more users realized how easy it is to use the Mini as a media center, Apple might have a whole new market.

Now, as to the "New, Smaller" Mini, I am sick of hearing what we "really" need is a tower. My Mini sits on top of a Iomega external hard drive made specifically for the Mini. Why pay Apple $100 for a measly 80GB upgrade when for $150 you get 500GB plus additional firewire and USB ports. Oh, and the Iomega works with Time Machine like a charm. Thinner would be good for the Mini, but I hope the footprint is retained so that third party peripherals still match up.
 
Nephelim said:
Perhaps if Apple is unwilling to give us our Mid-range headless Mac, perhaps Psystar is?
Click to expand...

The OSx86 project has allowed you to make "Hackintoshes" for some time now out of PC parts.

Unless Psystar does what Apple does and goes with a limited set of hardware that has been tested and confirmed to work with OS X in a stable environment across all OS X applications - like a Mac - I'm not sure how well it will be embraced by the general market since they're not exactly embracing OSx86 with any great passion.

And if Psystar does follow Apple's lead, then it will still be much like Apple (or the old PowerPC clones) - we might have a few more options then we did before, but we're still not going to have "unlimited" options like with Windows-based PCs, which seems to be what many are clamoring for.
 
They should make the mac mini into the desk you would have to put the computer on or even make it into a chair that you would have to sit on to use the computer.
 
It Sucks.

timjimchau said:
its tuesday again !


:D:D:D
Click to expand...

This must be one of the lousiest topics floating around the web. Together with all the other new mini speculation topics on other forums.


NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 6 WEEKS NOW....... :mad:

Apple is a lousy 3d graphic producer (No SLI, No Game Mac) and the X3100 is old dated rubbish that can't even play HD.

That is NOT innovative, but just being cheap to use the same outdated graphics chip for your products.

S-video out/in anyone?? Extra monitor plug in for iMac (hdmi)?? Use Imac monitor as screen only (for PS3 for example?) Use two I macs as 1 computer and share the screen??

No.. Apple has dissapointed me lately with their integrated crap and using laptopcomponents for mac mini is just pushing the price up.

Apple is overpriced for the hardware you get. Build yourself a hackintosh and get a real powerhorse with SLI if needed. Maybe Apple should use the skulltrail motherboard 5400DX for their future Mac Pro. The only downfall on that is that it uses now outdated memory since DDR3 is coming.

Apple can learn something. If they use PC hardware or build phones, use the good stuff please (and non laptop components. :D or outdated technology)


OW and releasing an iphone with 3g and no GPS, while HDSPA is the standard a year ago is also a cheap marketing stunt to let buyers upgrade.

Give me a 160gig Ipod with GPS and HDSPA and then we're talking.

And port OS X to the PC. Thats the only thing I do like at the moment.
 
Macminded said:
This must be one of the lousiest topics floating around the web. Together with all the other new mini speculation topics on other forums.


NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 6 WEEKS NOW....... :mad:

Apple is a lousy 3d graphic producer (No SLI, No Game Mac) and the X3100 is old dated rubbish that can't even play HD.

That is NOT innovative, but just being cheap to use the same outdated graphics chip for your products.

S-video out/in anyone?? Extra monitor plug in for iMac (hdmi)?? Use Imac monitor as screen only (for PS3 for example?) Use two I macs as 1 computer and share the screen??

No.. Apple has dissapointed me lately with their integrated crap and using laptopcomponents for mac mini is just pushing the price up.

Apple is overpriced for the hardware you get. Build yourself a hackintosh and get a real powerhorse with SLI if needed. Maybe Apple should use the skulltrail motherboard 5400DX for their future Mac Pro. The only downfall on that is that it uses now outdated memory since DDR3 is coming.

Apple can learn something. If they use PC hardware or build phones, use the good stuff please (and non laptop components. :D or outdated technology)


OW and releasing an iphone with 3g and no GPS, while HDSPA is the standard a year ago is also a cheap marketing stunt to let buyers upgrade.

Give me a 160gig Ipod with GPS and HDSPA and then we're talking.

And port OS X to the PC. Thats the only thing I do like at the moment.
Click to expand...

not going to happen mate. MACS DO USE PC HARDWARE! clearly you dont know what your talking about.

im afraid apple is not going to give you your "imac screen sharing" thing, and your not going to get a GPS ipod, go buy a iphone for that.

apple has a strict product line and they will stick to it so that they can have products that do not overlap into each others market.
 
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