Yes it does, at the right hand end of the ODD slot. Exactly as the current models do. Look at the pics carefully and you will see it.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
New Mac Mini Announced! [MERGED]
- Thread starter Shorties
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You live in a tiny, mainland European country with an insane population density (1036 per square mile. USA = 83 per sq. mi). Rolling out infrastructure in the Netherlands is easy, quick and profitable, just like it is in Japan and South Korea (other small countries jam packed with people). In many European countries, the government owns all the infrastructure underground and they can roll out stuff like a nationwide fiber network in a jiffy, without a gazillion land owners protesting and negotiating for a cut.
That's not how the world in general works. The US is lagging 5 years behind (they only barely have 3G up and running, and everyone's complaining about dropped calls and laggy data traffic). It's not because they don't have the technology (they invent and manufacture much of it) but because it's a huge ass country with a low population density and a myriad conflicting private interests stalling evolution. The US won't have country-wide 100 Mbit broadband for $35/month for a long, long time. And if Blu-ray is the norm in the country where most movies are made, it will remain the norm elsewhere, no matter how much data your little Dutch router is ready to shuffle.
Or Canada with 9 per square mile and only two ISPs controlling everything in most provinces (Rogers and Bell in Ontario).
As I was reading all these threads and looking at the Apple Store, I was thinking the same exact thing (except for having a machine to sell, that is)! I'd rather use my Lacie DVD drive than a slot drive anyway.
I'll let someone else try it first and report back though!
I think if it were being promoted as a home theater type device (i.e. could replace Apple TV with something that actually has the power to do more than just low bit-rate 720p and maybe even run a few games), size might matter, but even then there is NO NEED for it to be THIS small. Make it even a little larger and it could use full size 3.5" drives you could then get up to 2TB (!) per drive and the server would make a lot more sense with dual 2TB than a lousy dual 500GB (which is pretty pathetic by today's standards). I have dual 1.5TB drives in my Power Mac to serve my whole house audio/video system and I'm down to 50GB of space free. 500GB doesn't cut it and 320GB is a joke. Leave those for notebooks...oh wait.
This IS a notebook without a screen. You might as well buy the low-end Macbook for $200 more and get a 13" media preview screen (you could still connect it to an HDTV with an adapter). There is absolutely NOTHING on this thing that ISN'T "notebook" in terms of hardware. You could almost say the same thing about most iMacs, but then you would be left with a situation where Apple HAS NO DESKTOPS except the Mac Pro and its priced at workstation levels (and getting mighty long in the tooth for that as well these days with absolutely no price reductions to compensate).
I guess what I'm saying is that the size suggests a nice media-player setup, but when you consider you can get a PS3 for $299 that has more gaming power, plays Blu-Ray movies and also can act as a streaming media center (within certain limits), it looks a little less attractive for such uses, but as a desktop, it's almost pointless given the price range so close to the bottom end Macbook which has nearly identical hardware.
I think if the Mac-Mini had the profile of a standard slim DVD player (i.e. thin but wide), it would not only sit under most monitors quite nicely for a "desktop", but it would then have room for at LEAST two 3.5" hard drives, a removable graphics card and could then even have some higher-end CPU options (e.g. a quad-core). In other words, Apple needs an ACTUAL "desktop" line of computers. iMacs and Mac-Minis are more or less just duplicating (with varying monitor options) their notebook lines! Apple doesn't like to "cannibalize" sales, but that's exactly what they're doing, IMO. If as Steve says that desktops are "trucks" then give me an actual TRUCK not a Mini-Cooper being advertised as a truck!!!
Isn't that so with most electronics-tv-radio-dvd player a.s.o.?
Edit: Nowadays they can easily make short proof power supplies yet they don't,I guess its all about money.
I work in Industrial Automation and I have seen power supplies last for 30 years and more,so yes its possible yet not feasible for consumer electronics-things have to break down
Yes, but most electronics don't have personal data stored inside them that you can no longer retrieve once the power supply (or other component) fails. The Time Capsule is rather difficult to take apart to get at the internal drive, thus my complaint that the power supply (a part very likely to fail at some point) is built in and not easily replaced by the consumer.
Maybe I'm not seeing something here but yesterday you could buy the top of the line Mini for $799. The specs are almost identical to the new lower Mini.
Just a very slight reduction in CPU speed but a bump in graphics horsepower. Same HD size but less memory.
Just add $100 to the new Mini for an extra 2 GB of memory and you're at $799.
So trade a slight bump in graphics for a minimal reduction in cpu.
But now you have a nicer case, internal PS, HDMI etc.
So why is everyone so upset?
Not suggesting this a a great update but certainly not as bad as some are saying here.
Just a very slight reduction in CPU speed but a bump in graphics horsepower. Same HD size but less memory.
Just add $100 to the new Mini for an extra 2 GB of memory and you're at $799.
So trade a slight bump in graphics for a minimal reduction in cpu.
But now you have a nicer case, internal PS, HDMI etc.
So why is everyone so upset?
Not suggesting this a a great update but certainly not as bad as some are saying here.
Why no USB 3.0?
When
is trying to justify its cost and profit margins with the new design it will only have USB 2.0 since it was in development for a few months now.
I suspect USB 3.0 will show up in rev.B.
Loss of one USB port?
Big deal, with a BT KB and Mouse you are still left with 4. Stream your content from your iPod Touch/iPhone if you like. This is placed as a media device, this also means death toTV as this merges both lines.
HDMI?
is this version 1.3 or 1.4, not sure. Though I love the inclusion of it.
SuperDrive?
I have not used an Optical Drive in over 3 years, not sure why its still on there, I want the SuperDriveless option without Snow Leopard Server.
I am seriously considering this new MacMini, it hits all the right notes. Do not care about i3/i5 or even a better GPU, for a media centre device it fits the bill. If you are planning on playing new 3D games on this forget it, look elsewhere, I bet iPhone 4 has more GPU power. Then again, I just love this new divice.
When
is trying to justify its cost and profit margins with the new design it will only have USB 2.0 since it was in development for a few months now.I suspect USB 3.0 will show up in rev.B.
Loss of one USB port?
Big deal, with a BT KB and Mouse you are still left with 4. Stream your content from your iPod Touch/iPhone if you like. This is placed as a media device, this also means death to
TV as this merges both lines.HDMI?
is this version 1.3 or 1.4, not sure. Though I love the inclusion of it.
SuperDrive?
I have not used an Optical Drive in over 3 years, not sure why its still on there, I want the SuperDriveless option without Snow Leopard Server.
I am seriously considering this new MacMini, it hits all the right notes. Do not care about i3/i5 or even a better GPU, for a media centre device it fits the bill. If you are planning on playing new 3D games on this forget it, look elsewhere, I bet iPhone 4 has more GPU power. Then again, I just love this new divice.
This is *not* the usual USA/Europe price difference. Its nothing about the usual excuses of tax not being included, import costs (a lot of things are built in the EU), higher labour costs. Its all rubbish.
The reason, is that EU currencies no longer convert to big $$ for Apple and therefore prices have increased. And Apple wants to make more on top. We're talking about, in real terms, at least a US$200 difference for the same product where the Mac mini is concerned. Well i'm sorry, I'm not buying any more Apple products from the UK until Apple sorts this out.
Would anyone in the US pay almost $1000 for the basic Mac mini??????!!!!
The reason, is that EU currencies no longer convert to big $$ for Apple and therefore prices have increased. And Apple wants to make more on top. We're talking about, in real terms, at least a US$200 difference for the same product where the Mac mini is concerned. Well i'm sorry, I'm not buying any more Apple products from the UK until Apple sorts this out.
Would anyone in the US pay almost $1000 for the basic Mac mini??????!!!!
Yep, that Microcenter deal is awesome. And eventually they will have the white one for $799 so the only thing missing on the laptop options is native HDMI.
Cheers,
That's the problem. Every year the most expensive components of the computers are getting cheaper. The CPU in this model costs the same or less that it did when the previous mini came out. This GPU costs the same or less than the prior GPU did when it came out. The hard drive... You get the picture.
HDMI costs little or nothing to add since you are just channeling the video and audio you are already producing through a new connector. It may be a tough argument but I don't even think the new case costs significantly more than the prior case did a year ago since they are doing this case for everything it is probably relatively cheap.
I just see nothing here to justify a price hike and in fact would rather have a larger case with some beefier hardware.
I have a 2007 base mini that I would love to upgrade but the extra $100 premium (which I believe to be ALL profits) is too much of a ripoff so I'll go elsewhere.
Sounds like a good idea, but how are you planning on selling SL server? Does it come on a DVD? Curious to know what the packaging etc looks like for the DVD if it exists....especially as the mac mini server doesn't have an optical drive.
I'm stunned that so many people have rated this article as negative. People were whining about HDMI for so long; now it's here and people still aren't satisfied.
I'm thinking of selling off my Mini and getting the new one. It looks really impressive.
(And BTW, this is the new Apple TV.)
I've changed my opinion on the new Mini a little. Yes, it does still look awesome, but that's about it.
The access panel on the bottom may make the RAM easier to get to, but it's at the expense of everything else. At least on the old model of Mini once you've cracked it open using your kitchen utensil of choice, you have easy access to everything: RAM, HDD(s) and optical drive.
I'd never consider running a business server where I didn't have easy access to replace the HDDs or the PSU, so I really wouldn't go for the Mini Server either.
The access panel on the bottom may make the RAM easier to get to, but it's at the expense of everything else. At least on the old model of Mini once you've cracked it open using your kitchen utensil of choice, you have easy access to everything: RAM, HDD(s) and optical drive.
I'd never consider running a business server where I didn't have easy access to replace the HDDs or the PSU, so I really wouldn't go for the Mini Server either.
I think everyone's waiting to see if Light Peak will take off. It's so much faster than USB 3.0 and Firewire 3200, chances are those two standards will be obsolete before they become ubiquitous... Intel is probably stalling them until they have Light Peak ready for prime time. Apple likes to be the first to introduce new standards (USB, Firewire) so I bet they're working with Intel to be first with Light Peak.
Everything but the Blu...
Beautiful, stylish, could have been the perfect HTPC I was looking for, but without Blu-ray, it really is last generation's HTPC with next generation's prices. I know I can reboot in Boot Camp and connect an external drive, but that's a lot of hoops to jump through just to watch a movie.
Leaving that aside, despite the high price, it is a very nice update in terms of style. Adding HDMI is a really good thing, as is keeping display port for higher resolutions, and for someone with a monitor, it all makes for a really nice little computer.
Beautiful, stylish, could have been the perfect HTPC I was looking for, but without Blu-ray, it really is last generation's HTPC with next generation's prices. I know I can reboot in Boot Camp and connect an external drive, but that's a lot of hoops to jump through just to watch a movie
. Leaving that aside, despite the high price, it is a very nice update in terms of style. Adding HDMI is a really good thing, as is keeping display port for higher resolutions, and for someone with a monitor, it all makes for a really nice little computer
.Why HTPC?
I've seen scores of comments about how good of an HTPC this is. Honestly I would never pay $700 for a computer that I hook up to the TV. I've hooked up my 2007 mac mini and have 1080P output to the big screen + full screen video with no problem. Since that is now two generations old it should be purchasable for $400 or $500. You can stream all your video and do everything this new model does and it is still a good looking box.
For all practical purposes HDMI is just DVI out with audio. Is there really a problem having two cables (DVI/HDMI + digital audio) between a mini and your TV as opposed to one?
I consider myself to be a moderate fanboy but I just can't see paying that huge a premium for the shiny factor of this new model. $300 for an inch shorter? No thank you.
I've seen scores of comments about how good of an HTPC this is. Honestly I would never pay $700 for a computer that I hook up to the TV. I've hooked up my 2007 mac mini and have 1080P output to the big screen + full screen video with no problem. Since that is now two generations old it should be purchasable for $400 or $500. You can stream all your video and do everything this new model does and it is still a good looking box.
For all practical purposes HDMI is just DVI out with audio. Is there really a problem having two cables (DVI/HDMI + digital audio) between a mini and your TV as opposed to one?
I consider myself to be a moderate fanboy but I just can't see paying that huge a premium for the shiny factor of this new model. $300 for an inch shorter? No thank you.
That price really blows for what it is. God I want one though. Bought time they made upgrading the RAM easier.
It's a very sexy design, Ive did a remarkable job as usual and HDMI is a welcome addition, but...I'm stunned that so many people have rated this article as negative. People were whining about HDMI for so long; now it's here and people still aren't satisfied.
- It's $100 more
- In Europe it's $200 more, due to some weird new Europe-exclusive 15% price hike introduced today
- Still no Blu-ray (on a HTPC with HDMI... hello?)
- It addresses a problem that didn't exist - the Mini was already tiny, making it even smaller really doesn't serve any purpose (it's not like it's a pocket device). The only point of making it smaller is to have the ability to say "look how small it is".
That's plenty to generate negative ratings.
Maybe, maybe not. Steve likes to brag about Apple's software making all the difference, but when was the last time Apple showed Front Row any love? Have they done anything with that application since it was originally introduced? Why is Apple allergic to video playlists?
It's the same reason people have to upgrade memory. Because Apple doesn't give enough to begin with.It's called an external HD.
You won't get an argument from me that Macs are better hardware than Low End Windows machines, but when it comes to memory and HDD then cheapie PC's and Premium Macs all use the same stuff. So why do they have 4GB/500GB standard and we get 2GB/320GB and a price hike.