New Mac Mini at Macworld San Francisco 2009?

[Tallest Skil]

No one knew anything.

A few weeks ago, someone said that they had contacted Apple and a spokesperson had told them that they hadn't forgotten the Mini and that an update was imminent.

There wasn't any more than that, so you wouldn't really think that it's good enough evidence, but for some reason, perhaps because there hasn't been an update in over 400 days, perhaps because Apple already said the current lineup was the holiday lineup and therefore they're just clearing out old stock, I believed that.

So yeah.

I mean, seriously. If they wanted to kill it, they wouldn't wait for an event. They'd just take it off the store quietly like they did with every other product they discontinued minus the iPod mini.

 

[VoR]

I'm guessing it'll be another nearly-mac, with some things improved and some thing gimped.

I'd be very surprised if it isn't just the aluminium MacBook in box minus the screen and keyboard/trackpad, just like the current mini is basically an old MacBook in a box minus the screen and keyboard/trackpad.

I'm hoping it's basically this, a macbook in the mini case.

I'm not fussed about expansion cards, firewire, dp (assuming they include a hdmi/dvi adapter and digital sound) and the optical drive - but more than anything, I'd like it to be a sensible price - Not exactly apple's expertise.

I think being able to vesa mount it the back of a screen would be quite a nifty idea but I can't see that happening. A 3.5" disk with some airflow would be a big improvement in my opinion.

The current lower priced mini should be the upper price bracket. I could justify recommending them to anyone buying a computer, buy one for every tv in my house and I'm sure the osx market share on the home desktop would drastically change overnight.

 

[organerito]

For a mac, yes.

But, to put it into context, my last sale today was a Gateway tower. Quad core processor, 6GB memory, 640GB HD and a 512MB Nvidia 9600. For the price of the base mini, $599. Yes, I know it doesn't run OS X. The base mini should be $400, not $600.

I am curious about a mac, but I'll never pay the same amount of money for something with half the features and power.

 

[joemama]

How about this combination:

---$599---
-2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
-2GB memory
-120GB Hard Drive or 32GB SSD(extra)
-SuperDrive

Does this sound reasonable?

How about NO drives? Just like the AirBook, IF you need a drive, you can buy the ad-on one, or perhaps stream from another computer.

When Apple waits so long between updates, it's generally because of a redesign. My guess is smaller size, different build materials, better specs, AND the Apple TV incorporated on the higher model.

--- $399 ---
-2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
-1GB memory
-120GB Hard Drive or 32GB SSD(extra)

--- $599 ---
-2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
-2GB memory
-200GB Hard Drive
-Firewire
-AppleTV w/HDMI out

We can dream, right?

 

[MrZebra]

I'm happy with my current Mini but aside from FW elimination, any change will be welcomed (especially if you consider that it's been so long since the last upgrade that anything would be an improvment), but I for one would like to see desktop parts in apple desktop line; that's my only wish.

 

[fithian]

MacMini Specs

No firewire. (but really need it)
2.0 and 2.4 GHz
2.5 drives up to 500 GB
2GB Memory upgradeable to 6GB (third party)
Easy to open case.
Same graphics and proc as new MacBook w/displayport
BT, GigE, Superdrive, optical audio, and wireless-N
Price $599 & up; Educ price $549
Fully loaded about $1200.

 

[theamazingkazoo]

Yay Yay Yay Yay!

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[Tallest Skil]

Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay!

They'll be all "boos" when you see specs that you don't want. The minimum price will still be $599.

 

[cmegens]

What about a mix between Apple TV and Mac Mini? A lower processor, say a 1.8 or 2.0 dual core and a 9400 nvidia chip, 160gb HD and 1GB of memory for 399, with all the apple TV ports? Even if they do it with an intel x4500 it would still be very interesting... Especially for that price.

But please apple, no more putty knives. Bring back that G4 Cube magic, which you could flip open and work on. That was amazing stuff, and I know Johnny is up for it!

 

[gkarris]

They'll be all "boos" when you see specs that you don't want. The minimum price will still be $599.

Well, as I said before, I can now see $500, as it's only going to have X3100, 1Gig RAM, 120 Gig HD (like the White MacBook), no more FW, no more Remote, heck, no more Ethernet can be a possibility (use the Ethernet USB adapter) - but Ethernet available on the "higher end".

 

[dernhelm]

Apple won't be shipping any new computers without an actual video card in them. It won't be any better than the one in the new MacBook, but you'll at least get that.

They're prepping their new lineup to be opencl enhanced.

 

[Edge100]

I hope so, I want to build my new media center out of one of these and I'm holding off to get a new one.

Exactly my situation. I keeping switching between getting an aTV and a Mini, and if this revision brings 802.11n and a decent graphics card to the Mini, I'm sold. It would be nice to see Firewire retained as well, but not absolutely essential for my purposes.

A small price cut would be nice too...

 

[milo]

This is another reason that Apple will probably be coming out with a new Mac Mini. People would always go with the Mac, because it probably has better hardware than a Pystar.

I wouldn't count on that. The mini will certainly be better than the old version, but based on its track record there's a good chance it will still lag machines that are even cheaper.

The mini has been a blunder from day one, specifically the decision to go with a form factor that requires laptop parts. It will likely ALWAYS be uncompetitive until they redesign to something bigger that can use desktop parts. At this point I'd rather see them dump it in favor of a small tower, it would have the potential to be much better AND cheaper.

 

[javierbds]

Agreed. The mighty mouse is kind of a failed design in my eyes. If it touches its cable or the flat Apple keyboard, you can't click it, lifting the left finger to right-click is unergonomic. The scroll ball is nice, but there's no way to clean that thing really. But worst of all, the tracking sensor is utter crap. I also don't like the way Macs handle cursor movement, the acceleration curve is just too steep.

The trackpads on the other hand are excellent. I use my Macbook's trackpad much more often than I use my mouse (Logitech G5). So a large glass trackpad would be pretty neat.

Yep, replaced my "mickey" mouse with a 5 euro mouse (this one works). You need a dark completely uniform color surface for it (mickey) to work ok. I miss the scroll ball, but it only worked for a year ...

 

[mags631]

NO, lol, not reasonable at all.

Heck for that price, you're betting off forking the extra $100 or so and getting the last gen MacBook.

Small form factor implies more expensive than a "normal PC," although Apple's pricing will allow them to claim "cheapest Mac" to market towards the budget folks who are considering a Mac.

A similarly priced Dell Studio Hybrid with a 2GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, wireless networking and Vista Home Premium is $549.

Personally, I don't trust the speculated hard drive specs -- I would guess these would mirror the MacBook: 160 or 250. The CPU specs may also mirror the MacBook as well.

 

[milo]

Apple won't be shipping any new computers without an actual video card in them. It won't be any better than the one in the new MacBook, but you'll at least get that.

They're prepping their new lineup to be opencl enhanced.

I doubt it. Some cheaper machines probably won't support opencl.

Small form factor implies more expensive than a "normal PC," although Apple's pricing will allow them to claim "cheapest Mac" to market towards the budget folks who are considering a Mac.

A similarly priced Dell Studio Hybrid with a 2GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, wireless networking and Vista Home Premium is $549.

But if you want a cheap PC, there are options cheaper than the dell "mini". Many users could care less about the form factor, they just want the cheapest mac available.

 

[funkyp56]

How about this combination:

---$599---
-2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
-2GB memory
-120GB Hard Drive or 32GB SSD(extra)
-SuperDrive

---$799---
-2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
-2GB memory
-160GB Hard Drive or 32GB SSD(extra)
-SuperDrive

Does this sound reasonable?

Sounds perfect, but give it the Macbook Pro graphics PLEASE!!! that Dual Vid car would fit perfect in here!!!

 

[Tallest Skil]

Sounds perfect, but give it the Macbook Pro graphics PLEASE!!! that Dual Vid car would fit perfect in here!!!

Don't get your hopes up.

 

[Maxington]

Aluminum enclosure. Mini DisplayPort.

As for the guts, think AppleTV + Mac Mini

Perhaps an AppleTV with DVR capabilities?

Starts at $499

I would take a OS X with the Mini with aTV capabilities... this would solve a lot of problems.

 

[SleepyHead157]

i'm going to want a new mac mini for work or home so i won't have to carry my macbook every day. this is welcoming news

 

[nixfu]

I will tell you one thing....


If they DON'T have a new Mac Mini at MWSF.....


I AM GOING TO build a new hackintosh.



I have been waiting as long as I can, and this is pretty much the do or die for me and apple's hardware relationship.

 

[huntercr]

Hi,

I'd like a 3.5" hdd in it this time.

Keep the FireWire port.

And no putty knives, please.

s.

Ditto for me. The 3.5inch HDD, and easy upgrading would be awesome.
802.11n and the video chipset from the new Macbooks is probably a no brainer here too.

I'd love to see 3 or 4 dimm slots ( can you do odd numbers with a system like this? ) instead of just 2 but I doubt they'll do that.

 

[ddTaylor]

Any Mac Mini is still going to be crazy expensive compared to a PC desktop. I'd like to see the specs, but I'll prepare to be disappointed.

EDIT:

If those aren't high prices, I don't know what high prices are. Try cutting your prices in half. Then they'll be a bit more reasonable.

This is APPLE we are talking about - and they are NOT into low-prices. Period. I wish they were - but it seems as though their current pricing model is working - as much as I disagree with that model. While those prices are higher than any PC of similar specs - for Apple, they are reasonable and that is why those will not be the prices as they are too 'reasonable' for Apple - expect the prices to be higher and the specifications to be lower - and NO FIREWIRE! I own two MBP's, a 20' iMac, a PB 15" and eMac. I went the hackintosh route for my main editing computer. I also have OS X on my Acer One with excellent results.

D

 

[iWizzard]

I gont care if if it has an 486SX processor, all I want is

- 1080p (and everything related to that like 7,1 sund HDM etc)
- low price
- small/nice design

 

[Tallest Skil]

- low price

$599 good enough?