New Mac Mini at Macworld San Francisco 2009?

[dolbinau]

LOL!

Is that "They will" "They won't" or "That was a stupid question?"

I don't see what is stupid about thinking that the Mac Mini will fail hard if we have to go out and buy adapters in the off chance we didn't happen to buy an overpriced Apple display.

 

[mrichmon]

How about this combination:

-120GB Hard Drive or 32GB SSD(extra)
-160GB Hard Drive or 32GB SSD(extra)

Does this sound reasonable?

Not likely. It's not like anyone cares about solid state drives for desktop machines.

 

[PVguy]

mini small screen video

"Although you might add they will include a mini 5 " glossy only display built in the top"

With a folding screen like a laptop? I have my stereo cabinet mini connected to a 5" gamecube composite lcd (by way of the composite/s-video adapter) so I can run front row without firing up the TV (connected to the s-video end of the adapter). Plenty good enough for front row. Fits in the stereo cabinet shelf without moving anything. Wireless keyboard and mouse for when I want to do something more, which requires closeview.

I wonder if a DVI monitor switch would let me switch between that composite/s-video adapter and a VGA to component converter. The TV can handle 720P by component, so that would be good enough to do system updates and so forth.

 

[iParis]

YES, FINALLY.
Praise Steve Jobs; even though he won't be presenting the keynote this year.

Hopefully...

Low end - $499 or $599:
2.0GHz
160GB HDD (may only be 120GB)
2GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Superdrive

High end - $699 or $799:
2.4GHz
250GB HDD (may only be 160GB)
2GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphic
Superdrive

Do these specs look familiar? (Hint; one of the products recently updated)

 

[iDave]

Hopefully...

Low end - $499 or $599:
2.0GHz
160GB HDD (may only be 120GB)
2GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Superdrive

So you're hoping for the same specs as the MacBook, only without the display, keyboard, battery and trackpad, for $700 less? It would be nice, but I think unlikely. Realistically, the best I would hope for is that, at $799, and I'd probably go for it.

 

[iParis]

So you're hoping for the same specs as the MacBook, only without the display, keyboard, battery and trackpad, for $700 less? It would be nice, but I think unlikely. Realistically, the best I would hope for is that, at $799, and I'd probably go for it.

Basically.
Although, I wouldn't be surprised if the low end I stated had a 120GB drive and Intel GMA X3100 graphics.
That actually seems more likely.
And why did you mention anything about a battery? Or a trackpad?
Why would a desktop computer need a battery?
Trackpad? That's what the mouse is for, even though you have to pay extra for it.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

Basically.
Although, I wouldn't be surprised if the low end I stated had a 120GB drive and Intel GMA X3100 graphics.
That actually seems more likely.
And why did you mention anything about a battery? Or a trackpad?
Why would a desktop computer need a battery?
Trackpad? That's what the mouse is for, even though you have to pay extra for it.

A trackpad on a desktop would be an interesting concept. I love Apple's trackpads, but it's be kind of awkward putting your hand on top of your tower to use a trackpad

 

[iParis]

A trackpad on a desktop would be an interesting concept. I love Apple's trackpads, but it's be kind of awkward putting your hand on top of your tower to use a trackpad

YA, but no desktops from Apple have ever come with a trackpad.
And yes, putting my hand on top of a Mac Mini to move the cursor would make me lol.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

YA, but no desktops from Apple have ever come with a trackpad.
And yes, putting my hand on top of a Mac Mini to move the cursor would make me lol.

I didn't say I thought it was going to happen. I just said it's an interesting concept (i.e. it's funny that it's mentioned). I would hope they wouldn't do that. The only way I could see that being utilised is if (and I would be interested in this) they made an option for the desktops to replace the standard keyboard with a keyboard like it, except that there's a trackpad as part of the keyboard. I really love Apple's trackpads, and I think an Apple Keyboard with a trackpad instead of the number pad for like $60-70 would be cool, rather than the Keyboard + Mouse for over $100. That's an off-topic rant, though.

 

[iDave]

Basically.
And why did you mention anything about a battery? Or a trackpad?
Why would a desktop computer need a battery?
Trackpad? That's what the mouse is for, even though you have to pay extra for it.

Basically a MacBook, minus the keyboard, battery, trackpad and display for $700 less than that MacBook is unlikely. Make sense now?

 

[TurboSC]

They better come out with something. It seems they're losing momentum. I don't blame them, the economy is going to **** as well. Fun times.

 

[iParis]

Basically a MacBook, minus the keyboard, battery, trackpad and display for $700 less than that MacBook is unlikely. Make sense now?

Yes, indeed.
It doesn't sound like a bad idea though, does it?

 

[iDave]

Yes, indeed.
It doesn't sound like a bad idea though, does it?

As I said earlier, it'd be nice but the best I'd expect is $500 less. This is Apple we're talking about here.

 

[iParis]

As I said earlier, it'd be nice but the best I'd expect is $500 less. This is Apple we're talking about here.

Ya, but remember that the Mini hasn't been updated in awhile.
And in a later post I stated maybe the low end will have a 120GB HDD and the same graphics as the current white plastic MacBook.

 

[PCFan]

I use a 32" Insignia LCD TV as my computer monitor and I don't want to replace it with an all-in-one computer such as an iMac, and I can't afford a notebook that starts at 999$ for the last generation model. The Mac mini would be perfect for me, it's just that 650$? I could get a desktop PC with Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs, 6GB of RAM, 640GB of HDD and a 22" monitor for that price. Make the Mac mini a little more updated at half of the price of the current one, and count me in as a first-time Mac user.

 

[iDave]

Ya, but remember that the Mini hasn't been updated in awhile.

Proving Apple doesn't care about the mini.

And in a later post I stated maybe the low end will have a 120GB HDD and the same graphics as the current white plastic MacBook.

That, I would expect for $599. It's far more likely than expecting the specs of the new aluminum MacBook in any Mac mini; even at the high end.

 

[iDave]

Make the Mac mini a little more updated at half of the price of the current one, and count me in as a first-time Mac user.

Sorry to break it to you but the Mac mini will never go below $599 again. If that was going to happen, the price of the current outdated one would have been lowered by now.

 

[iParis]

I use a 32" Insignia LCD TV as my computer monitor and I don't want to replace it with an all-in-one computer such as an iMac, and I can't afford a notebook that starts at 999$ for the last generation model. The Mac mini would be perfect for me, it's just that 650$? I could get a desktop PC with Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs, 6GB of RAM, 640GB of HDD and a 22" monitor for that price. Make the Mac mini a little more updated at half of the price of the current one, and count me in as a first-time Mac user.

I highly doubt the Mac Mini is going to drop to $300.
And remember, your PC most likely runs Windows [Vista], OS X.
Also, because Macs mainly run OS X they don't need 6GB ram.

 

[PCFan]

I highly doubt the Mac Mini is going to drop to $300.
And remember, your PC most likely runs Windows [Vista], OS X.
Also, because Macs mainly run OS X they don't need 6GB ram.

Yes, I use Windows Vista Home Premium.
Apple is like the only company that still doesn't have an affordable Core 2 Quad core CPU. HP has the one I mentionned for almost 700$ (with 6GB of RAM, 640GB HDD). Who in their right mind would pay 100$ more for a computer with:

-No screen
-No keyboard
-No mouse
-1GB of RAM
-120GB of HDD
-Graphics with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM
-Intel Core 2 Duo

I could get an Acer or eMachines desktop for 300$ with better specs than that:

-No screen
-Keyboard included
-Mouse included
-Speakers included (although they're crappy)
-1GB of RAM
-160GB of HDD
-NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 with 256MB of dedicated memory
-Built in media card readers
-DVD+/-RW drive
-AMD Athlon 64+ 3800

So much more for half the price, except for a slower processor.

The only thing making me think about getting a Mac is Mac OS X and the beauty of the machine, but I'm not willing to pay 800$ for a computer with specs A LOT lower than one for a 100$ less.

 

[nick9191]

2.0 Core 2 in both models
1gb and 2gb DDR3
120 and 160gb Drives, SSD BTO.
Superdrive
9400M
Mini DisplayPort
No Firewire on low end model, possibly none at all.
$599 and $799 (£449 and £549)

If your hoping for anything else then you're delusional

 

[iDave]

The only thing making me think about getting a Mac is Mac OS X and the beauty of the machine, but I'm not willing to pay 800$ for a computer with specs A LOT lower than one for a 100$ less.

I know how you feel. I just broke down and bought my first windows portable for $500 (a netbook). The closest Apple had, price-wise was $999. The closest Apple had, weight-wise was $1800. I decided Mac OS wasn't worth it in this case. But this is a Mac mini forum. Sorry for straying off-topic.

Mac mini specs will likely improve soon. How much is yet to be seen.

 

[Tallest Skil]

2.0 Core 2 in both models
1gb and 2gb DDR3
120 and 160gb Drives, SSD BTO.
Superdrive
9400M
Mini DisplayPort
No Firewire on low end model, possibly none at all.
$599 and $799 (£449 and £549)

If your hoping for anything else then you're delusional

Have the top model have a 2.2GHz processor and you have it in the bag.

 

[Cave Man]

The Mac mini would be perfect for me, it's just that 650$? I could get a desktop PC with Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs, 6GB of RAM, 640GB of HDD and a 22" monitor for that price. Make the Mac mini a little more updated at half of the price of the current one, and count me in as a first-time Mac user.

I don't think you "get" the Mini.

Yes, I use Windows Vista Home Premium.
Apple is like the only company that still doesn't have an affordable Core 2 Quad core CPU.

That's because all Macs, other than the Mac Pro, are based on notebook components. There's a glaring hole in Apple's lineup, but you're not going to see a Mini with anything other than notebook components.

HP has the one I mentionned for almost 700$ (with 6GB of RAM, 640GB HDD)...I could get an Acer or eMachines desktop for 300$ with better specs than that:
<snip familiar list of pc components that have very little to do with the Mac Mini>

Can you put all that in an enclosure that's 6.5" x 6.5" x 2", uses very little electricity and silent? And can you show us benchmarks for those PC's? I suspect they don't compare to the Mini.

So much more for half the price, except for a slower processor.

But Win PCs are less efficient than Macs. Check out Geekbench - when you find Macs and PCs with identical cpus, the Macs always score better. There's more to a computer's performance than cpu gHz. And there's more to a computer than speed.

The only thing making me think about getting a Mac is Mac OS X and the beauty of the machine, but I'm not willing to pay 800$ for a computer with specs A LOT lower than one for a 100$ less.

Well, then you have two options. Buy a PC with winblows, or build yourself a hackintosh.

 

[VoR]

Can you put all that in an enclosure that's 6.5" x 6.5" x 2", uses very little electricity and silent? And can you show us benchmarks for those PC's? I suspect they don't compare to the Mini.

The mini is basically mini-itx with the edges shaved off (the 0.2" - sure you could get more off without needing the mounting screws) right?
There's all sorts of motherboards you can get in this form factor that will take any cpu - cheap desktop quads included, even intel sells one off the shelf for cheap.

There's lots of nice cases you can buy with all the money left over. I didn't care about the mini's exact form factor, and got an omaura tf5 case - and much prefer the look.

 

[Cave Man]

But you'll have a fan running at all times. Noisy.

Mini is silent (except for HB encodes).

Edit: just looked at your omaura - it's a lot bigger than a Mini's enclosure and about US$200.