I still think there is a gap in the Apple computer lineup.
It used to be a HUGE hole, before the Mac Mini got updated last october, and I agree that the mac mini needs to keep up with the MacBook/13MBP specs.
I think the folks here who are going along those lines are probably about right.
But the Mac Pro is still a world away from Mac Mini, and there are still people who don't want a computer in a monitor like iMac.
If MacMini is the stationary equivalent to a MacBook, then there should be a stationary equivalent to the MacBook Pro, which is NOT the Mac Pro.
The Mac Pro is the server-grade machine on a workstation desk.
The iMac is fine for home office desks, and some workstation desks, maybe.
But there is still a target in the midst of all those products. A blade computer, essentially. Mac Mini Pro is not a bad name.
Something with an i-series processor, dual or quad core, single processor socket machine. Leave the dual socket, multiple core stuff to Mac Pro.
Something with desktop grade RAM. Maybe not an industry standard main board size, but at least an industry standard mini-tower replaceable power supply form factor, and industry-standardized fan sizes. (although high grade quiet fans, please, not loud turbines.)
Something with a decent base integraded video system, but with a few expansion slots (maybe 4, stacked 2x2), but keep it modest.) for putting in dedicated video processing, or other expansion.
Two Gigabit ethernet ports, and option for internal bluetooth and wifi.
Option for optical drive, or multiple hard drive, sans optical drive.
Main 3.5" hard drive fitment, but a tray option to fit a 2.5" SSD. or both, sans optical.
It should include an MDP->HDMI (1.3 with audio included). It should also have the combo analog with optical digital input and output ports, as well as FW800 (2 ports would be nice), plenty of rear, and possibly a front-side USB3 compatible ports (LightPeak as soon as possible, too)
Keep the fans silent, and to a minimum, with good convection flow.
Stand it vertically like a thin mini-tower, or horizontally like an audio component, and offer a fitting kit to rack-mount it.
*Option it for a home or office desktop, Apple 24, 30, or provide your own monitor, dual monitor via MDP -> Dual-view adapter, or video-card expansion.
*Option it slightly differently for a home theater component source, with more power than MacMini.
*Option it with BootCamp, or Steam, and video card upgrades and the things that gamers like, in a desktop that is more powerful and cooler running than a Laptop, but modest enough in size to pack up and take to a LAN party, or move with a college student from place to place.
*Option it for a headless blade server in a rack, like an XServe used to, with multiple hard drives, and no optical drives, or needless video hardware for that role. give it the option to even run from a PCI-E-connected SSD, and use the SATA channels for RAID data storage off of the OS source drive. (again, more power than MacMini Server edition)
Mac Mini would still be a sub-$1000 option. This would not be a replacement for a Mac Mini, nor an easy 1-cord plug-and-play iMac consumer desktop.
Mac Mini Pro would probably start at $1000, without monitor, and build upward toward MacPro's price point. The "Pro" designation would indicate that this is a machine for a power-user with specific tasks to configure the computer for, which the isn't quite as ideal for. iMac ties you to a specific monitor, and can run hot if pushed hard, and is not much internally expandable.
Maybe that isn't as directly attractive to the throngs of mall-shoppers in the AppleStores... but that would be a smaller, more space and cost efficient machine, under a Mac Pro, for people who want a bit more of a serious computer, but still want it to be an Apple that can run Mac OS AND any other OS, as well.
One can dream, but I somehow really doubt Apple will build that machine, considering how long they have ignored that segment, and left the Mac Pro to soldier on as the only pro-grade desktop, even if it is overkill for some.
If computers are trucks, sometimes you only need a small to mid-size pickup truck. A heavy truck or semi truck is way too much, but a side-by-side ATV with a tiny little bed might be fun to tool around on, and easy to use... but not quite hard-working enough. iMac is like a truck that only carries one specific size and shape of cargo, because the truck bed is very specifically shaped.
I'd really consider a mid-sized truck of a desktop computer, and then a quick little runabout iPhone or iPad motorcycle, for quick mobility.
