The Mini sells for $599 starting price...
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_mini
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Whispers Suggest a Mid November iMac and Mac Mini Updates
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The Mini sells for $599 starting price...
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_mini
Awesome! I've been waiting since September to get my iMac, because I knew they would update them this winter. *Crosses Fingers*
SphereCat1
SphereCat1
That depends on (1) how the movie is encoded, (2) which Mini, and (3) what playback software. If you have (1) a blu-ray rip with a (2) 2 gHz Mini with 2 gb or more RAM and (3) Plex, you'll be fine for 90% or more of the movies.
I love my G4 Mac mini and the only weakness it has is its combo drive. What would make the Mac mini catch up to modern times is a superdrive in every model. As for speed it only feels a little slower than my dad's core duo iMac running 10.4 OSX.
Any $599 offering on the PC side, desktop or laptop, have superdrives. Even $499 PC laptops often have superdrives and all these PCs have core duos.
Apple should make the top end Mini mac their bottom end, and add some speed, considerably more hard drive space, and more RAM on their higher end model.
Any $599 offering on the PC side, desktop or laptop, have superdrives. Even $499 PC laptops often have superdrives and all these PCs have core duos.
Apple should make the top end Mini mac their bottom end, and add some speed, considerably more hard drive space, and more RAM on their higher end model.
Maybe for small things, but the speed difference between the G4 in the Mini and the CD in the iMac is huge! I updated from a single 1.8 G5 to 1.6Ghz CD, and the time for things like ripping a DVD is a huge cut!
I'm hoping for a nice Mac Mini so I can upgrade my CD machine but as it stands, the upgrade is not worth it(for me)
So I wait
See, now I hope you are wrong about losing firewire, but I agree with you about consistency of Nvidia chipset and integrated video across the line, for use with MiniDisplayPort, and the Apple LED Monitors.
There is no reason for them to ditch firewire on a stationary-use machine. One could argue that space at the edges of the THIN MacBook was at such a premium that they couldn't include it, with it's chipset very easily... MAYBE. But the 15 MBP does have it, and perhaps it was a space consideration.
But on a desktop-based machine, there should be enough real-estate inside even a Mac Mini form factor, that it would be EVEN MORE insane to delete the functionality of a high-speed external port, like Firewire 800. These machines are occaisionally used for headless mini servers, and for storage, use Firewire external drives. MacBooks don't have that use, but Mac Mini does. People don't buy laptops with screens to put in the back room and run indefinitely. Mac Minis can do that, without a screen.
If it doesn't have FW800, which is MUCH faster than USB, and also doesn't have eSATA, then it will be SERIOUSLY handicapped from doing jobs that with even one of those two ports, could instantly do, right out of the box. That is instant loss of sales, for no good reason.
I understand your nonplussed comments about that, and see your point, but hopefully Apple hasn't become quite that insane.
The SSD drive doesn't bother me. it can be swapped in. If you can replace a hard drive, you can replace it with an SSD unit. there is no more infrastructure involved.
While I think any Mac Mini update will most certainly get the 9400M chipset to make it OpenCL compatible, I'm not sure the iMac will receive the 9400M chipset. That primary reason is because I can't see Apple sole-sourcing on nVidia. Apple has always tried to keep a balance between giving contracts to ATI and nVidia so that they both have to bid competitively with lower prices. And betting everything on 1 company, doesn't seem like a good idea, especially nVidia which currently has poorer OS X drivers than ATI which is why the HD3870 is still faster than the 8800GT in Core Image tests despite the 8800GT being the stronger card. nVidia's commitment to OpenCL also isn't as strong as ATI's since nVidia's CUDA is the dominant GPGPU standard right now and ATI basically through their support behind OpenCL to have a better chance to compete since their own CTM isn't as prevalent.
If Apple used the 9400M chipset and an ATI GPU in the iMac, would HybridPower still work? It isn't supposed to since the whole point is to tie the motherboard to discrete GPU sales. However, I'm pretty sure nVidia has also referred to "Apple's version" of the 9400M several times which may mean Apple may have a special implementation. This is supported by nVidia calling Apple's version the 9400M while the version available to other OEMs is the 9400M G. Perhaps, managed to convince nVidia to allow HybridPower to work with ATI GPUs and in exchange gave up support for GeForceBoost?
In any case, throwing Intel a bone and using Montevina in the iMac isn't that big a deal, since having a strong IGP in the iMac isn't really that important since the power savings aren't required. The GM45 is also capable of switchable graphics with either ATI or nVidia GPUs is Apple wants to go that route.
In terms of timing, I've noticed that iMac ship dates are still 24 hours for most iMac models so there hasn't been a draw-down in inventory. Personally, I think Apple may wait and do a complete desktop event at Macworld given that there has already been a dedicated iPod event and a dedicated notebook event. With the uncertain future of the Mac Mini, it may well be that Apple wants to redefine it's desktop product portfolio which would require a special event. Plus, the new Mac Pros won't be available until Q1 anyways, since the November launch of Nehalem is only for high-end desktop and single-processor Xeons. Dual-processor Xeons that Apple uses aren't available until Q1 2009. And it's not like the iMac really needs a refresh anyways since the processor speeds it's using on the overclocked Santa Rosa are exactly the same as what is available in Montevina. A major desktop event at Macworld could also serve as a nice demo for Snow Leopard to show off the benefits of Grand Central and OpenCL demonstrating the advantages of developing hardware and software together.
If Apple used the 9400M chipset and an ATI GPU in the iMac, would HybridPower still work? It isn't supposed to since the whole point is to tie the motherboard to discrete GPU sales. However, I'm pretty sure nVidia has also referred to "Apple's version" of the 9400M several times which may mean Apple may have a special implementation. This is supported by nVidia calling Apple's version the 9400M while the version available to other OEMs is the 9400M G. Perhaps, managed to convince nVidia to allow HybridPower to work with ATI GPUs and in exchange gave up support for GeForceBoost?
In any case, throwing Intel a bone and using Montevina in the iMac isn't that big a deal, since having a strong IGP in the iMac isn't really that important since the power savings aren't required. The GM45 is also capable of switchable graphics with either ATI or nVidia GPUs is Apple wants to go that route.
In terms of timing, I've noticed that iMac ship dates are still 24 hours for most iMac models so there hasn't been a draw-down in inventory. Personally, I think Apple may wait and do a complete desktop event at Macworld given that there has already been a dedicated iPod event and a dedicated notebook event. With the uncertain future of the Mac Mini, it may well be that Apple wants to redefine it's desktop product portfolio which would require a special event. Plus, the new Mac Pros won't be available until Q1 anyways, since the November launch of Nehalem is only for high-end desktop and single-processor Xeons. Dual-processor Xeons that Apple uses aren't available until Q1 2009. And it's not like the iMac really needs a refresh anyways since the processor speeds it's using on the overclocked Santa Rosa are exactly the same as what is available in Montevina. A major desktop event at Macworld could also serve as a nice demo for Snow Leopard to show off the benefits of Grand Central and OpenCL demonstrating the advantages of developing hardware and software together.
The trick is, does Apple really care? They have been using nVidia for some time now for most of their product line. And having the same chipset across their consumer models will likely result in better (and cheaper) performance going forward as they will eventually be able to optimize for just one platform.
Also, I believe Snow Leopard will at least in part use nVidia's CUDA technology. That alone might convince Apple to standardize on nVidia GPUs (discrete and integrated).
NOT IMHO. I wouldn't mind seeing a netbook but many more needs are served by the mini. I need one soon for parent, media server, etc.... Fingers crossed!
If you want a Mac netbook plenty of people have had success loading Leopard on the MSI Wind netbooks (and you can keep the original Windows XP as well)
NOT IMHO. I wouldn't mind seeing a netbook but many more needs are served by the mini. I need one soon for parent, media server, etc.... Fingers crossed!
Well there won't be no Apple BTO SSD for the Mac Mini though - also the mac mini was not meant to be used as a server (I know it can) it was also not supposed to be a TV hub but it is at my house - however - about firewire it has to do with space on the logic board i think - if they're using nvidia that's a huge chip compared to the intel graphics - i think it has to do with space - i guess they can use ethernet for servers though
MacMini was built for one thing - switchers who have a pc tower screnn keyboard speakers and mouse and they want to switch cpus and dont want to pay a ton for a mac pro or an imac to double the components they already own
it has the capability to do more but it wasn't made for that. If you're using an isight with a mac mini Apple wants you to buy a new Apple Cinema Display with built-in webcam instead - if not use on of the approved usb cams - it sucks but it's business.
As far as the macbook is concerned, i dont agree with taking firewire out BUT i undersatand they want that upgrade to a 2000 laptop to be worth it (more then just 2 inches) however the fact that there is no way to convert is sad -
BTW - here's an idea - MacBook Air - same size as AEBS - no optical (with possibility for using the superdrive accessory) and same specs chips etc as the MacBook Air
and for the one that said magsafe on the Mac Mini - I also want an accelorometer so when the Mac Mini gets knocked down and the no battery doesn't pick up the power, I want the Apple logo to stay upright!
had a G4 Mac Mini too...
In addition to the G4, also bought the core solo mac mini. With the last Macbook Pro AL though, there really is a big difference. I couldn't go back to the core solo let alone the G4.
Would hope that any new mini would get some nice CPU HP.
In addition to the G4, also bought the core solo mac mini. With the last Macbook Pro AL though, there really is a big difference. I couldn't go back to the core solo let alone the G4.
Would hope that any new mini would get some nice CPU HP.
I hope you are not right. I really want an iMac right now and don't want to wait until next year. Last time I bought an iMac I bought it right after apple introduced the built in iSight. A couple months later (as I remember it), they transitioned to intel. I am still stuck with that non-Intel model.
say goodbye to firewire - say hello to dvi through mini display port
now you know
also - the enclosure may be all aluminum (no plastic)
thats so their checklist can be right
alternate to mini
"The Mini is DEAD and is gonna be replaced by a new Cube soon;"
That would not surprise me. The Mini's function in the AV cabinet has been taken over by the Apple TV. It's functionality as a regular desktop has been hampered by the laptop hard drives. And it's function as a mini-server has been infringed upon by Time Capsule.
So, returning to the Cube, but in aluminum, would fit rather well. Make it the same foot print as Time Capsule, and exactly as high so it's a true Cube. With a 3.5" hard drive and more room for ports it would be a great computer. There should be enough room for a small form factor PCI-e card slot in there too. Or a couple of Express card slots. (Needs to be able to upgrade to USB 3 or esata, or whatever.) And keep the external power supply; I like that heat kept away from the logic board.
(And I do use expansion slots. My quicksilver has a SATA card and a USB 2 card. Slotless computer == no sale.)
"The Mini is DEAD and is gonna be replaced by a new Cube soon;"
That would not surprise me. The Mini's function in the AV cabinet has been taken over by the Apple TV. It's functionality as a regular desktop has been hampered by the laptop hard drives. And it's function as a mini-server has been infringed upon by Time Capsule.
So, returning to the Cube, but in aluminum, would fit rather well. Make it the same foot print as Time Capsule, and exactly as high so it's a true Cube. With a 3.5" hard drive and more room for ports it would be a great computer. There should be enough room for a small form factor PCI-e card slot in there too. Or a couple of Express card slots. (Needs to be able to upgrade to USB 3 or esata, or whatever.) And keep the external power supply; I like that heat kept away from the logic board.
(And I do use expansion slots. My quicksilver has a SATA card and a USB 2 card. Slotless computer == no sale.)
Hopefully the new iMacs are coming! I'll buy once it's released.
Well, unless it doesn't come with LED displays. Then I'll be sad, and continue to wait.
Well, unless it doesn't come with LED displays. Then I'll be sad, and continue to wait.
It's not ridiculous (if that's what you meant) at all, there is plenty of reasonable evidence to suggest it will be dropped on other models. Job's justification that most camcorders are USB-based is just as applicable to the mini, however lame some of us think that is. The mini is arguably even more consumer-targetted than the MacBook is now. The MacBook is the best selling mac - if Apple don't think FW is important enough for that, why should they think it is for the mini or even the iMac?
I don't want it to be true, but I suspect it will be.
Mid MacBoos already here
I think it is not necessary wait more for mid-range Macs, Because they
are already here. When you see these Macs, you will be astounded. This
is what I call a powerful Mac. Look the videos:
http://applediario.com/2008/11/01/convierte-tu-macbook-en-un-mac-tablet
I think it is not necessary wait more for mid-range Macs, Because they
are already here. When you see these Macs, you will be astounded. This
is what I call a powerful Mac. Look the videos:
http://applediario.com/2008/11/01/convierte-tu-macbook-en-un-mac-tablet
Guys, call me crazy, but I have a gut feeling that iMac will be dropped out, not the Mini
The iMac is Apple's flagship product. It's main desktop product for which it has no replacement. It's midrange (i.e. - most popular) desktop. The all-in-one computer is the product that they started their entire company on, (the classic), and the product that they initiated their comeback on (the iMac).
Apple will "drop" the iMac all-in-one computer only from it's cold dead fingers.