2011 Mac Mini - Speculation

[RubbishBBspeed]

I'd like it to come with the rear ambient light system, kind of like the philips range of TVs have.

Strange as it is but once you get used to this type of lighting addition it's almost uncomfortable to watch any other kind. I keep looking for the light at the back of other tellies only it's never there.

 

[viperguy]

I'd like it to come with the rear ambient light system, kind of like the philips range of TVs have.
[...]

lol?
We`re talkin about Mac Minis, not iMacs.
Just no.

Anyway, I`d like:
* i3 processor (plausible)
* Keep the HDMI port (plausible)
* 4GB ram on the base model (please?)
* 500GB HD (sounds just about right to me!)
* better graphics card (doubt it. Apple will probably just put some intel stuff there that, you know.. sucks)
* Slash 100U$ of the price (Not plausible, but personally I think 699U$ is just nuts when it uses aging hardware and doesn`t even include a keyboard and mouse!! A 599U$ entry price would be a starting point for me. A cheaper one - like 499U$ - with all of the above but without a dvd drive would be exactly what I need right now)

I really want Apple to update it. Can`t wait
Whether my wishes are granted or not, I only won`t buy the revisioned mac mini if they raise the price even more (crazy) or if they keep the C2D in there (it`s about time we get rid of that).

 

[MacHamster68]

reading through all the posts , i'd say wishful thinking
Apple does not want the Mini to be able to compete with the base iMac 21.5 in performance , and every "upgrade " on the mini did lead to a price increase
and as the minis always got the internals of a MacBook (no not the pro) you know what to expect this time

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR3 memory
250GB hard drive1
8x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics

so my guess for a future mini are in the opposite direction
the internals of the MacBook Air
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.4GHz) processor, 2GB of ddr3 and 64GB ssd and the nvidia 320M
to get it as far away from iMac territory in performance as possible, but above the iPad performance
and to cut down the power consumption even further , the price will increase

apple is now spoiled from the fantastic sales of the iPad , and if a device which offers such low performance can outdo all sales of MacBooks , why should apple offer much more performance at the low end of their line in the future

 

[mdgm]

MacHamster I disagree. The Mac Mini won't get updated before the iMac. The iMac will get updated so the base iMac will still be much faster than a Sandy Bridge Mac Mini.

The 13" MacBook before the 13" MBP upgrade was pretty much the same as the 13" MBP except missing a few features. I expect the 13" MB will either be refreshed or discontinued later this year.

As for making the Mini smaller still that would be a big mistake by Apple if they did that, but it's possible.

The MacBook Air needs to be smaller as it's an ultra-portable. The Mac Mini doesn't need expensive small components used in ultra-portables.

 

[tredstone]

I don't see them trying to make the mac mini match the specs of the macbook air either. You can't price a $700 desktop solution that's running a 1.4Ghz core2duo.

I wouldn't be surprised if they dropped the price of the Mac Mini though. Hasn't Tim Cook been talking a bit about broadening Apple's footprint and not just marketing themselves as "just for the rich" (his words not mine). A $500 Mac Mini with decent specs would go a long way to better adoption, imo.

 

[MacHamster68]

hm but i guess apple is planning to establish the mini as HTPC ,and the htpc's are all getting smaller and most get now fitted with atom CPU and ion GPU as these offer more then enough computing power for a htpc even for very light gaming
and i agree the MacBook might soon be discontinued because a polycarbonate enclosure does not fit any longer in the apple line of aluminium products and i doubt the mini will ever get parts from the MBP
and as lots users just dont care if there is a optical drive fittted in a mobile or even desktop device ..most replace that with SSD's anyway as soon as they can , and apple does not want you to buy DVD's anyway , as a Mac owner you are supposed to buy/ rent your movies from the itunes store and your apps from the app store

and it would be nice for us here in the uk to see a $700 mini again as $700 are just about £440 thats between the wifi only iPad2 16GB and the wifi only iPad2 32gb which just offer the dual core A5 processor
and sales show that people want these smaller thinner lighter things , they dont want big things if its not a display and as long as it can do 1080p movies 90%are happy and will pay no matter what it cost , they want that WOW such a tiny box and it is really a computer inside and is from apple , and apple will care for these 90% , and not for the 5% who might want something bigger /faster/upgradeable (a mini Pro if i may call it so) like myself or the other 5% who want just a slight speed bump this time to be happy

 

[mdgm]

Apple just changed the form factor when they released the 2010 Mini. It's most likely we won't see a change in design from the 2011 Mini. Perhaps some minor improvements, but that'd be about it.

 

[MacHamster68]

having said all that above , it just sprang into my mind
a lot of people would like to see the mini priced again like it was in the G4 times of the mini , and i looked a bit on the iPad2 spec and geekbench results , and the later are about on the same level as the mini G4 but dual core

so would it not make sense if apple would offer something like a desktop version of the iPad with iOS for the basic needs like bit surfing and watching a 720p movie and some little games ..after all 65000 apps would wait for that device in the app store and as seen in that mini concept , all apple has to do is take out the display , fit a shiny black cover instead and cut a slot for a dvd drive (no superdrive option)
and
a upgraded mini with Lion for people who want to watch 1080p movies , but want a computer that can do a bit more, but dont want a MacPro or a iMac

i mean on the mobile side you got the MacBookPro for the user who wants high performance and the MacBook for the user who wants medium performance and then you got the MacBook air for the design conscious yuppie who wants a little bit more performance then a iPad2 has to offer and doesn't want to drag around a bulky MacBook, and the iPad2 is for the masses who just need basic computing

so a Desktop device for basic computing that looks nice and shiny for the design conscious who give a ... about geekbenach results ..i guess would sell well , after all it comes from apple , and before switchers came from pc world , but lately the switching trend comes from people who had a iPhone but did want a bigger display and a device mainly for basic computing like surfing emailing and such ,they got the iPad2 , but dont want to connect diconnect the iPad all the time from their tv
so there would be space for a "desktop"iPad and i mean that "concept " really looks better then the mini from the design point of view next to a apple cinema display and iOS caters for the basic needs

 

[philipma1957]

the oct 2009 mac mini cpu was better then the current 13 inch mac book pro at that time

oct 2009 mac mini
_____________________________________________________________________
2.26 GHz (P7550) or

2.53 GHz (P8700) Intel Core 2 Duo

Optional 2.66 GHz (P8800) Intel Core 2 Duo


mid 2009 macbook pro
____________________________________________________________________________
2.26 GHz (P7550, P8400,[59] or

P7570) (13" only) or

2.53 GHz (P8700) (13" and low-end 15" only) Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn with 3 MB on-chip L2 cache


2.66 GHz (P8800) (15" only) with 3 MB on-chip L2 cache or

2.8 GHz (T9600) (15" and 17" only) Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn with 6 MB on-chip L2 cache

Optional 3.06 GHz (T9900) with 6 MB on-chip L2 cache (15" and 17" only)

______________________________________________________________________

So from oct 2009 to april 2010 a mac mini could have a 2.66 GHz cpu while a 13 inch macbook pro maxed at 2.53GH/z cpu.


Source from wiki;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_mini

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbook_pro

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Based on that the hi end mini should be a SB CPU at least the equal of the current 13 inch Macbook pro ,

but as an aside the mini may not be released faster then the iMac.

Also they are not changing the aluminum design..

 

[MacHamster68]

they might as well give up on the mini, at least here in the UK and europe it makes absolute no sense to buy a new mini ,except the mini server if you desperately need a small headless server ,
as the standard mini cost here in the UK £612 which is close to $1000 and the iMac which offers a faster CPU, a better GPU, comes with more ram , more hdd space , and a monitor and bluetooth keyboard /mouse for just £400 more and if you choose a refurb iMac the difference is even only a little over £200 difference
sure you can upgrade the mini if you order it upgraded as near as possible to the base iMac means optional upgrade to
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo thats as powerful as it gets
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA Drive
plus the bluetooth keyboard /mouse
you look at £969 and thats roughly £100 more then a refurb iMac 21.5 cost and not even £100 cheaper then a new iMac 21.5 where you get
3.06GHz Intel Core i3
4GB memory
500GB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics
inclusive bluetooth keyboard and mouse
so with a iMac you get a lot more for nearly the same money

and i took in consideration that you use your old Monitor and dont buy a 21.5 inch monitor , because then you get very close to the top model 21.5 inch iMac with 1 Tb hdd and more important ATI Radeon HD 5670

so the mini is really only a sensible option for people who cant afford under any circumstances to spend more then £612 but want a brandnew Mac
not that i want to see the mini die , i found it always a nice idea , but lately it just evolved into a overpriced small alu box , i quiet liked the mini as a basic Mac when it first was released and could compete against the cheapest pc's on the market in price but thats now 6 years ago
and since then it nearly doubled in price while the base iMac didn't

 

[boechat]

the rumored Mac Mini proc Sandy Bridge i3 is a 4 cored or 2 cored?

 

[mdgm]

I can't put an iMac under my TV. A Mini is way better.

I don't agree with Apple's strategy of AIO desktops. If my screen dies, why should I have to go out and buy a whole new computer? I can understand this with laptops, but with a desktop it doesn't need to be.

I can buy a new Mini cheaper than a new iMac and use keyboards, mice and displays I already have.

Having said all that, if the new Mini involves a price drop that would be nice.

 

[philipma1957]

they might as well give up on the mini, at least here in the UK and europe it makes absolute no sense to buy a new mini ,except the mini server if you desperately need a small headless server ,
as the standard mini cost here in the UK £612 which is close to $1000 and the iMac which offers a faster CPU, a better GPU, comes with more ram , more hdd space , and a monitor and bluetooth keyboard /mouse for just £400 more and if you choose a refurb iMac the difference is even only a little over £200 difference
sure you can upgrade the mini if you order it upgraded as near as possible to the base iMac means optional upgrade to
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo thats as powerful as it gets
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA Drive
plus the bluetooth keyboard /mouse
you look at £969 and thats roughly £100 more then a refurb iMac 21.5 cost and not even £100 cheaper then a new iMac 21.5 where you get
3.06GHz Intel Core i3
4GB memory
500GB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics
inclusive bluetooth keyboard and mouse
so with a iMac you get a lot more for nearly the same money

and i took in consideration that you use your old Monitor and dont buy a 21.5 inch monitor , because then you get very close to the top model 21.5 inch iMac with 1 Tb hdd and more important ATI Radeon HD 5670

so the mini is really only a sensible option for people who cant afford under any circumstances spend more then £612 but want a new Mac

yes right now a 2010 mac mini is just not a good cash value A 13 inch macbook pro is a far better machine. or even a base 21 inch imac. the imac is 1200 usd the 3.06 i3 cpu is far better then a 2.4 c2d mac mini

 

[Hellhammer]

they might as well give up on the mini, at least here in the UK and europe it makes absolute no sense to buy a new mini ,except the mini server if you desperately need a small headless server ,
as the standard mini cost here in the UK £612 which is close to $1000 and the iMac which offers a faster CPU, a better GPU, comes with more ram , more hdd space , and a monitor and bluetooth keyboard /mouse for just £400 more and if you choose a refurb iMac the difference is even only a little over £200 difference
sure you can upgrade the mini if you order it upgraded as near as possible to the base iMac means optional upgrade to
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo thats as powerful as it gets
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA Drive
plus the bluetooth keyboard /mouse
you look at £969 and thats roughly £100 more then a refurb iMac 21.5 cost and not even £100 cheaper then a new iMac 21.5 where you get
3.06GHz Intel Core i3
4GB memory
500GB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics
inclusive bluetooth keyboard and mouse
so with a iMac you get a lot more for nearly the same money

and i took in consideration that you use your old Monitor and dont buy a 21.5 inch monitor , because then you get very close to the top model 21.5 inch iMac with 1 Tb hdd and more important ATI Radeon HD 5670

The whole idea of Mini is that you have a monitor already. The base iMac costs roughly 60% more than the base Mini. For most people, 400£ is A LOT money. That nearly gets you another Mac Mini. You can't compare a refurb iMac to a retail Mini as there are refurb Minis too.

While Mini sure is slower than the iMac, it's more than enough for most people. Not everyone can or wants to fork out extra 400£ for the iMac.

the rumored Mac Mini proc Sandy Bridge i3 is a 4 cored or 2 cored?

All i3s are dual core.

 

[ompus]

You mean like the current server edition?

Yes... I AM aware of the server edition. Unfortunately, (depending upon your needs), its higher cost rules it out. A new Mac Mini could cut costs by dropping the optical and going with the built in graphics of Intel Core i3 and a basic 5400 rpm 250GB drive. With Thunderbolt... everything else could be shoved into a breakout box. Want to boot up from a 256GB Solid State Drive? No problem. Need 10 Terrabytes of backup? No problem. Optical Drive? No problem. ATI Radeon HD 5770? No problem.

The point is, Thunderbolt allows a cheaper, 'stripped' mini to be the entry point for Macintosh while serving as a base for extreme customization. Apple just needs to bring down the price ($499?) and ensure that the Mac Mini is designed to allow stacking of peripherals above and below.

 

[WilliamBos]

I can't put an iMac under my TV. A Mini is way better.

I don't agree with Apple's strategy of AIO desktops. If my screen dies, why should I have to go out and buy a whole new computer? I can understand this with laptops, but with a desktop it doesn't need to be.

I can buy a new Mini cheaper than a new iMac and use keyboards, mice and displays I already have.

Having said all that, if the new Mini involves a price drop that would be nice.

I agree. Will the new minis be drastically faster than the current model??

 

[Hellhammer]

Yes... I AM aware of the server edition. Unfortunately, (depending upon your needs), its higher cost rules it out.

OS X Server alone is worth 499$. Looks like Lion will kill this though because the consumer version will include the server tools.

A new Mac Mini could cut costs by dropping the optical and going with the built in graphics of Intel Core i3 and a basic 5400 rpm 250GB drive. With Thunderbolt... everything else could be shoved into a breakout box. Want to boot up from a 256GB Solid State Drive? No problem. Need 10 Terrabytes of backup? No problem. Optical Drive? No problem. ATI Radeon HD 5770? No problem.

The point is, Thunderbolt allows a cheaper, 'stripped' mini to be the entry point for Macintosh while serving as a base for extreme customization. Apple just needs to bring down the price ($499?) and ensure that the Mac Mini is designed to allow stacking of peripherals above and below.

Why not sell each part separately then?

The main market of Mac Mini is still regular consumers. They don't want to buy a computer that requires a handful of peripherals in order to offer the same functions as computers normally do. Also, Apple wants people to buy stuff from them. Including and thus forcing people to buy them makes it easy. Allowing people to buy 3rd party devices means no money for Apple.

Simplicity has always been important for Apple. Selling one device that can do it all is what they prefer. It's far from easy and simple if you need to go and get another device to do a simple task like watching a DVD. It kills the idea of having a small, yet powerful and silent computer if you need to start stacking external devices next to it to make it function normally.

Moreover, dropping the ODD wouldn't cut the price by 200$, or even 100$. Those drives cost next to nothing for Apple. We all would like a price cut but IMO Mac Mini is already enough stripped down that the price cut should not include even more stripping down.

Furthermore, there is no guarantee that Thunderbolt will be included in Mac Minis. Keeping it as a "pro feature" doesn't sound too far-fetched.

 

[MacHamster68]

The whole idea of Mini is that you have a monitor already. The base iMac costs roughly 60% more than the base Mini. For most people, 400£ is A LOT money. That nearly gets you another Mac Mini. You can't compare a refurb iMac to a retail Mini as there are refurb Minis too.

yes i know that , but then you need to stick with the base version of the mini and do no upgrades whatsoever , as every upgrade is closing that 60% gap , like i have shown above

the upgraded mini there costs £969 if you want to get as close to iMac performance as possible (still far behind)and there are many who buy bluetooth keyboard and mighty mouse
and the NEW iMac still £1020
makes a just 5 % difference roughly
and i did not count the monitor because you got one already, but most people dont want to use their old usb keyboard and mouse and buy a bluetooth keyboard form apple and a magic mouse for design and practical reasons as a lot connect the mini to the TV so dont want to jump of the couch or have a usb extension cable running across the room , maybe you can save a bit if you buy a bluetooth logitech version of both from somewhere ,
bud
as everyone here is crying for more processing power the upgrade to the 2.66 core 2duo seems only logical and with a onboard GPU and only 2gb ram on offer in base config a ram upgrade is a must too ,even if you dont buy it from apple you still need to buy the ram from somewhere and its the only part you are actually allowed to upgrade (so you can save some money there ) but you need the HDD upgrade to 500GB to buy from apple if you dont want to void your warranty on the new mini, so maybe with all savings you could make in the upgrade without voiding warranty , maybe you come to 15% cheaper then iMac price, let it be 25% , but thats already far from the 60%

and like i said if you really absolutely cant afford more then £612 then yes the mini is your only option to get a new Mac ,but if you consider any upgrades then you can as well consider to buy the iMac where you get a lot more performance for your money

and yes you cant push the iMac under your TV , but you can place it next to it and even use the tv as second monitor if you wish or the other way round whichever you prefer

 

[Hellhammer]

but most people dont want to use their old usb keyboard and mouse and buy a bluetooth keyboard form apple and a magic mouse , maybe you can save a bit if you buy a bluetooth logitech version of both from somewhere

But what if you have a Bluetooth KB and mouse already? And who said you can't use your old ones. If you're on budget, then whatever KB and mouse will do the job. There are great USB KBs and mice that are wireless as well (have the little adapter).

In the end, Mini is meant for people who are on budget. If you have the extra $, then you most likely pay the extra for an iMac.

as everyone here is crying for more processing power the upgrade to the 2.66 core duo seems only logical

20% more money for 10% speed increase? No way. For most people the upgraded CPU makes zero difference. Who need the better are definitely better off with an iMac.

only 2gb ram on offer in base config a ram upgrade is a must too

Depends. Again, if you have limited funds, then the 2GB will be fine.

but you need the HDD upgrade to 500GB to buy from apple if you dont want to void your warranty on the new mini

If you absolutely need the 500GB internal, then you are better off with an iMac. A lot people don't. You can always use external storage if you have limited funds though (easy to buy when you have gathered some more $).

FYI, upgrading the HD does not void warranty unless you damage something while doing it.

so maybe with all savings you could make in the upgrade without voiding warranty , maybe you come to 15% cheaper then iMac price, let it be 20% , but thats already far from the 60%

You are just assuming that everyone must do upgrades. The base Mini is fine as it is for plenty of people. If you must do lots of upgrades, then yeah, you are better off with an iMac.

 

[MacHamster68]

i guess i did say the same

like i said if you really absolutely cant afford more then £612 then yes the mini is your only option to get a new Mac ,but if you consider any upgrades then you can as well consider to buy the iMac where you get a lot more performance for your money

and i consider a mini too , just for here in the uk as all my other Mac's go to germany now in my house there , and the mini would make it possible to rent a smaller room here in the uk ,as i would not need space for a desk any more , but i likely go for a refurbished server model
just like the alu and white top as it would match my TV in color perfectly

 

[WilliamBos]

You are just assuming that everyone must do upgrades. The base Mini is fine as it is for plenty of people. If you must do lots of upgrades, then yeah, you are better off with an iMac.

And if you want to do a ram upgrade on a mini, you are still ahead vs buying an iMac.

 

[xheathen]

FYI, upgrading the HD does not void warranty unless you damage something while doing it.

That's news to me, and really great news at that

I think MacHamster is overcomplicating things a little. The Mac Mini fits a specific need.

For me, I could afford an entry level iMac, but I just have no interest in it (glossy screens as one big reason among others). What I'm really interested in is a smaller form factor system I can use with my existing large screen monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. Eventually I want to transition that Mini into being our home theater computer.

Hellhammer's point of $400 is actually alot of money. For those on a budget, the Mini makes a lot more sense than an iMac - plus if I were to guess, I would say that the majority of people looking at the Mac Mini are current Windows users (like myself). Those users in general are not going to be upgrading the ram or HDD through the Apple store, but instead buy the cheapest one we can find on something like Amazon.com and then buy an additional $80 to bump the ram up.

 

[Hellhammer]

That's news to me, and really great news at that

It's right there in the manual:

Do Not Make Repairs Yourself

Your Mac mini doesn’t have any user-serviceable parts, except for memory. To install memory, follow the instructions in Chapter 3. Except for memory, do not attempt to replace or repair any components inside your Mac mini. If your Mac mini needs service, consult an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple. See “Learning More, Service, and Support” on page 54.
If you install items other than memory, you risk damaging your equipment, and such damage isn’t covered by the limited warranty on your Mac mini.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Mac_mini_Mid2010_User_Guide.pdf

Someone would eventually ask for this and I guess you feel more comfortable now that you can see it yourself on Apple's site

 

[boechat]

i'm waiting for the new mac mini.. but now my hype its not as high as before. im not willing to pay any price anymore. id rather have a DVD good drive and good specs, but i would pay no 699 bucks.

 

[G4er?]

And if you want to do a ram upgrade on a mini, you are still ahead vs buying an iMac.



Sent from my iPod Touch using Tapatalk, as if anybody actually gave a ***** if it was a desktop, laptop, crackberry, I-phone or freakin' morse code or for that matter smoke signals...

.- -. -.. .. ..-. -.-- --- ..- .-- .- -. - - --- -.. --- .- .-. .- --
..- .--. --. .-. .- -.. . --- -. .- -- .. -. .. -.-- --- ..- .- .-. .
... - .. .-.. .-.. .- .... . .- -.. ...- ... -... ..- -.-- .. -. --. .- -. .. -- .- -.-.

I left out the comma and period.