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2011 Mac Mini - Speculation

Shelll said:
i'm new, 1 post, finaly reg-ed ) :rolleyes:
Why not included i7-2649M @ 4.0 MB ; 2.30 GHz; 2 / 4 crs/thrds ; 25 W

about date of release, think that it will be in stores with Lion, just like June 2010 Mac mini with updated OS and October 2009, if not mistaken, not earlier... or they are not tied strictly to OS updates?
oh, forgot to say, mac mini 2011 will be my first mac, nearly switchin' =) (a little confusin flash problems; videocard don't worrying, got PS3) )
excuses for language, i'm rus, no tomatoes pls ))
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Because that is $346
Herdfan said:
That's a big jump in CPU price for the Mini's price to stay the same.

Maybe
i5-2520M @ 2.5GHz @$225 @ 35W

With that processor, I might pass on an i7 iMac and go with a Mini.
Click to expand...

Big jump in TDP
 
neko girl said:
Sandy Bridge + Sized like an Apple TV.
Click to expand...
Maybe like that, maybe sized like a 2010 Mac Mini. :p

Is there any reason to fear that thunderbolt will be prohibited from linking external graphics cards?

Will upgrade graphics cards be produced by third parties in a time capsule form, with a 7.7 square inch size for tower building?

BTO SSD possibilities: totally replacing or in addition to the other hard drive(s)?

Will Mac Mini and Lion with server functions natively AirPlay?

Will Lion and Mini come out together? :eek:

Quad-core option? :cool: Please?
 
Like many here I would love a new mac mini

However, there are some good discounts on amazon.co.uk now and I am tempted on the 2010 model.

All I will use it for is run Plex, iLife a few video sites and occasional browsing. Strictly HTPC use. Do I really need the extra power?

Thanks
 
Just to provide some interesting context - if the new Mini specs are the same as the current base 13" macbook pro (with the i5 processor), it will actually be more powerful than a 2008 quad core Mac Pro - assuming geekbench scores are the metric for comparison.
 
tredstone said:
Just to provide some interesting context - if the new Mini specs are the same as the current base 13" macbook pro (with the i5 processor), it will actually be more powerful than a 2008 quad core Mac Pro - assuming geekbench scores are the metric for comparison.
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If you do handbrake a lot the 2010 mini is slow. You really want a better cpu.
 
Indeed, the comparison was the more or less expected 2011 Mac Mini (using MBP specs) with a 2008 quad core Mac Pro, not a 2010 Mini with a 2008 Pro. Or was the remark aimed at michaelqsm?
 
Yeah, I posted this in another forum, but I'm to lazy to type another similar one :p


For me it depends on which Mini, Desktop or Server. Right now I have my sights set on a server, but I'll wait for Lion if they really are combining Server and client all into one.

But as for the server hardware, here's what I'd like to see (sorry, it's a really quick mock up, and I'm no photoshop wiz.)


MacMini_Srvr_2011.png


Basically,
Replace the HDMI and Display ports with 2 Thunderbolt ports (each on their own bus)

  • Move the SD Card slot to the front
  • Add an Ethernet jack
  • move the Power Supply to the outside (for easier replacement since this is a server after all, plus that should make the internals slightly cooler
  • Upgrade the processor/RAM/Video Card
  • USB 3 would be nice, but it's not a deal breaker for me.
  • Power button on the front
  • Better Ventilation
  • Bootable Thunderbolt ports

Oh and the i7 sticker is representing the processor upgrade, not that I actually want a sticker on it. (but for a server I don't care, I"ll just peel the stupid thing off before I send it to MacMiniColo or shove it in a closet.

--------

For the desktop version, I'd like similar, but I'm indifferent on where the power supply is, and I'd either like an optical drive, or a reduced price on an external firewire drive that matches the look/style of the mini.
a Thunderbolt to HDMI Dongle or a dedicated HDMI port would be nice to have included.
 
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We're all dreaming. If not goin with a pc sick of this rediculous wait.
 
lookin good ! like the SD card front slot

arkmannj said:
Yeah, I posted this in another forum, but I'm to lazy to type another similar one :p


For me it depends on which Mini, Desktop or Server. Right now I have my sights set on a server, but I'll wait for Lion if they really are combining Server and client all into one.

But as for the server hardware, here's what I'd like to see (sorry, it's a really quick mock up, and I'm no photoshop wiz.)


Image

Basically,
Replace the HDMI and Display ports with 2 Thunderbolt ports (each on their own bus)

  • Move the SD Card slot to the front
  • Add an Ethernet jack
  • move the Power Supply to the outside (for easier replacement since this is a server after all, plus that should make the internals slightly cooler
  • Upgrade the processor/RAM/Video Card
  • USB 3 would be nice, but it's not a deal breaker for me.
  • Power button on the front
  • Better Ventilation
  • Bootable Thunderbolt ports

Oh and the i7 sticker is representing the processor upgrade, not that I actually want a sticker on it. (but for a server I don't care, I"ll just peel the stupid thing off before I send it to MacMiniColo or shove it in a closet.

--------

For the desktop version, I'd like similar, but I'm indifferent on where the power supply is, and I'd either like an optical drive, or a reduced price on an external firewire drive that matches the look/style of the mini.
a Thunderbolt to HDMI Dongle or a dedicated HDMI port would be nice to have included.
Click to expand...
 
ThomasJL said:
Why does lower power consumption even matter on a Mac Mini??? It's a desktop computer, so battery life is a non issue since there is no battery and it's always plugged in.

It makes absolutely no sense to argue against a quad-core processor in a Mac Mini because it uses more power. Power saving components should only be factors in battery-operated computers, i.e., not desktops.
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Well, assuming you don't care about your electricity bill or the environmental impact of using a bunch of electricity, there are design considerations. Electricity usage is also shorthand for how much heat you have to dissipate -- higher electricity usage means that you have to dissipate more energy and that can be tough in a small form factor like the mini.
 
FWRLCK said:
Electricity usage is also shorthand for how much heat you have to dissipate -- higher electricity usage means that you have to dissipate more energy and that can be tough in a small form factor like the mini.
Click to expand...
In other words, low power usage keeps the Mac mini quiet, which is one of its best features.
 
FWRLCK said:
higher electricity usage means that you have to dissipate more energy and that can be tough in a small form factor like the mini.
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Easy. Make the case bigger! Make it into a cube shape with room for two hard drives and an optical drive. Make the case big enough to be easy to open. Big enough to make it easy to change out drives and add RAM. It's a desktop computer not a portable device.

Apple offers the low power usage mini and the big Mac Pro. How about something in the middle? (The iMac is not it)
 
G4er? said:
Easy. Make the case bigger! Make it into a cube shape with room for two hard drives and an optical drive. Make the case big enough to be easy to open. Big enough to make it easy to change out drives and add RAM. It's a desktop computer not a portable device.

Apple offers the low power usage mini and the big Mac Pro. How about something in the middle? (The iMac is not it)
Click to expand...
That would be wonderful, but unlikely to happen. Apple's middle name is tiny. If the next computer isn't smaller than the last (Mac Pro the only exception) then they've failed. I'd like to see elimination of all glossy displays in Apple products but that's not going to happen either. :( :confused:
 
G4er? said:
Easy. Make the case bigger! Make it into a cube shape with room for two hard drives and an optical drive. Make the case big enough to be easy to open. Big enough to make it easy to change out drives and add RAM. It's a desktop computer not a portable device.

Apple offers the low power usage mini and the big Mac Pro. How about something in the middle? (The iMac is not it)
Click to expand...

t-bolt is apples answer for you. the mini becomes a two part machine of course the 2010 does not stack well.

remember the mini stack

http://www.google.com/products/cata...TYmIIInL0QGQ0sW-BQ&ved=0CDgQ8wIwAg#ps-sellers

well if they did not make the aluminum tin can called the 2010 mini.

(yeah tell me how good that gpu is in it 2x faster then the 9400 in the 09 and better then the 3000 in the 2011 mini)


you could have added ministacks

one with a good gpu and a bluray disc.

one with two hdds

the real one(or mini) with the cpu and ram and a flash ssd for osx.

so the bare bones mini would have a cpu/gpu and ram with flash ssd.

the gamer mini has the gpu/bluray stack added.

the server mini has the hdd piece with the cpu/gpu piece

and the best mini has the three pieces.

1(cpu/gpu/flash osx)
2(gpu/bluray)
3(two hdd)

but no unibody it is .

oh well!
 
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glitch44 said:
I don't think that's possible. From what I understand, Intel ran into legal troubles with Nvidia and blocked them from making the newest Intel chipset, so it's either Core 2 Duo with Nvidia GPU or the new Sandy Bridge with Intel's GPU.
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I may have this wrong, but my understanding was that any GPU could be used, but it had t be discrete, not integrated. So who knows, maybe Apple would keep the intel integrated GPU and add a discrete GPU from another manufacture and utilize Automatic graphics switching, kind of like the Macbook Pro's.... we can hope anyways :)
 
I don't think the Mac Mini case will be made bigger, so I don't think we'll see a discrete GPU. Just having an integrated GPU is one of the things that keeps the Mini as a lower end Mac than the iMac.
 
G4er? said:
Apple offers the low power usage mini and the big Mac Pro. How about something in the middle? (The iMac is not it)
Click to expand...
What you are describing is the xMac, and Apple doesn't show any signs of adding that to their lineup. Not saying I agree with that, or that I'm happy about it, it just seems to be the reality. Shiny iMacs seem like they are easier to sell...

arkmannj said:
I may have this wrong, but my understanding was that any GPU could be used, but it had t be discrete, not integrated. So who knows, maybe Apple would keep the intel integrated GPU and add a discrete GPU from another manufacture and utilize Automatic graphics switching, kind of like the Macbook Pro's.... we can hope anyways :)
Click to expand...
Hope for the best but fear the worst? :p The mini seems specifically targeted to use the same components (including IGP) as the low-end MacBooks/MacBook Pros. I don't see that changing, though I'd be happy to be wrong.
 
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