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Is getting to the hard drive tough? IIRC, doesn't the main board have to be removed?

It's not going to be as simple as replacing the MacBook Pro hard drives, but I think it's doable. I'm hoping they made it easier in the 2011 models. I guess we'll see.
 
What's interesting about the new Server Mini is that it's only $200 less than the slightly-less-new iMac, with no monitor, no optical drive, a slower quadcore, 500GB bigger hdd, and Lion Server. Pretty much all the other specs are identical. Unless you're wedded to a low-powered solution and/or a small form factor, or are never going to need a monitor for it, that doesn't seem like a good deal comparatively. I mean, the cheapest decent non-Apple monitor you're going to get is going to be nearly $200.
 
What's interesting about the new Server Mini is that it's only $200 less than the slightly-less-new iMac, with no monitor, no optical drive, a slower quadcore, 500GB bigger hdd, and Lion Server. Pretty much all the other specs are identical. Unless you're wedded to a low-powered solution and/or a small form factor, or are never going to need a monitor for it, that doesn't seem like a good deal comparatively. I mean, the cheapest decent non-Apple monitor you're going to get is going to be nearly $200.

Yes, true. But I have two beautiful HD ips panels that are only one year old and the base 27" model iMac was the lowest entry for me to run two external monitors until a thunderbolt dual video output cable is released (when will this be? Will I need an external video card as well? etc..) without an SSD or dual hdd config.. so for a lower cost I'm getting an i7 quad core with SSD and 7200 rpm, screw that big glossy screen! I'm not a pc gamer so graphics are of little concern, as long as I can run CS5 and Aperture I'm happy.:)
 
What's interesting about the new Server Mini is that it's only $200 less than the slightly-less-new iMac, with no monitor, no optical drive, a slower quadcore, 500GB bigger hdd, and Lion Server. Pretty much all the other specs are identical. Unless you're wedded to a low-powered solution and/or a small form factor, or are never going to need a monitor for it, that doesn't seem like a good deal comparatively. I mean, the cheapest decent non-Apple monitor you're going to get is going to be nearly $200.

What's funny is that I'm willing to pay a premium for the iMac parts if Apple offered them in a mid size case without a built in monitor. Easy to open case big enough for two hard drives and an optical drive and I'd pay $1500 for it.
 
What's interesting about the new Server Mini is that it's only $200 less than the slightly-less-new iMac, with no monitor, no optical drive, a slower quadcore, 500GB bigger hdd, and Lion Server. Pretty much all the other specs are identical.
That's always the issue. If you can live with an AIO then the entry level iMacs are a tremendous value. Though I don't think you can get a second hard drive as a CTO in that $1199 entry level iMac.

Unless you're wedded to a low-powered solution and/or a small form factor, or are never going to need a monitor for it, that doesn't seem like a good deal comparatively. I mean, the cheapest decent non-Apple monitor you're going to get is going to be nearly $200.
My new mini will go where the old one is now, in the living room connected to my big screen TV. :cool:
 
I have to bite my tongue here... according to the benchmarks I'm looking at the i7-2630QM likely to be in the Server Mini is significantly faster than the i5-2400S or i5-2405S in the iMac, despite the clock speed difference.
 
I have to bite my tongue here... according to the benchmarks I'm looking at the i7-2630QM likely to be in the Server Mini is significantly faster than the i5-2400S or i5-2405S in the iMac, despite the clock speed difference.

That's actually quite true. The i7-2630QM has hyperthreading which helps quite a lot in multithreaded code. All imac models except the BTO i7 3.4Ghz has hyperthreading.
 
Very happy FW800 and HDMI connectors are still there. Ordered one of the $799 ones with 2.7GHz i7 CPU, it is going to be here by the Friday after. Can't wait to set it up :) I will be upgrading to 4GB if I am not happy with the performance. Down the line, may be a year or so later, when it costs less than an arm and a leg, I want to get an SSD.
 
Very happy FW800 and HDMI connectors are still there. Ordered one of the $799 ones with 2.7GHz i7 CPU, it is going to be here by the Friday after. Can't wait to set it up :) I will be upgrading to 4GB if I am not happy with the performance. Down the line, may be a year or so later, when it costs less than an arm and a leg, I want to get an SSD.

The $799 model already has 4GB RAM .. so no need to upgrade :)
 
Seems that most of you are drooling over the new Mac Mini's but I am extreemly happy I bought last week the old model and would not have sprung for the new model.

I had never expected the loss of the CD/DVD, what is Apple thinking? Not everyone has large amounts of broadband capacity and there are still those who want to use their DVD's and CD's.

It is very suitable as a HTPC. The CPU has enough grunt which less heat dissipation than the newer models, decent GPU and it has the CD/DVD. Nice and compact.
 
What's funny is that I'm willing to pay a premium for the iMac parts if Apple offered them in a mid size case without a built in monitor. Easy to open case big enough for two hard drives and an optical drive and I'd pay $1500 for it.

You want an XMac, we all do, but posting over and over about it and the SD Card reader being on the back instead of the front are not going to realize your desires...not trying to be a dick, but its OK to change the record every once in a while...
 
What's funny is that I'm willing to pay a premium for the iMac parts if Apple offered them in a mid size case without a built in monitor. Easy to open case big enough for two hard drives and an optical drive and I'd pay $1500 for it.

Same here.
 
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