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I can't recall any MacMini/iMac leaks other than the odd box shot. Seems the larger it is the harder it is to get a sneaky shot.

There was a leaked Mini before the early 2009 Mini (that was when Mini wasn't updated for a looong time). Someone really had it in his hands and posted videos etc about it, showing that it is real (Mini had 4 USBs before that but that models had 5).

Grasping a straws here, but do we know when Intel is going to EOL the C2Ds the current minis are made with?

Last order date is April, 29th 2011 but Intel will be shipping orders until October 14th, 2011.
 
So this means Apple could wait for Lion to be released if they want to before updating the Mini.
 
Hello! (First Post)


I just purchased a Mac Mini 2010. How much of a bad idea was that? Should I take it back, and wait it out for the new ones, or do you think they won't be upgraded till fall?

For the speculation factor, I certainly believe it will get an i-series cpu and AMD graphics with a fancy new Thunderbolt port(maybe). No superdrive would be nice, like the server now. And an SSD option would be WONDERFUL, but like the thunderbolt port, that's almost a "hardware" refresh, and the fact they just had one last year, I'm thinking that won't happen this time around. For 2012 though... I'm hoping for a Mac Mini crossed with an AppleTV iOS!...One can dream:rolleyes:
 
Hello! (First Post)


I just purchased a Mac Mini 2010. How much of a bad idea was that? Should I take it back, and wait it out for the new ones, or do you think they won't be upgraded till fall?

For the speculation factor, I certainly believe it will get an i-series cpu and AMD graphics with a fancy new Thunderbolt port(maybe). No superdrive would be nice, like the server now. And an SSD option would be WONDERFUL, but like the thunderbolt port, that's almost a "hardware" refresh, and the fact they just had one last year, I'm thinking that won't happen this time around. For 2012 though... I'm hoping for a Mac Mini crossed with an AppleTV iOS!...One can dream:rolleyes:
Well, your speculation is as good as ours, and since you don't mentioned what you are using it for, how should we be able to advice you? Seems like you are just as capable of answering your own question as we are! ;)
 
Well, your speculation is as good as ours, and since you don't mentioned what you are using it for, how should we be able to advice you? Seems like you are just as capable of answering your own question as we are! ;)


Well, a purchase is a purchase.. should I make an early impatient purchase now(which I just did) or should I return it, and make it a patient purchase in hopes of MUCH better specs? It will be used as an HTPC. Just not sure if it'll be worth it for just a HTPC setup.
 
Well, a purchase is a purchase.. should I make an early impatient purchase now(which I just did) or should I return it, and make it a patient purchase in hopes of MUCH better specs? It will be used as an HTPC. Just not sure if it'll be worth it for just a HTPC setup.
I already answered your question above - You are clearly just as capable at answering that question as we are. And if it is for an HTPC setup, the current model works fine..
 
do we know when Intel is going to EOL the C2Ds the current minis are made with?

The Core 2 Duos will not be end of lifed for years. I don't know why people think Intel just stops making "old" chips after they introduce new ones. They are used in other devices as well as embedded procs for a long time to come.

I expect the new Mini would have essentially the same specs as a 13' MBP. it's wont have SSD but nothing is stopping people from putting one in themselves. I really don't think it will have AMD graphics as nice as that would be, much more likely Intel.

http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?familyId=26547
 
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Yes I agree that it will probably lack the AMD graphics and just use the integrated ones off of the Sandy Bridge chips.
 
And if it is for an HTPC setup, the current model works fine..

Well that depends what you're doing. For stuff like watching HDTV sport in EyeTV, a faster CPU would be very welcome. Personally I wouldn't buy another Mini till at least when the 2011 models are released, but then I have two Minis I can use including the one I'm using right now.
 
Well, a purchase is a purchase.. should I make an early impatient purchase now(which I just did) or should I return it, and make it a patient purchase in hopes of MUCH better specs? It will be used as an HTPC. Just not sure if it'll be worth it for just a HTPC setup.

Send it back. You will thank me soon enough.
 
Send it back. You will thank me soon enough.

I'm thinking about it. But I literally just got 8gb of 1067mhz from amazon for this today, and I have a feeling that the next refresh will be 1333mhz which will then render my new purchase useless. Also, at the moment it's my only computer so I'll only have an iPad to use while I could be waiting till June till the new ones come.

I figure with the 8gb of ram, I should be able to sell this for new price of a stock 2gb mini, when the new one comes out. But who knows.
 
AMD Phenom x4 mobile
4gb dd3 1600
64gb ssd with optional replacement of dvd drive with a 500gb 7200 rpm drive
osx lion
a really nice radeon gpu
even a larger form factor slightly if needed.
light up apple on top.
sd card slot, thunder, a few usbs, hdmi, usual suspects


That would be a mini to make me sell the system in my sig and buy!
 
I'm thinking about it. But I literally just got 8gb of 1067mhz from amazon for this today, and I have a feeling that the next refresh will be 1333mhz which will then render my new purchase useless. Also, at the moment it's my only computer so I'll only have an iPad to use while I could be waiting till June till the new ones come.

I figure with the 8gb of ram, I should be able to sell this for new price of a stock 2gb mini, when the new one comes out. But who knows.

Get 1333 ram, it will be backwards compatible anyway....then your set
 
Just hurry up and get it out I say :) Hopefully being such a small size it won't have any overheating issues. They could of course make it physically larger. Unlikely tho. Which reminds me do Sandybridge chips come in low power versions for small factor items such as notebooks, netbooks and pads?
 
I'm expecting an i3 and i5 option, 4GB stock memory, upgradable to 8GB, 320GB drive with all the typical 500/750 and SSD options as well. Hopefully the Radeon GPU from the 15in MBP, the usual HDMI, Thunderbolt and a handfull of USB, IR for the remote and hopefully a front or side USB port for quick thumb drive access.

I've been waiting for a couple months now. Based on the 2009 models and the mid 2010 model, they're due for an upgrade in the next month as far as I can guess (which is all any of us can do really). I'm planning to make it a HTPC to replace my DirecTV so I can stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, iTunes and any other video service I need.

Once I get the thing I'll need to get myself the best HTPC/DVR management apps available, but that's for another thread.
 
Best Buy's website has the Mac Mini listed as "Backordered" which makes me think the refresh is almost here.
 
Best Buy's website has the Mac Mini listed as "Backordered" which makes me think the refresh is almost here.

Sounds good. I hope you are right. I guess you'll be able to find out soon enough if it's just a temporary supply shortage.
 
The MacBook is backordered too at Best Buy.. hmmm. :)

I'm curious to see what Apple will offer in terms of SSD options on the next mini. Given that the hard drive is not meant to be user-replaceable, it might have soldered on Flash memory, just as the MBA does. I could see a 64GB mini at the $699 price point. Replace the SuperDrive with a 500GB drive and I think that would be a winner.

I do hope Apple goes with an i5 instead of the i3, though maybe the i5 will be the $999 option, along with 120GB Flash memory. If so, that's gonna be my next Mac. :)
 
I do hope Apple goes with an i5 instead of the i3, though maybe the i5 will be the $999 option, along with 120GB Flash memory. If so, that's gonna be my next Mac. :)

I think there is a very good possibility it'll be an i5, but most likely not a quad core i5, just the dual core do to the fact that quad's are all 45nm/95w instead of 32nm/73w to keep power and heat down.

I'm REALLY hoping to jump to mac with the next mini refresh. I just don't have the money to buy the iMac with the screen size I want since I already have a 24" monitor on my PC. So it's either the mini has the power to run what I want or I'm building a bloody hackintosh :p

I also hope there's some kind of SSD + HDD option instead of super drive. Might be a "hail mary" though - my guess at this point is it will be a Sandy Bridge core i3 3.1ghz with a 3.3ghz option, 4gb native up to 8gb option, and 500gb with a 1tb option with the superdrive.
 
I agree with bear and evil. There is a huge gap both in capability and price between the mini and the Mac Pro. This big of a gap does not exist in the laptop and iMac lines. Mac mini at $699 and Mac Pro starting at $2499. How about something halfway between at $1299-$1599?
Right now it is like Apple has a small car and a full size car. Apple doesn't seem to know that mid size cars is the largest market. Apple instead wants all of us to buy crossovers which is what the iMac is. It does a little bit of everything to try to fill the most roles but because it is packaged the way it is it isn't going to be the best at any of them. Too many compromises.
Look at Jeep. Lot's of models that are designed to try to meet the needs of lots of people but the Wrangler which is the best at being a Jeep is outselling all the other models. The Wrangler isn't the cheapest Jeep ( Mac mini) and it isn't the most expensive Jeep (Mac Pro) but it is the one most Jeep buyers want.
Instead of a Wrangler Apple gives us a Honda Element (iMac).

I know I'm late to the party here, but this has to be the most convoluted, inaccurate analogy I've seen in years.
 
I think there is a very good possibility it'll be an i5, but most likely not a quad core i5, just the dual core do to the fact that quad's are all 45nm/95w instead of 32nm/73w to keep power and heat down.
Those specifications are for desktop Arrandale and Lynnfield chips, which don't deal with the current chip roster (Sandy Bridge). Also, Mac Minis never used desktop CPUs IIRC (current CPUs are LV laptop C2Ds running at 25W).

I really hope that the Mini gets beefed up with some of the options found in the 15" and 17" MBPs (GPU, quad-core CPUs) to really give the Mini a big boost in performance. 27" iMacs are a royal pain to install a custom SSD in, 21" ones can't be reused as standalone monitors, and the high-end MBPs (base 15" is a joke GPU-wise) are out of budget ATM.

But I won't be surprised if all we get is a repeat of the 13" MBP specifications in a desktop chassis. That just means I may just have to buy both a 2011 Mini for CPU-based work and another small system (likely a 2010 Mini) to handle graphics and light gaming...which can be very annoying.
 
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To me it seems the biggest thing that the Mini is lacking to a be a true 'mid-tier' option is a better video card.

Standard Mac Mini config is a true entry level computer. However it has upgrade options with the processor, HD, and RAM which could get it more towards mid-tier. I would love to have the option to pay for a better videocard that could handle moderate gaming.
 
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