any rumors of an improved Mini?

[mrgreen4242]

iMac = prosumer

The iMac is NOT an ideal prosumer machine, although Apple is pitching it as one. First, a prosumer would nominally want to pick their own display. Both in terms of size/resolution, and also choosing whether they want faster update speed, better color spectrum, whatever. They will spend the money they feel is required to get the display they want, and will want to keep it when they upgrade.

Second, the supposed prosumer is the sort of user who you would expect to want to add a second HDD later on, upgrade their GPU, and fo other various system updates and modifications after purchase. The new iMacs don't even have a user serviceable HDD.

Lastly, a prosumer is NOT the sort of person who will put form ahead of function, and as such shouldn't have to settle for a laptop GPU, a laptop CPU, and a laptop optical drive, just so they can have a slim AIO machine.

Basically, Apple doesn't offer a prosumer machine. They have a very high end line of pro computers, and a large array of standard consumer boxes based on price range and whether you need a new display or not.

 

[siurpeeman]

Nah, I can't imagine they're significantly redesigning the mini. I haven't heard any complaints whatsoever with how it looks, only the opposite, while lots of people say they don't like the current iMac design, as least in comparison with the G4 design.

They just need to focus on giving the mini some up-to-date internals and/or offering that middle-of-the-road headless mac. Being in the market for either one of these things myself, I wouldn't be too happy that they took their sweet time releasing a decent machine just to change the appearance of something that is already adorable.

i'd really want a mini to look like an tv. deeper, wider yet thinner base. 8" by 8" by 1" would be my ideal dimensions. the wider length could accommodate extra ports, possibly even dual display support. throw in the usual upgrades--core 2 duo processing, n-wireless, bigger hard drives, more ram--and i'd seriously consider getting one.

 

[DVNIEL]

i'd really want a mini to look like an tv. deeper, wider yet thinner base. 8" by 8" by 1" would be my ideal dimensions. the wider length could accommodate extra ports, possibly even dual display support. throw in the usual upgrades--core 2 duo processing, n-wireless, bigger hard drives, more ram--and i'd seriously consider getting one.

You just described just what I was thinking. Honestly, I'm quite excited to see what the new Mac Mini would look like. If they're going to revolutionize the consumer devices, the Mac Mini shouldn't be overlooked no less than the iMac. I would imagine that this will be future Mac Mini:

- Core 2 Duo Processor (good enough power when all other machine goes QuadCore and Penryn)
- 6x Superdrive (same as MacBook Pro)
- Built in iPod/iPhone dock
- HDD replaced with Flash Hard Drive
- HDMI video port
- Express34 Slot (option for expandability)
- And the biggest change would be the chassis because the loss of a hard drive, DVI ports and more power efficient/cooler Core 2 Duo giving it the size of an Apple Airport Extreme or AppleTV.

If they were to come out with that, God help me I would buy it

 

[iW00t]

You just described just what I was thinking. Honestly, I'm quite excited to see what the new Mac Mini would look like. If they're going to revolutionize the consumer devices, the Mac Mini shouldn't be overlooked no less than the iMac. I would imagine that this will be future Mac Mini:

- Core 2 Duo Processor (good enough power when all other machine goes QuadCore and Penryn)
- 6x Superdrive (same as MacBook Pro)
- Built in iPod/iPhone dock
- HDD replaced with Flash Hard Drive
- HDMI video port
- Express34 Slot (option for expandability)
- And the biggest change would be the chassis because the loss of a hard drive, DVI ports and more power efficient/cooler Core 2 Duo giving it the size of an Apple Airport Extreme or AppleTV.

If they were to come out with that, God help me I would buy it

Erm please don't put a dock on that thing, makes it fuglier than a Dull.

Besides an integrated dock will eat into their iPod dock sales figures, not like the profits from the sale of a $799 computer would justify that either.

 

[mrgreen4242]

You just described just what I was thinking. Honestly, I'm quite excited to see what the new Mac Mini would look like. If they're going to revolutionize the consumer devices, the Mac Mini shouldn't be overlooked no less than the iMac. I would imagine that this will be future Mac Mini:

- Core 2 Duo Processor (good enough power when all other machine goes QuadCore and Penryn)
- 6x Superdrive (same as MacBook Pro)
- Built in iPod/iPhone dock
- HDD replaced with Flash Hard Drive
- HDMI video port
- Express34 Slot (option for expandability)
- And the biggest change would be the chassis because the loss of a hard drive, DVI ports and more power efficient/cooler Core 2 Duo giving it the size of an Apple Airport Extreme or AppleTV.

If they were to come out with that, God help me I would buy it

Blech. Sounds... awful. I mean, it'd be an OK device, but NOT a replacement for a mini, at all. Maybe a Super version of the ATV, or something. But not a mini.

First, a 8x8x1 computer would be worse than we are now. The AppleTV can now be Apple's pretty little box, let the mini "grow up" into a smaller version of the Cube.

1) Yes, C2D is of course where the mini should go.
2) 6x SD? Forget that, give me a 5.25" 16x SD! Faster, cheaper... what's not to love?
3) Don't care if it had a built in dock, but really, it wouldn't be a particularly useful feature on a mini-Cube.
4) Yes, let me pay 2x as much for half as much disc space. The biggest flaw in the mini is it's tiny HDD... this would fix the speed problems, but not capacity. 60/80gb is barely enough for most people now-a-days, with digital music being extremely common and downloadable TV and movies becoming the next big thing. A flash HDD would be limited to 32/64gb to be affordable, and that's just plain wrong.
5) DVI with HDCP support is more likely, and probably coming on the next mini one way or the other... so a $6 DVI -> HDMI cable will grant that for you. Also, why would you want an HDMI port on a COMPUTER? Again, you are talking about a high end ATV, not a mini replacement...
6) I'd love to see an Express34 slot on the mini. Looks unlikely, though, since they're only on the MBP at the moment, and the mini will likely share components with the MB... but, yes, that's a must have for a "super mini".
7) I see NO point in making the mini smaller than it is already. For an "on the desk machine" it's already the perfect size, going to 8x8 will make it a bit on the akward size for most desks I can think of... an 8x8x8, though, would fit into most under desk computer areas with ease, and look quite nice...

Maybe Apple WILL make a high end ATV, though, and that would free the mini to grow a little in size and function.

 

[PowerBook User]

The iMac is NOT an ideal prosumer machine, although Apple is pitching it as one. First, a prosumer would nominally want to pick their own display. Both in terms of size/resolution, and also choosing whether they want faster update speed, better color spectrum, whatever. They will spend the money they feel is required to get the display they want, and will want to keep it when they upgrade.

Second, the supposed prosumer is the sort of user who you would expect to want to add a second HDD later on, upgrade their GPU, and fo other various system updates and modifications after purchase. The new iMacs don't even have a user serviceable HDD.

Lastly, a prosumer is NOT the sort of person who will put form ahead of function, and as such shouldn't have to settle for a laptop GPU, a laptop CPU, and a laptop optical drive, just so they can have a slim AIO machine.

Basically, Apple doesn't offer a prosumer machine. They have a very high end line of pro computers, and a large array of standard consumer boxes based on price range and whether you need a new display or not.

This is completely true. Apple desperately needs something between the Mac mini and the Mac Pro without a monitor. It should also have upgradable graphics and a PCI Express slot. As you hinted at, the only Mac with true desktop parts is the Mac Pro.

 

[Skilargo]

mac mini

I agonized through this last year, did a trade and determined better price/performance to buy an iMac 24 to replace a G4 tower (even though I now have an unused 22" Cinema Display) than get miniscule graphics improvements in the current mini, and also given I needed to upgrade its base memory, HD (and it was so much more expensive to upgrade the mini than it was to upgrade an imac...e.g 80-160GB upgrade $ in the mini = 250-500Gb upgrade $ in the imac. yow). I really wanted a mini, but EXTREMELY happy I bought the iMac 24.

That being said, if they would JUST fix the lackluster graphics performance in the mini, I would buy one now and have two great machines!

 

[iCecil]

AppleTV format

Caught a buzz on the Mini... IMO, look for the 7.7" AppleTV size format. That change will undo some of the limitations of the ultra-compact design, like 2.5 HD... Also a black mini will be released with the revisions... smaller power block, POSSIBLY doing away with Firewire, Core 2 Duo, 802.11N, HDMI, Superdrive...

 

[iDave]

Caught a buzz on the Mini...

Where'd you get this buzz?

 

[zioxide]

...POSSIBLY doing away with Firewire...

That would be the worst idea ever.

I hope the next mini has one firewire 800 port for external hard drives.

 

[deasine]

I really like the mini, though I hate to say that it isn't even close to the iMac performance. However, if it were to be upgraded with functions/performance slightly closer to the iMac, then I will buy one for sure. If it's slightly bigger, I don't mind. Wasn't the first generation Mac Mini smaller than the current one? Oh and I want some kind of iSight onto the mini. Maybe a detachable one. XD

 

[shikimo]

Caught a buzz on the Mini... IMO, look for the 7.7" AppleTV size format. That change will undo some of the limitations of the ultra-compact design, like 2.5 HD... Also a black mini will be released with the revisions... smaller power block, POSSIBLY doing away with Firewire, Core 2 Duo, 802.11N, HDMI, Superdrive...

Where, exactly, did you catch this buzz? Besides the rather insane idea of doing away with Firewire, I like your idea...is this a wish list-type of post--not that there's anything wrong with that--or do you have some info that leads you to think there is a 7.7" black mini coming our way? You sound so confident, and I want to believe...

 

[mrgreen4242]

I really like the mini, though I hate to say that it isn't even close to the iMac performance. However, if it were to be upgraded with functions/performance slightly closer to the iMac, then I will buy one for sure. If it's slightly bigger, I don't mind. Wasn't the first generation Mac Mini smaller than the current one? Oh and I want some kind of iSight onto the mini. Maybe a detachable one. XD

The mini hasn't changed size at all. (Just in case you didn't know) There used to be an external iSight, but Apple mysteriously stopped selling it a while back, shortly after integrating it into the iMacs and laptops. No word on a relaunch of it.

I'm seriously considering buying a very cheap mini and fitting it into a larger case so I can equip it with a standard HDD and optical drive. That'll close a lot of the gap between the mini and iMac. When the C2D chips get affordable, a 2ghz+ chip will make it as quick as the iMac in all regards except video functions.

I'm just holding out to see if there is a release with the x3000 anytime soon, or if they overhaul the mini design to make it a little more about speed and less about cute design.

 

[Flynnstone]

Given the mini and the appleTV, I'd like to see:
AppleTV+ (cross between a mini and appleTV)
- Blue Ray, HD-DVD, DVD, CD (don't need to write, read only)(Don't need DVD player(s))
- 1080P HDMI to HDTV
- HDMI inputs so this unit can do the switching
- optical spidif to receiver for audio
- wireless and wired ethernet
- Front row can handle switching sources (HDMI)
- hard drive size ? what ever, as long as content doesn't stutter coming from server.
- not this device specifically, but can play iTunes movies at 720p (or 1080p ) (a notchor two above DVD)

The mini : (a move towards the iMac performance)
- single processor (dual core)
- preferably a real GPU (ATI nVidia)
- 3.5 " hard drive at 7200 rpm, this implies case slightly larger
- dual monitor support
- doesn't need to be upgradeable. Just the HD and DVD drive.
- gigabit ethernet, plus wireless, plus bluetooth
- Firewire 400, Firewire 800 as bonus.

Plus Cinema displays with iSight that look visually compatible with iMac
(Stereo iChat )

World peace

 

[deasine]

Given the mini and the appleTV, I'd like to see:
AppleTV+ (cross between a mini and appleTV)
- Blue Ray, HD-DVD, DVD, CD (don't need to write, read only)(Don't need DVD player(s))
- 1080P HDMI to HDTV
- HDMI inputs so this unit can do the switching
- optical spidif to receiver for audio
- wireless and wired ethernet
- Front row can handle switching sources (HDMI)
- hard drive size ? what ever, as long as content doesn't stutter coming from server.
- not this device specifically, but can play iTunes movies at 720p (or 1080p ) (a notchor two above DVD)

The mini : (a move towards the iMac performance)
- single processor (dual core)
- preferably a real GPU (ATI nVidia)
- 3.5 " hard drive at 7200 rpm, this implies case slightly larger
- dual monitor support
- doesn't need to be upgradeable. Just the HD and DVD drive.
- gigabit ethernet, plus wireless, plus bluetooth
- Firewire 400, Firewire 800 as bonus.

Plus Cinema displays with iSight that look visually compatible with iMac
(Stereo iChat )

World peace

Oh talking about their displays... can someone tell me why they charge a ton for a 20" monitor? Is it just because it's "Apple" or there is some kind of special feature I'm not aware of.

 

[ftaok]

World peace

The first three request were reasonable, but asking for World Peace was just too much.

 

[ftaok]

Oh talking about their displays... can someone tell me why they charge a ton for a 20" monitor? Is it just because it's "Apple" or there is some kind of special feature I'm not aware of.

The special feature is Apple's ability to separate the slips of green paper from your wallet without you feeling any remorse.

Seriously, Apple's monitors are expensive compared to the other stuff out there. but you have to compare them to the upper level stuff as there is a ton of junk monitors that cost very little. Apple's monitors are of very high quality, but that comes at a premium price. There are monitors out there that are equivalent in quality at lower prices, Dell's offerings for example.

ft

 

[zioxide]

Oh talking about their displays... can someone tell me why they charge a ton for a 20" monitor? Is it just because it's "Apple" or there is some kind of special feature I'm not aware of.

Apple uses IPS 8-bit color panels, while Dell and other companies almost all use PVA 6-bit color panels. IPS is superior, however more expensive, than PVA panels. In addition, Apple's 8-bit give out 16.7 million different colors, while the others put out 250,000 colors and simulate the rest. That is why ACDs are better for production use. For a normal user, a regular display would be fine.

See this for more detail: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/3392732/

 

[mrgreen4242]

Apple uses IPS 8-bit color panels, while Dell and other companies almost all use PVA 6-bit color panels. IPS is superior, however more expensive, than PVA panels. In addition, Apple's 8-bit give out 16.7 million different colors, while the others put out 250,000 colors and simulate the rest. That is why ACDs are better for production use. For a normal user, a regular display would be fine.

See this for more detail: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/3392732/

I'm pretty sure that the Dell 2007 20" LCD uses an 8-bit panel, while their cheaper lines use the 6-bit as you mention.

 

[iW00t]

Apple uses IPS 8-bit color panels, while Dell and other companies almost all use PVA 6-bit color panels. IPS is superior, however more expensive, than PVA panels. In addition, Apple's 8-bit give out 16.7 million different colors, while the others put out 250,000 colors and simulate the rest. That is why ACDs are better for production use. For a normal user, a regular display would be fine.

See this for more detail: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/3392732/

Yes, Apple uses very high quality panels, that explains the pinkish tint we see on ACDs in Apple stores and the grainy MBP displays

 

[zioxide]

I was in an Apple store today looking at ACDs and there was no pink tint... Dell makes some models with IPS panels, but most have PVA panels. It's pretty much luck of the draw whether you get a PVA or IPS.

 

[MacBass]

It's slightly faster at the same clockspeeds for the same price. Why wouldn't people want it?

I've heard it mentioned that Santa Rosa will drop in May. I think that fits pretty well into an updated mini - it'll be WAY overdue by then, but they will be able to offer up a pretty good package. If they do keep the $600/800 prices, I'd hope they go with a 1.83ghz C2D, 512mb RAM, 80gb HDD, x3000, .11n/BT2, CD for $600 and 2.0ghz C2D, 1gb RAM, 100gb HDD, x3000, .11n/BT2, SD for $800. Even my cheap-butt would buy that.

As for not making the SD standard on the mini, well, it sucks, but I figure that it's something "casual" users aren't to concerned about and something important enough to the "prosumer" or slightly more savvy user that it would push them to go for a higher profit top end model. Just looking at the specs from the current minis, the $200 extra you pay for the top end has got to be at least $120 pure profit (so 150% markup on the upgrade) bringing the overall profit levels up significantly.

Just guessing, I've not read the product breakdowns from anyone like iSuppli, but the $600 mini probably costs $425 to make, and the $800 probably costs $510 or something. So, percentage wise, 29% profit vs. 36%, which is pretty substantial. The only thing that would make me get the $800 model over the $600 is the SD (a sub 10% speed bump isn't worth $200, and I can add a huge FW drive and still have a lot of my $200 left).

I would totally jump all over an $800 2.0 GHz C2D. As frugal as I am, and as much as I would grimace at spending $600 on a base model mini, I would be all over a 2 GHz C2D mini like software glitches on Vista.