Mac Mini: 11 Months Since Last Update

[FastEddy]

" ... i think apple may be shooting themselves in the foot with their reluctancy for mini updates. ..."

" ... you keep reading about people using a Mac mini as a 2nd or 3rd Mac or as a HTPC on forums doesn't mean that it's the majority of users. The majority of users don't write in forums. ..."

There is a small, but significant bunch of us who: *) have plenty of keyboards and mice and several good monitors, *) don't feel the need to spend more than $600 every eighteen months just to keep up with Moore's Law, *) need several computers in an office environment where swapping peripherals on meat space desktops is common, *) appreciate quiet, efficient use of resources ... mini mini mini ... I have told the local Apple store that I'll take two when the next upgrade is offered ... make that three.

 

[reebzor]

Right on!

I'm starting to save for my "New computer fund" to replace my mini. If new mini's come out (and they are up to spec) I'll gladly buy one, if I save enough for a Mac Pro before new mini's come out, well then I'm gonna have to buy the Pro. The latter seems a little more likely at this rate

 

[snmp]

Something must be happening

Went to buy another Mac Mini 1.83 and it was listed as run out stock with no more available and a over $200 discount. Store hinted to a new version coming in the next week.... So I will be waiting

 

[Tallest Skil]

Store hinted to a new version coming in the next week.... So I will be waiting

Too bad that, unless it's an Apple Store, they don't know anything.

 

[FastEddy]

Went to buy another Mac Mini 1.83 and it was listed as run out stock with no more available and a over $200 discount. Store hinted to a new version coming in the next week.... So I will be waiting

And not a moment too soon. New announcements always push Apple stock higher ...

If next week, then I'll be a shoppin' too ...

 

[Genghis Khan]

Store hinted to a new version coming in the next week.... So I will be waiting

...blind optimism anyone?...

Right on!

I'm starting to save for my "New computer fund" to replace my mini. If new mini's come out (and they are up to spec) I'll gladly buy one, if I save enough for a Mac Pro before new mini's come out, well then I'm gonna have to buy the Pro. The latter seems a little more likely at this rate

although, i do like this idea...i've actually been thinking hackintosh as i need a render box for uni anyway

(N.B. Render Box reads 3.16Ghz C2D, DDR3 RAM, 9800GTX graphics, dual screens)

 

[smueboy]

Too bad that, unless it's an Apple Store, they don't know anything.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is an update coming in the next month or so. It has been over a year since the last. Personally, i'm waiting for one so i can buy one as a HTPC. I'm all for some blind optimism....

 

[iGrant]

I wouldn't be surprised if there is an update coming in the next month or so. It has been over a year since the last. Personally, i'm waiting for one so i can buy one as a HTPC. I'm all for some blind optimism....

I agree I think a new model will emerge, I don't see Apple killing off the Mac Mini. I was going to wait to buy one, but my co-worker just sold me his Mac Mini Core Solo for 200 bucks and I took it. HAHAHA it was too good of a deal to pass up. Put a Intel Core Duo T2300 in it for now from ebay for about 50 bucks and I will have a good little computer to replace my G4 Mac Mini .

-iGrant

 

[mac jones]

an updated mini would be very desirable with the new Intel 45nm duos as you could run a 3Ghz 16mb cache chip without to much fuss I would think.

My only concern is the possiblity that Apple might consider the Mini to cannibalize the Pro's sales with these new chips.

But that's probably unlikely.

Otherwise, I would think to end the Mini would be a bad idea.

 

[PaulexPC]

I had also set aside money to buy the "new" mini, but Apple hasn't released one and I stumbled on a good deal, so bought a used mini. Of course not as good a deal as yours

 

[hotshotharry]

Have you guys stumbled across this yet?

http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/09/rumor-is-apples.html

I want one Please Please make it a 4core

 

[snmp]

If you

Want to call it blind optimism then.. Hay it is what it is... The 1.83 is no longer a stocked item at two stores a general electrical store and a apple dealer, likely due to Intel EOL the 1.83 CPU.
Waiting two weeks is not going to kill me to see if there is a new version, as I only want it for a HTPC so a little more CPU power would be useful for decoding movies etc..
Sorry to say it but I only really seeing there being a CPU stepping change to say 2.4gHz with the 2.0 being the base model as he 2.0 unit was not being reduced to sell off the last of the stock...

Only my two cents worth..

 

[opeter]

My only wish is that they change the chipset, so i would fully utilize the 4 GB RAM.

 

[iGrant]

Have you guys stumbled across this yet?

http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/09/rumor-is-apples.html

I want one Please Please make it a 4core

If that is their "new" Mac Mini, I am going to regret spending the Money I did on my 200 Mac Mini Core Solo, and the 37 on my T2300 Core Duo 1.66Ghz CPU upgrade.

OH Well, that would be one sweet looking Mac, but I am still going to be happy with my Mac Mini .

-iGrant

 

[mac jones]

don't be silly that's fake.

It's gonna look sort of like the current one if not exactly like it.

People love to design their tech dreams. (I works for others too it seems)

 

[Jman888]

I might buy one if the Base had The Specs of the 800$ Model but a lil faster.

It Needs 2 Models.

599$
2.26 C2D
1GB DDR2
10.5
Superdrive
x4500

799$
2.53
2GB DDR2
10.5
Superdrive (Blu-Ray Availible)
9300GT

 

[Brien]

I'd rather it went back to G4 pricepoints, personally. Apple bumped the price of everything up $100 during the Intel switch.

 

[lparkiv]

New laptops...still no new mini

We're STILL waiting, Apple!!!

 

[3121]

Oh well no mac mini update. I can't believe Apple have ignored the mini. I've been holding off buying one in case of update but looks like its not gonna happen soon! I think I'll just buy the 1.83ghz models.

 

[dmelgar]

We're STILL waiting, Apple!!!

Notebook announcement was even worse than I expected.
No cheap machine.
No new breakthrough product.
No Mini replacement, follow-on nor update.

I had even thought about buying the rumored $800 Macbook instead of a Mini, but that ain't happening.

Apple making me worry. How hard can it be to provide an update for the Mini?

I think they're planning a netbook, something small between a iPhone and Macbook to be released at MacWorld. Continuing to sell the white Macbook is just a placeholder once they slipped their schedule.

But they haven't mentioned ANYTHING about a Mini replacement. No word on Apple TV either.

I still vote for an updated Mini with:
- 3.5" drive
- option for 1TB as a media server. Or at least user replaceable.
- option for HD tuner. They're cheap, $100-200.
- option for blu-ray drive. 5.25" drives are also getting reasonable, $240 for a blu-ray BURNER. They work today on Leopard. ArchiveMac does it.

 

[rw3]

- option for 1TB as a media server. Or at least user replaceable.

I LOL'ed at that....have you never replaced the HDD in a Mini? It's pretty darn easy to do.....

 

[FF_productions]

I'd rather it went back to G4 pricepoints, personally. Apple bumped the price of everything up $100 during the Intel switch.

Yeah Apple needs to make the Mac Mini a tad more affordable and just a better machine.

It's a sad excuse for a mini computer to be selling it at the same exact price untouched since August of 2007. That speedbump was barely anything, so you could even say it has been untouched since early 2007 without any crazy updates.

Apple is shifting focus to notebooks, that's where they make the $$, but they are truly neglecting desktops by ignoring Mac Mini.

 

[darkblu]

We're STILL waiting, Apple!!!

i'm not any longer. i'm getting a 1.83 mini by the end of the week, upgrading the cpu shortly after. my upgrade wait is over.

apple are being surprisingly stubborn. good luck selling luxury notebooks to college kids during the coming recession times, apple.

ps: the omission of fw in the new entry MB is ace. carry on, apple.

 

[dmelgar]

ps: the omission of fw in the new entry MB is ace. carry on, apple.

I don't see why FW is that big a deal anymore. Yes its nice to have and am sorry to see it go but...

Most new video cameras seem to support USB 2.0

Although FW400 can be faster than USB2.0 I've seen more variability on chipsets. I have an external enclosure that supports both FW400 and USB2.0. FW400 is almost twice as fast as USB2.0 with this enclosure. Reads 36MB/sec vs. ~15-20MB/sec with USB.

However, I bought another external enclosure which is also able to achieve ~35MB/sec with USB 2.0. So I no longer see a big speed advantage.

 

[darkblu]

However, I bought another external enclosure which is also able to achieve ~35MB/sec with USB 2.0. So I no longer see a big speed advantage.

which enclosure is that?

i'm asking as i've been running my desktop off an external enclosure for years now, and from my experience usb2 has been borderline unsuable outside of backup tasks. the moment frequent random accesses kick in (typical for normal hdd use) usb2's performance goes south.