Mac Mini 2012 - What to expect

[Poki]

If they are going to do something crazy like removing ethernet (I couldn't care less about firewire), at least give us something like 2 thunderbolt ports and 5-6 usb ports. Those things fill up fast. 2 for keyboard and mouse, 1 for wireless broadband dongle, 1-2 for external HDD/thumbdrives and/or charging of ios devices...

I actually won't mind; it would be perfect for my workplace where my enterprise network probably won't play nice with outside devices.

Just connect Apple Keyboard and Mouse and use Thunderbolt Displays and Storage, so the single only port you'll need is Thunderbolt. Oh, and iOS devices don't need to be charged any more.

But seriously, what's the wireless broadband dongle for in a Mini? Isn't a "home broadband" or whatever these things are called much faster, cheaper and more stable?

 

[Abazigal]

Just connect Apple Keyboard and Mouse and use Thunderbolt Displays and Storage, so the single only port you'll need is Thunderbolt. Oh, and iOS devices don't need to be charged any more.

But seriously, what's the wireless broadband dongle for in a Mini? Isn't a "home broadband" or whatever these things are called much faster, cheaper and more stable?

I was thinking more in the context of using it at my workplace in place of the laptop they issue me (which amongst other issues, restricts what I can do in it due to admin rights). I would stick to a cheapo keyboard/mouse to avoid possible theft. Thunderbolt devices are expensive as well. I am not going to buy a cheap desktop only to bankrupt myself in peripherals.

The dongle would be my means of generating my own wifi, paving the way for access to cloud services (which my office’s network expressly bans).

As for why I don't just get a laptop, I don't like to keep plugging and unplugging stuff.

 

[blanka]

The dongle would be my means of generating my own wifi, paving the way for access to cloud services (which my office’s network expressly bans).

Why not use the built-in-OSX ethernet to Wifi bridge?

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Did I say anything about entry level? I always talked about the high end Mini. And I doubt they will slim it down even further. Apart from not making sense for a desktop at all, it would make it more expensive to produce, especially when using SSDs down the line.

Off course a smaller machine will be cheaper to make, even with SSD. I think a 128Gb SSD would cost the same as a 500Gb HD, and since it only needs a small daughterboard, it will save on space. Ditching the GPU: saving money. Ditching all void room inside the 2011: save money.
Quad Ivy with HD4000 is more powerful than any of the current models, so Apple could easily drop different models. Exit High End Mini!

If I would do as Apple repeatedly did in history, I would shrink it, reduce the number of models, and add some advertising about how cool and small the new sucker is in a way everybody wants one, even if it is not a big improvement in specs.

One type fits all. Just one 699$ Quad 2.5 Ivy HD4000, 4Gb RAM,128Gb SSD,3USB3,2TB,noEthernet,noFW model in as smaller package. It would be at the smart spot: a bit faster than the current server model on raw processing, just as fast as the Radeon 6630 with much less heat (22nm instead of 40nm). Crazy fast booting, and not too big as we live in the cloud. Kuddos to Greanpeace as it is the new benchmark at low-power computing. And not hurting iMac sales. Very important.

But as I guessed before: Apple tends to be a little lazy without Steve, and that might save your åss for one more generation.

 

[phoenixsan]

If Apple goes SSD....

Then will be more space for dedicated graphics, and for power dissipation, allowing a powerful processor to be put in here, IMHO

 

[HurryKayne]

Why not use the built-in-OSX ethernet to Wifi bridge?

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Off course a smaller machine will be cheaper to make, even with SSD. I think a 128Gb SSD would cost the same as a 500Gb HD, and since it only needs a small daughterboard, it will save on space. Ditching the GPU: saving money. Ditching all void room inside the 2011: save money.
Quad Ivy with HD4000 is more powerful than any of the current models, so Apple could easily drop different models. Exit High End Mini!

If I would do as Apple repeatedly did in history, I would shrink it, reduce the number of models, and add some advertising about how cool and small the new sucker is in a way everybody wants one, even if it is not a big improvement in specs.

One type fits all. Just one 699$ Quad 2.5 Ivy HD4000, 4Gb RAM,128Gb SSD,3USB3,2TB,noEthernet,noFW model in as smaller package. It would be at the smart spot: a bit faster than the current server model on raw processing, just as fast as the Radeon 6630 with much less heat (22nm instead of 40nm). Crazy fast booting, and not too big as we live in the cloud. Kuddos to Greanpeace as it is the new benchmark at low-power computing. And not hurting iMac sales. Very important.

But as I guessed before: Apple tends to be a little lazy without Steve, and that might save your åss for one more generation.

I hope they exit the quad server version and give out
a dual core with 640m
and
a quad core with 645m
Don't wanna wait the exacore Imacs (2014)to have a Quadcore mini,
its more than enough wait to 2014 to have an Air with Quad core within.. .

 

[Abazigal]

Why not use the built-in-OSX ethernet to Wifi bridge?

Probably because that dongle is serving double duty plugged into a portable router connecting my apple tv to my ipad in my classroom. Since I have it, may as well use it (and I can also use the mini to create my own wireless signal, IIRC).

Also because I have absolutely no idea what that feature you just mentioned does, and googling said term turns up results chock-full of technical jargon I just do not understand.

I dunno - it's just a little idea I have been toying with of late (and pretty enamoured with at the moment). Maybe not as practical as I envisioned originally, but still weighing the pros and cons.

 

[sean barry]

2011 ram 8 gig 16 gig, 2012 16gig or 32gig?

The 2011 Minis will only address 8 gig of ram, so they say. We know they will address 16 gig. Rumors have it the 2012 Minis will address 16 gig of ram? Does this mean they will really address 32 gig?

 

[Ice Dragon]

The 2011 Minis will only address 8 gig of ram, so they say. We know they will address 16 gig. Rumors have it the 2012 Minis will address 16 gig of ram? Does this mean they will really address 32 gig?

I just checked the i5-3210M and it can handle 32 GB of RAM. Here's the issue though. The mini has two RAM slots and there are no 16 GB SO-DIMMS yet.

 

[blanka]

I expect nothing this year. It is really amazing how a @macminicolo tweet messed up all our little brains here. The tweet even does not exist anymore!
Happy iPad Mini-ing tonight. And maybe a little MBPr as dessert.

 

[Poki]

I expect nothing this year. It is really amazing how a @macminicolo tweet messed up all our little brains here. The tweet even does not exist anymore!
Happy iPad Mini-ing tonight. And maybe a little MBPr as dessert.

Yeah, but macminicolo is only interested in the server Mini, why the hell should they know something about the other models?