I like it, but it's too small (wierdly), doesn't seem like it's feasible, double the thickness, then we're good to go.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac Mini Idea *sorry bad mockup*
- Thread starter yoyo5280
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I agree, there is no reason to have a built in ipod connector, because not ever Mac user has an iPod. HAHAHA my Dad has been a Mac user since the 80s and he still not opened the iPod I gave him 3 or 4 years ago!!!
-iGrant
Somebody who wants a basic machine for school or just surfing on the web wouldn't mind atom.
I read an article saying apple is going to drop the CD drive just like they did with floppy.
I was also thinking maybe little Bluetooth/USB adapters could be avalible
Maybe its just wishful thinking, I don't know much about hardware, but maybe if 64GB of flash memory was used it would keep it thin. (iPod touch is teeny)
For years people have asked for iPod docks built in, and I just see it happening.
I have not decided the size of it yet, it is obviously smaller than the current mini and bigger then the current iPod classic.
Thanks for all the comments!
dont
I don't think so. I think a desktop machine with an Atom chip would be a step in the wrong direction. There's no need for the low power consumption, and very little need for the size. I would much rather have something closer to the size of the current Mini, but with a real processor.
I can see Apple doing away with the CD drive eventually, yeah. They could potentially make a stackable, matching USB drive to match. But again, if we're talking about a machine designed to serve as a household's only machine, it would be a silly move. That, and I'm sure Apple knows how many people are using Minis as part of a home theater setup, so doing away with the optical drive would seem counterproductive. For a company who refuses to build a midrange tower because they believe in an "all in one" philosophy, it would be ironic to have to buy an external CD drive, too.
The iPod dock is a great idea. Flash memory is not: it's too expensive and unncessary still. If you want a smaller form factor, may as well just go with a 1.8" harddrive like the current iPod Classic uses. But I would much rather see the Mini grow and get a 3.5" drive.
What's the point of building a tiny desktop machine? The sacrifices in speed and performance do not justify a small size - it's not a portable, so it seems like lots of losses and no real gain at all.
so whats the point of the current mac mini then?
To be honest I hardly ever use the drive in my current mini at all and I really do see apple getting rid of it (selling some software would get difficult though :s)
fair enough about the flash memory, I dont know much
You are obviously not a mini kind of user, however somebody like my sisters would love it. Stylish, and does just what they want (however no more than that
)P.S. I am not saying that mine is stylish, but knowing apple an uber small computer obviously will be.
Nice concept, but I don't care for the design of a covered up Classic. XD
I'd totally buy one if it was that size though. Amazing. Its like a
Mac in your pocket!
I'd totally buy one if it was that size though. Amazing. Its like a
Mac in your pocket!So? What's the point?
The dock connector can be covered for people without iPod/iPhone. For people who have it, it reduces the cluster on the desktop (which is one of Apple's primary design goal - including the original ADC connector, and the new 24" LED monitor).
And the dock connector is actually just an USB, so it doesn't add to the cost of engineering, and maybe add $1 to the cost of manufacturing.
But somehow, it just doesn't strike me as good looking having the extrusion (right word) stick out of the computer when the iPod is plugged in.
Alright
Make it, ship it for 399(give it an Atom, 160Gbs HD, etc) then ship out a Mid range tower, 899
Also a nice netbook with equal specs(as this new Mac Mini) for 599.
Then we're good....4 desktop and 4 laptops.
I'll pick up a netbook day 1, and the mid range tower when money allowed.
Make it, ship it for 399(give it an Atom, 160Gbs HD, etc) then ship out a Mid range tower, 899
Also a nice netbook with equal specs(as this new Mac Mini) for 599.
Then we're good....4 desktop and 4 laptops.
I'll pick up a netbook day 1, and the mid range tower when money allowed.
It would be rather interesting if the next version of Time Capsule had an integrated Dvd Drive, as Well as Apple Tv also. That would be good way to get rid of the disc drive for mobile devices and sell another product at the same time. It will be interesting OS X starts shipping on USB Dongles in stead of optical media, but that would require also a USB Boot which I dont think is available yet. hmmmm.
Besides the problem that it would be slower than a CoreSolo Mini. Clock for clock, the old Celeron processors are more powerful.
The Atom is designed for 3 things:
Packaging (space it occupies)
Heat output
Wattage consumption
The Atom is for netbooks and very cheap low-end laptops, it has no place in a desktop computer.
That would be suicide. The CD/DVD format has too much life left in it. The floppy needed to be killed, the CD/DVD/Blu-Ray is still gaining momentum.
If you like the idea of a $1500 Mini.
A low cost, entry level computer to draw people into the Apple/Mac format.
...at steering Apple straight into the ground.
Nice concept, but I don't care for the design of a covered up Classic. XD
I'd totally buy one if it was that size though. Amazing. Its like a
A.K.A. iPod Touch
Pretty much we won't get Blu-ray drives even if they don't get rid of the optical drive.
But no, the Mini was never going to get a Blu-ray drive anyway.
the mini I own now is a first generation G4 1.25GHz...atom can't be any worse than that and I do eeeeverything on my mini.
pretty realistic. however...
i thought there was one "n" in shiny? (look at the description for the Silver choice)
i thought there was one "n" in shiny? (look at the description for the Silver choice)
I think something iPod Classic sized would make a fantastic Nettop. Pretty cool IMHO
No replacement for the Mac mini, though.
No replacement for the Mac mini, though.
This has the potential to be a really great idea, or a really dumb one. It could be a computer that is far more portable than a laptop, but is used as a desktop at work/school/home.
It would therefore be a kind of revolution in the way people think about stationary computing. If you use one of these for web browsing at home, you could just slip it in to your pocket and bring it to work for other uses and use the work screen/keyboard/mouse, without lugging around a laptop.
The more I think about it the more this makes sense. If the Macbook Air sacrifices optical drive, ports, speed etc. for portability, why would the Mac Mini need to be any different. While Apple trimmed those features from the Macbook Air to increase portability, the Mac Mini (or Mac Air) could be a Macbook Air without the screen, Keyboard and trackpad.
It could also be dockable and maybe, just maybe be controllable from an iPod Touch/iPhone via ad-hoc wifi.
Imagine that!
It would therefore be a kind of revolution in the way people think about stationary computing. If you use one of these for web browsing at home, you could just slip it in to your pocket and bring it to work for other uses and use the work screen/keyboard/mouse, without lugging around a laptop.
The more I think about it the more this makes sense. If the Macbook Air sacrifices optical drive, ports, speed etc. for portability, why would the Mac Mini need to be any different. While Apple trimmed those features from the Macbook Air to increase portability, the Mac Mini (or Mac Air) could be a Macbook Air without the screen, Keyboard and trackpad.
It could also be dockable and maybe, just maybe be controllable from an iPod Touch/iPhone via ad-hoc wifi.
Imagine that!
