So I am going to buy a mac mini soon. I have been hearing about the new chips about to be released for apple's lineup...how long before these chips make it into the mini? Is it worth waiting until sometime in august to order the mini or should i just get it now cuz it will be long down the road before the beef these up?
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Mac Mini: Is It Worth The Wait?
- Thread starter nickd06
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Well if you can wait, wait. Things are only going to get better with time. If you need it now take it. I believe the mac mini chip can be upgraded so you may want to get the low end core solo and plan on upgrading when you can.
64 bit Mac Mini?
Hah! Dream on! The Mini is Apple's red headed step child. Worst "bargain" from the most overpriced manufacturer IMO. If I am after an Apple today, it will be a MacBook over a Mini. That's right, I rather shell out extra 200 or so bucks and make it a PORTABLE! Oh, and not forgetting the 400Mhz faster processor!
Hah! Dream on! The Mini is Apple's red headed step child. Worst "bargain" from the most overpriced manufacturer IMO. If I am after an Apple today, it will be a MacBook over a Mini. That's right, I rather shell out extra 200 or so bucks and make it a PORTABLE! Oh, and not forgetting the 400Mhz faster processor!
No Merom for mini...
There are other systems Apple will upgrade before the mini...
In particular, Apple will upgrade the iMac with a Merom or Conroe, and Merom will go into the MBP before it goes into the mini.
While it is feasible that Apple could do all these upgrades at WWDC I somehow doubt it.
This all assumes that Apple _will_ upgrade the Mac mini. The introduction of
the Education iMac with Intel GMA900 graphics tends to lend weight to the argument that Apple will continue to use the built-in graphics for the lower-end models, and I think Apple could leave the MacBook and Mac mini with the current Core cpus (Core Duo and Core Solo).
I would accept that it is certianly possible that Apple will drop the Core Solo from the entry-level Mac mini, making Apple first to deploy Dual-core CPU's accross the board.
Apple _could_ have one last surprise for us... I think there is definately space in the Apple line-up for a small desktop system. It would use the Conroe chip. The "Mac Pro" will use the recently released Woodcrest Xeon 5100 series CPUs.
There are other systems Apple will upgrade before the mini...
In particular, Apple will upgrade the iMac with a Merom or Conroe, and Merom will go into the MBP before it goes into the mini.
While it is feasible that Apple could do all these upgrades at WWDC I somehow doubt it.
This all assumes that Apple _will_ upgrade the Mac mini. The introduction of
the Education iMac with Intel GMA900 graphics tends to lend weight to the argument that Apple will continue to use the built-in graphics for the lower-end models, and I think Apple could leave the MacBook and Mac mini with the current Core cpus (Core Duo and Core Solo).
I would accept that it is certianly possible that Apple will drop the Core Solo from the entry-level Mac mini, making Apple first to deploy Dual-core CPU's accross the board.
Apple _could_ have one last surprise for us... I think there is definately space in the Apple line-up for a small desktop system. It would use the Conroe chip. The "Mac Pro" will use the recently released Woodcrest Xeon 5100 series CPUs.
The Conroe chip is actually quite expensive, and no way would they put a more powerful chip into a Mini than the iMac.
Such a decision would totally blow the counterarguments against having a Conroe in an iMac (namely heat) out the window, because if the iMac can't coup with a 35W processor, what are the odds that a pint sized Mini can even do it?
What I think would be likely, the Mini gets a further speed bump (to 1.6 and 1.8 hopefully), and they'd probably get Meroms if the Yonah line is completely replaced by Core 2 (ie: the Core 2 line now begins at 1.6 and goes on from there). I do think there are good odds that the iMac will get Conroes.
Similarly, I hope the low end Powermac replacement will not use a Conroe. Totally underwhelming showing if that were to happen.
Such a decision would totally blow the counterarguments against having a Conroe in an iMac (namely heat) out the window, because if the iMac can't coup with a 35W processor, what are the odds that a pint sized Mini can even do it?
What I think would be likely, the Mini gets a further speed bump (to 1.6 and 1.8 hopefully), and they'd probably get Meroms if the Yonah line is completely replaced by Core 2 (ie: the Core 2 line now begins at 1.6 and goes on from there). I do think there are good odds that the iMac will get Conroes.
Similarly, I hope the low end Powermac replacement will not use a Conroe. Totally underwhelming showing if that were to happen.
mini upgrades
I have a core duo mini and my plan is about 90 seconds after its out of warranty, I'm gonna replace the CPU with whatever intel have on the shelves that meets the power and thermal requirements of the tiny space.
Chances are, that'll be a 2.3GHz Merom - which if memory serves, uses less power and produces less heat that the 1.66 currently installed.
Try that with a macbook
I have a core duo mini and my plan is about 90 seconds after its out of warranty, I'm gonna replace the CPU with whatever intel have on the shelves that meets the power and thermal requirements of the tiny space.
Chances are, that'll be a 2.3GHz Merom - which if memory serves, uses less power and produces less heat that the 1.66 currently installed.
Try that with a macbook
I was planning to get a dual core mini for my TV room and use it as my primary music/picture server. With the release of the edu iMac I;m going to wait. If apple can take the mac mini hardware, remove the remote and superdrive and add a 17inch LCD, iSight, keyboard and mouse for $150 more (edu price) I know they can and will drop the mini price at some time.
So wait I will.
So wait I will.
dont forget tho, if you plan on having your TV as the only screen, why would you want a laptop or an iMac as your lounge media centre?
Mac mini good value...
Actually, the Mac mini is fairly good value. Check out other manufacturers' Mac mini "copies", they're not as good and similar prices. In the UK, the base Mac mini (Core Solo 1.5) is 399 GBP incl. VAT, whereas Evesham's "copy" starts at 499 GBP incl. VAT, and that's powered by a Celeron M380 (1.6GHz). I think the 1.5 Solo will out-perform the Celeron easily.
Oh... I'm not saying the MacBooks aren't good value... I think they are.
However, if you qualify, I'd say that the Edu-iMac is pretty good value too!
generik said:
Actually, the Mac mini is fairly good value. Check out other manufacturers' Mac mini "copies", they're not as good and similar prices. In the UK, the base Mac mini (Core Solo 1.5) is 399 GBP incl. VAT, whereas Evesham's "copy" starts at 499 GBP incl. VAT, and that's powered by a Celeron M380 (1.6GHz). I think the 1.5 Solo will out-perform the Celeron easily.
Oh... I'm not saying the MacBooks aren't good value... I think they are.
However, if you qualify, I'd say that the Edu-iMac is pretty good value too!