How possible is that? Let's do an experiment: roll two dices until the sum is 3. It may happen on the first time. Or never
Actually the probability of hitting two 3's is 1 in 36, that's pretty damn good odds if you ask me.
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Mini - beyond pathetic
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Actually the probability of hitting two 3's is 1 in 36, that's pretty damn good odds if you ask me.
Since the current mini case is four years old, I wouldn't expect it to be used much longer. My guess: if the mini is upgraded, it'll be much thinner, like a MacBook (not that thin is necessary).
I don't know what prices are like in the UK, but here in the states a used G5 dual 2 GHz costs a LOT more than even the most expensive current Mac Mini. And I hate to break it to you, but the current mac mini is more powerful than a dual 2 GHz G5. Check out the Geekbench benchmarks from primatelabs.
Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) PowerPC G5 (970MP) 2.0 GHz (2 cores) = 1805
Mac mini (Mid 2007) Intel Core 2 T7200 2.0 GHz (2 cores) = 2580
http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2009/01/mac-performance-january-2009/
Yep, I'd also put up with the mini display connector, if I had too. I'd prefer the ability to run two reasonably sized screens.
The last quote on the page you linked intrigued me ...
"You might wonder what the point is of putting all the engineering effort into the 3D core, if it sucks so badly at games?"
yeah, what is the point Apple?.
Actually, he wrote "until the sum is three." So your odds are halved: while there is one only combination of outcomes that will give you double 3, there are two that will give you the sum of three, either 1/2 or 2/1. That's 1 in 18 by my reckoning. Note, 1 in 18 each and every time you roll. Not striking a 1/2 or 2/1 combination in any given roll doesn't affect the probability of striking a 1/2 or 2/1 combination in subsequent rolls. So the while the probability of never rolling the sum of 3 is low, it's not zero.
It's a reflection on the nature of it's customers more than anything else that Apple doesn't feel the need to replace it yet. To someone who doesn't know what they're actually buying, all you need in a model range is 'cheaper, but slower' and 'expensive, but faster' but these don't actually have to mean anything in the real world, only relatively.
For those who don't know what they're buying, that is true, although I believe that most switchers (who the Mini is purportedly marketed too) would have knowledge on 'what is what' simply because if they have the knowledge enough to want to switch.... .
I also believe that Apple has a large backlog of Mini's it needs to clear, same stockpile backlog with the polycarb shell on the MB, which is why IMHO Apple have bumped the specs a little, as soon as the shells are gone, so is that style of MB .
Difference with the Mini is that Apple have the iMac and really seem to want folks to buy that, so there is no real urgency on Apples part to update the Mini,, as long as iMac's keep on selling that is!, mind you I can't think why people are still buying all in one's though- it's beyond me in this day an age why anyone would want an all in one just simply an unnecessary expense when Mini could be used with ones existing screen/keyboard which, in many cases is superior in quality to that offered with the iMac.
Give us decent (ie: reasonably priced, the R&D thing doesn't wash anymore!-with me at least) mid range(super Mini) and low range towers(similar form to now mini-updated)
Apple, for the sake of my sanity being further lost at bizarre decisions, be done with all this all in one nonsense, update the Mini, produce 'that' tower and,...... yes there is more, do it all by next Tuesday, thank you
Good morning,
Well I am new to MacRumours and a PC user (please don't hurt me!)
I guess I am looking to fall into the category of 'switcher', having been a PC owner (and worker) all my life. Primarily I want a mac mini to operate as a media centre in my living room.
Now up until yesterday, i was going to run out and buy one just like that....however the rumour of an updated mac mini with nvidia graphics has forced me to halt in my tracks. Mainly because I am an avid Doom playing fan!
It's probably a stupid question, but how realistic is an March update for the mac mini, and in your opinion is it going to be worth it (based on the rumours of course).
If I was you, I'd wait. I switched in 08, have 2 BMB's and a MBP Unibody. Recently the old faithful AMD Athlon Single core 3700 died. Another WD Raptor failure. So now I have a great ASUS 21" monitor, and a great wireless keyboard/mouse, new APC surge protection, but no PC. So now I'm going to join the legions of Apple faithful waiting for a Mini update.
So we'll wait together. The current Mini is yesterdays news
I honestly think they are still cranking out Polycarbonate Shells. It fills the lower cost slot and its still their best selling computer. That white Macbook is here to stay for awhile.
Apple's latest marketing is about the software, not hardware. The Mini still meets the specs required for iLife and iWork.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/650708/
BTW: as far as buying outdated tech, I see people buying and using NetBooks with Windows XP, Atom processor, and GMA950 all the time now...
Some points:
- So Apple doesn't have to update the Mac mini until iLife/iWork exceeds the mini's specs in 5 (or whatever) years time?
- The Mac mini does not keep pace with other Macs, PCs, or even previous versions of the mini in terms of update frequency and technologies
- The specs you mention exist in computers far cheaper than the Mac miniI doubt any $599 PC has the specs of a Mac mini
- Not only is a Mac mini is for higher-performance situations than a netbook, but it's less of a "secondary computer"
- Would a netbook meet the recommended specs for iLife/iWork?
I bought a netbook and it's great. It's not a replacement for a desktop computer though; only for surfing, email and other light tasks. For some that's plenty but many people want to do more, or at least know they have the capability.
Unfortunately most software becomes bloated and slower with each revision, in addition to being expected to perform more complex tasks. So it requires fast hardware. Computers with two year old specs are sub standard, even if usable.
Thats had a lot to do with form factor and price
Lower the Mini to 299, and it would be quite the steal!
As a very recent PC to mac switcher I knew exactly what the mini was offering. Was it overpriced? Well let me ask how much is it worth to be able to hook up my entire system in 20 minutes, download the updates and hook up my video camera within an hour. All of this without having to swear or curse bill gates once.........Priceless. I have been able to stream video from Hulu, edit my pics video and music all without having one system cluster screw.
I used to sell Very High end audio and video equipment. I would have someone come in a tell me that I was nuts for selling a Krell Preamp that was only dolby digital 5.1 and 500 watt amp for 9 grand. I would thank them for thier opinion walk them over to the latest gratest SONY POS reciever for 500.00 that had every button sound effect and 10 channel 1000 watt audio. Sell it to them and they left happy. I would then have someone come in and ask me if I were to buy what would it be. I would show them the Krell piece and explain why I dont care if the tech is two years behind the mainstream, because you are buying the best quality that there is and let them listen to it. If they appreciated what was there they could care less if it had the latest processors and bells and whistles.
Is the mini a high end amp. No of course not. But like the high end amp it is a tried and true piece of equipment that has long filled a market segment. Furthermore it is undoubtedly a very profitable piece in the Mac lineup that while not the most updated computer on the market it is something that ANYONE can buy hook up and enjoy a true mac experiance. Simplicity at its finest at a price point that can easily be afforded. Especially if your PC just took a dive and you already have all the externals and just need something to power it.
Is it for someone that needs and wants to have the best spec'ed computer so when they get into that classic pissing match with thier buddy they can claim thier system can put up the best benchmarks. No and if thats is what you want look elsewhere. But as far as I know it will run damn near all the software that the average user can find.
So please stop beating the dead horse, she just cant take that much more.
I used to sell Very High end audio and video equipment. I would have someone come in a tell me that I was nuts for selling a Krell Preamp that was only dolby digital 5.1 and 500 watt amp for 9 grand. I would thank them for thier opinion walk them over to the latest gratest SONY POS reciever for 500.00 that had every button sound effect and 10 channel 1000 watt audio. Sell it to them and they left happy. I would then have someone come in and ask me if I were to buy what would it be. I would show them the Krell piece and explain why I dont care if the tech is two years behind the mainstream, because you are buying the best quality that there is and let them listen to it. If they appreciated what was there they could care less if it had the latest processors and bells and whistles.
Is the mini a high end amp. No of course not. But like the high end amp it is a tried and true piece of equipment that has long filled a market segment. Furthermore it is undoubtedly a very profitable piece in the Mac lineup that while not the most updated computer on the market it is something that ANYONE can buy hook up and enjoy a true mac experiance. Simplicity at its finest at a price point that can easily be afforded. Especially if your PC just took a dive and you already have all the externals and just need something to power it.
Is it for someone that needs and wants to have the best spec'ed computer so when they get into that classic pissing match with thier buddy they can claim thier system can put up the best benchmarks. No and if thats is what you want look elsewhere. But as far as I know it will run damn near all the software that the average user can find.
So please stop beating the dead horse, she just cant take that much more.
I think the basic question is: Why has Apple not updated the mini?
I thought Intel stopped making the processors used in the mini months ago. I suppose Apple already had a ton of them and needs to use them up.
I thought Intel stopped making the processors used in the mini months ago. I suppose Apple already had a ton of them and needs to use them up.
azdunerat, I agree and it is what got me into Mac in the first place. I wasn't expecting a lot for $599 (the top mini at the time - the original 1.42GHz G4) but I was amazed at how easy itw as to setup and get to work immediately without all the fuss I had been used to with Windows. At the time it was the cheapest Mac I had ever seen and was cheap enough to get me to try it, and then I was hooked! Of course it was new tech at the time (basically an iBook without the screen) and the current model is nowhere new new tech. If I were still a PC guy, the current mini might be enough to get me to give it a try; as an experienced Mac user of a few years now, it is no longer enough in its current state.
As I grow with mac I will probably feel the same. But on the other hand I have a 4 year old Toshiba laptop that still runs great and does everything I need it to do. I just dont ask more of my exquipment than what is there. Plus the only thing I have found the mini not capable of doing is gaming. That and extremely graphic intensive programs that most 6-800.00 PC users would also struggle with
But will it meet the specs for Snow Leopard? (And I don't mean the base requirements, but the requirements for any X.6 analogue of Quartz Extreme.)
Apple has upgraded the graphics on all its machines (except for the Mini) to at least GeForce 9400M. How much does Apple plan to rely on OpenCL in Snow Leopard?
Nah, they'd go buy a PC with better specs for the price point, your not going to entice anyone to switch to a new platform with outdated tech
Yep, the current Mini looks like a dead horse in the current Apple line up, well not really but you know what I mean, kind of outdated etc, not a rotting carcass of a horse as such but in computing terms........
yes, but they are for ?100£ or there abouts not 500£ like the Mini !.
This is my point, no one who is knowledgeable enough to want to to switch, is going to buy a Mini, not in there right mind .
Thanks Zisa, i would tend to agree with you, but a power mac isn't going to sit so snuggly in the living room.
If I was you, I'd wait. I switched in 08, have 2 BMB's and a MBP Unibody. Recently the old faithful AMD Athlon Single core 3700 died. Another WD Raptor failure. So now I have a great ASUS 21" monitor, and a great wireless keyboard/mouse, new APC surge protection, but no PC. So now I'm going to join the legions of Apple faithful waiting for a Mini update.
So we'll wait together. The current Mini is yesterdays news
Thanks Cheffy, i'm going to sit tight and wait......and wait......and......
- so so true. If I had the patience, I would still be waiting. It was my first mac mini that made me fall in love with the mac