Exactly, My 2009 2.66GHz (7200RPM WD, 8GB RAM) performs very well. Video via EyeTV looks good. Both Photoshop CS 5 and CS 6 move along acceptably. The new 2.6GHz will kill my 2009 with even better graphics performance.
The mini isn't a heavy gamer though. Didn't we all expect the HD 4000 to replace the previous line up?
This isn't about cost for me. Maybe this works for you and that's all fine and good. I don't understand how they could take a step backwards. Surely you can see why people are disappointed.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
The 6630M is the 271st most powerful and the HD4000 is 269th most powerful.
Technically it's a step up, that coupled with the Ivy Bridge CPU's which also outstrip their predecessors quite handsomely it's overall a fairly big improvement.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
The new middle tier mini is a QUAD CORE with HYPERTHREADING
On this new mac mini, how will you enable Hyperthreading? or is already enabled?
On a windows type pc I've seen they are enabling it on the bios...