Having read through the many, many, many posts regarding integrated graphics on the new mini, and seeing proof that it doesn't produce optimal frame rates when running WoW and also might occasionally hiccup when doing true HD video (with a whopping 512MB installed), I've decided that the integrated graphics make the mini nearly useless.
It can't play state-of-the-art 3D games at full speed, it can't do true HD video, Office apps are slow because of Rosetta... in short, the integrated video makes the mini of no value whatsoever to 99.9% of the market.
Given how poor the graphics are, I conclude that the only way to get any value - if "value" is even the right word - out of this flop is to boot into single user mode and, oh, I don't know, play with UNIX or get onto some BBS somewhere. What that means to me? Only dweeby, poor, Apple fanboy geeks will buy this thing.
And, so, it's too big.
First of all, there's no need for an optical drive. I mean, really, the thing won't do HD, so movies are practically useless, and like I said, single user mode is the only useful mode, so the optical drive is useless - removing it saves space. "How would you upgrade OS X?" you ask. Two replies: (1) this rev of the mini is so worthless that you'd better off tossing it than upgrading the OS; and (2) Intel Macs can boot off of USB, so how about if Apple would just ship OS X loaded on those worthless Shuffles no one buys and put that in the box instead of the dumb remote? Then, if you're too broke to buy a better mini when they get real, you could go to your friend's mom's house and download OS X 10.4.6 or whatever off her PC and put it on the mini.
Second, why AirPort and Bluetooth? Dweeby, poor, Apple fanboy geeks don't really use those anyway, so it's a waste of space. Not a lot of space, but, still, some. Let the geeks hook up an old CB radio connection or something if they want. Just put the modem back in, OK? Because that's all you need for a BBS, and, if you can't afford any better than the mini, likely you're lucky if you can even afford a phone line.
Third? Dump the hard drive. Hell, just boot off the Shuffle. No games + no movies + no apps = no need for a hard drive. Or throw in one from the iPod minis I know Apple has sitting around in warehouses - seems appropriate, I mean, really, why not use a mini drive for the mini? Poetic, I think.
Fourth? Nix all the ports in back except for two USB ones (one for the Shuffle, one for the keyboard - single user mode doesn't require a mouse) and two screws to which the geeks could hook the antenna up for the old black and white TV they'd use when they were playing with 'grep' or chatting on the BBS about which Star Trek captain was the best.
If Apple would have just done all that instead of producing the steaming pile of... uselessness that is the Intel mini, I bet they could have shaved an inch off the height.
They didn't even try, so count me as yet another disappointed reviewer.
Edit: Given some of the replies in this thread, I feel obligated to point out that this is intended to be a sarcastic rebuttal to all the whining about integrated graphics. I personally feel that the new mini is more than sufficiently powerful to handle the needs of the typical buyer that Apple is targetting. While others feel differently, I think that the doom-and-gloom forecasts surrounding the use of integrated graphics are a bit excessive. I too would have preferred a separate GPU, but am happy overall with the speed with which Apple delivered the mini and look forward to improvements they'll make in future revisions.
It can't play state-of-the-art 3D games at full speed, it can't do true HD video, Office apps are slow because of Rosetta... in short, the integrated video makes the mini of no value whatsoever to 99.9% of the market.
Given how poor the graphics are, I conclude that the only way to get any value - if "value" is even the right word - out of this flop is to boot into single user mode and, oh, I don't know, play with UNIX or get onto some BBS somewhere. What that means to me? Only dweeby, poor, Apple fanboy geeks will buy this thing.
And, so, it's too big.
First of all, there's no need for an optical drive. I mean, really, the thing won't do HD, so movies are practically useless, and like I said, single user mode is the only useful mode, so the optical drive is useless - removing it saves space. "How would you upgrade OS X?" you ask. Two replies: (1) this rev of the mini is so worthless that you'd better off tossing it than upgrading the OS; and (2) Intel Macs can boot off of USB, so how about if Apple would just ship OS X loaded on those worthless Shuffles no one buys and put that in the box instead of the dumb remote? Then, if you're too broke to buy a better mini when they get real, you could go to your friend's mom's house and download OS X 10.4.6 or whatever off her PC and put it on the mini.
Second, why AirPort and Bluetooth? Dweeby, poor, Apple fanboy geeks don't really use those anyway, so it's a waste of space. Not a lot of space, but, still, some. Let the geeks hook up an old CB radio connection or something if they want. Just put the modem back in, OK? Because that's all you need for a BBS, and, if you can't afford any better than the mini, likely you're lucky if you can even afford a phone line.
Third? Dump the hard drive. Hell, just boot off the Shuffle. No games + no movies + no apps = no need for a hard drive. Or throw in one from the iPod minis I know Apple has sitting around in warehouses - seems appropriate, I mean, really, why not use a mini drive for the mini? Poetic, I think.
Fourth? Nix all the ports in back except for two USB ones (one for the Shuffle, one for the keyboard - single user mode doesn't require a mouse) and two screws to which the geeks could hook the antenna up for the old black and white TV they'd use when they were playing with 'grep' or chatting on the BBS about which Star Trek captain was the best.
If Apple would have just done all that instead of producing the steaming pile of... uselessness that is the Intel mini, I bet they could have shaved an inch off the height.
They didn't even try, so count me as yet another disappointed reviewer.
Edit: Given some of the replies in this thread, I feel obligated to point out that this is intended to be a sarcastic rebuttal to all the whining about integrated graphics. I personally feel that the new mini is more than sufficiently powerful to handle the needs of the typical buyer that Apple is targetting. While others feel differently, I think that the doom-and-gloom forecasts surrounding the use of integrated graphics are a bit excessive. I too would have preferred a separate GPU, but am happy overall with the speed with which Apple delivered the mini and look forward to improvements they'll make in future revisions.
