Where is the Mac midi?

[benbow]

The new Mac Pro quad core 2.0Ghz starts at $2140
The Mac mini maxed out goes for $1224


That leaves a BIG hole in the Mac product range.


Here is my wish list for the Mac midi (prosumer model)


One 1.8 to 2.2 Ghz merom duo core 2 processor.

One PCI graphics card slot and a choice of current display cards.

Backside accessable slot for airport and bluetooth cards

Backside slots for two Mac pro stlye 3.5" HD trays for 160-500gb drives

Backside accessable card with four DIMM slots (choice of 1-4Gb memory)

Backside device sockets ( the usual array and power cord)

Frontside power switch and external device sockets like Mac Pro.

Frontside Superdrive slot

Aluminum grill enclosure about 8"(20cm) wide by 8" deep by 8" high

Priced from USA$1099 to $1999

Return of the CUBE!!!

 

[FullmetalZ26]

I've said the same basic thing, on and off the forums, a few times since the Mac Pro was announced/released. And as nice as it would be, chances are Apple won't give us what we want. They cut their lineup down to how it is now to keep from segmenting their own market too much, or something like that. It's even a bit of a stretch that we have the Mini, but that's probably because they know not everybody wants to throw an LCD away every few years.

 

[mrgreen4242]

I'd take a mini with a full 3.5" HDD (they can even keep the overpriced laptop optical drive in there) and an upgradable GPU. That's it. The GPU could even be a limited selection Apple only thing for all I care. Just let me 1) have a real GPU and 2) upgrade it in 12-18 months when <insert new hotness game> comes out.

The 3.5" drive would add, what, an inch to the height of the machine tops? The replaceable GPU would be a bit more of a challenge, would need to make the machine a bit taller and probably expand the depth and width a bit as well. Personally, that wouldn't bother me... I mean 8x8x3 or whatever is actually a bit too small. When I was moving last month I had to explain to my PC using friends/family that, yes, that's the computer, there's nothing under the desk, please be careful with it, it's not a USB hub, etc.

10x10x6" would be a fine size for a slightly expandable Mac... that would open up some more real estate for an extra bank of USB and FW connectors, even!

I went through this whole though process on Tuesday, when I priced out a rock bottom Mac Pro (with edu pricing) to be $2k (that's the 2ghz CPU, 160gb HDD, 1gb RAM, no wireless). That machine's a bit of overkill for most people. A core duo mini, with upgraded RAM - 1gb is the minimum nowadays - which spec wise is probably fine for 90% of the people out there is under $900 (edu price); but the other 10% of us want a better, upgradable GPU and I'd be willing to pay another $100-200 more for it.

I know the iMac is supposed to fill that spot, but until the redisgn it to move all the heat producing parts out of the unit I am looking at, I don't want one. I've tried it and the noise killed me. My mini is silent, but even if it weren't I could put it away from my ears and ignore it, the way it should be.

Sorry, this is a long and useless rant... I'm just frustrated that Apple didn't bring back the $1500 "PowerMac" (the single G5 1.6ghz was $1500 at some point right?)... A Core Duo 2ghz, 1gb RAM (with only 4 slots, not 8) 100gb HDD (just 2 HDD slots instead of 4 even), 1xSD, 7300GT (or even the GS with BTO options) should EASILY be available for <$1500. I'd buy that... but I'm not going to drop $2k to replace my mini, and I'm not going to replace my mini with an Intel one until they get some improved video components in there.

 

[7on]

This is going for like $1700 on the refurbished page...

Refurbished Power Mac G5 Dual 2GHz
Dual-core 2GHz PowerPC G5 processor
1GHz frontside bus per processor
1MB L2 cache per core
512MB of 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-4200)
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
16x SuperDrive (double-layer)
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 LE (128MB GDDR SDRAM)

 

[milo]

This is going for like $1700 on the refurbished page...

Yeah. And on native apps it's outperformed by the mini.

I agree with the original poster. I don't think everything needs to be accessable from the backside as long as swaps are pretty easy. And on a model like that they should really just include airport and BT.

There's no reason Apple couldn't ship a dual core conroe machine with an open PCI slot for $1299.

 

[zap2]

I would also like a Mid range headless Mac, but its just no happening.. if Apple had not made the option of down grading the Mac Pro to a 2.0Ghz, there would be from at the price from 1699-2499, but alas now it would eat up any other Mac sales

 

[mrgreen4242]

Yeah. And on native apps it's outperformed by the mini.

I agree with the original poster. I don't think everything needs to be accessable from the backside as long as swaps are pretty easy. And on a model like that they should really just include airport and BT.

There's no reason Apple couldn't ship a dual core conroe machine with an open PCI slot for $1299.

Ya, not much reason to buy a PPC machine at this point. I mean, I have one and I'll keep using it in some fashion for 10 years probably (my machine for another year, they the wife will get it for 2-3 years, then probably have a kid who'll want his own computer, and after they outgrow it, it'll probably make a nice little media server or something), but I wouldn't buy one now.

I just wish, as the OP says, they'd bring back the cube. ~2ghz Core Duo, 4 RAM slots, 1 3.5" bay, 1 5.25", 1 PCI, 1 PCI-E, 4 USB2, 2 FW (1x400, 1x800), LAN, AE, BT2, $1300 sounds about right. I would get one as soon as they launched, especially if they had a cool case, like the cube was. I'd love to see a pizza box design (like the old LCs) with the original iPod white plastic covered with clear polycarb. :drool:

 

[nickelbackmac]

Return of The Cube!? It was a Powermac! Unless they make the mini sport a new cube casing... Anyway, I don't think it will be coming back. Not now, at least.

 

[milo]

Return of The Cube!? It was a Powermac! Unless they make the mini sport a new cube casing... Anyway, I don't think it will be coming back. Not now, at least.

I don't think the cube is a good comparison. It was way overpriced for what you got. I want a box that is economical, and don't care about style at all. Just give me the cheapest enclosure with decent power and a little expandablity.

 

[Zwhaler]

The new Mac Pro quad core 2.0Ghz starts at $2140
The Mac mini maxed out goes for $1224

That leaves a BIG hole in the Mac product range.

Here is my wish list for the Mac midi (prosumer model)

One 1.8 to 2.2 Ghz merom duo core 2 processor.
One PCI graphics card slot and a choice of current display cards.
Backside accessable slot for airport and bluetooth cards
Backside slots for two Mac pro stlye 3.5" HD trays for 160-500gb drives
Backside accessable card with four DIMM slots (choice of 1-4Gb memory)
Backside device sockets ( the usual array and power cord)
Frontside power switch and external device sockets like Mac Pro.
Frontside Superdrive slot
Aluminum grill enclosure about 8"(20cm) wide by 8" deep by 8" high
Priced from USA$1099 to $1999
Return of the CUBE!!!

Yes, and that BIG hole is filled up by the iMac, in case you didn't notice.

Stock iMac 20", $1699.

 

[milozauckerman]

One HD, lousy graphics, no upgradeability, 2GB RAM limit until prices fall, no FW800, no eSATA, notebook processor.

Which doesn't, in any way, fill the big hole below the Mac Pro.

 

[milo]

Yes, and that BIG hole is filled up by the iMac, in case you didn't notice.

Just because the number with the dollar sign falls between the other numbers with dollar signs doesn't mean it fills the whole.

The iMac doesn't fill the whole because it's not headless and doesn't have the needed expandability.

 

[LSE]

"Mac Pro Cube" or "Mac Pro Mini"?

One HD, lousy graphics, no upgradeability, 2GB RAM limit until prices fall, no FW800, no eSATA, notebook processor.

Which doesn't, in any way, fill the big hole below the Mac Pro.

Here here. Now that the PowerMac G5 (which was marketed as a high end desktop) has been replaced by the Mac Pro (which is marketed as a workstation), a middle ground machine is needed. I hope it will be a "Mac Pro Cube" or "Mac Pro Mini".

Visit http://www.macprocube.com/ (hardly ever updated though).

I got (too) enthused with the idea and checked Tech papers etc. and am pretty certain that such a product could exist in a form factor of 20cm x 25cm x 25cm somewhat reminiscent of the cube, only in aluminium, and have provision for: -
- Intel Kentsfield (Quad core MCM)
- 3 PCIe slots
- Dual internal HDDs
- Slot loading Superdrive
- 8 GB DDR2 RAM
- Internal PSU
- Required cooling hardware
- Multiple USB + FireWire connections

Interestingly, this form factor could physically accept a single Xeon, so perhaps when the workstation class quad core MCMs are released (Clovertown), and the Mac Pro has two of those, then hopefully this product will be released with a single one.

This would be the perfect machine for many people, primarily semi-pros or enthusiasts needing something more powerful and expandable than a MacBook Pro, yet cheaper than a Mac Pro.

I wish....

 

[Anonymous Freak]

One HD, lousy graphics, no upgradeability, 2GB RAM limit until prices fall, no FW800, no eSATA, notebook processor.

Which doesn't, in any way, fill the big hole below the Mac Pro.

Well, the OP mentioned wanting Merom in his 'Mac midi' (Dang it, MIDI is an audio connection, not a computer size!)

I like the idea of 'return of cube', even if it's not exactly the cube. But I'd want Conroe in it, not Merom. PC 'small form factor' computers are available that have monster 100+W Pentium 4s in them, without being ridiculously loud. Apple could put a 65W Conroe in there without gumming up the works. Conroe has the advantage of higher clock speeds, and a faster front side bus. (1066 MHz vs. Merom's current 667 MHz.)

Another option would be a 'double-height' mini. You could then easily put a 3.5" drive in there, (maybe 2,) and put the video on a daughtercard. There is already a 'standard' physical form factor for PCIe x16 notebook video cards that Dell and others use. Apple could just adopt that. Finally, slap in an ExpressCard slot for expansion. (Or even a half-height PCIe x1 slot lying on its side.)

 

[JAT]

Next Tuesday, no doubt.

 

[Lebowski]

The new Mac Pro quad core 2.0Ghz starts at $2140
The Mac mini maxed out goes for $1224


That leaves a BIG hole in the Mac product range.

maybe im retarded.... but the quad core is high end, and the mini is entry level.... and you refer to a big hole in the product line....

so i guess you never heard of an imac? or PB (macbookpro)?

 

[Zwhaler]

maybe im retarded.... but the quad core is high end, and the mini is entry level.... and you refer to a big hole in the product line....

so i guess you never heard of an imac? or PB (macbookpro)?

Exactly what I said. Then I was told that the price isn't what they were talking about, which doesn't make sense to me, because they started off this thread by naming prices, and talking about how theres a big hole between 1grand and 2grand machines.

 

[dan-o-mac]

maybe im retarded.... but the quad core is high end, and the mini is entry level.... and you refer to a big hole in the product line....

so i guess you never heard of an imac? or PB (macbookpro)?

Both are neither headless or upgradeable, the two most important features people want in a mid range mac.

 

[milozauckerman]

I wouldn't throw down $2k-3k on a MacBook Pro if it was your money, buddy.

 

[LSE]

Jobsnote?

If such a product were announced, how do you think The Steve would do so?

Perhaps demo Time Machine to restore some files of a PowerMac G4 Cube (which show the new Mac Pro Mini) as an obvious hint at to what his "one more thing" would be?

If only...

 

[milo]

so i guess you never heard of an imac? or PB (macbookpro)?

So enlighten me...how do you add a hard drive or PCI card to an iMac? Or swap the video card?

Exactly what I said. Then I was told that the price isn't what they were talking about, which doesn't make sense to me, because they started off this thread by naming prices, and talking about how theres a big hole between 1grand and 2grand machines.

The thread started by naming two headless desktops, it's silly to name a completely different kind of machine as filling in the product line. It would be like saying the gap between two cars is filled by a motorcycle.

 

[LSE]

Perhaps like this?

I don't know about all of you out there, but I'd like it if they made a machine like this, named "Mac Pro Mini". (Only with the air/cable grooves at the front and back).

 

[dan-o-mac]

I like the one from macprocube.com better.

 

[LSE]

Thats a current product - you can stick a mac mini in it and one of those external fw400 hubs/drives that fits under the mini.

 

[Lebowski]

So enlighten me...how do you add a hard drive or PCI card to an iMac? Or swap the video card?

well, they have these things now called external hard drives......

if you need to change cards, get a tower. if you cant afford it, get a used one. if thats not good enough for you, then tough.

not to mention, if you were doing WORK (not games) that requires better video cards, you should be using a pro anyway.... wants and needs are very different.