Rumors of New Mac Mini Intensify

Although Apple just posted some ridiculous quarterly numbers, it doesn't seem like it's going to escape the current economic conditions in the US unscathed -- like pretty much everyone else, monthly sales are down in Cupertino, according to the NPD Group. The drop is only one percent total, but it's against a two percent rise in overall PC sales, which could indicate that Apple's premium pricing is hurting it as shoppers turn to netbooks and other bargain machines. That dovetails nicely with chatter we're hearing today about updated Mac minis making a debut at Macworld -- although Steve famously proclaimed that Apple doesn't "know how to make a $500 machine that's not a piece of junk" during the last earnings call, it sure sounds like he's going to try, with a $499 2.0GHz mini in a new MacBook-esque unibody enclosure rumored to arrive onstage in January. If you believe Wired, it'll be accompanied by a $700 2.3GHz version with NVIDIA graphics, and both models will feature mini DisplayPorts -- nothing shocking there. We'll see when we see -- we've been waiting for the mini to be updated forever, and while Apple did just uncharacteristically slam rumors of a new model, times like these could lead to drastic measures.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/mac-mini-update-rumors-flare-as-apple-sales-dip/

 

I wonder how a Unibody Mac Mini will look? If it retains the same dimensions I think it'll look kind of strange. Like a chunk of aluminum. If they go with Apple TV dimensions then they'll have to do a MBA and cut out the optical drive at which point it'll basically be an Apple TV. Which brings up the question of whether they'll combine the Apple TV and the Mac Mini? The Apple TV is due for a refresh too since it's hardware has remained the same for 2 years now. At the very least it'll probably switch to a modern ULV Celeron or maybe an Atom. A modern ULV Penryn would probably be too expensive, since even when the Apple TV was first released it's ULV Dothan based Pentium M was last-gen pre Core Duo to keep costs down.

One thing I can't see though is Apple offering 2 different chipsets for the high-end and low-end Mac Mini. With all the iMacs having discrete graphics and the MacBook on nVidia chipsets, it doesn't make sense to special order an Intel IGP chipset just for the $499 model. Either nVidia is being very generous with the 9400M pricing to allow Apple to put it in the Mac Mini or the $499 model will just be a price-drop of the current Mac Mini while the $700 model and higher models will be the redesign with the 9400M, like how the MacBook refresh happened.

Personally, I think it'd be better if Apple made the Mac Mini a little bigger than the current model and allowed it to be more upgradable. To avoid cannibalizing iMac or Mac Pro sales, the Mac Mini should stick with mobile processors and chipsets. However, the processor should be socketed so it can be upgraded. Similarly, 2 user-accessible SODIMM slots, room for 2 2.5" HDD with RAID support on the motherboard, and a single PCIe x16 slot for upgradable graphics (may have to be low-profile to fit case). The default configuration can still be low-end with an IGP like what the Mac Mini currently offers, but there's sufficient expandability for those that need it. Adding an nVidia discrete graphics card could enable SLI while adding an ATI GPU simply disables the IGP. It isn't going to be a powerhouse, but fully loaded by the user can still beat a even the top-end BTO iMac.

 

lol.

i think you just want a normal computer. mobile processors and chipsets + pcie x16 for upgradeable graphics? what are you talking about? hah!

2 hard drives? in a mac mini? please.

im sorry but none of your mac mini dreams are coming true.

mac mini is getting a SINGLE hard drive, integrated graphics (probably by nvidia, for at least the new models- but at least the 9400m is decent). no SLI, no pcie x16. you will probably get your two memory slots. yee haw.

 

He just wants a upgradeable Mac without having to shell out for the Mac Pro. The Mac Mini is supposed to be the affordable Mac.

 

I think they'll do what they did with the macbook. Upgrade one to a new look ($700) and keep the old one at a lower ($500) price.

 

why are people so desperate for a Mac that mimics a gaming PC?

if you want to have whatever you want then you are going to have to build it yourself, which you can do, please please please get over it.

 

But we cannot build it ourselves if we want to use OSX (at least with the current Apple EULA). If you want an open, configurable, upgradeable computer, your only choice is a typical PC running Linux, BSD, or Windows.