Apple readying significant Mac mini update
Apple Computer has begun to inform service providers of a revision to its Mac mini desktop computer that is now expected to quietly make its debut in a matter of days.
According to documents shown to AppleInsider, the revision, which will bump the low-end Mac mini from 1.25GHz to 1.33GHz and the two higher-end models from 1.42GHz to 1.5GHz, was originally slated for release last Tuesday.
Sources say Apple will continue to market the three new Mac mini configurations at the current price points of $499, $599, and $699. All three models will ship standard with Mac OS X 10.4.2 and include faster hard drives operating at 5400-rpm. The current Mac minis include 4200-rpm drives.
In the graphics department, both the mid-range and high-end 1.5GHz Mac mini configurations will see their video memory doubled via ATI's Radeon 9200 64MB graphics card with AGP 4X support. The low-end 1.33GHz Mac mini will continue to ship with 32MB version of the card, sources said.
Updates to the Mac mini's wireless technologies are also expected in the revision. Sources say Apple has redesigned the Mac mini's mezzanine board to accommodate a revised AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth combo card, which will ship on the 1.5GHz models and include Bluetooth 2.0+EDR technology. While remaining backwards-compatible with Bluetooth 1.x, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR is up to three times faster, offering a maximum data rate of 3Mbps.
Finally, sources say the high-end 1.5GHz Mac mini configuration will also gain an 8x double-layer SuperDrive capable of double-layer DVD burning.
All models will continue to ship with MPC7447A PowerPC G4 processors from Freescale and 512MB of PC2700 (333MHz) DDR SDRAM.
According to documents shown to AppleInsider, the revision, which will bump the low-end Mac mini from 1.25GHz to 1.33GHz and the two higher-end models from 1.42GHz to 1.5GHz, was originally slated for release last Tuesday.
Sources say Apple will continue to market the three new Mac mini configurations at the current price points of $499, $599, and $699. All three models will ship standard with Mac OS X 10.4.2 and include faster hard drives operating at 5400-rpm. The current Mac minis include 4200-rpm drives.
In the graphics department, both the mid-range and high-end 1.5GHz Mac mini configurations will see their video memory doubled via ATI's Radeon 9200 64MB graphics card with AGP 4X support. The low-end 1.33GHz Mac mini will continue to ship with 32MB version of the card, sources said.
Updates to the Mac mini's wireless technologies are also expected in the revision. Sources say Apple has redesigned the Mac mini's mezzanine board to accommodate a revised AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth combo card, which will ship on the 1.5GHz models and include Bluetooth 2.0+EDR technology. While remaining backwards-compatible with Bluetooth 1.x, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR is up to three times faster, offering a maximum data rate of 3Mbps.
Finally, sources say the high-end 1.5GHz Mac mini configuration will also gain an 8x double-layer SuperDrive capable of double-layer DVD burning.
All models will continue to ship with MPC7447A PowerPC G4 processors from Freescale and 512MB of PC2700 (333MHz) DDR SDRAM.
Comments
That one IS CoreImage compatible....
Originally posted by maceddy
Why not use the RADEON 9550 like in the iBook.
That one IS CoreImage compatible....
yeah it is a shame that not all the Macs are CoreImage compliant yet.
Originally posted by maceddy
Why not use the RADEON 9550 like in the iBook.
That one IS CoreImage compatible....
Because of heat and cost constraints obviously.
The Mac Mini is already CoreImage compatible. I think you're confused about what CI is. ALL currently shipping macs are CI compatible.
I too wish the Mac Mini had a faster GPU, but I am not representative of the consuming masses.
Originally posted by AppleInsider
Apple Computer has begun to inform service providers of a revision to its Mac mini desktop computer that is now expected to quietly make its debut in a matter of days...
Nice, but what about PowerMac and PowerBook updates? By updating the mini twice this year with only one update to the PowerBook, Apple is going to further upset its pro community.
Originally posted by ka2357
Nice, but what about PowerMac and PowerBook updates? By updating the mini twice this year with only one update to the PowerBook, Apple is going to further upset its pro community.
I don't know what to tell you. As a professional I don't remember such slow period of upgrades for Powerbooks and Powermacs. It's very sad. The last 2 years since the big splash introduction of PM G5 we have not seem much. Sluggish updates for the powerbooks and Powermac has been the trend. I can't really figure out out going on over there in Cupertino.
I don't blame just on Apple. IBM and Moto also are responsible for such letdown.
I just wish Apple would go back a put all the efforts they are putting on the ipod back to their professional computer line.
Originally posted by ka2357
Nice, but what about PowerMac and PowerBook updates? By updating the mini twice this year with only one update to the PowerBook, Apple is going to further upset its pro community.
Don't you guys think they probably have teams working on updates to most of the lines simultaneously? They put out what they have when it's ready. They can't release what they don't have. If the chips aren't ready or aren't yet mass-produced then what do you expect them to do? Maybe they could sell the new Powerbooks without a CPU, and then when it's available, they'll ship it to you so you can solder it in place. You'll be on your way to faster Powerbook computing in no time. I don't get why people are so unrealistic. Seriously folks, Apple wants your money, and they'll do everything they can to get it, but they can't squeeze hundreds of thousands of faster and cooler PPC chips out of a turnip.
Originally posted by gugy
...I just wish Apple would go back a put all the efforts they are putting on the ipod back to their professional computer line.
Agreed. I wonder if Apple is thinking they can ride out the transition by surfing on iPod sales? I wonder if there's enough volume to do that.
Anyways, it's wait-and-see (though hopefully not too long)?
Originally posted by dfiler
Because of heat and cost constraints obviously.
The Mac Mini is already CoreImage compatible. I think you're confused about what CI is. ALL currently shipping macs are CI compatible.
According to System Profiler and Apple's own website, the 9200 does not support Core Image. Also, the 9550 is dirt cheap and does not run too hot to be used in the Mac mini. It's used in the iBook which has even tighter space constraints. As usual, they are just crippling the specs so as not to take away sales from their other more expensive offerings.
Originally posted by gugy
I just wish Apple would go back a put all the efforts they are putting on the ipod back to their professional computer line.
No, that makes far too much sense.
Originally posted by macbear01
Don't you guys think they probably have teams working on updates to most of the lines simultaneously? They put out what they have when it's ready. They can't release what they don't have. If the chips aren't ready or aren't yet mass-produced then what do you expect them to do? Maybe they could sell the new Powerbooks without a CPU, and then when it's available, they'll ship it to you so you can solder it in place. You'll be on your way to faster Powerbook computing in no time. I don't get why people are so unrealistic. Seriously folks, Apple wants your money, and they'll do everything they can to get it, but they can't squeeze hundreds of thousands of faster and cooler PPC chips out of a turnip.
No we are not unrealistic. Of course if the chips are not ready no new upgrades. but what about price drops? if will take forever to update the current line up then that would be a trade off for the consumers. What annoys me is the fact the line up needs a makeover so badly and Apple hasn't drop their prices because they can't update for whatever reason. Apple's posture on the situation is what's bad. Their silence is bad. Lack of action is bad. So if we are not going to see anything soon, I would expect at least price drops or more RAM or HD capacity of the current models.
Originally posted by 1984
According to System Profiler and Apple's own website, the 9200 does not support Core Image. Also, the 9550 is dirt cheap and does not run too hot to be used in the Mac mini. It's used in the iBook which has even tighter space constraints. As usual, they are just crippling the specs so as not to take away sales from their other more expensive offerings.
Full Ack!
Consumers, like me, don't need processing power but I'm wondering if a slower drive could impact us most in just the kind of basic tasks we do every day.
(Would it have killed Apple to make the mini just a wee bit larger so they wouldn't have to limit the hard drives and graphics cards? I know, I know, to urge people like me to spring for the iMac.)
Unfortunately MWSF in January is probably the first opportunity for something new and that is only if Intel delivers, which I think they will.
The new mini looks pretty good to me, but then I work on a 1.5 PB hooked to a 23" display every day at the office. For those that need a basic Mac now it is a good option.
Originally posted by ka2357
Nice, but what about PowerMac and PowerBook updates? By updating the mini twice this year with only one update to the PowerBook, Apple is going to further upset its pro community.
Remember that the Mini team has their own engineers, and this "mini" update (like the last one) isn't too significant. It's not like they pulled all the resources from Pro. They just had something ready sooner.