I can almost guarentee that iMac's will be getting an update too by the logic of the Mini Shortage story. I ordered my iMac on monday (the 21st) and i just got an email telling me that i'll probably get my iMac on the 12 of september. Thats a twenty three day wait. Granted, I did order it with a gig of RAM and the beefed up graphics card, through my "mac genious" cousin.
Sucks no word on the iMac. I am freekn dieing to place my order fora C2D iMac 23".
8)
Actually, it's quite a relief to finally see some news about Mac Mini updates. It has always been iMac this, iMac that... For a long time, the Mac Mini has seemed like the ugly bastard token piece that sits in a corner collecting dust, for the sole purpose of letting Apple say they do make a modular desktop computer other than the Power Mac. Meanwhile, every other Mac ships with a minimum of 1.83 Ghz CPU while the Mac Mini is still stuck at 1.5 or 1.66 Ghz.
I highly doubt Core 2 Duo. It's a new chip which will be expensive and therefore not in keeping with the Mini's cheapness. I would hope that they just lower the price and introduce better GPUs, even if that meant a better integrated chipset.
Current Mini is 1.66 Duo for £529. I'd be happy with a better GPU like the X3000, which is rumored to be coming out around this time too I think.
I saw some benchmarks somewhere that suggested it would be about half the speed of the X1600, which is far more reasonable than the GMA950 but benchmarks for it are hard to find and some sites say the chip won't be up to much.
If they can hit a price point of £499 with that, I'd be very happy.
I highly doubt Core 2 Duo. It's a new chip which will be expensive and therefore not in keeping with the Mini's cheapness. I would hope that they just lower the price and introduce better GPUs, even if that meant a better integrated chipset.
Core 2 Duo is currently the same price as Core Duo. There is no reason for Apple not to use it, unless they want to artificially cripple the mini to make the more expensive hardware look better, which they often did in the PPC era.
The base Mini had better get the Duo. Putting it out with the Solo was just a stupid move on Apple's part.
If it gets a Duo I will buy one with 1Gb RAM, even though the IG sucks. Unfortunately I have to buy another brand for an LCD Monitor since Apple desided not to sell a 17 inch monitor to folks who aren't loaded.
Core 2 Duo is currently the same price as Core Duo. There is no reason for Apple not to use it, unless they want to artificially cripple the mini to make the more expensive hardware look better, which they often did in the PPC era.
That depends on the price/performance ration of the mid to high end Yonahs over the low end Conroe or Morem chips. If, say Apple could put in a 2.0 Ghz Yonah in the Mini instead of the 1.86 Conroe and see similar performance at a lower price then I would prefer the 2.0 Yonah be used in the Mini. I think that one of Apple's main goals for the next update of the Mini should be to get the pricing structure of the G4 Mini's back, and they might have a better chance at doing this with the Yonah than the Conroe. This would also mean that they would have fewer systems using the Conroe so there will be less strain on the available supply of chips for the iMac, assuming that the iMac goes Conroe. Of course I also think that one of Apple's goals for the iMac should be to get the entry model back down to $999, which I think will help more people to seriously consider an iMac over the competition.
I think that these price points are very important due to the way that Apple computers are advertised by 3rd party vendors like CompUSA, and Apple's tendency to compleatly omit price from their advertising. Most non-Apple oriented venders that I have seen tend to print the high end price for Macs. Also, I have not seen them give much in any ad space for the Mini. Case in point, when my parents were looking at computers last year they had no idea that Apple had a computer for less than $1299, and my frugal step-father did not want to spend that much on a computer. Of course in the end he did end up with a 17" iMac for $1299, but only after being "bullied" into it by my Mom who did not want a laptop. He also ended up buying a new printer and some other stuff because it was "on sale". I honestly think that if the iMac was $1399 retail and $1299 on sale he would not have objected to the price at all because he would have thought he was gettting a good deal on the computer.
This just shows that there is a lot of psychology in marketing that helps companies make the sale, some of it Apple takes advantage of but most of it they do not. Apple could do a lot better with price points, rebates, and advertising (especially in non-Mac centric media) to get people to look at Macs and hopefully make a sale.
A very good hunch. It will probably be bumped to a higher processor but not necessarily Core2 Duo. The reason is that I have been watching the product lead times on the online Apple Store for Education. The Mac mini was once listed as availability in 2-3 weeks, and now it's 2-4 days. I vaguely recall something similar happening in the past on the online store prior to a product refresh. The iMac is still listed as 2-3 weeks. I conclude this to mean that the iMac is going to be getting Merom processors, whereas Apple can do the Mac mini update now (Tuesday 8/29) with existing Yonah processors. I am hoping that the Mac mini will move to Merom with the upcoming rev, but my hopes are diminishing. My fingers are still crossed though.
My predictions based on the above for the mini are the following:
One standard configuration - Ã* la the Mac Pro - with options:
1.66GHz Core Duo (optional 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2.0GHz Core Duo)
Combo Drive (optional upgrade to SuperDrive)
60GB HD (optional upgrades to 80GB, 100GB, 120 GB, 160GB, 100GB @ 7,200 RPM)
Integrated Graphics Chipset
512 MB RAM
$599.
That is a pretty minor update, with that I would expect that the price was $499. One problem wiht the single price model that is not as big of an issue with the Pro's is that the Minis are harder to upgrade at home for the average user, and the one model for the shelves, which means that their retail partners would be shut out of a lot of the BTO options that you are suggesting. Sure they might be able to up the RAM, and maybe the HD with in house upgrades (probably at a higher cost for some options than Apple's BTO options at their online store), but not the procesor.
My predictions based on the above for the mini are the following:
One standard configuration - Ã* la the Mac Pro - with options:
1.66GHz Core Duo (optional 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2.0GHz Core Duo)
Combo Drive (optional upgrade to SuperDrive)
60GB HD (optional upgrades to 80GB, 100GB, 120 GB, 160GB, 100GB @ 7,200 RPM)
Integrated Graphics Chipset
512 MB RAM
$599.
Though I like your idea a lot, the Mac mini is more a take-it from the shelve kind of appliance. Apple may still offer a basic and a better model:
$599 dual-core 1.66 (Yonah) 512MB RAM Combo 60GB HD
$799 dual-core 1.83 (Yonah) 512MB RAM Superdrive 80GB HD
To backtomac: If they could sqeeze a better (than GMA950) integrated chipset (GMA3000?) it would be awesome!
The optional 7200rpm drive is an excellent idea (it's been available for pro notebooks for a long time...).
Having all (or most of) the Core Duo speeds available would be good for 2 reasons: more choices for the customer and a good way to get rid of Core Duo chips inventory if MacBooks, MacBook Pros and iMacs get Core 2 Duo cpus in the next weeks.
1.83GHz= +$50, 2.00Ghz= +$100, 2.16GHz= +$250, (2.33GHz= +$450, but unlikely)
To backtomac: If they could sqeeze a better (than GMA950) integrated chipset (GMA3000?) it would be awesome!
)
Yeah from what I've read that should be a nice upgrade and perhaps explains the delay in the refresh. But if all they do is up the Yonah clock speeds then Apple should have done this 2 months ago.
In the perfect world, Apple would know precisely when I was going to buy a new computer, and then come out with an amazing new toy just one month prior.
Comments
* 2.0GHz Core2 Duo Merom would be money
* 7,200 RPM standard - oh please Apple!
* Firewire 800 would be awesome
* Choice of a discreet graphics card
Lofty hopes for the next version of the Mac mini:
* 2.0GHz Core2 Duo Merom would be money
* 7,200 RPM standard - oh please Apple!
* Firewire 800 would be awesome
* Choice of a discreet graphics card
How much would you be willing to pay for a Mini with those features? $1,000? More?
Sucks no word on the iMac. I am freekn dieing to place my order fora C2D iMac 23".
Actually, it's quite a relief to finally see some news about Mac Mini updates. It has always been iMac this, iMac that... For a long time, the Mac Mini has seemed like the ugly bastard token piece that sits in a corner collecting dust, for the sole purpose of letting Apple say they do make a modular desktop computer other than the Power Mac. Meanwhile, every other Mac ships with a minimum of 1.83 Ghz CPU while the Mac Mini is still stuck at 1.5 or 1.66 Ghz.
Not correct. They emulate Front Row's UI and let you switch between Front Row and EyeTV. They do not extend Front Row itself.
Oh Ok. It is being sold as integration.
Current Mini is 1.66 Duo for £529. I'd be happy with a better GPU like the X3000, which is rumored to be coming out around this time too I think.
I saw some benchmarks somewhere that suggested it would be about half the speed of the X1600, which is far more reasonable than the GMA950 but benchmarks for it are hard to find and some sites say the chip won't be up to much.
If they can hit a price point of £499 with that, I'd be very happy.
I highly doubt Core 2 Duo. It's a new chip which will be expensive and therefore not in keeping with the Mini's cheapness. I would hope that they just lower the price and introduce better GPUs, even if that meant a better integrated chipset.
Core 2 Duo is currently the same price as Core Duo. There is no reason for Apple not to use it, unless they want to artificially cripple the mini to make the more expensive hardware look better, which they often did in the PPC era.
If it gets a Duo I will buy one with 1Gb RAM, even though the IG sucks. Unfortunately I have to buy another brand for an LCD Monitor since Apple desided not to sell a 17 inch monitor to folks who aren't loaded.
Any suggestions for a 17 in LCD?
Looking on their site, the've been waiting for new shipments of the minis that are overdue from the first week of August! It must be soon...
David
Guys, the Mac mini will be updated on Tuesday.
How do you know this?
Core 2 Duo is currently the same price as Core Duo. There is no reason for Apple not to use it, unless they want to artificially cripple the mini to make the more expensive hardware look better, which they often did in the PPC era.
That depends on the price/performance ration of the mid to high end Yonahs over the low end Conroe or Morem chips. If, say Apple could put in a 2.0 Ghz Yonah in the Mini instead of the 1.86 Conroe and see similar performance at a lower price then I would prefer the 2.0 Yonah be used in the Mini. I think that one of Apple's main goals for the next update of the Mini should be to get the pricing structure of the G4 Mini's back, and they might have a better chance at doing this with the Yonah than the Conroe. This would also mean that they would have fewer systems using the Conroe so there will be less strain on the available supply of chips for the iMac, assuming that the iMac goes Conroe. Of course I also think that one of Apple's goals for the iMac should be to get the entry model back down to $999, which I think will help more people to seriously consider an iMac over the competition.
I think that these price points are very important due to the way that Apple computers are advertised by 3rd party vendors like CompUSA, and Apple's tendency to compleatly omit price from their advertising. Most non-Apple oriented venders that I have seen tend to print the high end price for Macs. Also, I have not seen them give much in any ad space for the Mini. Case in point, when my parents were looking at computers last year they had no idea that Apple had a computer for less than $1299, and my frugal step-father did not want to spend that much on a computer. Of course in the end he did end up with a 17" iMac for $1299, but only after being "bullied" into it by my Mom who did not want a laptop. He also ended up buying a new printer and some other stuff because it was "on sale". I honestly think that if the iMac was $1399 retail and $1299 on sale he would not have objected to the price at all because he would have thought he was gettting a good deal on the computer.
This just shows that there is a lot of psychology in marketing that helps companies make the sale, some of it Apple takes advantage of but most of it they do not. Apple could do a lot better with price points, rebates, and advertising (especially in non-Mac centric media) to get people to look at Macs and hopefully make a sale.
How do you know this?
A very good hunch. It will probably be bumped to a higher processor but not necessarily Core2 Duo. The reason is that I have been watching the product lead times on the online Apple Store for Education. The Mac mini was once listed as availability in 2-3 weeks, and now it's 2-4 days. I vaguely recall something similar happening in the past on the online store prior to a product refresh. The iMac is still listed as 2-3 weeks. I conclude this to mean that the iMac is going to be getting Merom processors, whereas Apple can do the Mac mini update now (Tuesday 8/29) with existing Yonah processors. I am hoping that the Mac mini will move to Merom with the upcoming rev, but my hopes are diminishing. My fingers are still crossed though.
One standard configuration - Ã* la the Mac Pro - with options:
1.66GHz Core Duo (optional 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2.0GHz Core Duo)
Combo Drive (optional upgrade to SuperDrive)
60GB HD (optional upgrades to 80GB, 100GB, 120 GB, 160GB, 100GB @ 7,200 RPM)
Integrated Graphics Chipset
512 MB RAM
$599.
My predictions based on the above for the mini are the following:
One standard configuration - Ã* la the Mac Pro - with options:
1.66GHz Core Duo (optional 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2.0GHz Core Duo)
Combo Drive (optional upgrade to SuperDrive)
60GB HD (optional upgrades to 80GB, 100GB, 120 GB, 160GB, 100GB @ 7,200 RPM)
Integrated Graphics Chipset
512 MB RAM
$599.
That is a pretty minor update, with that I would expect that the price was $499. One problem wiht the single price model that is not as big of an issue with the Pro's is that the Minis are harder to upgrade at home for the average user, and the one model for the shelves, which means that their retail partners would be shut out of a lot of the BTO options that you are suggesting. Sure they might be able to up the RAM, and maybe the HD with in house upgrades (probably at a higher cost for some options than Apple's BTO options at their online store), but not the procesor.
My predictions based on the above for the mini are the following:
One standard configuration - Ã* la the Mac Pro - with options:
1.66GHz Core Duo (optional 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2.0GHz Core Duo)
Combo Drive (optional upgrade to SuperDrive)
60GB HD (optional upgrades to 80GB, 100GB, 120 GB, 160GB, 100GB @ 7,200 RPM)
Integrated Graphics Chipset
512 MB RAM
$599.
They could have done this 2 months ago. I hope they have more in store for us than this. They can't blame freescale and ibm anymore.
My predictions based on the above for the mini are the following:
One standard configuration - Ã* la the Mac Pro - with options:
1.66GHz Core Duo (optional 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2.0GHz Core Duo)
Combo Drive (optional upgrade to SuperDrive)
60GB HD (optional upgrades to 80GB, 100GB, 120 GB, 160GB, 100GB @ 7,200 RPM)
Integrated Graphics Chipset
512 MB RAM
$599.
Though I like your idea a lot, the Mac mini is more a take-it from the shelve kind of appliance. Apple may still offer a basic and a better model:
$599 dual-core 1.66 (Yonah) 512MB RAM Combo 60GB HD
$799 dual-core 1.83 (Yonah) 512MB RAM Superdrive 80GB HD
To backtomac: If they could sqeeze a better (than GMA950) integrated chipset (GMA3000?) it would be awesome!
The optional 7200rpm drive is an excellent idea (it's been available for pro notebooks for a long time...).
Having all (or most of) the Core Duo speeds available would be good for 2 reasons: more choices for the customer and a good way to get rid of Core Duo chips inventory if MacBooks, MacBook Pros and iMacs get Core 2 Duo cpus in the next weeks.
1.83GHz= +$50, 2.00Ghz= +$100, 2.16GHz= +$250, (2.33GHz= +$450, but unlikely)
To backtomac: If they could sqeeze a better (than GMA950) integrated chipset (GMA3000?) it would be awesome!
)
Yeah from what I've read that should be a nice upgrade and perhaps explains the delay in the refresh. But if all they do is up the Yonah clock speeds then Apple should have done this 2 months ago.
Oh, wait, they did. Mac Pro.