Right now the Mac Mini competes with appleTV (I just bought a mini to use as my HD content driver for my HDTV) and the mini itself is a kindof underpowerd, expensive computer but makes a much better entertainment system than the appleTV. In order to bring appleTV up to today's HD standards, Apple will discontinoue the mini, leave the current appleTV as the lower-end model but at a much better price and bigger HD, and will introduce a higher-end appleTV with built-in Blu-Ray DVD player and true 1080p video out with internal terrestrial HDTV tuner.
Apple will also come out with a base-model Mac Pro without all the extra expansion bays, kindof like the concept of the old Cube. In a way, it will be a high-powered mini -- maybe called the "Mini Pro" or "Pro Mini" -- or how about the iCube? Base model will have two 3GHz dual-core Xeon chips, 2GB memory, a single 750GB HD, BluRay reader/writer, Bluetooth and AirportExtreme built in, FrontRow and IR remote. Optional realtime HD mp4 encoder/decoder on PCI-X.
Right now the Mac Mini competes with appleTV (I just bought a mini to use as my HD content driver for my HDTV) and the mini itself is a kindof underpowerd, expensive computer but makes a much better entertainment system than the appleTV. In order to bring appleTV up to today's HD standards, Apple will discontinoue the mini, leave the current appleTV as the lower-end model but at a much better price and bigger HD, and will introduce a higher-end appleTV with built-in Blu-Ray DVD player and true 1080p video out with internal terrestrial HDTV tuner.
Apple will also come out with a base-model Mac Pro without all the extra expansion bays, kindof like the concept of the old Cube. In a way, it will be a high-powered mini -- maybe called the "Mini Pro" or "Pro Mini" -- or how about the iCube? Base model will have two 3GHz dual-core Xeon chips, 2GB memory, a single 750GB HD, BluRay reader/writer, Bluetooth and AirportExtreme built in, FrontRow and IR remote. Optional realtime HD mp4 encoder/decoder on PCI-X.
I didn't want to reply to every post, but I find some serous flaws to your assessment. The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not competing with each other. ONe is a computer, and the other is a entertainment device. The Apple TV does not run Applications or the Mac OS, or or even have a web browser. I don't see them as competing products.
As for the New Cube theory. I don't think you can get two xeon processors in it and have it remain cool enough. Plus putting Two Xeons in a cube is going to a bit of overkill. It goes way beyond it's intended purpose. I think the option of a single Quad core Processor, or a single dual core processor would suffice, but you are entitled to your opinion.
Not arguing, but I'm not sure Apple will use the new XEON. As I said the Existing XEONS have been Over-clocked to 4.0GHz +. And are cheaper. I think there is a good chance Apple will not use the Xeon 5400 being that they cost $900.00+ each.
I just didn't put 2.0 behind my PCI-E. Sorry.
ECC, and SDRAM is essentially the same RAM. Either will work. And I buy all my RAM not from Apple anyway. It's just cheaper that way.
It's a new chip set and it uses the old cpus
Quote:
Originally Posted by onlooker
I don't think Apple should cut the Mini. I think there is still a place for it once there is another configuration.
Whatever the case is a Mid size Mac is all speculative being that none exists. I don't think Apple is going to offer that much for a machine that is going to be more than the iMac, and less than the Mac Pro. How much more than an iMac are people looking for? If they want that much there is the entry level Mac Pro. Which could wind up being about the same price as this mid tower if they put that much hardware in it.
I have serious doubts of Apple releasing a highend gaming system at this time. Especially if it's just a mid size machine. Apples only HIghend System is the Mac pro, and I'm pretty sure they will leave it that way.
As that goes I just don't see Apple releasing a machine that is put together specifically for Gaming.
then why is apple making a big thing about mac game it they don't have that much good gaming hardware.
The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not competing with each other.
Baloney.
Apple may not WANT the mini and appleTV to compete, but they do. I had to seriously consider which device would drive my HDTV. Thousands of other consumers are trying to make the same decision I did. Most are waiting on the sidelines and thus poor sales numbers for the mini and the appleTV.
Apple is going so far as to tell its "Geniuses" in the apple stores to "educate" customers that the Mac Mini really doesn't have the video memory necessary to drive an HDTV. I found out the truth from personal experience, and from reading the web, that the mini is a far better video output device than appleTV. I am watching HiDef television, both real time and time-shifted, on my Mini, as well as playing DVDs, iTunes, etc. It's a true HD multimedia system.
Sorry appleTV, you lose. You don't do HiDef, you don't play DVDs, and you can't display live TV. Three strikes, you're out.
Apple may not WANT the mini and appleTV to compete, but they do. I had to seriously consider which device would drive my HDTV. Thousands of other consumers are trying to make the same decision I did. Most are waiting on the sidelines and thus poor sales numbers for the mini and the appleTV.
Apple is going so far as to tell its "Geniuses" in the apple stores to "educate" customers that the Mac Mini really doesn't have the video memory necessary to drive an HDTV. I found out the truth from personal experience, and from reading the web, that the mini is a far better video output device than appleTV. I am watching HiDef television, both real time and time-shifted, on my Mini, as well as playing DVDs, iTunes, etc. It's a true HD multimedia system.
Sorry appleTV, you lose. You don't do HiDef, you don't play DVDs, and you can't display live TV. Three strikes, you're out.
Let me rephrase. The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not intended to compete with each other, but if they are maybe it's all the more reason to cut the mini, or combine them into a more expensive machine. But again. One is intended to be a computer, the other is not. It's probably EyeTV's fault that they can compete in the same space, but if they do update the mini, and it can accommodate HDTV I don't see AppleTV as much of a product.
That doesn't really change anything though does it. Does Apple use a stock intel board that they sell to everybody? I thought intel worked closely with Apple to design the Mac boards.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe_the_dragon
then why is apple making a big thing about mac game it they don't have that much good gaming hardware.
Well they don't have good gaming hardware other than the Mac Pro, which is not intended for gaming anyway, but then again most Mac users are not big gamers either. Mostly just some occasional gamers.
You also have to realize it wasn't Apple that made a big deal out of gaming. It's users that seem to have that impression, but the truth is, EA just announced a few games to be available in the future for us.
John Carmacs Quake, and DOOM games have almost always been available on a Mac and that still never provided Mac users with great gaming centric machines. So this is really nothing new.
I'm sure Apple will have top of the line Video Cards in the next Mac Pro, they always do, and it will also be available in a Mid tower if they make one. But adding some Gaming only items that are not pro centric will detract from their main client base. Most Mac users are Photographers, and Photoshop users, Movie editors, 3D Modelers, Scientific engineers, and alike. Going with RAM that is more beneficial to gamers than it is to their core base would be irrational. It's only RAM, and the difference is nothing the majority of Mac users would quibble over. If you wanted to - you can buy all your own RAM, I always do, and you can have it all specifically made for gaming if you want. There is nothing that is going to stop you.
The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not intended to compete with each other... It's probably EyeTV's fault that they can compete in the same space
ElGato / EyeTV exist because there is a market for their products, not because anything is their fault. Macintosh users were frustrated that Apple wouldn't provide the functionality in the first place. If it's anyone's fault, it's Apple's for not giving people what they want -- don't blame ElGato. They get it.
ElGato / EyeTV exist because there is a market for their products, not because anything is their fault. Macintosh users were frustrated that Apple wouldn't provide the functionality in the first place. If it's anyone's fault, it's Apple's for not giving people what they want -- don't blame ElGato. They get it.
I agree totally. When I said it was their fault, I didn't mean it literally. What I meant was their product was more attractive than what Apple was offering. But we knew that right away. That's why it's not selling to the mass majority. It's Apple own fault for not making a better product. With the money Apple has now they could still buy EyeTV, or Tivo. Or both. With Tivo Apple could be inside cable boxes, and satellite boxes. That's a lot of subscribers. Direct-TV is going to be broadcasting over 150 channels in HD in their next upgrade which is happening right now.
TiVo is in serious trouble. People are sick of paying monthly for something that SHOULD be (and CAN be had already) for free. It was a great idea at the time, but their business model is broken and too easily replicated.
Back in the dot-com days TiVo stock was in the seventy dollar range. What is it now, six bucks??? I don't know why anyone would want to buy the company considering a reimplementation would be far cheaper. Maybe the name is worth something...
TiVo is in serious trouble. People are sick of paying monthly for something that SHOULD be (and CAN be had already) for free. It was a great idea at the time, but their business model is broken and too easily replicated.
Back in the dot-com days TiVo stock was in the seventy dollar range. What is it now, six bucks??? I don't know why anyone would want to buy the company considering a reimplementation would be far cheaper. Maybe the name is worth something...
I agree again. Yes it's about name recognition, existing subscribers, technology, and current price. Tivo has an existing base in DirectTV, and is going to be in Cox Communications cable boxes sometime before the year is out. Apple could build an updated box, and include an an AppleTV like interface that leads DirectTV to the iTMS. With Built in Airtunes, or, use your imagination, people that don't have computers could start using, and buying songs, and CD's from iTunes, and transmit to their stereo. Not everybody has a computer, but pretty much everybody has cable, or Satellite.
If the new iMac 20inch runs Gears of War as good as the 360,UT3 as good as the PS3 and Team Fortress 2 at full spec then I'll be happy. They don't even need a redesign as they're still incredibly slim for everything that is in it. I imagine the new design will look much like the iPhone, with 2GB and hopefully an 8600/8800. I just hope they are out before the middle of August.
If the new iMac 20inch runs Gears of War as good as the 360,UT3 as good as the PS3 and Team Fortress 2 at full spec then I'll be happy. They don't even need a redesign as they're still incredibly slim for everything that is in it. I imagine the new design will look much like the iPhone, with 2GB and hopefully an 8600/8800. I just hope they are out before the middle of August.
Comments
Apple will also come out with a base-model Mac Pro without all the extra expansion bays, kindof like the concept of the old Cube. In a way, it will be a high-powered mini -- maybe called the "Mini Pro" or "Pro Mini" -- or how about the iCube? Base model will have two 3GHz dual-core Xeon chips, 2GB memory, a single 750GB HD, BluRay reader/writer, Bluetooth and AirportExtreme built in, FrontRow and IR remote. Optional realtime HD mp4 encoder/decoder on PCI-X.
Right now the Mac Mini competes with appleTV (I just bought a mini to use as my HD content driver for my HDTV) and the mini itself is a kindof underpowerd, expensive computer but makes a much better entertainment system than the appleTV. In order to bring appleTV up to today's HD standards, Apple will discontinoue the mini, leave the current appleTV as the lower-end model but at a much better price and bigger HD, and will introduce a higher-end appleTV with built-in Blu-Ray DVD player and true 1080p video out with internal terrestrial HDTV tuner.
Apple will also come out with a base-model Mac Pro without all the extra expansion bays, kindof like the concept of the old Cube. In a way, it will be a high-powered mini -- maybe called the "Mini Pro" or "Pro Mini" -- or how about the iCube? Base model will have two 3GHz dual-core Xeon chips, 2GB memory, a single 750GB HD, BluRay reader/writer, Bluetooth and AirportExtreme built in, FrontRow and IR remote. Optional realtime HD mp4 encoder/decoder on PCI-X.
I didn't want to reply to every post, but I find some serous flaws to your assessment. The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not competing with each other. ONe is a computer, and the other is a entertainment device. The Apple TV does not run Applications or the Mac OS, or or even have a web browser. I don't see them as competing products.
As for the New Cube theory. I don't think you can get two xeon processors in it and have it remain cool enough. Plus putting Two Xeons in a cube is going to a bit of overkill. It goes way beyond it's intended purpose. I think the option of a single Quad core Processor, or a single dual core processor would suffice, but you are entitled to your opinion.
Not arguing, but I'm not sure Apple will use the new XEON. As I said the Existing XEONS have been Over-clocked to 4.0GHz +. And are cheaper. I think there is a good chance Apple will not use the Xeon 5400 being that they cost $900.00+ each.
I just didn't put 2.0 behind my PCI-E. Sorry.
ECC, and SDRAM is essentially the same RAM. Either will work. And I buy all my RAM not from Apple anyway. It's just cheaper that way.
It's a new chip set and it uses the old cpus
I don't think Apple should cut the Mini. I think there is still a place for it once there is another configuration.
Whatever the case is a Mid size Mac is all speculative being that none exists. I don't think Apple is going to offer that much for a machine that is going to be more than the iMac, and less than the Mac Pro. How much more than an iMac are people looking for? If they want that much there is the entry level Mac Pro. Which could wind up being about the same price as this mid tower if they put that much hardware in it.
I have serious doubts of Apple releasing a highend gaming system at this time. Especially if it's just a mid size machine. Apples only HIghend System is the Mac pro, and I'm pretty sure they will leave it that way.
As that goes I just don't see Apple releasing a machine that is put together specifically for Gaming.
then why is apple making a big thing about mac game it they don't have that much good gaming hardware.
The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not competing with each other.
Baloney.
Apple may not WANT the mini and appleTV to compete, but they do. I had to seriously consider which device would drive my HDTV. Thousands of other consumers are trying to make the same decision I did. Most are waiting on the sidelines and thus poor sales numbers for the mini and the appleTV.
Apple is going so far as to tell its "Geniuses" in the apple stores to "educate" customers that the Mac Mini really doesn't have the video memory necessary to drive an HDTV. I found out the truth from personal experience, and from reading the web, that the mini is a far better video output device than appleTV. I am watching HiDef television, both real time and time-shifted, on my Mini, as well as playing DVDs, iTunes, etc. It's a true HD multimedia system.
Sorry appleTV, you lose. You don't do HiDef, you don't play DVDs, and you can't display live TV. Three strikes, you're out.
Sorry appleTV, you lose. You don't do HiDef, you don't play DVDs, and you can't display live TV. Three strikes, you're out.
Perhaps Apple should rebrand the Mac mini. Make it the Apple TV Extreme, and make the Apple TV the Apple TV express.
Sorry appleTV, you lose. You don't do HiDef, you don't play DVDs, and you can't display live TV. Three strikes, you're out.
Well you got 2 out of 3 right. There are plenty of HD podcasts that can be downloaded from iTunes.
Baloney.
Apple may not WANT the mini and appleTV to compete, but they do. I had to seriously consider which device would drive my HDTV. Thousands of other consumers are trying to make the same decision I did. Most are waiting on the sidelines and thus poor sales numbers for the mini and the appleTV.
Apple is going so far as to tell its "Geniuses" in the apple stores to "educate" customers that the Mac Mini really doesn't have the video memory necessary to drive an HDTV. I found out the truth from personal experience, and from reading the web, that the mini is a far better video output device than appleTV. I am watching HiDef television, both real time and time-shifted, on my Mini, as well as playing DVDs, iTunes, etc. It's a true HD multimedia system.
Sorry appleTV, you lose. You don't do HiDef, you don't play DVDs, and you can't display live TV. Three strikes, you're out.
Let me rephrase. The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not intended to compete with each other, but if they are maybe it's all the more reason to cut the mini, or combine them into a more expensive machine. But again. One is intended to be a computer, the other is not. It's probably EyeTV's fault that they can compete in the same space, but if they do update the mini, and it can accommodate HDTV I don't see AppleTV as much of a product.
It's a new chip set and it uses the old cpus
That doesn't really change anything though does it. Does Apple use a stock intel board that they sell to everybody? I thought intel worked closely with Apple to design the Mac boards.
then why is apple making a big thing about mac game it they don't have that much good gaming hardware.
Well they don't have good gaming hardware other than the Mac Pro, which is not intended for gaming anyway, but then again most Mac users are not big gamers either. Mostly just some occasional gamers.
You also have to realize it wasn't Apple that made a big deal out of gaming. It's users that seem to have that impression, but the truth is, EA just announced a few games to be available in the future for us.
John Carmacs Quake, and DOOM games have almost always been available on a Mac and that still never provided Mac users with great gaming centric machines. So this is really nothing new.
I'm sure Apple will have top of the line Video Cards in the next Mac Pro, they always do, and it will also be available in a Mid tower if they make one. But adding some Gaming only items that are not pro centric will detract from their main client base. Most Mac users are Photographers, and Photoshop users, Movie editors, 3D Modelers, Scientific engineers, and alike. Going with RAM that is more beneficial to gamers than it is to their core base would be irrational. It's only RAM, and the difference is nothing the majority of Mac users would quibble over. If you wanted to - you can buy all your own RAM, I always do, and you can have it all specifically made for gaming if you want. There is nothing that is going to stop you.
Sorry appleTV, you lose. You don't do HiDef, you don't play DVDs, and you can't display live TV. Three strikes, you're out.
Well you got 2 out of 3 right. There are plenty of HD podcasts that can be downloaded from iTunes.
No, HD podcasts aren't live broadcast TV. You might be able to see prerecorded shows, which is great, but sometimes you just want to channel surf.
The Mac Mini, and AppleTV are not intended to compete with each other... It's probably EyeTV's fault that they can compete in the same space
ElGato / EyeTV exist because there is a market for their products, not because anything is their fault. Macintosh users were frustrated that Apple wouldn't provide the functionality in the first place. If it's anyone's fault, it's Apple's for not giving people what they want -- don't blame ElGato. They get it.
- New intel V8 Xeon processors.
- New GPU support. more quadro fx / fire gl options.
- New design (may be).
- New cinema displays or price cut...
ElGato / EyeTV exist because there is a market for their products, not because anything is their fault. Macintosh users were frustrated that Apple wouldn't provide the functionality in the first place. If it's anyone's fault, it's Apple's for not giving people what they want -- don't blame ElGato. They get it.
I agree totally. When I said it was their fault, I didn't mean it literally. What I meant was their product was more attractive than what Apple was offering. But we knew that right away. That's why it's not selling to the mass majority. It's Apple own fault for not making a better product. With the money Apple has now they could still buy EyeTV, or Tivo. Or both. With Tivo Apple could be inside cable boxes, and satellite boxes. That's a lot of subscribers. Direct-TV is going to be broadcasting over 150 channels in HD in their next upgrade which is happening right now.
Back in the dot-com days TiVo stock was in the seventy dollar range. What is it now, six bucks??? I don't know why anyone would want to buy the company considering a reimplementation would be far cheaper. Maybe the name is worth something...
TiVo is in serious trouble. People are sick of paying monthly for something that SHOULD be (and CAN be had already) for free. It was a great idea at the time, but their business model is broken and too easily replicated.
Back in the dot-com days TiVo stock was in the seventy dollar range. What is it now, six bucks??? I don't know why anyone would want to buy the company considering a reimplementation would be far cheaper. Maybe the name is worth something...
I agree again. Yes it's about name recognition, existing subscribers, technology, and current price. Tivo has an existing base in DirectTV, and is going to be in Cox Communications cable boxes sometime before the year is out. Apple could build an updated box, and include an an AppleTV like interface that leads DirectTV to the iTMS. With Built in Airtunes, or, use your imagination, people that don't have computers could start using, and buying songs, and CD's from iTunes, and transmit to their stereo. Not everybody has a computer, but pretty much everybody has cable, or Satellite.
If the new iMac 20inch runs Gears of War as good as the 360,UT3 as good as the PS3 and Team Fortress 2 at full spec then I'll be happy. They don't even need a redesign as they're still incredibly slim for everything that is in it. I imagine the new design will look much like the iPhone, with 2GB and hopefully an 8600/8800. I just hope they are out before the middle of August.
Dream on, bro.
June 2008 "Apple buys Adobe.
Your head a splode.