You keep forcing on the connector itself, not the benefit of being able to remove a powerbrick, a cable and used wall outlet. Since the most common Mac sale is a notebook it only makes since that they use their notebook power connector on the new ADC? Do you think it's logical to make new ADCs that have a different power connector just for the Mac Mini?
You are making a rather large assumption that purchasers of Mac Mini's are going to be buying a new ACD. I think that only a very small proportion will. If you want a Mac Mini and a new ACD you would be better off buying an iMac, no?
The vast majority of people will use existing displays, buy cheaper HP displays or have their Mini plugged into their TV.
Why would Apple bother with Magsafe for a very small minority of customers? Shared power is not going to be enough to convince anybody to buy an ACD.
What's less expensive? Supplying an industry standard power cord or augmenting the Monitors to support that clippy you're talking about, just to have the magsafe cable that serves no purpose for a desktop/mini system?
Apple has never asked "what's let's expensive", Apple asks "what's more profitable". Adding power pass-thorough from the ADC serves Apple's needs better. If they can handle the draw then I see no reason why anyone would assume that Apple wouldn't do it. The argument that "because the MagSafe was designed for notebooks means that the benefit of power pass-through can't be used with the Mac mini unless Apple builds an entire new line of ACD that is identical in every way except for the power plug" is shortsided.
You keep forcing on the connector itself, not the benefit of being able to remove a powerbrick, a cable and used wall outlet. Since the most common Mac sale is a notebook it only makes since that they use their notebook power connector on the new ADC? Do you think it's logical to make new ADCs that have a different power connector just for the Mac Mini?
Though you did say something earlier about a converter which may make some sense.
How about a cable that is magsafe on the ACD side and standard power on the Mini side?
I don't see Apple doing anything with eSATA (if they ever do) until power over eSATA is perfected & implemented. With Firewire 3200 & USB 3 also on their way it just seems unlikely that Apple will adopt anything until the dust settles & a winner is selected. Look how long they've dragged their feet about Blu-ray.
I have to agree. eSATA is really only good for one thing, hooking up a striped RAID array. Ok, I'm being a bit facetious; but seriously, what else do you need the speed for? Any single hard disk drive isn't going to benefit much from the speed difference between FW800 and eSATA. eSATA is going to be faster for cache-related operations, but will otherwise be limited by the drive itself, not the connection to the computer. Add in that it's unpowered, only good for connecting storage devices (not sure if that's still the case), and only being able to connect a single device at at time, to me the negatives far outweigh the positives.
You are making a rather large assumption that purchasers of Mac Mini's are going to be buying a new ACD.
No, I'm not. I'm making the rather logical assumption that Apple will market their products to be used in conjunction.
Quote:
I think that only a very small proportion will.
1) How many of the new ACDs will need to be sold for the new Mac Mini to make adding the Magsafe profitable? One?
2) Why can you not see this as an included or additional purchase adapter?
Quote:
If you want a Mac Mini and a new ACD you would be better off buying an iMac, no?
No, you wouldn't. The Mini has advantages that the iMac doesn't have. Non-linear upgradability and a much better display are two that come to mind.
Quote:
The vast majority of people will use existing displays, buy cheaper HP displays or have their Mini plugged into their TV.
And? The vast majority of people use Windows, but we are discussing Apple's Macs running OS X.
Quote:
Why would Apple bother with Magsafe for a very small majority of customers? Shared power is not going to be enough to convince anybody to buy an ACD.
Again, you are focusing on the connector itself, not the benefit of the having power pass-through. BTW, the MagsaSfe would only be the female end on the Mac Mini or its adapter. This is not a huge cost.
Again, you are focusing on the connector itself, not the benefit of the having power pass-through. BTW, the MagsaSfe would only be the female end on the Mac Mini or its adapter. This is not a huge cost.
And you are focussing on the supposed benefit of having power passthrough and not the disadvantage of having a magnetic power connector that is liable to become disconnected during potential data losing incidents.
I just do not see power passthrough for the minority of people who will actually own a Mac Mini and an ACD as a benefit that outweighs the drawbacks of such a connection to everyone else.
I have already commented on the potential for an adapter and do not see why that would not work, but it would be more likely to be a cable with magsafe on the ACD side but a standard power connector on the Mini side.
And you are focussing on the supposed benefit of having power passthrough and not the disadvantage of having a magnetic power connector that is liable to become disconnected during potential data losing incidents.
I just do not see power passthrough for the minority of people who will actually own a Mac Mini and an ACD as a benefit that outweighs the drawbacks of such a connection to everyone else.
I have already commented on the potential for an adapter and do not see why that would not work, but it would be more likely to be a cable with magsafe on the ACD side but a standard power connector on the Mini side.
I'm not following why you think a MagSafe connected to an adapter won't come apart, but connected directly to the Mac Mini will come apart. Both ACD MagSafes could be firmly secured to their respective devices without issue.
If Apple can do these little things like make it optional to add a 2nd HD, install decent graphics on it, dual video out, SuperDrives across the lineup, and maybe integrate AppleTV software into it this will be a killer little Mac for a great price. MUCH better value than it currently is....
I worry that if they did that they'd end up charging too much for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kirkrr@gmail.com
the display port on the new Macbook's is DRM "enabled"<snip>
If this is the case on the new Mac Mini, one of the prime uses for the mini as a media center will go away.
No - it only prevents playing of HD content, and only HD content that is copy protected.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murphster
I am predicting that it will have two video outputs. Mini Display Port and HDMI. I really hope it has HDMI anyway. I would like to carry both sound and picture through my Amp on HDMI rather than mess around with separate picture and sound outputs, it makes things too complicated otherwise.
A Display Port from the new Mini could output sound and video with copy protection through a converter to a TV HDMI port. That would work well for a mini as a media centre.
Generally speaking, the Display port is meant to bring computer displays and TV displays closer together.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign Pulver
Apple doesn't want the mini used as an HTPC, so they could care less about accommodating HDMI. Only a few geeks do this anyway, it's a non-issue for 99% of Mac mini customers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tobyfoote
Why doesn't Apple put an HDMI port on the Mini? It would be so much better than AppleTV. Or conversely, why doesn't AppleTV offer a regular Leopard interface? Then you could use use a bluetooth keyboard/mouse and use your HDTV like a regular Mac.
I'd really like Apple to rethink its TV and low-end computing experience - starting with the AppleTV (& hacked AppleTV), & MacMini (& mini-media-centres). Upgrade both with a new device which comes in a low and high end version.
For the low end (AppleTV replacement):
* The AppleTV would run much cooler (and be smaller) if it used a magsafe power adapter and removed the analog video and audio output entirely
* Snow Leopard will be optimised for both low end processors and powerful GPUs, so it could easily be far more capable
* If they either allow OSX itself, or apps to expand functionality, the AppleTV could work with Elgato & other online entertainment services.
* Apple has recently noticed how effective adding applications (and GAMES) to the iPhone has been.
* could also be used as a very low-end Mac
For the 'high end' (MacMini replacement)
* a graphics card will be a good power boost for this machine
* the display port and MagSafe fit better with Apple's computer direction
* 'high end' might also keep firewire.
* it'll integrate well into TV setups - with a Mini Display Port & DVD drive is also good.
I'm not following why you think a MagSafe connected to an adapter won't come apart, but connected directly to the Mac Mini will come apart. Both ACD MagSafes could be firmly secured to their respective devices without issue.
I don't. But at least people can have the choice, if they really are short of a power outlet then they can take the riskier option of getting power from the magsafe on the ACD. For everyone else it is business as usual.
Remember what Mac Mini's are being used for? Not just for desktop computers. These things will be hitting Casinos, Cruise Ships, Hotels, even cars. There are thousands and thousands of them in Data centers and being used as servers. Let alone how many are currently residing under peoples TV's.
You might even find that people who use Mac Mini's on a desk are in the minority of users, and of them only a small fraction will have an ACD.
This is what I do not understand why people think power pass though from an Apple branded display would be a driving factor in determining the style and security of the power input.
A Display Port from the new Mini could output sound and video with copy protection through a converter to a TV HDMI port. That would work well for a mini as a media centre.
Well I never knew that (the sound that is). That is quite excellent news. Cheers.
The spec allows for daisy chaining, that doesn't mean Apple will support it. There are many things that Apple chooses not to support because the number of users is to low for them to bother with supporting.
However, Apple or a 3rd-party could make an adapter that goes between the machine and the monitor that allows for multiple monitor support.
Third party DisplayPort monitors could also have extra connectors built in to allow daisy chaining. But if Apple did not implement daisy chaining capability on their own monitor, how do we know if their Mac computer hardware supports daisy chained monitors at all? After all, everybody who buys a Mac "must" also want to buy an Apple monitor. So if Apple's own monitor does not support daisy chaining, why would Apple bother to support daisy chaining on the Mac at all?
Okay, so I say that Apple will not put a magsafe on a desktop because it is a laptop technology that has not benefit whatsoever to a desktop and you call this a logical fallacy.
If Apple do release the new Mini with a magsafe then I am wrong, you are right and I am indeed guilty of a logical fallacy.
But if Apple do not put a magsafe on the new Mini then I am still wrong, you are still right and I am still guilty of an illogical fallacy?
mmmm...
Don't you think that when the Mini is released without the magsafe it means that engineers considered it and decided there was no logic in the idea?
This sort of dialogue is exactly the form that any successful Turing test must take. It's not enough that the computer can participate in a conversation; to be taken for human, it must be programmed with brilliant roiling techniques. It must dupe its subject into attempts at explanation of the errors the computer has made. In other words, it must be skilled enough to succeed in debate with these techniques.
The computer will win either by succeeding with a fallacy outright, or it will win by oh so carefully veiled coaxes--entreating correction by the real human--call it the rope-a-dope strategy.
the riskier option of getting power from the magsafe
There are ways of rigging a connection so that it's harder to disconnect, if that's an issue.
As an example - try to pull the magsafe cable straight out of the socket (instead of yanking left/right/up/down). It's much harder - so a simple guide for the cord preventing left/right/up/down movement would make a big difference.
To go to an extreme, they could even have a connector in an indentation under the MacMini, and snake the power wire through a short S-bend before coming out the side of the case - kind of like many phones have (well, Australian phones anyway).
ps. I don't think it's an issue for server farms - it's really not a situation where there is strain on the wiring or it's easily knocked.
As the Mini is using a 110W powersupply Apple could even use the new 65W quadcore cpus . I allways thought it is not possible becouse of the heat, but if the Mini can now cope the 110W why should it not cool a 65W cpu (I know there are more components that produce heat).
As the Mini was allways sharing it's components with the MB, why needed the Mini a powersupply allmost double the Watts as the MB although the Mini never had to drive a display?
As the Mini is using a 110W powersupply Apple could even use the new 65W quadcore cpus . I allways thought it is not possible becouse of the heat, but if the Mini can now cope the 110W why should it not cool a 65W cpu (I know there are more components that produce heat).
As the Mini was allways sharing it's components with the MB, why needed the Mini a powersupply allmost double the Watts as the MB although the Mini never had to drive a display?
I believe the reason for the different power supply rating is because the mini doesn't have a battery. The mini has to draw all peak power needs straight from the power supply while a MacBook can call on the battery for power spikes.
I agree that yes it "COULD" make the power connector easier to come off, but the current power connector on a MacMini isn't really that much better. Plus, if the power cable is tangled in wires and its pulled its gonna come out regardless. My dad just did this very same thing on his Aluminum iMac and I had to come over and figure out why it wouldn't turn on.
Apple could very easily design something to make it harder to come off. As long as they keep the hard drive and RAM away from magnet, they could even strengthen the magnet on the Mini side to make it that much harder to come off. Apple is by no means a stupid company when it comes to these things. They WILL design something to make it so it doesn't come off as easily as their notebooks if they use the magsafe.
Nobody knows the true number of people who buy a MacMini with an Apple display. It could be more than you think it is, or it could be far less. Nobody knows for sure. But bottom line, Apple markets this as a low end consumer Mac, not an enterprise data server. Those people just buy them because they're small. Adding a magsafe isn't going to stop them from continuing to buy these. Like I said, Apple isn't stupid and would find a way to make the power connector stay on.
Some other advantages of a MacMini over an iMac:
1. You get to keep the display in the...and a much better display
2. You have more options because you get to keep the display, such as hooking it up to a MacBook/MBP, possibly using it on a revised MacPro in the future, etc Can't do that with an iMac's display.
3. Space saver galore. Yes, even an iMac is too big for some places, especially since Apple has dropped the 17" model.
4. If you want to upgrade your MacMini, you don't have to buy another display thus, upgrading only costs $599-$799 and not $1299-$1799 every time. That right there should sell itself....
You just have more flexibility over an iMac. If they can do these few things and sell it at the same price, this would be a killer deal. Hell, I'd even consider selling my 24" Alu iMac and getting on with an LED Cinema Display.
Since we have actual info yet I've done some deductive crunching. According to MacTracker the new 24" LED-CD has a maximum draw of 212W (while charging a machine). For comparison, the older 20" ACD has a maximum draw of 65W, the 23" ACD has a maximum draw of 90W, and the 30" ACD has a maximum draw of 150W.
With everything else were equal, the difference between the 23" and 24" displays is 122W, which is enough to power the current Mac Mini. However, since LCD-BLUs are more power efficient I'd suspect that the maximum power difference is even greater, which leads to an even great chance that a new Mac Mini could be powered by the new LED-CD.
Excuse me, but doesn't mini DVI (with an adaptor) allow one to connect to many HDTVs. My HDTV will allow me to use DVI to connect to a computer. The mini-DVI should allow for mac mini to act as a media pc. Seems reasonable to me.
Mini-displayport seems like the toad in the room to me.
Mini displayport can carry audio as well as video, so it makes it more useful as a media PC. Just one cable exiting the computer to the home theater.
I don't even think that's necessary to get video to an HDMI jack.
Does Apple output audio through the mDP video jack? I don't think they do the consumer electronics controls, at that point, HDMI out on a computer is mostly a different connector for DVI. Apple already offers a DVI adapter. DVI to HDMI cables are easy to get, that Monoprice site already sells them, I've bought one from them a few months ago.
Just a note after doing some research - Monoprice.com is planning on releasing a MDP to HDMI adaptor by end of month (Jan 2009). Great place for all types of cables too.
I get where you are coming from but then that would surely defeat the purpose if they had to develop a new magsafe connector? I do not see the problem that needs solving with a magsafe connector, in fact I can only see problems that will be caused by using a magsafe connector.
Try reading my post & really actually thinking about what I said instead of just ruling it out because it counters your opinion.
I very clearly explained that no need to modify the magsafe power supplies would be needed, instead just add some sort of clip device to the mini that clips over the connector keeping it in place. It's not that complicated, do I need to draw it out for you?
Comments
You keep forcing on the connector itself, not the benefit of being able to remove a powerbrick, a cable and used wall outlet. Since the most common Mac sale is a notebook it only makes since that they use their notebook power connector on the new ADC? Do you think it's logical to make new ADCs that have a different power connector just for the Mac Mini?
You are making a rather large assumption that purchasers of Mac Mini's are going to be buying a new ACD. I think that only a very small proportion will. If you want a Mac Mini and a new ACD you would be better off buying an iMac, no?
The vast majority of people will use existing displays, buy cheaper HP displays or have their Mini plugged into their TV.
Why would Apple bother with Magsafe for a very small minority of customers? Shared power is not going to be enough to convince anybody to buy an ACD.
What's less expensive? Supplying an industry standard power cord or augmenting the Monitors to support that clippy you're talking about, just to have the magsafe cable that serves no purpose for a desktop/mini system?
Apple has never asked "what's let's expensive", Apple asks "what's more profitable". Adding power pass-thorough from the ADC serves Apple's needs better. If they can handle the draw then I see no reason why anyone would assume that Apple wouldn't do it. The argument that "because the MagSafe was designed for notebooks means that the benefit of power pass-through can't be used with the Mac mini unless Apple builds an entire new line of ACD that is identical in every way except for the power plug" is shortsided.
You keep forcing on the connector itself, not the benefit of being able to remove a powerbrick, a cable and used wall outlet. Since the most common Mac sale is a notebook it only makes since that they use their notebook power connector on the new ADC? Do you think it's logical to make new ADCs that have a different power connector just for the Mac Mini?
Though you did say something earlier about a converter which may make some sense.
How about a cable that is magsafe on the ACD side and standard power on the Mini side?
I don't see Apple doing anything with eSATA (if they ever do) until power over eSATA is perfected & implemented. With Firewire 3200 & USB 3 also on their way it just seems unlikely that Apple will adopt anything until the dust settles & a winner is selected. Look how long they've dragged their feet about Blu-ray.
I have to agree. eSATA is really only good for one thing, hooking up a striped RAID array. Ok, I'm being a bit facetious; but seriously, what else do you need the speed for? Any single hard disk drive isn't going to benefit much from the speed difference between FW800 and eSATA. eSATA is going to be faster for cache-related operations, but will otherwise be limited by the drive itself, not the connection to the computer. Add in that it's unpowered, only good for connecting storage devices (not sure if that's still the case), and only being able to connect a single device at at time, to me the negatives far outweigh the positives.
You are making a rather large assumption that purchasers of Mac Mini's are going to be buying a new ACD.
No, I'm not. I'm making the rather logical assumption that Apple will market their products to be used in conjunction.
I think that only a very small proportion will.
1) How many of the new ACDs will need to be sold for the new Mac Mini to make adding the Magsafe profitable? One?
2) Why can you not see this as an included or additional purchase adapter?
If you want a Mac Mini and a new ACD you would be better off buying an iMac, no?
No, you wouldn't. The Mini has advantages that the iMac doesn't have. Non-linear upgradability and a much better display are two that come to mind.
The vast majority of people will use existing displays, buy cheaper HP displays or have their Mini plugged into their TV.
And? The vast majority of people use Windows, but we are discussing Apple's Macs running OS X.
Why would Apple bother with Magsafe for a very small majority of customers? Shared power is not going to be enough to convince anybody to buy an ACD.
Again, you are focusing on the connector itself, not the benefit of the having power pass-through. BTW, the MagsaSfe would only be the female end on the Mac Mini or its adapter. This is not a huge cost.
Again, you are focusing on the connector itself, not the benefit of the having power pass-through. BTW, the MagsaSfe would only be the female end on the Mac Mini or its adapter. This is not a huge cost.
And you are focussing on the supposed benefit of having power passthrough and not the disadvantage of having a magnetic power connector that is liable to become disconnected during potential data losing incidents.
I just do not see power passthrough for the minority of people who will actually own a Mac Mini and an ACD as a benefit that outweighs the drawbacks of such a connection to everyone else.
I have already commented on the potential for an adapter and do not see why that would not work, but it would be more likely to be a cable with magsafe on the ACD side but a standard power connector on the Mini side.
And you are focussing on the supposed benefit of having power passthrough and not the disadvantage of having a magnetic power connector that is liable to become disconnected during potential data losing incidents.
I just do not see power passthrough for the minority of people who will actually own a Mac Mini and an ACD as a benefit that outweighs the drawbacks of such a connection to everyone else.
I have already commented on the potential for an adapter and do not see why that would not work, but it would be more likely to be a cable with magsafe on the ACD side but a standard power connector on the Mini side.
I'm not following why you think a MagSafe connected to an adapter won't come apart, but connected directly to the Mac Mini will come apart. Both ACD MagSafes could be firmly secured to their respective devices without issue.
If Apple can do these little things like make it optional to add a 2nd HD, install decent graphics on it, dual video out, SuperDrives across the lineup, and maybe integrate AppleTV software into it this will be a killer little Mac for a great price. MUCH better value than it currently is....
I worry that if they did that they'd end up charging too much for it.
the display port on the new Macbook's is DRM "enabled"<snip>
If this is the case on the new Mac Mini, one of the prime uses for the mini as a media center will go away.
No - it only prevents playing of HD content, and only HD content that is copy protected.
I am predicting that it will have two video outputs. Mini Display Port and HDMI. I really hope it has HDMI anyway. I would like to carry both sound and picture through my Amp on HDMI rather than mess around with separate picture and sound outputs, it makes things too complicated otherwise.
A Display Port from the new Mini could output sound and video with copy protection through a converter to a TV HDMI port. That would work well for a mini as a media centre.
Generally speaking, the Display port is meant to bring computer displays and TV displays closer together.
Apple doesn't want the mini used as an HTPC, so they could care less about accommodating HDMI. Only a few geeks do this anyway, it's a non-issue for 99% of Mac mini customers.
Why doesn't Apple put an HDMI port on the Mini? It would be so much better than AppleTV. Or conversely, why doesn't AppleTV offer a regular Leopard interface? Then you could use use a bluetooth keyboard/mouse and use your HDTV like a regular Mac.
I'd really like Apple to rethink its TV and low-end computing experience - starting with the AppleTV (& hacked AppleTV), & MacMini (& mini-media-centres). Upgrade both with a new device which comes in a low and high end version.
For the low end (AppleTV replacement):
* The AppleTV would run much cooler (and be smaller) if it used a magsafe power adapter and removed the analog video and audio output entirely
* Snow Leopard will be optimised for both low end processors and powerful GPUs, so it could easily be far more capable
* If they either allow OSX itself, or apps to expand functionality, the AppleTV could work with Elgato & other online entertainment services.
* Apple has recently noticed how effective adding applications (and GAMES) to the iPhone has been.
* could also be used as a very low-end Mac
For the 'high end' (MacMini replacement)
* a graphics card will be a good power boost for this machine
* the display port and MagSafe fit better with Apple's computer direction
* 'high end' might also keep firewire.
* it'll integrate well into TV setups - with a Mini Display Port & DVD drive is also good.
I'm not following why you think a MagSafe connected to an adapter won't come apart, but connected directly to the Mac Mini will come apart. Both ACD MagSafes could be firmly secured to their respective devices without issue.
I don't. But at least people can have the choice, if they really are short of a power outlet then they can take the riskier option of getting power from the magsafe on the ACD. For everyone else it is business as usual.
Remember what Mac Mini's are being used for? Not just for desktop computers. These things will be hitting Casinos, Cruise Ships, Hotels, even cars. There are thousands and thousands of them in Data centers and being used as servers. Let alone how many are currently residing under peoples TV's.
You might even find that people who use Mac Mini's on a desk are in the minority of users, and of them only a small fraction will have an ACD.
This is what I do not understand why people think power pass though from an Apple branded display would be a driving factor in determining the style and security of the power input.
A Display Port from the new Mini could output sound and video with copy protection through a converter to a TV HDMI port. That would work well for a mini as a media centre.
Well I never knew that (the sound that is). That is quite excellent news. Cheers.
Right, all we need now is a big bag of hurt.
The spec allows for daisy chaining, that doesn't mean Apple will support it. There are many things that Apple chooses not to support because the number of users is to low for them to bother with supporting.
However, Apple or a 3rd-party could make an adapter that goes between the machine and the monitor that allows for multiple monitor support.
Third party DisplayPort monitors could also have extra connectors built in to allow daisy chaining. But if Apple did not implement daisy chaining capability on their own monitor, how do we know if their Mac computer hardware supports daisy chained monitors at all? After all, everybody who buys a Mac "must" also want to buy an Apple monitor. So if Apple's own monitor does not support daisy chaining, why would Apple bother to support daisy chaining on the Mac at all?
Okay, so I say that Apple will not put a magsafe on a desktop because it is a laptop technology that has not benefit whatsoever to a desktop and you call this a logical fallacy.
If Apple do release the new Mini with a magsafe then I am wrong, you are right and I am indeed guilty of a logical fallacy.
But if Apple do not put a magsafe on the new Mini then I am still wrong, you are still right and I am still guilty of an illogical fallacy?
mmmm...
Don't you think that when the Mini is released without the magsafe it means that engineers considered it and decided there was no logic in the idea?
This sort of dialogue is exactly the form that any successful Turing test must take. It's not enough that the computer can participate in a conversation; to be taken for human, it must be programmed with brilliant roiling techniques. It must dupe its subject into attempts at explanation of the errors the computer has made. In other words, it must be skilled enough to succeed in debate with these techniques.
The computer will win either by succeeding with a fallacy outright, or it will win by oh so carefully veiled coaxes--entreating correction by the real human--call it the rope-a-dope strategy.
Nice try. Chalk another one up for the humans!
the riskier option of getting power from the magsafe
There are ways of rigging a connection so that it's harder to disconnect, if that's an issue.
As an example - try to pull the magsafe cable straight out of the socket (instead of yanking left/right/up/down). It's much harder - so a simple guide for the cord preventing left/right/up/down movement would make a big difference.
To go to an extreme, they could even have a connector in an indentation under the MacMini, and snake the power wire through a short S-bend before coming out the side of the case - kind of like many phones have (well, Australian phones anyway).
ps. I don't think it's an issue for server farms - it's really not a situation where there is strain on the wiring or it's easily knocked.
As the Mini was allways sharing it's components with the MB, why needed the Mini a powersupply allmost double the Watts as the MB although the Mini never had to drive a display?
As the Mini is using a 110W powersupply Apple could even use the new 65W quadcore cpus
As the Mini was allways sharing it's components with the MB, why needed the Mini a powersupply allmost double the Watts as the MB although the Mini never had to drive a display?
I believe the reason for the different power supply rating is because the mini doesn't have a battery. The mini has to draw all peak power needs straight from the power supply while a MacBook can call on the battery for power spikes.
Apple could very easily design something to make it harder to come off. As long as they keep the hard drive and RAM away from magnet, they could even strengthen the magnet on the Mini side to make it that much harder to come off. Apple is by no means a stupid company when it comes to these things. They WILL design something to make it so it doesn't come off as easily as their notebooks if they use the magsafe.
Nobody knows the true number of people who buy a MacMini with an Apple display. It could be more than you think it is, or it could be far less. Nobody knows for sure. But bottom line, Apple markets this as a low end consumer Mac, not an enterprise data server. Those people just buy them because they're small. Adding a magsafe isn't going to stop them from continuing to buy these. Like I said, Apple isn't stupid and would find a way to make the power connector stay on.
Some other advantages of a MacMini over an iMac:
1. You get to keep the display in the...and a much better display
2. You have more options because you get to keep the display, such as hooking it up to a MacBook/MBP, possibly using it on a revised MacPro in the future, etc Can't do that with an iMac's display.
3. Space saver galore. Yes, even an iMac is too big for some places, especially since Apple has dropped the 17" model.
4. If you want to upgrade your MacMini, you don't have to buy another display thus, upgrading only costs $599-$799 and not $1299-$1799 every time. That right there should sell itself....
You just have more flexibility over an iMac. If they can do these few things and sell it at the same price, this would be a killer deal. Hell, I'd even consider selling my 24" Alu iMac and getting on with an LED Cinema Display.
With everything else were equal, the difference between the 23" and 24" displays is 122W, which is enough to power the current Mac Mini. However, since LCD-BLUs are more power efficient I'd suspect that the maximum power difference is even greater, which leads to an even great chance that a new Mac Mini could be powered by the new LED-CD.
Excuse me, but doesn't mini DVI (with an adaptor) allow one to connect to many HDTVs. My HDTV will allow me to use DVI to connect to a computer. The mini-DVI should allow for mac mini to act as a media pc. Seems reasonable to me.
Mini-displayport seems like the toad in the room to me.
Mini displayport can carry audio as well as video, so it makes it more useful as a media PC. Just one cable exiting the computer to the home theater.
I don't even think that's necessary to get video to an HDMI jack.
Does Apple output audio through the mDP video jack? I don't think they do the consumer electronics controls, at that point, HDMI out on a computer is mostly a different connector for DVI. Apple already offers a DVI adapter. DVI to HDMI cables are easy to get, that Monoprice site already sells them, I've bought one from them a few months ago.
Just a note after doing some research - Monoprice.com is planning on releasing a MDP to HDMI adaptor by end of month (Jan 2009). Great place for all types of cables too.
I get where you are coming from but then that would surely defeat the purpose if they had to develop a new magsafe connector? I do not see the problem that needs solving with a magsafe connector, in fact I can only see problems that will be caused by using a magsafe connector.
Try reading my post & really actually thinking about what I said instead of just ruling it out because it counters your opinion.
I very clearly explained that no need to modify the magsafe power supplies would be needed, instead just add some sort of clip device to the mini that clips over the connector keeping it in place. It's not that complicated, do I need to draw it out for you?