Hells yeah. I just ordered the model with the 320GB hard disk and only upgraded the RAM to 4GB.
I've been waiting since MacWorld in January to pull the trigger on this purchase. Looks like my Late 2004 Single1.8 GHz G5 Tower's days are numbered. At least as my primary machine.
Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter from monoprice.com for ~ $8.99. That is how I span my iMac to my 32" Sony Bravia. Mac OS also recognizes televisions much better than Windows and adjusts accordingly.
Surprised that they kept the teaser pricing and specifications. Really expected a $100 price cut and significantly more storage, but I guess with all the USB ports it is easy enough to have external drives and maybe even a RAID.
That's shared memory. If you just add memory you can do the same thing. In fact I think OS/X does it automatically.
Would i benefit from the 256 integrated gpu if i'm using my mac mini for MKV's as an HTPC (with high bitrates). some things i'm considering for ultimate HD performance running Mac OS X PLEX.
Upgrades
- upgrading to 2.26
- upgrading to the 799 model because it has 256 gpu.
- I don't need apple certified memory, i'll max out w/ 3rd party (cheaper)
Adapters
- if i want to hook this up to my HDMI tv, would i need a male miniDisplay-Port to Female HDMI? (i can't find one on monoprice.com)
Anyone know if these ones are any easier to do HD and RAM upgrades yourself to? The 13" unibody MacBook I bought two weeks ago was a breeze to do my own 4GB and 500GB hard drive upgrade to (took less than 15 minutes ... RAM roughly the same price as Apple wanted, 500GB Western Digital Scorpio Blue HD was about $100 cheaper). Anyone know yet?
The increase in UK prices isn't surprising. Apple (and lots of other companies too) tend to set the price for a product in local currencies based on the rate at the time of introduction and then more or less hold that price. It's not that long ago the pound was worth $2.00, now it's $1.40, so no surprise that prices have gone up now.
The increase in UK prices isn't surprising. Apple (and lots of other companies too) tend to set the price for a product in local currencies based on the rate at the time of introduction and then more or less hold that price. It's not that long ago the pound was worth $2.00, now it's $1.40, so no surprise that prices have gone up now.
This may make sense, but its sure annoying that Apple Store Canada touts the iMac as now much more affordable and, from what I can remember, the prices are basically the same, maybe a slight slight cut.
Pretty embarrassing upgrade after 19 months to the mini, and I say that as someone who usually apologizes for anything. 730 CA$ and still only 120 GB/1GB is a little bit shameful. Sure, some of the other upgrades are nice, but the cost of these components isn't so high they couldn't bump the base to 250/2 for harddrive/memory, i'm sure.
Would i benefit from the 256 integrated gpu if i'm using my mac mini for MKV's as an HTPC (with high bitrates). some things i'm considering for ultimate HD performance running Mac OS X PLEX.
Upgrades
- upgrading to 2.26
- upgrading to the 799 model because it has 256 gpu.
- I don't need apple certified memory, i'll max out w/ 3rd party (cheaper)
Adapters
- if i want to hook this up to my HDMI tv, would i need a male miniDisplay-Port to Female HDMI? (i can't find one on monoprice.com)
IMHO for your intended use I would get the 2.26 ghz processor.
For HTPC I would skip trying to use displayport and go minidvi to Hdmi via an adapter.
No, both are 2.0. And the other difference is graphics, one is 128 and the other 256.
First of all, the shared memory numbers quoted here are minimums, which brings me to my second point: Those minimum depends on how much memory you have installed---with 1GB (the lower end model), it's 128MB, but with 2GB, it's 256MB---which means you can simply install more memory into your lower end mac mini to achieve the same number.
Well i'm in the US so there's been no price hike and I will likely buy two minis over the next year.
Pluses
Dual Monitor capability
11n networking
1066Ghz FSB
Faster graphics
It's a solid deal. I've enjoyed my 1.66Ghz mini and the RAM upgrades weren't all that hard IMO. I'll be ready to build a small network with Snow Leopard macs. It should be fun.
IMHO for your intended use I would get the 2.26 ghz processor.
For HTPC I would skip trying to use displayport and go minidvi to Hdmi via an adapter.
It will be interesting to see some real world performance specs when people get their hands on this. If you are playing back something like the high bit-rate 1080p vidoe off Canon's new 5D, the 2.0 GHz processor might struggle a bit. But if the h.264 decoding is entirely offloaded to the new graphics processor, it may not matter as much.
As for which adaptor, I'd like to see how monoprice's announced mDP-to-HDMI adaptor performs (is it available yet?). I expect that at some point Apple will start renting HD movies via iTunes (vs only direct to AppleTV) which will likely require DRM on the video connection. They may only enable the DRM on the mDP connection. But the cables are relatively cheap, so I guess whatever works is fine for now.
£100 (25%) more and no remote as standard. I really wanted one but 25% more is not acceptable.
One of Apple's excuses for the UK's already high mark-up was protection against currency fluctuation. Notice how they don't pass on the savings when the pound is strong (i.e. when the US saw an Apple TV price cut) but do pass on the extra cost when the pound is weak? These tactics remind me of the oil companies.
Ultimately, Apple are free to charge what they like. I'm also free to go buy their competitors' products though.
Apple is charging the same in the U.K. as the U.S. and you are complaining?
$600 = 426 pounds.
I assume there is something like 17% Tax in Britain (just a guess):
426 * 1.17 = 498 pounds.
The Apple Store UK shows 499 pounds. That sounds fair to me.
IMHO for your intended use I would get the 2.26 ghz processor.
For HTPC I would skip trying to use displayport and go minidvi to Hdmi via an adapter.
You might be right, but I would definitely wait for benchmarks and see how much work is offloaded to the GPU. Also, things might change with Snow Leopard.
I'm not sure that a 13% increase in CPU speed, on the same memory bandwidth, will really change anything. I think the key here is how much work is done by the GPU.
Well i'm in the US so there's been no price hike and I will likely buy two minis over the next year.
Pluses
Dual Monitor capability
11n networking
1066Ghz FSB
Faster graphics
It's a solid deal. I've enjoyed my 1.66Ghz mini and the RAM upgrades weren't all that hard IMO. I'll be ready to build a small network with Snow Leopard macs. It should be fun.
It's a solid deal, but not enough for me to use it as a stack for OpenCL. See my prior post about the Nvidia G110M.
Comments
I've been waiting since MacWorld in January to pull the trigger on this purchase. Looks like my Late 2004 Single1.8 GHz G5 Tower's days are numbered. At least as my primary machine.
What's the best way to hook this up to my HDTV??
Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter from monoprice.com for ~ $8.99. That is how I span my iMac to my 32" Sony Bravia. Mac OS also recognizes televisions much better than Windows and adjusts accordingly.
That's shared memory. If you just add memory you can do the same thing. In fact I think OS/X does it automatically.
Would i benefit from the 256 integrated gpu if i'm using my mac mini for MKV's as an HTPC (with high bitrates). some things i'm considering for ultimate HD performance running Mac OS X PLEX.
Upgrades
- upgrading to 2.26
- upgrading to the 799 model because it has 256 gpu.
- I don't need apple certified memory, i'll max out w/ 3rd party (cheaper)
Adapters
- if i want to hook this up to my HDMI tv, would i need a male miniDisplay-Port to Female HDMI? (i can't find one on monoprice.com)
The increase in UK prices isn't surprising. Apple (and lots of other companies too) tend to set the price for a product in local currencies based on the rate at the time of introduction and then more or less hold that price. It's not that long ago the pound was worth $2.00, now it's $1.40, so no surprise that prices have gone up now.
This may make sense, but its sure annoying that Apple Store Canada touts the iMac as now much more affordable and, from what I can remember, the prices are basically the same, maybe a slight slight cut.
Pretty embarrassing upgrade after 19 months to the mini, and I say that as someone who usually apologizes for anything. 730 CA$ and still only 120 GB/1GB is a little bit shameful. Sure, some of the other upgrades are nice, but the cost of these components isn't so high they couldn't bump the base to 250/2 for harddrive/memory, i'm sure.
Would i benefit from the 256 integrated gpu if i'm using my mac mini for MKV's as an HTPC (with high bitrates). some things i'm considering for ultimate HD performance running Mac OS X PLEX.
Upgrades
- upgrading to 2.26
- upgrading to the 799 model because it has 256 gpu.
- I don't need apple certified memory, i'll max out w/ 3rd party (cheaper)
Adapters
- if i want to hook this up to my HDMI tv, would i need a male miniDisplay-Port to Female HDMI? (i can't find one on monoprice.com)
IMHO for your intended use I would get the 2.26 ghz processor.
For HTPC I would skip trying to use displayport and go minidvi to Hdmi via an adapter.
No, both are 2.0. And the other difference is graphics, one is 128 and the other 256.
First of all, the shared memory numbers quoted here are minimums, which brings me to my second point: Those minimum depends on how much memory you have installed---with 1GB (the lower end model), it's 128MB, but with 2GB, it's 256MB---which means you can simply install more memory into your lower end mac mini to achieve the same number.
insane prices for bigger HDs the only viable option is to get a external disk as the price hike from 120-250 GB will get me a 1 TB disk
Apple mini:2 GHz dual core 1 GB RAM, 120 HD nvida Go 9400M
Inspiron 5300: 2.33 Hz Quadcore 3 GB RAM, 500 GB HD Radeon 3450
The mini is no longer a entry level Macintosh but a overstyled underperforming over priced design piece
A Macbook but no batteries and no screen but the same price....
Pluses
Dual Monitor capability
11n networking
1066Ghz FSB
Faster graphics
It's a solid deal. I've enjoyed my 1.66Ghz mini and the RAM upgrades weren't all that hard IMO. I'll be ready to build a small network with Snow Leopard macs. It should be fun.
IMHO for your intended use I would get the 2.26 ghz processor.
For HTPC I would skip trying to use displayport and go minidvi to Hdmi via an adapter.
It will be interesting to see some real world performance specs when people get their hands on this. If you are playing back something like the high bit-rate 1080p vidoe off Canon's new 5D, the 2.0 GHz processor might struggle a bit. But if the h.264 decoding is entirely offloaded to the new graphics processor, it may not matter as much.
As for which adaptor, I'd like to see how monoprice's announced mDP-to-HDMI adaptor performs (is it available yet?). I expect that at some point Apple will start renting HD movies via iTunes (vs only direct to AppleTV) which will likely require DRM on the video connection. They may only enable the DRM on the mDP connection. But the cables are relatively cheap, so I guess whatever works is fine for now.
- upgrading to the 799 model because it has 256 gpu.
No, it's the exact same GPU. There is no difference at all. If that's your reason to go with the $799 model, don't.
Sorry, too expensive.
£100 (25%) more and no remote as standard. I really wanted one but 25% more is not acceptable.
One of Apple's excuses for the UK's already high mark-up was protection against currency fluctuation. Notice how they don't pass on the savings when the pound is strong (i.e. when the US saw an Apple TV price cut) but do pass on the extra cost when the pound is weak? These tactics remind me of the oil companies.
Ultimately, Apple are free to charge what they like. I'm also free to go buy their competitors' products though.
Apple is charging the same in the U.K. as the U.S. and you are complaining?
$600 = 426 pounds.
I assume there is something like 17% Tax in Britain (just a guess):
426 * 1.17 = 498 pounds.
The Apple Store UK shows 499 pounds. That sounds fair to me.
800 bucks for a low end dual core?
insane prices for bigger HDs the only viable option is to get a external disk as the price hike from 120-250 GB will get me a 1 TB disk
Apple mini:2 GHz dual core 1 GB RAM, 120 HD nvida Go 9400M
Inspiron 5300: 2.33 Hz Quadcore 3 GB RAM, 500 GB HD Radeon 3450
The mini is no longer a entry level Macintosh but a overstyled underperforming over priced design piece
A Macbook but no batteries and no screen but the same price....
IMHO for your intended use I would get the 2.26 ghz processor.
For HTPC I would skip trying to use displayport and go minidvi to Hdmi via an adapter.
You might be right, but I would definitely wait for benchmarks and see how much work is offloaded to the GPU. Also, things might change with Snow Leopard.
I'm not sure that a 13% increase in CPU speed, on the same memory bandwidth, will really change anything. I think the key here is how much work is done by the GPU.
No, it's the exact same GPU. There is no difference at all. If that's your reason to go with the $799 model, don't.
Really? Apple didn't do something hinky in the OS to limit the $599 to 128MB? Cool...
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product..._g110m_us.html
Add a secondary PCI-Express 2.0 GPU slot and I'd buy 2 and buy 2 GPUs to use OpenCL and OpenGL3.x.
They blew it.
Well i'm in the US so there's been no price hike and I will likely buy two minis over the next year.
Pluses
Dual Monitor capability
11n networking
1066Ghz FSB
Faster graphics
It's a solid deal. I've enjoyed my 1.66Ghz mini and the RAM upgrades weren't all that hard IMO. I'll be ready to build a small network with Snow Leopard macs. It should be fun.
It's a solid deal, but not enough for me to use it as a stack for OpenCL. See my prior post about the Nvidia G110M.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product..._g110m_us.html