What's funny about having only 256MB of RAM is that the two "low end" G5s have only 256 as well. This adds a couple of exclamation points to the complaint that Apple needs to stop Mickey Mousing around when it comes to RAM on their pro machines.
Yes but this Mac Mini only has one slot, so in order to up grade your mem ory you have to throw away the 256Mb and buy one 512Mb or 1Gb chip... at least the Power Macs have multiple slots so that you can keep the RAM it's shipped with.
Yes but this Mac Mini only has one slot, so in order to up grade your mem ory you have to throw away the 256Mb and buy one 512Mb or 1Gb chip... at least the Power Macs have multiple slots so that you can keep the RAM it's shipped with.
First off, I really like the Mac mini.
But this is a flaw, as I see it. Apple made the iMac G5 fully user serviceable. Why did they take that away?
So, my wishes for rev B:
- slonder on the base RAM and make the remaining slot user accessable,
- as well as the slots for AE and Bluetooth,
- add the Airport Express's audio out connector with integrated optical digital output.
Me dreaming: Imagine a Mac G5 mini - slightly taller, maybe three inches, to accomodate for the larger heatsink needed for a low-end G5 and a higher-end GPU.
Maybe we will see this with the introduction of the G5 PowerBooks?
pmjoeWell, I think a $129 OS update after you've owned a brand new machine model (Mac mini) for two months is a bit absurd.
So don't buy the machine, or don't buy the upgrade. A lot of people don't buy the upgrades when they first come out. I don't. I wait until it has passed a couple of fixes. I have real work to do on my machine and want a stable OS. Nobody is putting a gun to your head and making your buy the upgrade or the new machine. From all the screaming I would expect you had already been shot.
[QUOTE][i]telekon /i]why is everyone so excited about this Mac? Ok it's cheap but it's very crippled.. only 256Mb RAM only 32Mb of graphics/QUOTE]
Gee... sounds damn good. My wife and my son's original iBooks are only 128MB and 196MB of RAM, 4MB of VRAM and 266MHz G3's yet they run OSX just fine. My Pismo has only 8MB of VRAM and 500MHz G3 but it is a joy to use in OSX. The Mac Mini with 256MB of RAM, 32MB VRAM and 1.25GHz G4 processor is a regular little sportster. That's not crippled by any stretch of the imagination.
If you want a power machine, don't buy the introductory low-end machine. The Mac Mini is an excellent machine at a fantastic price for the intended target audience. If you want more, buy more.
To not have to spend $100 more a month or two later for an OS update.
If you are planning to upgrade to Tiger then why not just wait until Ti-double g'er comes out. Then buy a Mac mini. That way Tiger will be pre-installed.
If you absolutely must have a Mac mini next month (EXPECTED delivery date is Jan. 22... 10 days delivery makes it Feb. and that is IF Apple makes that delivery date. With delays and back orders if you order today you might get one come March.)
By that time Tiger will be released and it will be a free upgrade for purchasers of Mac mini's.
When I bought my iBook 35 days later Apple dropped the price. I called them up and they said no problem and credited my American Express the difference.
Apple always says if you buy a new computer and if there is a major system upgrade/update (hardware/software/price) within 60 days of the release of the product the upgrade is free.
When I bought my iBook 35 days later Apple dropped the price. I called them up and they said no problem and credited my American Express the difference.
Apple always says if you buy a new computer and if there is a major system upgrade/update (hardware/software/price) within 60 days of the release of the product the upgrade is free. [/B]
the terms and conditions on the australian site say only if they drop the price in 10 days
Yes but this Mac Mini only has one slot, so in order to up grade your mem ory you have to throw away the 256Mb and buy one 512Mb or 1Gb chip... at least the Power Macs have multiple slots so that you can keep the RAM it's shipped with.
My reason for pointing out the RAM issue wasn't necessary a complaint about what the Mac Mini has or doesn't have, but what Apple's pro line models are lacking. For the two base pro CPUs costing $1499-1999 to have the same amount of RAM that an obvious consumer CPU listed at $499 has, is the concern I was addressing.
128MB is not enough to run OS X, so of course Apple must put a minimum of 256MB in it's Mac Mini. But giving the purchaser of a G5 no other option than to buy more RAM before they ever boot their machine is silly.
This has been an ongoing issue with Apple. It's something they need to address. RAM is too inexpensive for them not to put a minimum of 512MB in any of the PowerMacs, or at least all of the dual proc G5s.
Incorrect. I have an original iBook with 128MB and another original iBook with 196MB both running MacOS X 10.3.5. Works like a charm.
I don't know how "charming" your iBooks' functionality would be for most users only using that small amount of RAM. But my wife's dual USB iBook had 256MB and that was barely cutting it using Photoshop for resizing of photos. That says to me that 128MB is not enough to run OS X AND any additional apps.
This is normal... I've seen other great apple products released and people has whined all the time, just let me say that I don't believe any of those whiners have a good argument this time.
Apple has just expanded the options they have for us, if none of their great products satisfy you, maybe you should have a Windows PC. I read all this complaints thinking that you guys are gonna run to get one anyway...
When I first read the new mac rumor, I never thought such a cheap mac could sport so many features.
And let me just repeat this. 6 Mac Minis for the price of one xServe!
Current xServes don't include a graphics card!
Virginia Tech, beware. Im building my Mac Mini Supercluster!
Surely the lack of sound in is a major oversight?! There must be some USB sound in solution - but someone should point out to Steve Jobs that the Mac mini comes with GarageBand and iChat AV - surely the ability to get sound into the Mac mini is important.
Not everyone has a DV cam - not everyone wants to get one - especially given the Mac mini's budget.
Surely the lack of sound in is a major oversight?! There must be some USB sound in solution - but someone should point out to Steve Jobs that the Mac mini comes with GarageBand and iChat AV - surely the ability to get sound into the Mac mini is important.
Not everyone has a DV cam - not everyone wants to get one - especially given the Mac mini's budget.
I guess if you are a total amateur with no thought to sound quality, having an audio in would be good. The line ins are terrible on ALL macs. A decent 2 channel USB audio box is $200. Some are cheaper, and the prices continue to fall.
Leaving audio in out on the new model makes sense from a product philosophy standpoint. Give the barest of essentials, use USB and firewire to add functionality.
Surely the lack of sound in is a major oversight?! There must be some USB sound in solution - but someone should point out to Steve Jobs that the Mac mini comes with GarageBand and iChat AV - surely the ability to get sound into the Mac mini is important.
Not everyone has a DV cam - not everyone wants to get one - especially given the Mac mini's budget.
iSight is FW and there are lots o' USB mics ... what's the problem?
I think what Apple should do to market this puppy better is to bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle.
Have the Mac mini's sitting there, easy to buy and go, BUT create bundled packages of hardware and maybe software that people can see on the shelves right next to them, in the stores, just like games! Marketing bundles gives Apple the ability to highlight the technology and ease of use (plug and play ANYTHING) to the PC switcher masses. Also these bundles can be set up in the stores in a "try before you buy" fashion.
For example:
1. AV Bundle with iSight, USB speakers, Free Earthlink or AIM, etc.
2. Wireless Bundle with BT KM, etc. future FW Airport card?
3. GarageBand Music Bundle with USB microphone, keyboard, breakout box, RCA connectors to stereo, etc.
4. TV/Media Bundle with FM antennae, EyeTV stuff, possibly, eventually a nice plug and play MythTV setup
5. Educator Bundle with lots of software, etc.
6. Home Business Bundle with organization and finance software (OMNI, QuickBooks, etc.) and coupons for scanners and printers.
Each bundle in a colorful box, reasonably priced and showing the support Apple gets from 3rd party developers represented in each bundle. Makes gift-giving easy.
It gives customers a sense of an easy upgrade path that is more difficult to see when they are standing in the middle of Wal-Mart or Best Buy or Fry's. This would increase Apple's market to the hesitantly consumer market that the Mac mini would REALLY bring to the stores!
Wish it would've had a built in microphone, or mic-in jack, so i could audio iChat with my wife. I will have to hook up the camcorder to it now.
I dont get it, it doesnt have sound in, so you immediately jump to using your DV cam?
How about getting a USB headset from Compusa. My experience with sound input is that ichat is the first application I have ever used where it has been more than a gimmick. But guess what, the built in mic on my emac and ibook arent really that good for chat, and I really want a headset.
Comments
Originally posted by Unfiltered
What's funny about having only 256MB of RAM is that the two "low end" G5s have only 256 as well. This adds a couple of exclamation points to the complaint that Apple needs to stop Mickey Mousing around when it comes to RAM on their pro machines.
Yes but this Mac Mini only has one slot, so in order to up grade your mem ory you have to throw away the 256Mb and buy one 512Mb or 1Gb chip... at least the Power Macs have multiple slots so that you can keep the RAM it's shipped with.
Originally posted by telekon
Yes but this Mac Mini only has one slot, so in order to up grade your mem ory you have to throw away the 256Mb and buy one 512Mb or 1Gb chip... at least the Power Macs have multiple slots so that you can keep the RAM it's shipped with.
First off, I really like the Mac mini.
But this is a flaw, as I see it. Apple made the iMac G5 fully user serviceable. Why did they take that away?
So, my wishes for rev B:
- slonder on the base RAM and make the remaining slot user accessable,
- as well as the slots for AE and Bluetooth,
- add the Airport Express's audio out connector with integrated optical digital output.
Me dreaming: Imagine a Mac G5 mini - slightly taller, maybe three inches, to accomodate for the larger heatsink needed for a low-end G5 and a higher-end GPU.
Maybe we will see this with the introduction of the G5 PowerBooks?
pmjoeWell, I think a $129 OS update after you've owned a brand new machine model (Mac mini) for two months is a bit absurd.
So don't buy the machine, or don't buy the upgrade. A lot of people don't buy the upgrades when they first come out. I don't. I wait until it has passed a couple of fixes. I have real work to do on my machine and want a stable OS. Nobody is putting a gun to your head and making your buy the upgrade or the new machine. From all the screaming I would expect you had already been shot.
Gee... sounds damn good. My wife and my son's original iBooks are only 128MB and 196MB of RAM, 4MB of VRAM and 266MHz G3's yet they run OSX just fine. My Pismo has only 8MB of VRAM and 500MHz G3 but it is a joy to use in OSX. The Mac Mini with 256MB of RAM, 32MB VRAM and 1.25GHz G4 processor is a regular little sportster. That's not crippled by any stretch of the imagination.
If you want a power machine, don't buy the introductory low-end machine. The Mac Mini is an excellent machine at a fantastic price for the intended target audience. If you want more, buy more.
Get over it, move on, stop bleating.
Wish it would've had a built in microphone, or mic-in jack, so i could audio iChat with my wife. I will have to hook up the camcorder to it now.
All in all, I think it is a very impressive package.
Originally posted by pmjoe
To not have to spend $100 more a month or two later for an OS update.
If you are planning to upgrade to Tiger then why not just wait until Ti-double g'er comes out. Then buy a Mac mini. That way Tiger will be pre-installed.
If you absolutely must have a Mac mini next month (EXPECTED delivery date is Jan. 22... 10 days delivery makes it Feb. and that is IF Apple makes that delivery date. With delays and back orders if you order today you might get one come March.)
By that time Tiger will be released and it will be a free upgrade for purchasers of Mac mini's.
When I bought my iBook 35 days later Apple dropped the price. I called them up and they said no problem and credited my American Express the difference.
Apple always says if you buy a new computer and if there is a major system upgrade/update (hardware/software/price) within 60 days of the release of the product the upgrade is free.
When I bought my iBook 35 days later Apple dropped the price. I called them up and they said no problem and credited my American Express the difference.
Apple always says if you buy a new computer and if there is a major system upgrade/update (hardware/software/price) within 60 days of the release of the product the upgrade is free. [/B]
the terms and conditions on the australian site say only if they drop the price in 10 days
60 seems a little extreme
Originally posted by telekon
Yes but this Mac Mini only has one slot, so in order to up grade your mem ory you have to throw away the 256Mb and buy one 512Mb or 1Gb chip... at least the Power Macs have multiple slots so that you can keep the RAM it's shipped with.
My reason for pointing out the RAM issue wasn't necessary a complaint about what the Mac Mini has or doesn't have, but what Apple's pro line models are lacking. For the two base pro CPUs costing $1499-1999 to have the same amount of RAM that an obvious consumer CPU listed at $499 has, is the concern I was addressing.
128MB is not enough to run OS X, so of course Apple must put a minimum of 256MB in it's Mac Mini. But giving the purchaser of a G5 no other option than to buy more RAM before they ever boot their machine is silly.
This has been an ongoing issue with Apple. It's something they need to address. RAM is too inexpensive for them not to put a minimum of 512MB in any of the PowerMacs, or at least all of the dual proc G5s.
Originally posted by Unfiltered 128MB is not enough to run OS X[/B]
Incorrect. I have an original iBook with 128MB and another original iBook with 196MB both running MacOS X 10.3.5. Works like a charm.
Originally posted by pubwvj
Incorrect. I have an original iBook with 128MB and another original iBook with 196MB both running MacOS X 10.3.5. Works like a charm.
I don't know how "charming" your iBooks' functionality would be for most users only using that small amount of RAM. But my wife's dual USB iBook had 256MB and that was barely cutting it using Photoshop for resizing of photos. That says to me that 128MB is not enough to run OS X AND any additional apps.
Apple has just expanded the options they have for us, if none of their great products satisfy you, maybe you should have a Windows PC. I read all this complaints thinking that you guys are gonna run to get one anyway...
When I first read the new mac rumor, I never thought such a cheap mac could sport so many features.
And let me just repeat this. 6 Mac Minis for the price of one xServe!
Current xServes don't include a graphics card!
Virginia Tech, beware. Im building my Mac Mini Supercluster!
Originally posted by JoeAlamaiz
Virginia Tech, beware. Im building my Mac Mini Supercluster!
Awesome!
Not everyone has a DV cam - not everyone wants to get one - especially given the Mac mini's budget.
Originally posted by rickt42uk
Surely the lack of sound in is a major oversight?! There must be some USB sound in solution - but someone should point out to Steve Jobs that the Mac mini comes with GarageBand and iChat AV - surely the ability to get sound into the Mac mini is important.
Not everyone has a DV cam - not everyone wants to get one - especially given the Mac mini's budget.
I guess if you are a total amateur with no thought to sound quality, having an audio in would be good. The line ins are terrible on ALL macs. A decent 2 channel USB audio box is $200. Some are cheaper, and the prices continue to fall.
Leaving audio in out
Originally posted by rickt42uk
Surely the lack of sound in is a major oversight?! There must be some USB sound in solution - but someone should point out to Steve Jobs that the Mac mini comes with GarageBand and iChat AV - surely the ability to get sound into the Mac mini is important.
Not everyone has a DV cam - not everyone wants to get one - especially given the Mac mini's budget.
iSight is FW and there are lots o' USB mics ... what's the problem?
I think what Apple should do to market this puppy better is to bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle, bundle.
Have the Mac mini's sitting there, easy to buy and go, BUT create bundled packages of hardware and maybe software that people can see on the shelves right next to them, in the stores, just like games! Marketing bundles gives Apple the ability to highlight the technology and ease of use (plug and play ANYTHING) to the PC switcher masses. Also these bundles can be set up in the stores in a "try before you buy" fashion.
For example:
1. AV Bundle with iSight, USB speakers, Free Earthlink or AIM, etc.
2. Wireless Bundle with BT KM, etc. future FW Airport card?
3. GarageBand Music Bundle with USB microphone, keyboard, breakout box, RCA connectors to stereo, etc.
4. TV/Media Bundle with FM antennae, EyeTV stuff, possibly, eventually a nice plug and play MythTV setup
5. Educator Bundle with lots of software, etc.
6. Home Business Bundle with organization and finance software (OMNI, QuickBooks, etc.) and coupons for scanners and printers.
Each bundle in a colorful box, reasonably priced and showing the support Apple gets from 3rd party developers represented in each bundle. Makes gift-giving easy.
It gives customers a sense of an easy upgrade path that is more difficult to see when they are standing in the middle of Wal-Mart or Best Buy or Fry's. This would increase Apple's market to the hesitantly consumer market that the Mac mini would REALLY bring to the stores!
Originally posted by gorebug
I think I am getting one.
Wish it would've had a built in microphone, or mic-in jack, so i could audio iChat with my wife. I will have to hook up the camcorder to it now.
I dont get it, it doesnt have sound in, so you immediately jump to using your DV cam?
How about getting a USB headset from Compusa. My experience with sound input is that ichat is the first application I have ever used where it has been more than a gimmick. But guess what, the built in mic on my emac and ibook arent really that good for chat, and I really want a headset.