Wired gets tipped to new Mac Mini

Chauncey Dupree
|
December 15, 2008
|
Share

Wired says they've received a tip (from Captain Obvious?) that the Mac Mini is going to get a refresh.  They predict (try to stay awake for this one):

  • Similar to the MacBooks, the Mac Mini will sport a silver enclosure composed of a block of aluminum.
  • Some internal parts will be PVC-free, and combined with its size and low power requirements, Apple will tout this as the "greenest Mac ever."
  • For video output, the Mac Mini will use the DRM-crippled DisplayPort for connectivity, which Apple is offering to manufacturers for a no-fee license.
  • It'll have a CD-DVD slot loader (i.e. Super Drive). There will be no Blu-ray player, because Steve Jobs believes the format is a "bag of hurt."
  • It'll ship with 2 GB of RAM, expandable to 4 GB — up from the current 1 GB, expandable to 2 GB. (The aluminum case should make expanding RAM easier than in the original Mini.)
  • It'll ship with at least a 160-GB hard drive.
  • The Mac Mini will come in two options with different processor speeds: a 2.0-GHz Core 2 Duo and a 2.3-GHz Core 2 Duo (up from 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz).
  • Like the higher-end MacBook and MacBook Pro, the 2.3-GHz Mac Mini will ship with an Nvidia video card, making this higher-end model a decent gaming device.
  • The 2.0G-Hz Mac Mini will ship with an Intel video card, perhaps the GMA X3100 graphics card found in the low-end, white MacBook.
  • The slower model will cost $500, and the faster model will cost $700 ($100 less than the current Mac Minis), in light of the recession.

Yeah, those are all safe calls.  We'd like to see it bulk up a little bit in the HD department.  Maybe even a 3.5 inch drive which would make it a bit more cubical.  Oh, and you can probably kiss that Firewire port goodbye but will get a Gigabyte Ethernet port to tide you over. 

Anything else on anyone's wishlist for the bargain basement Apple computer?

Comments (24)

outsider (not verified) | December 15, 2008 - 8:56pm

i don't think the new mini will come with intel graphics
but nvidia 9400M...
because of the display port

and i think the new mini will not come with a firewire port and no option for adding a graphic card, just like the unibody macbook

i think apple is going to unify the mac products for lowering development and production costs

ps. of course no remote will come with the new mini :P

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 15, 2008 - 9:28pm

I betcha Wired's people actually went "No kidding..really?" to their "sources" on this one.

Benjamin Dobson | December 15, 2008 - 11:24pm

I like those $100 savings.

Sobriquet (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 12:21am

I'd like a midtower Mac that has room for expansion even better.

Seriously- what the heck is Apple thinking not having a midtower product in between the Mini and the Mac Pro? They're missing a whole slew of people who would convert if they didn't have to buy an all-in-one that can't be modified.

Zedd (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 12:49am

Their midrange model is called the "iMac". They don't need a midtower. That would kill their iMac AND MacPro sales.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 5:20am

Why would they care? It's still them that's making the money. It's not like Pystar making Mac clones, which really does kill iMac and Mac Pro sales.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 12:24am

How about forget about displayport and keep firewire or you can forget many who actually buy these as media centres? I don't get the advantage of switching to displayport, it's a tiny bit smaller and won't play HD content to a HD TV....brilliant!!!. Who cares about 160gb, to record TV using EYETV I need 2TB to make it meaningful and firewire is still technically better than USB 2.0 ask any pro video user.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 4:15am

how about esata? or gigabit ethernet? Everyone except for Videoppl is pooping on firewire nowadays...

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 2:59am

A brilliant idea would be to ship them with a mgsafe alim to take advantage of the one on the new displays

bugra (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 3:00am

I am using the displayport on my alu macbook to connect to 40" samsung lcd tv. I can watch HD content with it. Or do you mean something else with HD content?

LD (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 8:09am

Not protected HD content unless you have an HDCP port on your Samsung.

This bullshit copy protection only hurts consumers. It's a terrible choice by Apple.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 3:19am

The 'Wired'-link links to the getamac ads ::laugh

Where's the real link ?

Seth Weintraub | December 16, 2008 - 4:49am

 fixed it, sorry bout that!

Seth Weintraub | December 16, 2008 - 4:49am

 fixed it, sorry bout that!

bugra (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 3:55am

did you try the web site wired.com? The article is at the top of the page and impossible to oversee.

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/rumor-new-mac-m.html

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 5:23am

I need a couple more USBs, FW800, and support for dual displays... all for $500 :P

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 6:27am

I'd love to trade up my current Mac Mini to be able to play games on it, but not as much as I'll miss my FireWire port (which I use for my camcorder, iSight, MiniMate, and 1TB external drive). No upgrade for me :-(

AlphaBob (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 8:04am

I would bet a case of beer that the #1 use of the Mac mini is home entertainment systems. Lacking a capable DRM DisplayPort would be an ill-advised move and would kill this market segment.

I love my mid-2007 Mac mini and play HD video through it all the time. It works quite well with my 60 inch HDTV.

LD (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 8:12am

I'm not sure what you are advocating. Are you saying they SHOULD have the hardware DRM port? Or should not?

There is NO disadvantage to not having it.

LD (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 8:11am

Why do stories keep mentioning that Apple will allow a no-fee license for their display port? Display port by design has no license fee.

Christopher (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 12:36pm

Whaddaya mean, the Mini'll get Gigabit Ethernet? It's had Gigabit Ethernet since it went intel, two years ago!

nash w (not verified) | December 16, 2008 - 7:03pm

GBe: included since "Early 2005", intel model.

Dual Display Ports: I'd imagine this is possible, is this not a benefit of the technology to be able to connect to an internal + an external display using the same method? shouldn't be difficult to run dual external rather than internal + external?

Techslacker (not verified) | December 17, 2008 - 5:48am

I didn't see anyone mention it but surely there will be VGA available for video out in addition to mini-displayport. Right now there is only one known monitor available with mini-Displayport and it's $900 which is not the market for $500-$700 Mac Mini's. Maybe Apple has more coming out but their prices are never affordable for those on a budget.

Anxiously awaiting these new Mac minis though as I'd like to get one with better graphics than the current mini's so my kids can have their own Mac.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 29, 2008 - 6:45pm

;o;o