So, one of our readers, Dave - who happens to be an expert at PCB design, has spent some time looking at the Mac Mini image posted today and he believes it is a fake. There have been many posts around the web on why. We've put it all together for your consideration.
Firstly, the dispersion of artifacts isn't consistant with an unedited image:
Also, within a given area that is unedited and consistent, a single macroblock type will be used.
If the macroblock type changes, it indicates editing of the image. Like so:
But the most damning evidence comes from Dave himself, who noticed that the Mini DisplayPort and Mini DVI aren't lined up with where the motherboard is. While Apple could have lifted the ports, that kind of setup weakens the joints. Would Apple risk this type of behavior on the back of a consumer level machine - on the monitor port, the one which will likely incur the biggest load?
Probably not. They stick with the most conservative, reliable hardware designs following strict rules, which is most of what Unibody is about. Fewer parts, more rigidity.
So, unless Apple has decided to use a mini-DVI and DisplayPort socket that break a steadfast rule of reliability in design, it's a fake.
...Plus it is on a IKEA faux wood vinyl laminate floor.
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Of course it's a fake.
Of course it's a fake. Mini-DVI _and_ DisplayPort is at least as silly as Mini-DVI and DVI: added cost and zero benefit to ALL customers.
The people that create such images should use at least a little brain power before they put their photoshop skills to work.
"Of course it's a fake.
"Of course it's a fake. Mini-DVI _and_ DisplayPort is at least as silly as Mini-DVI and DVI: added cost and zero benefit to ALL customers."
I take it you have never worked in an office, at least not one on Wall St. Every single person has at least dual monitors. If Apple is ever to break into the business world they need to offer dual monitor support on the Mini. It is a totally non-negotiable feature. And it make sense to do one DVI and one DIsplay Port for support of both newer and older monitors -- in the case of dual monitors one will probably need an adaptor.
Betcha if they refresh the
Betcha if they refresh the Mac mini, they won't do what you think they'll do.
Yeah, the Mac Mini is totally
Yeah, the Mac Mini is totally aimed at Wall St.!!
Dual ports not for dual use
OK so you all are right about this being a fake, however, you have disregarded the forward thinking of Apple. It will be thinner, but the functionality will be like this.
There will be two ports, and the reason is...
1. The mac mini is a switch machine, they want it to be compatible with the rest of the worlds PC components.
2. The Mini-Display port is the new "Apple" standard, so they will push it...think about advertising and product placement!
3. Apple wants the new machine to appeal to everone, including home server folks.....(and commense the AHHHH)
4. Please believe that on a small machine like this, USB ports are needed on the highest level!
:P
Fake!
Hi,
the pure existence of both: Mini-DVI and Mini-Displayport is evidence enough to show: That is a fake!
This is a bit like proving
This is a bit like proving that the Pope is catholic by counting the thread of his robes to verify they were tailored at the Vatican.
How did he get the noise in the photo...
Idea a photo was taken of the already photoshopped photo. Just an idea.
could be a real photo
of a non-production mule. I walk through our engineering lab and they have next-gen hardware dremeled in to our current chassis all the time. Sometimes it's kinda convincing, sometimes it's an obvious hack. Either way, it's a way to get power, cooling, and some protectionf for the boards while the industrial design folks work out the final packaging.
As for the pair of display ports, dev mules often have multiple possible design scenarios baked in in case a decision has not been made one way or the other (same could apply to the fw800 port - gasp).
Either way, you can be pretty sure that this pic doesn't tell us anything about what the next mini will have in it or what it will look like. My bet though is more roundiness ;-)
I hope this is the new mac
I hope this is the new mac mini:
http://flickr.com/photos/superfrunny/3293424238/
why the feck would you want
why the feck would you want to make it smaller? It's a friggin desktop alright...
I say stuff more power in that box baby.
How on earth could we
How on earth could we possibly need more f****** USB ports?
It makes sense to me that, if
It makes sense to me that, if you use the dual-link mini DisplayPort adapter, it will take up that fifth USB port. This way you still get the typical 4....
leave your photoshops. think
As I said at 123macmini forum this is a fake. C'mon, look at the video ports. The are floating! This thins must lay on the printed circuit board. Soldered.
The audio ports are soldered on a small board. But the video connectors are on the main one.
No photoshop analisys to find this, colegas
Like this Mac Mini :-)
Cool...
...remove one of the USB 3.0 Ports + the DVI-Port and add two 6Gbits e-Sata-Ports. ;-)
Fewer parts...
Fewer parts...
are you seriuos? really? you
are you seriuos? really? you needed 'Experts' to tell you it was a fake?
well..
there is a video along with this fake image as well. (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Video-Proof-Backs-Up-New-Mac-mini-Rumor-1...) but, it would be pretty ridiculous to wait 18 months and change a few ports-- especially ports that wouldnt have much impact.
that flicker quark pic looks pretty promising, considering the name of the quark file macmini_0309_bleh, denoting a march 2009 release, which ive read rumors in a few places. the design in the quark looks like the laptops (probably where taken from if its total BS) but makes sense that is where they may go with the design.
obviously the mac mini isnt about power, so cramming more crap in there for that reason would defeat the purpose. Its about simplicity i think.
No one has mentioned the shadow
The shadow this thing cast in the photo was the first thing I noticed yesterday that indicated it was a fake. No one seems to have mentioned this.
ok... it's a fake... I
ok... it's a fake... I agree... but it made me think.
Using a display port ensures almost any digital video connection (HDMI, DVI, VGA... What will be the difference between a Macmini with Front Row and an Apple TV? Are we going to experience convergence on these two products?
@
the difference would be the
the difference would be the mac mini isn't such a piece of trash. AppleTv is garbage, its just a portable itunes point-of-sale system that you actually are purchasing. It uses itunes as the video player, so it supports next to nothing.
and what...
what happens?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2470706/mac_mini_2009_edition/
PCB expert
Who was this PCB expert again?
Me. I've been designing PCBs
Me. I've been designing PCBs since the early 80s.
What?!!!
I feel like the fake looks too close to the original.
what does WALL ST. KNOW??
"..if Apple hopes to break into the business world..." oh, puhleez. where have you been? whether this is a fake or not everything that apple has done since the garage days is head and shoulders above any PC out there, whether you have "dual monitors" or not. You meant 'financial' world didn't you? Is that the only business you know? Better dust off the resume--and the software, dude.
Wow, Dave must be some kind
Wow, Dave must be some kind of expert... FAIL!
So the ports line up?
Apple usually align their ports along a central axis, either horizontally, like the MacBooks, or vertically, like the iMacs. I wouldn't take consistency with Apple's aesthetic as evidence of fakery.
Those machines have a PCB and
Those machines have a PCB and shell design that fully supports the connectors from both sides. They are surrounded by metal, and very rigid.
This machine has a plastic base with the PCB below or above (in other machines it's always been below, but Apple may have reconfigured that) and all previous mac minis have connectors aligned to the PCB on the lower edge.
Note on this design that the ethernet and USB ports align along the top edge? The USB ports go slightly lower. I'm still inclined to say this is a mock-up.
Another explanation
The Mac Mini is real, but the "candid" photo might not be - I suggest it was deliberately leaked by Apple and they let their PR team dick around with it to "pretty it up" first.