sblue said: For those that don't need the mini right away,... the new mac mini *might* be $499 when released
More likely, specs like the current $799 model (bigger disk, more memory, maybe slightly faster processor) with a $599 price tag. it would *really* be nice if they will upgrade the processor to a quad core - one can dream...
One thing to make the Mac Mini the perfect media computer, HDMI out! I don't know why Apple has ommitted this, maybe licensing, I don't know.
I have this model (with 4GB RAM upgrade) hooked to my 47" HDTV, optical out to my Onkyo receiver, Plex (freeware) media center, Harmony remote, it is the ultimate media center in my opinion. I have an Apple bluetooth keyboard and a Logitech Nano USB wireless mouse (I find bluetooth mice to be a pain in the ass, lags - lost connections). So small and quiet, yet so powerful. I listen to iTunes through my surround sound, watch Hulu and Netflix streaming movies, so much more.
The Mini is Apple's best kept secret, I think they try to promote the Apple TV over the Mini because if of its direct tie in to iTunes store, but the Mini gives you so many more options.
MoonMan said: One thing to make the Mac Mini the perfect media computer, HDMI out! I don't know why Apple has ommitted this, maybe licensing, I don't know.
allenlh said: MoonMan said: One thing to make the Mac Mini the perfect media computer, HDMI out! I don't know why Apple has ommitted this, maybe licensing, I don't know.
Not using any TV tuner, still have cable TV for that, but to be honest I watch more content from web than cable, thought about dropping cable TV, but I like the cable news channels and a few others.
There is EyeTV for the Mac, a USB TV tuner with great software, check it out here- http://www.elgato.com/
Good price, even with tax in CA. But I think an update (may just be a price drop) is just around the corner so I will wait. I am looking for a new desktop computer. I tried the Intel core solo Mini before, but it was just too slow so I returned it.
If I increase the RAM to 4GB and replace the hard drive with an SSD, I think the Mini will work for me. The SSD should make a big difference.
Absolutely it will, in more ways than one. It might be over priced though. Unless you value the industrial, acoustic and thermal engineering over the average PC. Then again, you could probably buy 2 PC laptops at this price that is just as energy efficient and quiet, and with a built-in GUI screen.
Can you install windows straight up on these things? Like no bootcamp, no virtual machine, any of that stuff...just plain flat out reformat the drive and install windows like a regular pc? I don't care for OSX at all.....even after trying for a solid month using OSX exclusively. Just not for me. On the PC side of things though....there just is no similar form factor for a reasonably powerfull machine. There are some really small ones, but way underpowered atom/via based. Next up are those Shuttle systems and the like which still are significantly bigger (much longer)and oten pretty noisy. After that you are into the regular micro towers and such. Mac mini is small enough to keep on a desk without overtaking it and uses normal processors as well which I like. I wouldnt mind getting one to make a windows 7 machine out of.
oh....and about the HDMI out...I would imagine that is probably on purpose as to not take away from appleTV.
Etch, you can get a Dell Studio for under $500 with about the same spec, often much less from Dell Outlet.
vladgur
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Oct. 17, 2009 @ 9:08p
Dell studio uses integrated intel graphics, not an NVIDIA GPU like this one and also its noisy according to all the reviews I read. Your perception of noise may vary but consider that systems this small are made to be placed right next to the monitor very close to your ears.
As far as Windows Install, you will need to use bootcamp to install windows from osx(which this thing ships with) and once you have windows installed you can use partition magic to completely wipe out macosx partition and resize windows one to take up the whole space.
and yes, HDMI = DVI - Audio, so any DVI-HDMI cable or dongle will work
built a mini PC that's at least 4x as fast as this for about the same price. Ok it's not quite as tiny (Thermaltake Lanbox Lite MicroATX, shaped like the compact Shuttle PCs), but it's small enough as a mini desktop system. If space is at that much of a premium, might be better to buy a laptop and hackintosh it.
BTW vladgur - the Nvidia 9400M GPU is integrated into the chipset. You are right though, it is far faster than Intel's integrated crapgraphics.
As to the power of the Mini's... They are built using laptop components so... And I wans't kidding about getting two laptops of similar processing power and the built-in screens are just bonus. Some do come with HDMI now.
ak47
Member
posted: Oct. 17, 2009 @ 11:49p
When is the new Mac Mini going to be released??? Oh, and by the way...Mac Mini are awesome computers, just amazing. 9.5 out of 10 (it is not a frekin media player or a notebook computer, it is a mini computer and does the job well)
Yes you can install Windows by itself on a fresh format, but you have to format off the OS X disk that comes with the machine. What you do is go to utilities -> disk utility, format the hard drive as MS-DOS, and then restart - hold down option to start off the Win7 DVD (it'll come up as "Windows" - so will anything else that will boot other than OS X)..
From there you can reformat the FAT32 drive as NTFS, the reason to format it FAT32 (MS-DOS, whatever) in the OS X installer is that's all it supports, and it will register properly with the EFI boot setup. Do NOT repartition your drive from Windows!
Then you can install Windows 7. I believe the generic Nvidia drivers will work fine for the 9400M if you want to totally bypass using the drivers Apple put on the OS X disk for Windows..
At this point, if you're having problems with the computer taking a moment to find a boot disk when it starts up, boot off the OS X disk once more, and choose the "Windows" partition in Utilities -> Startup Disk.
vladgur said: Dell studio uses integrated intel graphics, not an NVIDIA GPU like this one The nvidia is integrated graphics as well.
Timbo86d
New Member
posted: Oct. 18, 2009 @ 12:14p
Their site shows "unavailable for shipping" and I have no B&M's near me.
sirjp
Member
posted: Oct. 18, 2009 @ 2:46p
I am thinking whether to jump on one of these, but some of the hardware seems a little weak for running Vista. Does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade the memory (1GB is too low) and the hard drive (5400 is too slow)?
sirjp said: I am thinking whether to jump on one of these, but some of the hardware seems a little weak for running Vista. Does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade the memory (1GB is too low) and the hard drive (5400 is too slow)?
Yes you can upgrade Ram and Hard Drive.
ac
Senior Member
posted: Oct. 18, 2009 @ 6:39p
sirjp said: I am thinking whether to jump on one of these, but some of the hardware seems a little weak for running Vista. Does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade the memory (1GB is too low) and the hard drive (5400 is too slow)?
Yes, you can, but it is a more a process for an experienced user. Not sure what you mean by the 5400RPM comment. I very common upgrade is 320GB 7200RPM 2.5" drive or 500GB 5400RPM drive. Due to platter density and some other factors, there is not a performance difference between those two setups that will be noticeable to the user, and the 5400RPM option will consume less power and generate less heat (and of course, store much more data). Another popular option is to install an SSD and run the OS and Apps off that and everything else of an external FW800 drive. Btw, max RAM is 4GB (2x2GB).
vladgur
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Oct. 18, 2009 @ 6:56p
closeupman said: vladgur said: Dell studio uses integrated intel graphics, not an NVIDIA GPU like this one The nvidia is integrated graphics as well. the keyword is intel gpu vs nvidia....
I dont really care so much about that as the size and quietness of it. Of course you can find similar or better spec'd PC's for less money all day long, but outside of those atom/via based machines, there really is nothing quite comperable out there. Those shuttle systems are about as small as it gets for normal processors and the like, but they are still significantly bigger, mainly much deeper, and a lot of em are on the noisy side. Basicly the premium would be for the form factor in my case. I prob will end up giving one of the new models a shot when it comes out.
logisticprism1
New Member
posted: Oct. 19, 2009 @ 7:31a
Etch said: Can you install windows straight up on these things? Like no bootcamp, no virtual machine, any of that stuff...just plain flat out reformat the drive and install windows like a regular pc? I don't care for OSX at all.....even after trying for a solid month using OSX exclusively. Just not for me. On the PC side of things though....there just is no similar form factor for a reasonably powerfull machine. There are some really small ones, but way underpowered atom/via based. Next up are those Shuttle systems and the like which still are significantly bigger (much longer)and oten pretty noisy. After that you are into the regular micro towers and such. Mac mini is small enough to keep on a desk without overtaking it and uses normal processors as well which I like. I wouldnt mind getting one to make a windows 7 machine out of.
oh....and about the HDMI out...I would imagine that is probably on purpose as to not take away from appleTV.
Everyone who complains about bootcamp is simply misinformed. You can install windows NATIVELY on a mac. Bootcamp is only there because macs use EFI (not BIOS), so BIOS needs to be emulated (note this does not translate to a performance decrease) to run windows. Bootcamp runs transparently. If you want to run windows and ONLY windows, that's fine. Make sure your hard drive is partitioned properly, then boot up with a windows cd in the drive, and hold the option key at the grey startup screen before the apple logo shows up. You will have a GUI to select which boot device, pick your CD and you are setting up windows like you normally would on a PC. You are still running windows natively and using microsoft / nvidia / ATI drivers and what not when you actually get windows up and running. I hate when people complain about OS X (or in this case, macs) and know nothing about it. I work in IT and use Windows / Linux / OSX, I understand that each is everyone's own preference, however, don't bash if you don't know.
logisticprism1 said: Everyone who complains about bootcamp is simply misinformed. You can install windows NATIVELY on a mac. Bootcamp is only there because macs use EFI (not BIOS), so BIOS needs to be emulated (note this does not translate to a performance decrease) to run windows.EFI is a BIOS architecture. It is the BIOS. Newer PCs have EFI BIOS's as well. It's an Intel industry specification to make BIOS development and maintenance easier. The older architecture is often referred to as Legacy BIOS.
sirjp said: I am thinking whether to jump on one of these, but some of the hardware seems a little weak for running Vista. Does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade the memory (1GB is too low) and the hard drive (5400 is too slow)?
Google Mac Mini RAM/Hard Drive upgrade. It'll give you all the answers.
I'm running the same Mini with 4GB RAM and just about to swap to a Scorpio 7200RPM 320GB HD. That should be plenty fast for Vista.
I have a dual monitor setup - 27" & 18". The only thing is that you'll need a MiniDisplay port to DVI adaptor which you can pick up from Monoprice.
MiniDVI to DVI is already included in the package, but I also hook up my TV via MiniDVI to HDMI adaptor.
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