Posted on 06/16/2010 2:22:39 AM PDT by Swordmaker
Apple today unveiled a completely redesigned Mac mini, featuring up to twice the graphics performance, a new HDMI port and a new SD card slot, all in an amazingly compact aluminum enclosure. Mac mini is the world’s most energy efficient desktop and starting at $699, is the most affordable way to enjoy Mac OS, iLife or Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server.
“The sleek, aluminum Mac mini packs great features, versatility and value into an elegant, amazingly compact design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “With twice the graphics performance, HDMI support and industry-leading energy efficiency, customers are going to love the new Mac mini.”
Created with the unibody construction process pioneered by Apple, the new Mac mini features a compact aluminum enclosure just 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches thin. A new integrated power supply eliminates the need for an external power adapter, reducing overall system volume by 20 percent and keeping cable clutter to a minimum. A removable panel underneath provides quick access for memory expansion. Mac mini is incredibly versatile, effortlessly connecting to existing peripherals such as mice, keyboards and digital displays, while the new HDMI output connects Mac mini to an HDTV and the new SD card slot enables easy transfer of photos and videos from a digital camera.
(Excerpt) Read more at macdailynews.com ...
As I read it, you can open the case and upgrade the memory.
What third party hardware is supported?
Like most modern Macs it supports nearly anything with a USB connection. That means that most 3rd party input devices like keyboards and mice work, most external drives (floppy, hard, DVD, flash, etc.) work. It also has connections to work with third party display monitors.
Can I install my own OS on it?
I use VMWare Fusion on my Mac to run OSX, Windows XP, Windows 7, and Ubuntu SIMULTANEOUSLY. Let's see any Windows based PC do that.
Yes, Yes, and Yes. Of course that would make it PC, is that your intention?
Does the Macbook only come in a 13” version?
If I were starting in computers, (as I did in 1978) the Mini is what I'd start with. You will have to look a long time to find a better engineered and designed piece of hardware...
That makes good marketing and production/inventory sense to me.
Yep, Macbook is 13” screen. Gotta get into the Macbook Pro line before you can get a 15”. I’m used to the small screen on my Macbook & don’t even notice the size of it. Movies look amazing on mine. YMMV
Yes, to all 3 questions.
I wouldn’t claim any familial relationship with Algore if my life depended on it. Even if it were true (which for the record: ISN’T!).
Best new thing on this is a HDMI port so you can hook up one of them new-fangled 1080p HDMI monitors (boffo for watching a DVD) or a simular TV set
Via the HDMI cable you get DVI quality image+ audio.....eliminates need for separate audio cables. Very nice if your new 1080p monitor has built in speakers. I have one that doesn’t, dang!
DVI only sends a great image from computer to LCD.....it skips audio.
Like I said...Just tell them AlGore is your uncle and you will commit hara-kiri if you don’t have HDMI.
Usually Apple allows that...
Yea, I ordered mine with an VGA adapter because my existing LCD monitor is VGA. But since I just moved, and don’t have my desk or office set up yet, I went out and got a DVI~HDMI adapter and plugged it into a 52” Sony HD Bravia TV.
Looks great!
The wireless “Magic Mouse” and the wireless keyboard work great.
There’s a 10% restocking fee for open-box. Ask nicely, and they might waive it. They’ve probably put the old model on clearance pricing, so in the alternative you can get a refund of the price difference.
That’s based on the Apple Store — other retailers’ policies will vary.
Yea, I ordered mine with an VGA adapter because my existing LCD monitor is VGA. But since I just moved, and don’t have my desk or office set up yet, I went out and got a DVI~HDMI adapter and plugged it into a 52” Sony HD Bravia TV.>>>>>>>>>>>
Yeah but my important point is a real HDMI port on the latest model Mac-Mini is better because audio+image get transmitted via your HDMI cable. With a DVI/HDMI adapter you only get image sent over the cable. You have to take care of audio with additional cables. More muss and fuss running audio from MacMini to your big honking Sony Bravia
That why the new model is better-—a real HDMI-out port. Old one just had DVI-out
Audio goes to a JVC all-in-one home theater system with Bose speakers. So HDMI doesn’t help me there in that regard. I would love to do a digital/optical out to the HT system for the Dolby 5.1 affect, but there’s only the one port, and that’s taken up by the Dish/DVR.
THanks for the info, I’ll look into it.
OK ....I see your point. MacMini is very portable. You might find the HDMI audio more valuable when hooked up to a TV set in a motel or when out visiting and hooking into a family or friend’s TV
THe Mini takes the place of a couple of decommissioned towers. It’s going to be my main “desktop”, so it won’t be traveling. That’s what the Laptop, iPad, and iPhone are for.
So if I have a wireless connection in my house, could I connect to the mini from a Windows laptop, just like I can use Windows Remote Connection on another Windows box?
Over time, the mini seems to have moved from the cheap, entry level Mac to the dedicated home theater Mac. The HDMI instead of a DisplayPort video output shows that it’s not really meant for the average desktop.
I believe so. Though, I must admit I’m new to OSX. But I was able to turn on Home Sharing in iTunes, and copy over my music library from my Vista partition (and external USB) to the Mini. I also see in networking that OSX does support SMB and Windows NETBIOS naming and groups. So setting up a share with Windows, and visa versa, seems doable to me. I haven’t had the time to delve into yet, I’ve been moving and the Mini only arrived Monday.
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