Apple releases $499 Mac mini **EDIT** Now reviewed by Anand. **EDIT again** BTO Price drops

[Eug]

The innards of the Mac mini

As previously mentioned, only 1 DIMM slot.

Unused Apple keyboards and mice still fetch a pretty good price on ebay.

Maybe not for long, as Apple has just dropped their keyboard and mouse prices by quite a bit.

I do have one Mac, though, it's a 15" PowerBook with a 1.25 GHz G4 and a Radeon 9600. The CPU is basiclly the same as that in the Mini

The mini has a Radeon 9200.

 

[halfadder]

Mac Mini Motherboard photos:
http://www.macnews.de/gallery/...ac%20mini/P1020518.jpg
http://www.macnews.de/gallery/...ac%20mini/P1020517.jpg
http://www.macnews.de/gallery/...ac%20mini/P1020510.jpg

Note that the modem module is removed in these photos. Also funny how the Apple "Intrepid" memory-i/o controller ASIC is the largest chip on the board!

Based on the specs (G4, 167 MHz SDR FSB, 167 MHz DDR333 RAM, Radeon 9200, etc) I'm guessing Apple is using the eMac circuitry:
http://developer.apple.com/doc...rt/040168001721_01.gif

 

[hopejr]

Nice Pics! I just wish there was a pic of the harddrive so we could confirm it's size.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Install Linux, and that thing would make an awesome web, or email server!!

 

[TalonOP]

Only one DIMM slot? I will pass on the Mac mini. I am just waiting for Apple to follow suit with their notebooks.

 

[Ecgtheow]

Originally posted by: NewBlackDak
Install Linux, and that thing would make an awesome web, or email server!!

You wouldn't need to install Linux; OS X includes Apache and Postfix.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

I just got info on the Mac mini HD size. Its a 2.5'' 4200 RPM drive

However, the Mac mini?s hard drive is the same kind you?d find in a laptop: it?s a 2.5-inch, 4200 rpm drive.

Link

 

[batmanuel]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
I just got info on the Mac mini HD size. Its a 2.5'' 4200 RPM drive

However, the Mac mini?s hard drive is the same kind you?d find in a laptop: it?s a 2.5-inch, 4200 rpm drive.

Link

Of course, if you were willing to throw caution (and your warranty) to the wind, you could alway crack that baby open and install a 512MB stick of RAM from Crucial and upgrade the hard drive to a 7200 RPM Hitachi. I think Seagate has a Momentus 7200.1 as well, but I haven't seen it at Newegg yet. You'd be adding a bit to the $499 sticker price, but one you sold off the old drive and RAM you'd probably be looking at about a $700 total cost or so - which is a steal for a fully functional Mac.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Originally posted by: batmanuel

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
I just got info on the Mac mini HD size. Its a 2.5'' 4200 RPM drive

However, the Mac mini?s hard drive is the same kind you?d find in a laptop: it?s a 2.5-inch, 4200 rpm drive.

Link

Of course, if you were willing to throw caution (and your warranty) to the wind, you could alway crack that baby open and install a 512MB stick of RAM from Crucial and upgrade the hard drive to a 7200 RPM Hitachi. I think Seagate has a Momentus 7200.1 as well, but I haven't seen it at Newegg yet. You'd be adding a bit to the $499 sticker price, but one you sold off the old drive and RAM you'd probably be looking at about a $700 total cost or so - which is a steal for a fully functional Mac.

I would be willing to. I would want a faster drive, and install my own memory. Apple's memory is way over priced.

 

[sxr7171]

If my parents' PC ever dies I'll send them to the dark side with one of these. All they need is internet anyway.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: batmanuel

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
I just got info on the Mac mini HD size. Its a 2.5'' 4200 RPM drive

However, the Mac mini?s hard drive is the same kind you?d find in a laptop: it?s a 2.5-inch, 4200 rpm drive.

Link

Of course, if you were willing to throw caution (and your warranty) to the wind, you could alway crack that baby open and install a 512MB stick of RAM from Crucial and upgrade the hard drive to a 7200 RPM Hitachi. I think Seagate has a Momentus 7200.1 as well, but I haven't seen it at Newegg yet. You'd be adding a bit to the $499 sticker price, but one you sold off the old drive and RAM you'd probably be looking at about a $700 total cost or so - which is a steal for a fully functional Mac.

The only 7200 RPM 2.5" drives are the ones from Hitachi that I know of, and I have the 60GB model in my laptop right now. They make one that is actually designed for servers that is more suited to this application since it isn't so aggressive in power savings as the notebook version. However if you want space, Toshiba has a 100Gb model at 4200 RPM.

 

[Childs]

Originally posted by: batmanuel

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
I just got info on the Mac mini HD size. Its a 2.5'' 4200 RPM drive

However, the Mac mini?s hard drive is the same kind you?d find in a laptop: it?s a 2.5-inch, 4200 rpm drive.

Link

Of course, if you were willing to throw caution (and your warranty) to the wind, you could alway crack that baby open and install a 512MB stick of RAM from Crucial and upgrade the hard drive to a 7200 RPM Hitachi. I think Seagate has a Momentus 7200.1 as well, but I haven't seen it at Newegg yet. You'd be adding a bit to the $499 sticker price, but one you sold off the old drive and RAM you'd probably be looking at about a $700 total cost or so - which is a steal for a fully functional Mac.

I've been eyeballing the Momentus 100GB 5400RPM drive ever since I heard the mini might only take a 2.5" drive...only $150AR at CompUSA.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: S0Y73NTGR33N
If you could hook it up to a car adapter and a flip down car monitor then install it in the center console that would be THE BEST EVER!

mmmmm.... Multiplayer gaming using satellite connections while on a road trip... possible?... soon I think


-green

Already being planned

 

[mrgoblin]

Originally posted by: LethalWolfe

Originally posted by: mrgoblin
great news for the people who didint want to blow all their money on mac hardware! Now all they need to do is lower their rediculious sw prices and wed be in business.

There have been a lot of off the wall reactions in here but I think this one takes the cake. How in the world can you say Apple's SW is over priced?


Lethal

Logic Pro 7 - 999
Reason 2.5 369 (I dont mention fruity loops because its awful)


I cant comment on other software because its the only one ive used. Reason 2.5 is the standard. Apple is overpriced in the software dept. Im sure there are others who know more about this than I do.

 

[kamaboko]

have you seen the size of the keyboard? it's only 2 inches wide and 1/16 " high? wow, the entire system is mini!

 

[hopejr]

Originally posted by: mrgoblin

Originally posted by: LethalWolfe

Originally posted by: mrgoblin
great news for the people who didint want to blow all their money on mac hardware! Now all they need to do is lower their rediculious sw prices and wed be in business.

There have been a lot of off the wall reactions in here but I think this one takes the cake. How in the world can you say Apple's SW is over priced?


Lethal

Logic Pro 7 - 999
Reason 2.5 369 (I dont mention fruity loops because its awful)


I cant comment on other software because its the only one ive used. Reason 2.5 is the standard. Apple is overpriced in the software dept. Im sure there are others who know more about this than I do.

Most of the other software is well priced, esp OS X (much cheaper than Windows and more powerful). But then again, Linux is free and is more powerful and way better than Windows.

 

[Eug]

Anand blogged on the Mac mini here, and hints he'll be doing a review.

 

[mackaikai]

go mac mini, it's so cute!

 

[halfadder]

Originally posted by: mrgoblin

Originally posted by: LethalWolfe

Originally posted by: mrgoblin
great news for the people who didint want to blow all their money on mac hardware! Now all they need to do is lower their rediculious sw prices and wed be in business.

There have been a lot of off the wall reactions in here but I think this one takes the cake. How in the world can you say Apple's SW is over priced?

Lethal

Logic Pro 7 - 999
Reason 2.5 369 (I dont mention fruity loops because its awful)

I cant comment on other software because its the only one ive used. Reason 2.5 is the standard. Apple is overpriced in the software dept. Im sure there are others who know more about this than I do.

2 Years ago when Logic was made by eMagic and not Apple, the Platinum Windows version cost $950 and the Regular Windows version cost $450. Now Apple has added a bunch of features and charges $999 for the Pro version. The Regular version ("Logic Express") costs $299. I think this was done to make the prices compare to what Apple charges for Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express.

The $299 Logic Express 7 has almost as many features as Logic Platinum 5 did just a couple years ago for $950.

Have you priced ProTools? You can easily spend $5K on that audio software!

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Download this movie to learn to dissassemble the Mac Mini!!!

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
Download this movie to learn to dissassemble the Mac Mini!!!

What app views this? thanks

 

[Childs]

Its mpeg 4. Use VLC, Quicktime, or probably Media Player.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
Download this movie to learn to dissassemble the Mac Mini!!!

It looks pretty easy to open the case. I betcha somebody is going to start selling plasticized putty knives as Mac mini opening tools, for $5.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

It looks easy. I dont know if I would risk opening it up though.

Zebo: Like Childs said, any of those apps he listed should work.

 

[Jeffyboy]

Well isn't that the cutest thing. OS X is unix based too must be reliable I bet. Apple is getting their act together which is good to see.

Jeff