New Mac Stuff! Whoohoo!

[Kaido]

http://store.apple.com

Mac Mini:
1.) 2.0ghz, 120gb, 1GB, 8x DVD, 9400M ($599) *
2.) 2.0ghz, 320gb, 2GB, 8X DVD, 9400M ($799) *

* Up to 4GB RAM, optional 2.26ghz C2D
+ 5 USB ports
+ Firewire 800 port
+ Dual Video output (Mini Displayport + Mini-DVI)
+ 802.11n, DVD burner, and Bluetooth standard

iMac:
1.) 20" 2.66ghz, 320gb, 2GB, 8x DVD, 9400m ($1199) *
2.) 24", 2.66ghz, 640gb, 4GB, 8x DVD, 9400m ($1499) *
3.) 24", 2.93ghz, 640gb, 4GB, 8x DVD, 256mb Nvidia GeForce GT 120 ($1799) **
4.) 24", 3.06GHz, 1TB, 4GB, 8x DVD, 512mb Nvidia GeForce GT 130 ($2199) **

* Available with up to 8GB RAM and 1TB HDD
** Also available with a 512MB ATI 4850
+ 24" model now starts at $1499

Mac Pro:
1.) One (1) Quad-Core 2.66ghz Nehalem, 640gb, 3GB, 18x DVD, 512mb Nvidia GeForce GT 120 ($2499) * (max 8gb ram)
2.) Two (2) Quad-Core 2.26ghz Nahalem, 640gb, 6GB, 18x DVD, 512mb Nvidia GeForce GT 120 *

* Optional graphic options: Up to four (4) 512mb Nvidia GeForce GT 120 cards or one (1) 512mb ATI 4870
** CPU Upgrades: Two 2.66ghz or Two 2.93ghz Xeons optional, up to 32gb RAM

Airport Extreme & Time Capsule:
1.) Dual-band 802.11n Wifi (2.4ghz, 5ghz band), up to 50 users, separate limited-access network for guests ($179)
2.) Same as above, but with 500gb or 1TB HDD ($299, $499)

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I'm excited about the new Airport Extreme with dual band technologies!

Also, the Mac Mini I doubted turned out to be real, touche Apple.

 

[DnetMHZ]

Nice, really want a Mini!

 

[magnux]

Sweeeet! I can finally pick up my iMac. Opting for 24" 3.06GHz with a Radeon 4850. I can't believe I'm spending this on a computer.. again. The last time I spent around this much was back in the early 90's when I got a Pentium-90 for $3,000. Hah!

I'm a little disappointed about the Mini though.. I was really holding out for it. It's not really a "mega bump" over my already modified/upgraded 2.16GHz C2D Mini. The 9400M just isn't enough of a bump for me.. but, at least they upgraded it.

 

[Kmax82]

The Mini is obviously the red headed step child that Apple doesn't want anyone to even look at. It's ridiculous how much they neglect this model.

However, the iMac and MacPro updates are quite nice.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Kaido
512mb ATI 4870

Fuck!

Who on Earth came up with these graphics options? You get to choose from a rebranded GeForce 9500GT, or take a dive off the deep end and go ATI. ATI graphics support on OS X has been mediocre for the last year now, and there's no CUDA (ATI Stream support is not available under OS X, either). Everything in the current Apple lineup is NVIDIA except for the high-end options on the iMac and Mac Pro; you either get slow graphics or a line of video cards that Apple doesn't give a hoot about.

Why couldn't they have slapped a nice GTX 260 in the Mac Pro, and a 9800GTX in the iMac?

 

[suklee]

Would it be easy to upgrade the RAM & HD from the base Mac mini model?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Would it be easy to upgrade the RAM & HD from the base Mac mini model?

Assuming the construction is no different than the last one, yes.

 

[tefleming]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Would it be easy to upgrade the RAM & HD from the base Mac mini model?

Based on my experience with the older version, not easy. Do-able, but not easy.

I'm curious if the chip will still be user upgrade-able (I upgraded my mini to C2D 2.33ghz)

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Kai920
Would it be easy to upgrade the RAM & HD from the base Mac mini model?

Assuming the construction is no different than the last one, yes.

Yeah, pizza cutter + thick plastic card (credit card or library card), pops open real quick

Assuming the CPU is upgradable, we can do the following:

1. Hard Drive: SSD or HDD up to 500gb 7200rpm
2. Memory: Up to 4GB ($55 on Newegg)
3. CPU: Whatever these CPUs go up to

You can optionally upgrade the DVD to a Bluray, but it'd only be for authoring since OS X doesn't have Bluray playback yet. The Wifi is already at 802.11n and both models have Bluetooth built-in, which is super nice.

 

[suklee]

Thanks, I just found this post: http://www.laatedaa.com/2008/01/06/107/. Looks like a few steps involved, but definitely do-able (assuming construction hasn't changed as ViRGE noted). Getting your own RAM to upgrade is so much cheaper than getting it thru Apple.

Anyone know if the max HD size supported is 320GB? That's what the 2nd Mac mini model has.

Also, noticed the two models have 9400M with 128MB and 256MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM. The base model wouldn't be limited to 128MB would it? It's only set that way b/c it comes with 1GB standard RAM?

PS. If only my wife's Shuttle SN45G would die, I'd be ordering one of these Mac minis' right away. That thing has been going strong for 6+ years..

 

[racolvin]

Interesting note, now that the ATI 4870 is a BTO option on the Pro, does that mean that the KEXT for the ATI would be useable on the Hackintosh project?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: racolvin
Interesting note, now that the ATI 4870 is a BTO option on the Pro, does that mean that the KEXT for the ATI would be useable on the Hackintosh project?

Yup, old news

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: racolvin
Interesting note, now that the ATI 4870 is a BTO option on the Pro, does that mean that the KEXT for the ATI would be useable on the Hackintosh project?

Yup, old news

Netkas is a bit worried about the fact that the 48xx cards have a DisplayPort instead of a second DVI port. We'll see if it pans out as anything.

This would be so much easier if they just went with a GTX260.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Also, noticed the two models have 9400M with 128MB and 256MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM. The base model wouldn't be limited to 128MB would it? It's only set that way b/c it comes with 1GB standard RAM?

I think that's set in the Mac's firmware and can't be changed. But don't hold me to that.

 

[Goosemaster]

To late and not enough... I was so excited but a quick check of the alternatives and it's a no brainer...

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
To late and not enough... I was so excited but a quick check of the alternatives and it's a no brainer...

Yup. The Mac Minis are lackluster. The iMacs, I thought were Corei7, but aren't.. and you lose Ghz on the MacPros. Ugh... I hate that I love OS X.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
To late and not enough... I was so excited but a quick check of the alternatives and it's a no brainer...

Yup. The Mac Minis are lackluster. The iMacs, I thought were Corei7, but aren't.. and you lose Ghz on the MacPros. Ugh... I hate that I love OS X.

sigh... I'll wait untill Windows 7 to upgrade...

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: racolvin
Interesting note, now that the ATI 4870 is a BTO option on the Pro, does that mean that the KEXT for the ATI would be useable on the Hackintosh project?

Yup, old news

Netkas is a bit worried about the fact that the 48xx cards have a DisplayPort instead of a second DVI port. We'll see if it pans out as anything.

This would be so much easier if they just went with a GTX260.

I think there are Video Cards available with DisplayPort now though, so if you buy one of those you'll probably be fine.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
To late and not enough... I was so excited but a quick check of the alternatives and it's a no brainer...

Yup. The Mac Minis are lackluster. The iMacs, I thought were Corei7, but aren't.. and you lose Ghz on the MacPros. Ugh... I hate that I love OS X.

Lackluster?? 9400m, better CPU, 4GB RAM, 5 USB, FW800, 802.11n, standard Bluetooth & DVD burner on both models...I think that's great! I mean, what else can they really do? Change the case? There's no other options left for a unit this small

 

[Muddy Mudskipper]

Mac Mini spec is still underwhelming.

I'm more excited about the fact that the small Apple keyboard now comes in wired version.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB869?mco=NDE4Mzg3NA

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Muddy Mudskipper
Mac Mini spec is still underwhelming.

You have to look at the reality of the situation...there simply nothing else better out there, hardware-wise. Sure they could probably stick in a mobile quad-core, but those run over $900 a pop right now, thus killing the "cheap Mac" appeal. The 9400m plays 1080p, which is fantastic for such a small computer.

What else do you want in the Mini?

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
To late and not enough... I was so excited but a quick check of the alternatives and it's a no brainer...

Yup. The Mac Minis are lackluster. The iMacs, I thought were Corei7, but aren't.. and you lose Ghz on the MacPros. Ugh... I hate that I love OS X.

Lackluster?? 9400m, better CPU, 4GB RAM, 5 USB, FW800, 802.11n, standard Bluetooth & DVD burner on both models...I think that's great! I mean, what else can they really do? Change the case? There's no other options left for a unit this small

The only other thing I'd have liked is a blu-ray drive. The mini would then be the PERFECT HTPC.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
To late and not enough... I was so excited but a quick check of the alternatives and it's a no brainer...

Yup. The Mac Minis are lackluster. The iMacs, I thought were Corei7, but aren't.. and you lose Ghz on the MacPros. Ugh... I hate that I love OS X.

Lackluster?? 9400m, better CPU, 4GB RAM, 5 USB, FW800, 802.11n, standard Bluetooth & DVD burner on both models...I think that's great! I mean, what else can they really do? Change the case? There's no other options left for a unit this small

The only other thing I'd have liked is a blu-ray drive. The mini would then be the PERFECT HTPC.

Put one in yourself. Only $999

Note: They also have a slimline USB player for 1/10th the price - $99 USB Bluray Player

 

[mugs]

Would have preferred a faster processor and more memory on the Mini, but I can upgrade the memory now and the processor later I guess. Looks like I'll finally be getting a new computer. Need to figure out what adapters I need to use this thing with two DVI displays.