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I don't get the 5 USB ports on the Mini. Seems so unApple like. "Hey, Lets shove as many ports onto the back of this thing as possible!"

But I guess the real question is, should I wait longer.

I have been waiting to buy a Media PC and the Mini is great. But, in a few months Snow Leopard will come out. Is there any reason I should wait if I'm not going to be using it for Exchange support?

Mar 03, 09 - 09:51 am Comment from: DanielM

@ Dallas

Yes. Stupidity.

"I don't get the 5 USB ports on the Mini"

I don't get the two USB ports on the 15" MBP. They run out very quickly and who wants to add an ugly external hub when it's simple (and faster) to add a few more internal ones? Good work Apple on putting on five.

Mar 03, 09 - 09:53 am Comment from: silverhawk

FW 800 - good news!

Mar 03, 09 - 09:55 am Comment from: jocknerd

I had faint hopes that Apple would actually cut prices somewhat. I should have known better. Nothing like paying $800 for a Mac mini!

Woooooot !!!

Mar 03, 09 - 10:02 am Comment from: macmuchmore

I am happy about the mac mini update, however there is one thing that has always bothered me about the mini and unfortunately this has not changed with the new revision. Why does the mini not use the same AC adapter as one of the macbooks or macbook pros? I know it is a desktop and doesn't really NEED the mag-safe connector, but the mini is REALLY portable and this type of AC adapter would be perfect. Not to mention if it had this type of AC adapter, you could use the new LCD monitor with the mini, just like with the macbooks. You would have only one power cable to the monitor, then one cable to the mini (that splits into 3 - power, usb, and display connectors). THAT would be nirvana in a desktop machine.

yes, five ports on the mini is a great improvement. i have one setup in a retail environment and recently had to pull out a hub to add more components. granted, if the user had an apple keyboard instead of the lame split ergonomic keyboard, i could have just plugged the other components into that. at least they're using a mac!

There's a mistake (I hope) on the iMac specs. It's listing the 24-inch (viewable) glossy widescreen, 1680 by 1050 pixels on the Apple store.
However in the comparison chart it shows 1920 by 1200 pixels for all 24 inch models.

Whew. That would have been really bad.

Where is the 30 inch iMac?

I was hoping that the little surprise might be a 30 incher.
Having only one 20 inch and three 24 inch iMacs it's clear that we're gradually moving to bigger screens. I think that there is definitely a prosumer market for a 30 inch iMac. I would buy one immediately.
Anyone else?

Is it just me or do these minis still seem a little pricey? Seems like for $800 you ought to have a real video card and a real desktop harddrive. Especially since they don't even give you a keyboard and mouse. If you max out the memory to 4Gb then you are up to $900!
Yikes!

I like the FireWire 800 and extra USB ports

Mar 03, 09 - 10:17 am Comment from: Ottawa Mark

Pretty uninspiring upgrade. Perhaps it's a sign of the economy, but whatever happened to quad-core? Maybe even a couple more USB ports; Blu-Ray support? And it looks like Apple is phasing out FW 400 completely; we'll have to buy adapters just to connect devices now!

Shaw Wu said no updates until June.

Mar 03, 09 - 10:20 am Comment from: flappo

impressive bit of kit , the 9400m from crappy intel graphics is worth it alone

Mar 03, 09 - 10:21 am Comment from: jocknerd

If only Apple could release a power users version of the mini. Separate graphics. eSATA connector. Bigger hard drive. But I guess they are afraid it would hurt the iMac sales or worse, the Mac Pro.

Mar 03, 09 - 10:24 am Comment from: jocknerd

@Synthmeister,

I agree. $800 is still very steep for what amounts to a laptop without a display. But as long as Apple's are selling, the prices won't drop. I, for one, will no longer recommend Apple's to people. If people stay on Windows, maybe Apple will then drop their prices to a more reasonable level.

Finally, an upgrade to the mini. Having 5 USB ports is a very good thing. Too bad they kept the prices so high. 13w power usage when idle is excellent. I was impressed with the 20w my current PPC mini uses.

Secondary gripe that applies to all the upgrades: Since when does it make sense to have the apple remote as a configuration option which is not included by default. I suspect quite a few people are going to buy one and then discover that frontrow is useless to them. Stupid move.

Nobody said it already, so I'll do it:

WHOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apple Computers Corp. GOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we mac users are a always whining bunch. too many usb ports? only firewire 800? no 30" imac? no $399 mac mini?

apple is very consistent with its longterm strategy here. don't lower prices, rather give more bang for the buck. if you dont't want that much power, style, integrated software, quality built, highend materials and simplicity go buy a glued together piece of plastic dell crap. its your choice. i think after 10 years of success we can consider that apple knows what it is doing here.

and by the way, outside of this board no one would buy a 30" imac. thats why apple isn't selling one.

On full teh spec it says:

2.0GHz or 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor

Who needs a mini? The iMacs are incredible deals! Now I have to decide whether to replace my perfectly fine (but outdated) 20-inch G5 iMac or get a Macbook Pro for much more money (I do need a laptop, but spend 90% of my time on my desktop.

once the refurbs start showing up, I'm buying a mini.

Mar 03, 09 - 10:41 am Comment from: jocknerd

@ralph,

You're right. I'd love to build something else. And I will. Just as soon as Apple licenses OS X.

Meanwhile, we're held hostage by their lack of hardware choices. Aren't they a hardware company?

Reality is Apple is a software company who forces you to buy their hardware to use their software.

Mar 03, 09 - 10:43 am Comment from: iSteve

I've been very happy with my 3-year old Intel iMac (20") but now I want a new 24" iMac. Maybe in 2010?

Mar 03, 09 - 10:45 am Comment from: Predrag

AntEater,

Vast majority of remotes sit unpacked in people's drawers. It was a waste of money to give them away to everyone if these are never going to be used. As far as I'm concerned, this is the kind of savings that falls into the 'no-brainer' category.

And jocknerd, your strategy won't really work. What you are saying is that you will keep people (presumably your friends) in the dark, purposely misleading them into staying with a god-awful, crappy OS and hardware, and all that in a misguided attempt to drive Apple's prices down. Well, good luck with that. I must say though, I wouldn't want to be your friend if you recommend friends to stay with Windows.

My friends normally get an honest advice from me, when it comes to computing (or about anything else, for that matter). And those that heeded the advice and switched keep reminding me ever so often how thankful they are for that advice.

Mar 03, 09 - 10:47 am Comment from: Yours Smugly

BTW, did you notice that the wired keyboard is now the same stunted size as the wireless BT keyboard? That is Teh Suxx0rz times 1000, my friends.

it's about dad gum time! Now I can get a new Mac!!!

Mar 03, 09 - 10:51 am Comment from: steve32465

I'd bet all those people that thought the Mac Mini pics that surfaced a few weeks back were Photoshop jobs are feeling a bit stupid right now.

Oh for crying out loud, I would swear, except that they'd delete my post. Where are the matte, anti-glare screens. Ever since the loss of matte screens from the iMac and MacBook Pro, we've been railing about this, and I though the 17" MBP signalled Apple relenting to at least give the anti-glare option as a paid extra. But, @#_)$_#)$ where is the anti-glare option on the iMac.

Look, you people who like gloss. There are roughly 40% of people who like matte, so please don't be condescending by telling us how you love gloss. Do a google search for and you'll see that overall about 40% of people want matte antiglare screens.

Gloss is not like a technological feature that comes and goes, such that Steve pisses off people by removing floppy drives, but as time goes on, it settles down. No, matte screens have to do with the physiology of the human eye, and that's not going to change in the next hundred or so years. Some people -- not all -- but some people are affected by gloss reflections more than others.

Many people are like me, we cannot buy iMacs if there are gloss screens.

Apple, you did hear us when we cried out for matte screens, and you said -- stuff you.

I am furious, as you probably can tell.

It's not like I need a new Mac (the iMac purchased last June is more than adequate), but I'm trying to get some of my siblings to switch. I was hoping a new Mini would help me make the case, but I am s-o-o disappointed. Video controller aside, this is just a mild refresh. This is no Mini II.

Macmuchmore asks, "Why does the mini not use the same AC adapter as one of the macbooks or macbook pros?" I ask, instead, why doesn't the mini finally move the power supply inside, as Apple has done with Time Capsule and Apple TV? Why does it stick with notebook class drives? And where is the ease of access to the innards for repair and upgrade, which would help its acceptance in business?

I agree, also, with Sythmeister. The prices are still too high. The iMac remains the better value proposition by far. But what about those who don't want an all-in-one?

Hey Smuggles,

Did you notice that while the small keyboard is the default (odd, I agree) you can get the full sized version at no cost?

Mar 03, 09 - 11:09 am Comment from: YoYo

This is so weird, week ago on Monday I got a note on my desk to order 4 MacMini's and did so on Tuesday, on Thursday I got them confirmed as new models, and as of today they are on their way. Some people here clearly have relatives working at the local "Apple" factory.

That Mac Mini photo is a FAKE!!

Mar 03, 09 - 11:26 am Comment from: Yours Smugly

@ Digits: yeah, I did. But like you said, it's still weird the short one is now default.

BTW, still believe it's photoshopped, all you "FAKE!" yellers?

You guys aren't listening........

"Apple isn't going to roll out a revamped Mac desktop anytime soon, because you wouldn't buy one anyway, analysts say," Brian X. Chen reports for Wired.

Well, I guess Brian knows nothing!!!

Mar 03, 09 - 11:37 am Comment from: The Dude

@macmuchmore

They do not use the MagSafe connector because it is easy to disconnect. And unlike the laptops with a built in battery, the Mini has no battery to support the system should even a brief interruption of power occur. Just jostling the unit around to plug in one of the USB cords into the back could possible knock the connector loose, causing a shut down. Then we all would be bitching about what a dumb design that is.

I think this method of having a firm plug in power source is a better way to go.

The Dude abides.

Why would you put the magsafe connector on a mini... one tug and "Bam!" all your work goes down the toilet as teh machine shuts off.

Unless it has a backup battery, this is a BAD idea.

I just bought my Mini a couple of weeks ago. Does anybody know if I might could send it back for the updated version?

Yea, just make the mini an inch wider (or deeper) and use normal (bigger, faster cheaper) desktop drives. This is one case where the absolute smallest possible form factor is less important than price.
The mini needs to be a little more entry-level.

Who would buy the $599 machine? Only 1 gig memory? 120 gig hard drive? 128 megs of shared video memory?

And BTW, I'm a complete MacHead. Worked with Macs since 1985. Would never dream of using a PC.

Now if that were an iPod touch tablet with a 6 inch touch screen, yes.

You also have to buy the mini remote now. I have several of the old mini's. We use them as servers and I always got to snag the remotes out of them. Now apple has made the remote a buy for $20.00. So they raised the price 20 without anyone noticing.

These are good updates and I really have to thank Apple for the Firewire 800 but a couple of minor quibbles. While anyone who thinks they were going to see the Mac Mini at $399 is kidding themselves, both the Mac Mini and 20 inch iMac seem overpriced by $100. My other quibble is where is the Core 2 Quad on the ultimate iMac?

Mar 03, 09 - 12:08 pm Comment from: Derek in Milan

Way too much whining.

For you whiners and complainers, Dell has a piece of crap waiting on a shelf somewhere in a dusty warehouse for YOU!
Just dial 1-800-Iamanidiot.

Apple is the ONLY company that makes Apple machines and OS X.

They are the ONLY company in the consumer and business world that makes a competitor to the dreadful windows crap.

No other company made it this far - they all quit. Licensing their OS was the demise of more than one......

Either buy their beautiful elegant OS and hardware combo or dont.

Whining only reveals your lack of character.

I've been on Macs since System 7. Love the software, and the hardware. But seriously: they need to offer a real entry level Mac. Let people get their feet wet, learn OSX, play with Front Row and iLife on a machine with yesterday's processors and a desktop drive. They don't need to build crap, and they shouldn't; but they CAN deliver a less cutting edge machine of Apple quality.
I've "switched" maybe as many as a dozen or so people over the years, but I think I could have easily doubled that if there weren't serviceable email/web machines available for half the price of the lowliest Mac.
This would target two market segments. First, those rich enough to try something out of curiosity if it's "only" a few hundred bucks, and it seems to me that below $400 is a psychological break point here, with $300 being almost a no-brainer to them. The second market is a vast group of people who are really really frustrated with their computing experience, but are actually poor. Yes, POOR people have computers these days, like my GF and her friends paying their own way through college and grad school. They have $400 max to spend. Monitors can be found and unused keyboards litter every office and school that doesn't just toss them, but these folks just don't have more than $400 to spend and no argument of quality can change that. They can stretch that far if they REALLY want a Mac already, but a $300 machine will force everybody in that market segment to actually THINK about which OS they'd prefer to work on.

You can buy a refurbished iMac 20-inch 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with a real graphics card for $849 right now on the Apple site.

Now why would anyone buy a $799 Mac mini?

Mar 03, 09 - 12:26 pm Comment from: DLMeyer

Oh ... FUDGE! ! ! Core2Duo up the line. I did specify a Core2Quad at the top end. 2.66 is fine, but four cores is much better than two, for my needs. 3.06 is not worth the extra cash, not for me.
Now to investigate the difference between "NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics" and "NVIDIA GeForce GT 120; with 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM memory" ... I don't believe the former is in the same zone as the latter ... anyone have any input? My wife's 20" has a 128MB ATI Radeon HD2400 that just about keeps up, can an integrated system do as well?

Whack-A-Mole Graphics Connector of the Week©™ Silly you for supporting Apple Display Connector, DVI, Mini DVI, etc...

Integrated graphics for your $1,500 24" iMac. Vampire Video for everyone. Since you can't see as well with the Gloss screen, maybe you won't notice.

No FireWire 400 & only one 800 connector for all your FireWire stuff. Silly you for being a serious user. Gamers and Sorority Sis Buffy doesn't need FireWire for FaceBook.

Castrated Keyboard. who needs stinking numbers?

Crappy Gloss Pee-Cee Fanboi screens for everybody. That way you can admire every light source in your room as a distraction from what is on screen.

Am I missing something? I don't see Apple Care Protection Plan on the iMacs. Included now in base price?

No matte screens on the iMacs??? Oh well, I'll have to wait still longer for my Mac. I'm REALLY beginning to hope lose its court battle with third party box makers... then I can bet the OS X computer I want and not the one Apple tries to force me to use.

According the MDN's recent poll, 50% of other Mac users agree with me.

Mar 03, 09 - 12:55 pm Comment from: It's About Time

My 24" iMac has an 800 FW and 400 FW, plus 3 USB. So Apple has added an extra USB at the expense of 400 FW. That makes no sense.

Why not just put in 2 800 FW and leave the USB ports alone. Much easier to run the USB through a hub.

Mar 03, 09 - 01:01 pm Comment from: alansky

A couple of things:

First, the new iMac now accepts up to 8GB of RAM, but that's not the whole story. A 4GB RAM kit (2GB x 2) costs about $65 at OWC, but an 8GB kit ($GB x 2) costs almost $700. Great that Apple has raised the RAM spec, but few will be able to afford the upgrade until the price of 4GB RAM modules comes down.

Second, looking at the mini offerings, it appears that Apple is charging an extra $200 for nothing more than a larger hard drive. Not a very good deal, to say the least.