Apple Updates Mac Mini with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

[malware]

Apple today updated its Mac mini as well. Starting at $599, the new Mac mini is an innovative, tiny desktop that measures just 6.5 by 6.5 by 2 inches. Now it features a 2.0 GHz or 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA's GeForce 9400M all-in-one platform with up to 256 MB shared for the video unit, up to 4 GB of DDR3 SO-DIMM memory (2x slots), and up to 320 GB of storage using 5400 rpm SATA hard drive. Drawing less than 13 watts of power in idle, the new Mac mini is also the world's most energy efficient desktop. You can find it in stores now.

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[DrPepper]

Impressive.

I'd get one of these for our kitchen with a roll out keyboard and wireless mouse instead of our laptop which is in the kitchen anyway.

 

[lemonadesoda]

Very impressive specs.

If we can get Windows onto this with Bootcamp, then I am sold: mediaserver, HTPC, fileserver/PDF/OCR services even. Probably should start selling off all the old PC's in the office. This is much lower power and silent.

EXCEPT ONE: mini-displayport and mini-DVI out. WTF? Give us a regular HDMI and DVI so we can plug in our monitors without having to buy a $50 converter dongle thing!

 

[TheMailMan78]

Epic waste of money.

 

[BazookaJoe]

More mactard bait...

These things wouldn't be so silly if they where reasonably priced (And yes - running windows).

Still if you are gullible enough to choke on these kind of prices and keep on smiling then you get what you deserve I suppose...

You can build a complete basic PC with PROPER ports - and better specs - for $200/$300 if you go with a reasonable integrated "office" type motherboard.

 

[DrPepper]

Agreed and they are pricey and don't even come with a keyboard and mouse as far as I'm aware.

 

[lemonadesoda]

I disagree. I think it is pretty good value for money. Try kitting out a machine yourself like this. All parts to at least equal spec without anything missing. Then consider a three year life cycle and the power you save using this super low power nVidia chipset coupled with a ULV version of Core 2.

Unless you value your time at ZERO dollar per hour, I doubt you can come up with a total cost of ownership CHEAPER than this over three years... without a lot of effort. Whereas here is something out of the box retail store already baked. Even cheaper in 3 months online.

 

[timta2]

These can run Mac OS X (and Windows) legally and reliably. Not everyone is a poor enthusiast. Since you can use just about ANY mouse and keyboard I don't think that is a big concern. You have many options and you don't get stuck with some crappy combo you don't want.

 

[DrPepper]

I disagree. I think it is pretty good value for money. Try kitting out a machine yourself like this. All parts to at least equal spec without anything missing. Then consider a three year life cycle and the power you save using this super low power nVidia chipset coupled with a ULV version of Core 2.

Unless you value your time at ZERO dollar per hour, I doubt you can come up with a total cost of ownership CHEAPER than this over three years.

I value my work at zero dollar per hour Every machine I've built I haven't charged anyone anything.

 

[lemonadesoda]

Eye, A herd ya work ne good an albe na suppa fa ye.

 

[Ravenas]

Very impressive specs.

If we can get Windows onto this with Bootcamp, then I am sold: mediaserver, HTPC, fileserver/PDF/OCR services even. Probably should start selling off all the old PC's in the office. This is much lower power and silent.

EXCEPT ONE: mini-displayport and mini-DVI out. WTF? Give us a regular HDMI and DVI so we can plug in our monitors without having to buy a $50 converter dongle thing!

You can install everything from Windows XP SP2 to 64-bit Vista via Bootcamp or Parallels.

If it were my money I would wait until around June when Apple starts releasing their new products...

THE ONLY REASON I WOULD CONSIDER BUYING ONE OF THESE IS FOR THE OS AND THE FORM FACTOR SIZE. I will never buy another desktop period, I build all of mine. Laptops, I will buy.

 

[DrPepper]

Eye, A herd ya work ne good an albe na suppa fa ye.

At first I was like eh then realised you were writing in scottish

al be gettin ma supper cuz ma maw nd da are makin it.

 

[TheMailMan78]

At first I was like eh then realised you were writing in scottish

al be gettin ma supper cuz ma maw nd da are makin it.

Wut ya havin?

 

[DrPepper]

Wut ya havin?

am no sure, probs nuhin.

 

[aj28]

You can build a complete basic PC with PROPER ports - and better specs - for $200/$300 if you go with a reasonable integrated "office" type motherboard.

Try again. Your PC would be much larger, have worse connectivity, worse graphics, no wireless, non-centralized tech support, non-centralized warranty, and an illegal OS. Did none of this occur to you? Still convinced? Well consider this... The cheapest version of Windows you can get your hands on is $100. Shipping? Another $30-50. So the actual components of your PC can cost a MAXIMUM of $150-170 based on your estimate.

Try actually formulating an opinion on this stuff, rather than just adopting that age-old, over-used, generic anti-Apple argument right off the bat.

Talk about EPIC FAIL.

 

[Nemesis881]

My school uses mac's and I have to say, I'm getting to like them more.

In my marketing class, if the teacher is to lazy to drive to school or has other things to do, he teaches from his Iphone onto a projector. He also drags files to all of us for projects and such. Everything is digital and I love it.

 

[DrPepper]

Ok I don't know the dollar to quid conversion but I came up with a better system for less I think, albeit bigger and more awesome.

I checked prices on the pcworld and the cheapest mac mini is £390 and the other is £488.

 

[Wile E]

Ok I don't know the dollar to quid conversion but I came up with a better system for less I think, albeit bigger and more awesome.

I checked prices on the pcworld and the cheapest mac mini is £390 and the other is £488.

http://img.techpowerup.org/090303/Capture015745.jpg

The biggest feature of the mini is it's size. Comparing a regular desktop to it is pointless. The closest I've seen to them are AOpen mini PC's and Shuttle's X-Mini. Both of which are more expensive and less powerful.

 

[farlex85]

Not bad, I don't know why they do some of the things they do though except for pure marketing. For instance, there is pretty much no reason to put ddr3 1066 here, not only is it not needed, it's more expensive than the alternative w/ virtually no gain had. I would much rather the system have 2-4gb of ddr2 800, much better value. It's things like that, mac will claim they simply can't sell their computers any cheaper b/c of the cost of the parts, but sometimes they just don't build an effective system to begin with. Still, aside from the mem I wouldn't have a problem recommending this to someone on a budget looking for home mac use.

 

[Wile E]

Not bad, I don't know why they do some of the things they do though except for pure marketing. For instance, there is pretty much no reason to put ddr3 1066 here, not only is it not needed, it's more expensive than the alternative w/ virtually no gain had. I would much rather the system have 2-4gb of ddr2 800, much better value. It's things like that, mac will claim they simply can't sell their computers any cheaper b/c of the cost of the parts, but sometimes they just don't build an effective system to begin with. Still, aside from the mem I wouldn't have a problem recommending this to someone on a budget looking for home mac use.

You are forgetting tho, DDR3 consumes less power than DDR2 and produces less heat. Tit for tat, really.

 

[Error 404]

You are forgetting tho, DDR3 consumes less power than DDR2 and produces less heat. Tit for tat, really.

Exactly, and the 9400M chipset will get a boost from the DDR3 bandwidth/speed.
This is certainly Apple's best Mini yet, and I love the aesthetics on Macs... I'd own a macbook if I had the money.

 

[farlex85]

You are forgetting tho, DDR3 consumes less power than DDR2 and produces less heat. Tit for tat, really.

I didn't forget, I just think it's negligible. This would be more important in a laptop, and the mac mini is quite small w/o much ventilation, but I feel sure they can pull that off w/ little repercussions, and there really isn't enough power saved to warrant the price (although ddr3 is getting much cheaper, it still isn't really cost effective).

Exactly, and the 9400M chipset will get a boost from the DDR3 bandwidth/speed.

That's probably true, the greatest benefit is probably in the graphics. Again though, w/ what this is used for (you're not likely to game much on this) this benefit is again not worth the cost.

 

[BazookaJoe]

Try again. Your PC would be much larger, have worse connectivity, worse graphics, no wireless, non-centralized tech support, non-centralized warranty, and an illegal OS. Did none of this occur to you? Still convinced? Well consider this... The cheapest version of Windows you can get your hands on is $100. Shipping? Another $30-50. So the actual components of your PC can cost a MAXIMUM of $150-170 based on your estimate.

Try actually formulating an opinion on this stuff, rather than just adopting that age-old, over-used, generic anti-Apple argument right off the bat.

Talk about EPIC FAIL.

Wow ...

Where do we go with this one ...

No Wireless ?
Worse Graphics?
Worse connectivity?
An Illegal OS ? (Have you ever even HEARD of a multi user License ? - Like if you have a household with more than 1 computer?)
Non-centralized tech support???

The fact that you even NEED tech support invalidates your opinion from the ground up.

I really shouldn't even bother with this, but what the heck, I've got 5 minutes spare.

I'm a big boy, I can work my own computer without daddy's help, and I assume most other Ppl here can say the same.

I have also very successfully been running my own Small business/office PC Network & Supply company for almost 10 years now, so I have a pretty good idea what actually works at ground level - an overpriced, under supported gimmicks that run an OS that is only adopted by about ~9% of the planet - does NOT help businesses worldwide operate or make money in the large scale, no matter what size, or power consumption it may be.

I do however apologize if using the term Mactard offended you - but you have just gone out of your way to prove my point. Grow up, Go outside, and realize that there is an entire WORLD outside of your bedroom, and although being a blind Mac fan may work very well inside your iPhone, just bear in mind that the production line machines that BUILD your iPhones in China, are run & managed by Windows OS machines, along with almost ~90% of the rest of the world & it's IT infrastructure.

I don't want Windows on the device because I LIKE windows - I want it there because I seek the highest potential compatibility with the rest of the world.

It's called OBJECTIVITY. And I don't expect you to understand.

 

[Wile E]

Wow ...

Where do we go with this one ...

No Wireless ?
Worse Graphics?
Worse connectivity?
An Illegal OS ? (Have you ever even HEARD of a multi user License ? - Like if you have a household with more than 1 computer?)
Non-centralized tech support???

The fact that you even NEED tech support invalidates your opinion from the ground up.

I'm a big boy, I can work my own computer without daddy's help, and I assume most other Ppl here can say the same.

I have also very successfully been running my own Small business/office PC Network & Supply company for almost 10 years now, so I have a pretty good idea what actually works at ground level - an overpriced, under supported gimmicks that run an OS that is only adopted by about ~9% of the planet - does NOT help businesses worldwide operate or make money in the large scale, no matter what size, or power consumption it may be.

I do however apologize if using the term Mactard offended you - but you have just gone out of your way to prove my point.

Except that no matter what you built for the price, it either wouldn't be the same size as the mini, or if you do build a PC the same size as the mini, it's not nearly as powerful. No matter how you try to spin it in an anti-Mac fashion, the formfactor is a feature that is very hard to replicate on the PC side whilst maintaining the same price and performance.

Not to mention, the majority of computer users aren't "big boys" and do need "daddy's help" when a problem arises.

This product fills a niche where formfactor is important. I'm sorry, but your argument is flawed.

 

[BazookaJoe]

Oh I FULLY agree that the size cannot be matched. I've never argued that. Nor do I intend to imply that I was talking about building a PC of the same size - "Cube" Chassis/Motherboards are ridiculously overpriced - Usually costing MORE than standard motherboards that are quite frankly far more capable.

(Edit : and YES I AM aware that the Mini is way smaller than even a "Cube Pc")

I just don't think the size is worth $600

If Size is your only concern and you are willing to pay any price for it, then this is your baby - They don't get much smaller than this and the power consumption IS very low.

BUT - On performance I will disagree, a Core2Duo 2ghz, with a 9400? That's a pretty basic spec for a PC.

For $600 you can build a far better performing machine than this (YES it will be a lot bigger) And you can still install OSX (Or Ubuntu Or Whatever) if you like (Personal preference is a freedom we all deserve).

People seem to be forgetting that MAC's ARE PC'S now, they just run Apple OS's - and you can run these OS's on just about any PC hardware.

All I was really getting at is that $600 seems to be a silly price for a Core2Duo 2ghz, with a 9400.

Perhaps that just me.