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[Macam]

You get the iLife '05 Suite with the Mac Mini, which is a sweet little deal, considering how handy the programs are and the revisions iLife '05 brings. The changes to iPhoto alone are considerably welcomed.

As for the Mini, you'll probably wind up voiding the warranty by opening it, but give it a week tops. Someone will have opened the case and told the entire Web how; Apple is just playing their cards and perhaps looking to gain some extra cash on the side with service fees and such. It only has 1 DIMM slot, but I believe it uses the same RAM as the G4 PowerBooks do, and you can always buy non-name brand, Apple certified RAM for substantially less. As for the HDD, everything I've been reading is pointing to a laptop sized HDD, and you can replace those in Apple's laptops as is, so provided that's the case, we should be seeing 100GB+ HDDs in the first couple Mini mods shortly.

 

[fart]

to open it you probably just need to take the top off. i'm not seeing the problem here.

 

[xsarien]

to open it you probably just need to take the top off. i'm not seeing the problem here.

Then someone better tell me why there's a disclaimer on the tech spec page, saying that memory can only be installed by an Apple Authorized Service Center.

 

[tedtropy]

Then someone better tell me why there's a disclaimer on the tech spec page, saying that memory can only be installed by an Apple Authorized Service Center.

Heh, because they're trying to milk money out of you. Come on now, this is nothing new from Apple. Remember the whole iPod battery thing...

 

[Willco]

CNET review the iPod shuffle, btw.

As anticipated, Steve Jobs introduced a flash-based player dubbed the iPod Shuffle at the tail end of his lengthy Macworld keynote. Despite denouncing flash-based players in the past, Apple couldn't resist the 29 percent of the market that it doesn't already dominate. Minimal as can be, the Shuffle weighs less than an ounce, has no LCD, includes a built-in USB 2.0 interface, and comes in 512MB and 1GB capacities for the supercompetitive prices of $99 and $149, respectively.

Upside: Zero LCD, USB 2.0 built right in, and wearable--the concepts aren't new. But the iPod Shuffle raises the ultracompact MP3 player to an art form. It is only 0.3 inch thick and less than an inch wide, and weighs a feathery 0.8 ounce. A simple, round controller features all-tactile buttons and makes the Shuffle feel more like a wireless remote than an MP3 player. (The USB 2.0 connector hides underneath a removable cap.) The big slider power button on the back toggles between the Shuffle and standard Playlist Repeat modes. It works seamlessly with the new iTunes 4.7.1, which includes an Autofill feature that automatically fills the Shuffle player with an optimal number of songs based on user preference. Our first 512MB Autofill stats: 488MB, 103 songs, 7.5 hours (but what happened to the other available 4.4MB of space?).

Downside: At 3.3 inches, the iPod Shuffle is actually longer than most of the flash players on the market. Wearing it using the included lanyard creates an annoying mess of wires when headphones are attached (you might want one of these). The Shuffle is also missing many of the features that prospective flash-player buyers look for, such as an LCD, an FM tuner, and recording capability. After just a day, we missed having an LCD; we prefer knowing what's on our MP3 player. Finally, the rated battery life of 12 hours is abysmal, though poor battery life is something we've gotten used to with iPods. You might want to spring for one of these, too.

Outlook: Jobs and the iPod franchise are hot on the heels of the flash market (think manifest destiny). There's really nothing new in the iPod Shuffle--including the heavily hyped Shuffle mode. And other ultracompact players offer a lot more, most notably an LCD. Still, as the long lines outside the Mac store in San Francisco on day one attest, the iPod Shuffle, with its ultralow price, dead-simple design, and iTunes integration, is virtually guaranteed to be a hit, especially among those looking for a second iPod.

 

[Shogmaster]

Shog, it wouldn't be an Apple thread without you

I'm here to please.

Anyways, I think the Mac Mini only has one DIMM slot from looking at the pics and the specs.

And I don't like the looks of those plastic one way latches that secure the top cover to the base. Doesn't look like it was designed for repeated access to the inside.

 

[SteveMeister]

Yeah that's probably why they have the disclaimer on the website (the one-way tabs).

BTW, they have one of those free deals (for Mac minis) like they did for iPods now

 

[Phoenix]

I'm here to please.

Anyways, I think the Mac Mini only has one DIMM slot from looking at the pics and the specs.

And I don't like the looks of those plastic one way latches that secure the top cover to the base. Doesn't look like it was designed for repeated access to the inside.

The reason for that is that there isn't really a whole lot of reason to be inside it. The only really user servicable part is the memory, though of course you could replace the drive if you chose to (though I would clearly recommend just going external if you wanted more space).

 

[Shogmaster]

The reason for that is that there isn't really a whole lot of reason to be inside it. The only really user servicable part is the memory, though of course you could replace the drive if you chose to (though I would clearly recommend just going external if you wanted more space).

That's a given, but what I'm trying to stress is that not even the memory is all that user replaceable IMO. This is far more so than your iBooks and PowerBooks that allows for fairly easy access to the second DIMM slot for memory upgrade. The one way latch looks like it's a bitch for us to open the case without some specialized tools.

I think Apple wants folks to configure the memory that they'd want to end up with as they shop for it and not "add" more later when they get it home for this new Mac. The fact that those latches look one way, and the disclaimer at the site, and that there is only one DIMM slot in the first place so it's not "adding" memory later but actually replacing the old memory.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

Did anyone watch the Macworld Keynote?

Did you see the President of SONY

did you hear that Steve supports BLU-RAY?

I can't believe I have not seen a theard on Apple/Sony

 

[Ollie Pooch]

i'd like to contribute nothing to this discussion by revealing my long-standing hatred for the word 'shuffle'. like velvet and shiny concrete slabs, it's part of my plethora of irrational fears and dislikes!

it's the WORST- and now it's the name of a product- hideous! :O

looks kinda cool though - pity about apple's embarrassing 'what will it do next? can it read your mind?' spiel for it but the mac mini is sweet. and browsing the apple website has made me realise that i want - no NEED -an airport express

 

[shantyman]

My biggest issue with the mini is it's too small. Thet's right, I think it's too small. They over engineered it. If it were slightly bigger, they could have probably saved R&D costs (and theoretically passed that on to the consumer har har), and could have given the user better access to the parts. Non user upgradable RAM is pretty cheap. They should have brought back/redesigned the cube.

I still thin it is an awesome design, but it has some drawbacks (obviously). Also, I get the feeling deep down Shog likes this thing.

 

[shantyman]

Saw this on Macintouch, somewhat good news for those wanting to upgrade their RAM themselves on a mini:

Apple "does not recommend" that users upgrade the memory themselves - you're supposed to have a service provider do it if you want to add more after purchase - but doing it yourself does not void the warranty unless you damage something. A booth person told me the memory slot is easily accessible once you get the case open.

 

[Orange]

Want a Mac mini right-fucking-now, but I will wait for RevB models to show up as well as problems with the first model (always happens).

 

[Timbuktu]

My biggest issue with the mini is it's too small. Thet's right, I think it's too small. They over engineered it. If it were slightly bigger, they could have probably saved R&D costs (and theoretically passed that on to the consumer har har), and could have given the user better access to the parts. Non user upgradable RAM is pretty cheap. They should have brought back/redesigned the cube.

I disagree, someone will come up with ways to mod the mini sooner or later. as good as the cube was, it won't fit into a car as easily. A NY based company is now offering customized design and installation of the Mac Mini in a car’s stereo or other single-DIN slot, and plans to work in more advanced apps — think media hub, drive-in wi-fi hotspots, bluetooth, voice recognition, touch-screen LCD displays, satellite, ad infinitum. This would be so cool, I want one in my Mini.

Link

 

[Phoenix]

That's a given, but what I'm trying to stress is that not even the memory is all that user replaceable IMO. This is far more so than your iBooks and PowerBooks that allows for fairly easy access to the second DIMM slot for memory upgrade. The one way latch looks like it's a bitch for us to open the case without some specialized tools.

hehe, you never tried to open a powerbook While the connector is now within reason, 99% of torx sets don't have the bit sizes necessary to get it open. The i* line is generally better about accessibility as much stuff just sat behind the keyboard and was very easy to get to.

 

[fart]

Then someone better tell me why there's a disclaimer on the tech spec page, saying that memory can only be installed by an Apple Authorized Service Center.

there is no system integrator on the face of the earth that says "please, customer, put your grubby hands all over the sensitive electronics inside this part i am selling you"

ps, no one cares if apple supports blu-ray.

 

[xsarien]

there is no system integrator on the face of the earth that says "please, customer, put your grubby hands all over the sensitive electronics inside this part i am selling you"

The line between locking down a computer entirely and not condoning DIY upgrades is very, very distinct. Apple recognizes it with their tower units and laptops.

 

[Phoenix]

The line between locking down a computer entirely and not condoning DIY upgrades is very, very distinct. Apple recognizes it with their tower units and laptops.

Well its pretty clear that Apple isn't building this machine with upgradability in mind. While you can replace the memory in the box and probably with little true effort, the don't actually want people in there. They want you to order it the way you intend to use it and treat it as you would an appliance. While I've modded my Xbox, the Xbox as an appliance isn't really meant to be opened. That's more of the hardware design that Apple has gone for here and one of the specific reasons why people really look at this as an HTPC style machine.

Oh and BTW you can build an HTPC around this as I've finished my search for what would be necessary to pull it off.

The Griffen Firewave is your audio solution:
Source

and the Elgato/ATI solution make for the video solution

Source

 

[Macam]

I disagree, someone will come up with ways to mod the mini sooner or later. as good as the cube was, it won't fit into a car as easily. A NY based company is now offering customized design and installation of the Mac Mini in a car’s stereo or other single-DIN slot, and plans to work in more advanced apps — think media hub, drive-in wi-fi hotspots, bluetooth, voice recognition, touch-screen LCD displays, satellite, ad infinitum. This would be so cool, I want one in my Mini.

Link

Read. My. Mind. So help me, this shall be done.

 

[shantyman]

I disagree, someone will come up with ways to mod the mini sooner or later. as good as the cube was, it won't fit into a car as easily. A NY based company is now offering customized design and installation of the Mac Mini in a car’s stereo or other single-DIN slot, and plans to work in more advanced apps — think media hub, drive-in wi-fi hotspots, bluetooth, voice recognition, touch-screen LCD displays, satellite, ad infinitum. This would be so cool, I want one in my Mini.

Link

Most people would rather be able to upgrade their memory as opposed to putting it in their car. If it were twice the size and $399 people would have gone even more nuts about it.

 

[fart]

The line between locking down a computer entirely and not condoning DIY upgrades is very, very distinct. Apple recognizes it with their tower units and laptops.

which is what i was saying. the case will not be stickered (as someone claimed. appl has never done that). however if there's evidence of tampering the warranty may not be honored. pretty much par for the course.

ps, this means you CAN upgrade the memory yourself doofuses. you'd have to be a chimp to not be able to, and really unless you are a chimp, there won't be any warranty issues.

 

[tedtropy]

I disagree, someone will come up with ways to mod the mini sooner or later. as good as the cube was, it won't fit into a car as easily. A NY based company is now offering customized design and installation of the Mac Mini in a car’s stereo or other single-DIN slot, and plans to work in more advanced apps — think media hub, drive-in wi-fi hotspots, bluetooth, voice recognition, touch-screen LCD displays, satellite, ad infinitum. This would be so cool, I want one in my Mini.

Link

How the hell would they keep it from overheating while shoved in the dash like that? The heat exhaust is in the back and there's not exactly a lord of room inside the dash behind the console. Plus laptop HDs don't exactly respond well to shock and the average freeway is pothole county...

 

[Phoenix]

How the hell would they keep it from overheating while shoved in the dash like that? The heat exhaust is in the back and there's not exactly a lord of room inside the dash behind the console. Plus laptop HDs don't exactly respond well to shock and the average freeway is pothole county...

Many of the G4 systems get by with passive cooling entirely and I would expect this one to be no different.

 

[Shogmaster]

Many of the G4 systems get by with passive cooling entirely and I would expect this one to be no different.

Yeah man. 1.25~1.42Ghz G4s. You can barely decode DVDs with that, let alone creates any significant amount of heat! :lol



I keed, I keed....

 

[fart]

the main unit is clearly passively cooled (and it probably doesn't even have significant heat issues). the marketing copy says the power dongle (which is external, natch) is "whisper-quiet" so there's probably a small fan in that. however, if you drive it from a car battery, bam, no fan.

i don't think there would be any issues in a modern car, since nowadays people crank the AC the second it reaches 80 in the car.

 

[Phoenix]

Yeah man. 1.25~1.42Ghz G4s. You can barely decode DVDs with that, let alone creates any significant amount of heat! :lol



I keed, I keed....

It kicks up some heat when you really push it (like playing games and things that really excercise the processor like Garageband), but otherwise the machine stays silent. Almost as if it wasn't even on. My powerbook fan only kicks in when I'm composing stuff in garageband or playing wow. Right now I'm watching the temp rise as I encode some stuff from my Comcast box

 

[xsarien]

which is what i was saying. the case will not be stickered (as someone claimed. appl has never done that). however if there's evidence of tampering the warranty may not be honored. pretty much par for the course.

I'm not talking about stickers. I'm talking about whether or not the case is designed to be opened. If it's not, a hack (literally) will be necessary. I'm fully aware that the memory can be upgraded by pretty much anyone who can figure out how Peg A goes into Slot B. It's a matter of whether the case itself, regardless of Apple's policies, is meant to be opened. From every indication given so far in previews of the thing, that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[fart]

huh? are you suggesting that they will hermetically seal the case?

 

[xsarien]

huh? are you suggesting that they will hermetically seal the case?

I'm talking about that until we find out otherwise, it seems to be just as easy to open by the average person as an iPod.

 

[fart]

i think it's pretty unlikely, dude, and i've worked on a lot of frustrating apple chassis designs (most of them, actually).

 

[Phoenix]

We'll know when the service manual comes out. From what we can tell by looking at the few images we have, the machine can be opened - its just not designed for continual easy access by end users. The philosophy of this machine appears to be the same as any of the other apple low profile machines - you go in at most once and put in some ram (and the preference is that you just buy it with what you need) and then there really isn't anything in the box that you will want/need to upgrade/replace.

 

[fart]

well for the most part there isn't.

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

Kind of resembles an oversized futuristic tampon, well, in the picture anyways. In real-life it no doubt looks like a microscopic futuristic tampon, as those it expands as...I'm...I'm going to end this comparison now.

I wish I could find a picture of my first mp3 player. I think it was by sony. It looked like a tampon. Same shape, near same size, everything. My friends made fun of me but I was the first one on the block with an mp3 player.

 

[hobart]

Did anyone watch the Macworld Keynote?

Did you see the President of SONY

did you hear that Steve supports BLU-RAY?

I can't believe I have not seen a theard on Apple/Sony

Who the fuck could understand what he was saying?

I wish I could find a picture of my first mp3 player. I think it was by sony. It looked like a tampon. Same shape, near same size, everything. My friends made fun of me but I was the first one on the block with an mp3 player.

The one with the small dial on the side and could only hold up to 128MB of media? Yeah I blew mine out when I tried to connect it to a stereo. The area smelt burnt for days... not to mention that you can still smell it within the device... this was four years ago.