*sigh* More Mac Mini rumours...

Sad Professor

Tom's Hardware reports that the expected Mac mini refresh will be coming in March and will be based on NVIDIA's new Ion platform utilizing Intel's dual-core 1.6 GHz Atom 330 processor. The Ion platform, announced in mid-December, also utilizes the GeForce 9400M integrated graphics found in the current MacBooks and MacBook Pros.
An Nvidia partner confirmed to us that Apple was the first to receive samples of Nvidia's Ion platform, which we covered extensively during CES. In fact, Apple received prototype units long before Nvidia partners who opted to work on Ion. We're told that some partners still only have blue prints of Ion.

The source also revealed that the new Mac mini should be released around the time of the CeBIT computer expo beginning March 3rd in Hanover, Germany. No pricing information has been revealed, but Tom's Hardware believes that the new Mac mini will be priced in the same $500-$700 range as the current model. They also believe that the use of this platform will enable Apple to reduce the size of the already-diminutive Mac mini.

Evidence found in OS X configuration files in mid-December has pointed to the use of NVIDIA chipsets in upcoming Mac mini and iMac revisions, but this is the first indication that Apple plans to use Intel's low-power Atom processor instead of the larger Core 2 processors found in Apple's notebook computers and the current Mac mini.

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/15/intel-atom-based-mac-mini-due-in-march/

A f***ing Atom? I hope this is a joke.

J-blk

What use would the Mini be then? An Atom would be useless for an HTPC... I was reading a review of a Shuttle system that uses a dual core Atom just yesterday and apparently it's sh**e - no performance gain in practically anything over the single core Atom, just a price hike... And any HD playback would go out the window. Of course, it could be that Apple wants to make sure the Mini does not affect the Apple TV so this would separate them (the Mini would now be crappier). Seems very odd that they would move backwards spec-wise though, so hopefully this is a bulls**t rumor...

mumhaabu

I will be in CeBIT then, I will post photos if I see it!

thatoneitguy

Can anyone else see a merging of the mac mini and apple TV? Apple has been rumored in the past to be working on a home media server. Slap a huge hard drive on the machine, install full OS X and add an HDMi port with a souped up Front Row/Apple TV Take 2 software. I'd buy it!

Feelgood

Nope what I see here is cloud computing on the way in!.

There is something big in the pipeline with Apple and they are moving heavily towards the whole cloud computing arena which is probably why they are sticking crappy processors into the mini...

thatoneitguy

They have to keep a budget desktop on the market. I forsee Apple developing a netbook like version of OS X, better than the iPhone but less than the full version, all running on a tablet PC. Something like an iPhone but the size of a macbook. Look at the facts:

Snow Leopard is working on improvements of the sub system, making things smaller and more efficent. Developers have reported seeing alot of the applications dramatically shrink in size.

Apple has patents for a few devices as described.

I'm getting off on a rant but I do agree with things moving to the cloud but I will always use my local storage.

Feelgood

Without being a total geek, did anyone manage to see Steve Jobs and Bill Gates being interviewed at D5?. Is very good, bout an hour long and you will find it on youtube.

Jobs specifically talks about cloud computing and how Apple are investing heavily on the idea of cloud computing and as you said thatoneitguy, something like an iphone and a macbook mixed together. The ultimate mobile device!.

He also talks about the great things Apple and Google have managed to achieve with cloud computing such as the iTouch with Google maps etc and he sees this as the way forward.

I think we will see some very interesting things from Apple in the next few years.

If you have seen the interview yet though watch it, is very good and worth and hour of your time...

thatoneitguy

Its very fascinating what they have done in that field. The fact that with the T-Mobile G-1 in you can activate Google Maps, then activate Street View and because of a GPS chip and digital compass, the images scene in the street view lines up with your actual surroundings. This is the beginning of a new computing era, when lines between internet and desktop slowly start to fade.

Feelgood

thatoneitguy wrote: »

This is the beginning of a new computing era, when lines between internet and desktop slowly start to fade.

You hit the nail on the head alright, exactly what Jobs and Gates said in that interview!.

Exciting times alright, I have actually started dedicating some time into learning Cocoa. Its not huge over here at the minute, though I can see it growing immensely in the next few years.

thatoneitguy

Yeah me two, I see the way these things are coming together and think of how it would be easier if I had some software to link these two sections of my life together. I would love to learn Cocoa but I'm currently trying to trudge through PHP, which is really cool at this point. Currently building a web based administration to control my Ubuntu server from my iphone. Still working on layouts and ideas but I hope to have something in the coming weeks.