Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Rumors, Mac mini
Rumor: Mac mini turns Nano in late October
I've had this plan ever since the mini almost died earlier this year, and I'm sticking to it: as soon as I can buy a Mac mini with Leopard on it, I'll do so. And no one's going to stop me-- except maybe Jobs himself. Mac OS Rumors reports that they've heard that as of October's end, the mini is dead-- long live something new called the Mac Nano. Supposedly, the new low-end Mac will be even smaller than a mini (just tall enough to fit a hard drive in), and the enclosure will have a completely new design.Intriguing idea indeed, even if it isn't quite new-- the Nano name has been floating around for a while. There are four other products sliding out of the rumor mill as well-- AppleTV is rumored to get an update (and a hard drive), and supposedly we'll see a MacBook Nano as well, the long-rumored ultraportable that Apple is supposedly working on-- a.k.a. Rumor #3.
The future of Mac, or wishful thinking? At this point, we have no indication-- Mac OS Rumors is no 9-to-5 Mac (ouch, but they deserve it, don't they?), but they are called "Rumors" for a reason. Either way, I want to buy an extremely small, compact, headless Mac with Leopard on it this fall. Whether it's called mini or Nano doesn't matter to me at all.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Angela said 4:43PM on 10-04-2007
Fine. But where's our mid-range headless Mac with upgradeable innards? Was really hoping they were going to take the Mini a step in the direction of the Cube (but better).
Reply
Billy K said 4:44PM on 10-04-2007
The question is, will the "Mac nano" have an optical drive (in reference to the rumor that the 12" MacBook Pro will not)? I'm really surious to see if Apple starts to shy away from optical drives. you know, they being the first company to eschew floppies and all.
Could be a sign of things to come.
Reply
Eric said 4:46PM on 10-04-2007
I doubt Apple will replace optical drives anytime soon.
I was actually thinking something along the lines of a pop-open disc drive (like the newer PlayStation 2 has) on top.
Reply
Brian said 4:47PM on 10-04-2007
I wonder why the rumor sites are so big on the death of the mini. Personally, I know a ton of people that are diving into Macdom with the mini.
I don't think it's going anywhere.
And along those lines, I doubt we'll see big hardware changes before Christmas. Everyone knows they save that for Macworld.
Reply
paul merrill said 4:48PM on 10-04-2007
Nano computer or ultraportable - either would be way cool. Apple can do no wrong (except when it comes to stereos that look like bread boxes).
Reply
badtzmaru said 4:48PM on 10-04-2007
I just bought a mac mini and i love it. but what are customers gaining with a smaller mini? I can see the attraction of a smaller laptop but a smaller desktop seems pointless.
Reply
Bruno said 4:53PM on 10-04-2007
The Mac mini never "almost" died. It was never even considered for EOL and Apple has had new SKUs in development and bidding since the unit was first introduced.
Most of what the rumor sites publish is pure speculation.
Reply
mike Buettner said 5:14PM on 10-04-2007
I bet the Mini - Mac Nano will be taking on the form factor of the Apple TV.
Reply
h8rain said 5:24PM on 10-04-2007
I hope the AppleTV gets some love :(. I love mine, but some additional functionality would be nice (I can buy songs on my iPhone......how about on my AppleTV).
BTW I came back to Apple full time because of the Mini.
Reply
N. Ziarek said 5:27PM on 10-04-2007
I wonder if the tight integration and complete control over user experience of the iPod, iPhone and tv interfaces are giving Apple pause to consider making a lower-powered ultra-portable but without a full-blown OSX install. I'm thinking the Foleo, but better looking and better integrated into the entire ecosystem.
I personally would love a small device I could browse/check email/type up notes / great battery life that could then somehow completely interact with my desktop system (keeping files and settings in sync). Maybe the natural evolution of "Home on the iPod"?
Reply
Galley said 5:47PM on 10-04-2007
Uh, the Apple TV already has a hard drive.
Reply
Aron Trimble said 5:48PM on 10-04-2007
I hope a mac nano comes out so I can buy a mac mini on ebay for even cheaper!
Unless the mac nano replaces the mini and the appletv... now if that happened you bet your sweet bippy I'll buy one!
Reply
Nigel said 5:56PM on 10-04-2007
If it's going be called Nano wouldn't it make more sense that it be flash-based with no hard drive?
I like the suggestion of #10. I would love an updated Newton with a killer screen. Wouldn't need much more functionality than the iPhone or tv. Good for sitting on the couch and surfing, reading RSS, checking mail, watching YouTube. And, what if you could clip it on to the side of your iMac to sync and double as a secnod monitor?
Well, I can dream can't I?
Reply
JohnPQ said 5:53PM on 10-04-2007
I wouldn't doubt that Apple discontinues the Mac mini in favor of the Apple TV and Steve's "hobby" at the end of this month. Steve Jobs hates the Mac mini and what it stands for. Meaning a computer for the everyman. Apple is all about expensive stuff and AIO's.
Reply
John said 6:05PM on 10-04-2007
Mac OS Rumors? Are you serious?
Reply
icerabbit said 6:19PM on 10-04-2007
Going smaller is exactly what is wrong with Apple.
They're shrinking things too much so they are forced to leave out useful stuff. (mini and standard hard drive, graphics card) (bluetooth & wifi & larger batteries in some of the other handhelds) (etc)
If they're shrinking the mini ... well, we'll never see a mid range mac.
Reply
dp said 6:26PM on 10-04-2007
I just bought a mac mini last month. I really really hope there is no new mac mini coming!
Reply
Cupra said 6:32PM on 10-04-2007
People need to learn, the mini's only 2 years old. Do you think Apple's going to kill it this early in it's cycle?
Reply
Greg G said 7:24PM on 10-04-2007
I've thought this for a while, but after Valve's recent statements, rumors about Bungie, EA moving to... some Macs (and still running poorly), what I'd really, really, like to see, is a Mac built for gaming. Physics, dedicated gfx (and lots of options), etc.
Reply
Crabs said 7:49PM on 10-04-2007
Or, what if there's only two new products, AKA the new Mac Mini and the new Apple TV are the same thing? Just throwin it out there. Don't really know if I even think that'll happen. I'd say probably not. but ya never know, ya know?
Reply