Filed under: Macworld, Rumors, Mac mini
Wired: New Mac mini to be announced at MWSF
Wired's Brian X. Chen writes that Apple will release a new version of the Mac mini at Macworld Expo early next month.
Chen's unnamed source didn't disclose any details about the Mac mini, but Chen offered plenty of specification speculation.
Based on "trends seen in Apple's latest products," Chen expects the new Mac mini to feature a unibody enclosure with speeds and video specs that closely match the new unibody MacBooks.
This follows another rumor of a budget-priced, small-form-factor iPhone that could be announced at the same time. Nilay Patel, of our sister blog Engadget, notes that this may be a reaction to slowing sales numbers, and an overall reticence by consumers to drop large amounts of money on a new computer system.
We'll see next month: The keynote presentation is scheduled for January 6. Macworld Expo typically announces by now if Steve Jobs will give the presentation, but they've been keeping mum about his involvement so far.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bayliss said 12:55PM on 12-16-2008
FINALLY! /waiting 7 years.
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Alex said 2:42PM on 12-16-2008
yeah, it's coming. A friend had a test mini. He woukdnt let me look at the specs, but i did see stickers on the side saying "non-FDA approved." suspicious.
ben said 3:44PM on 12-16-2008
This is exactly what I've been waiting for to make the switch, I already have my own 24" monitor, so I didn't want to buy an iMac, the Pros are too expensive, and the Minis are too outdated.
ChillyWilly said 5:23PM on 12-16-2008
7 years? that's a long time to wait, especially when the Mini is only turning 4 years old in January.
I'm excited about this. I could be buying a mini next month to replace my G4 mini.
Steve said 1:09PM on 12-16-2008
Why would a Mini be unibody? That is some poor speculation.
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dylanbrown said 1:14PM on 12-16-2008
I think he means that it will have a full aluminum enclosure, rather than the plastic back and top of the current model.
why not the LS2LS7? said 1:47PM on 12-16-2008
That sounds awful. Make the unit cost $100 more and ruin the already poor WiFi and Bluetooth reception even further?
No thanks.
Tim said 6:22PM on 12-16-2008
Unibody sounds like silly speculation: how/why would you hollow out a solid piece of aluminium that thick? What makes some sense for a thin notebook makes no sense for a thick desktop.
Peter said 1:14PM on 12-16-2008
Hallelujah! I've been putting off buying a Mac Mini for the living room for 6 months now. I hope this is true!
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Lucien said 1:15PM on 12-16-2008
I'm sure they mean unibody = made out of a block of aluminum.
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David Robison said 1:15PM on 12-16-2008
Um, N. Patel didn't say that the new Mac Mini was in "reaction" to the economy, but that it nicely "dovetails" with the consumer woes. Maybe Steve is prescient, maybe they can make design and production changes super-fast, but I'm thinking these lower-cost updates at Macworld (if they pan out) were being planned and produced for a while.
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Stiv said 1:28PM on 12-16-2008
AppleInsider's been predicting the demise of the Mac mini for months (they seem to have some weird grudge against it). LOL in their face. I love both minis that I've bought dearly. I'm gonna by another one just to spite them.
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Murphy Mac said 1:40PM on 12-16-2008
Will the new Mini be display port only I wonder? I assume it wouldn't be since you need to provide your own peripherals. ut you never know...
Display port only would complicate efforts to use it as a living room media server.
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Scott said 1:50PM on 12-16-2008
They could always make the mini with a display port and include an adapter for DVI/VGA.
Randy said 5:17PM on 12-16-2008
@ Murphy Mac
"Display port only would complicate efforts to use it as a living room media server."
No, it wouldn't. Go to monoprice.com and pic up a displayport -> hdmi cable. Cheap. you would have to pick up a separate audio cable. something like a "3.5mm -> RCA"
If this new Mini actually had built-in HDMI port and a bluray reading superdrive, that would put it at the top of my list for a HTPC.
Mags said 1:52PM on 12-16-2008
Mac Mini is already a perfect piece of Art... i wonder, other than improving the existing processing speeds what novelties can the new Mac Mini bring along?... Maybe, we will start seeing some convergence with Apple TV... like wireless music streaming... and so on...
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Sean Butler said 2:06PM on 12-16-2008
The rumour sites keep speculating that a new mac mini will feature a unibody enclosure, apparently forgetting that this supposed to be a budget machine. A unibody design would bump the price up considerably.
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Steve said 2:17PM on 12-16-2008
There is also no need for unibody. It is to help with stiffness/strength in relation to weight/thinness. That isn't needed in a desktop. Even the expensive new Mac Pro desktops will not be unibody when they come out.
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AppBeacon said 2:49PM on 12-16-2008
"For video output, the Mac Mini will use the DRM-crippled DisplayPort for connectivity, which Apple is offering to manufacturers for a no-fee license."
There goes the benefit of having this rumored Mac Mini. Only the 24" Cinema Display supports it. That's a huge cost for people trying to save money on a budget Mac.
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Stephen Lang said 3:53PM on 12-16-2008
Compatibility with other monitors is only a cheap DisplayPort:DVI or DisplayPort:VGA adapter away...
The current Mini comes with a DVI:VGA adapter, a new DisplayPort Mini would surely come with an adapter too.
Although I think sticking with DVI would make more sense in this case.