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.

View Tags

Source: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/rumor-new-mac-m.html

Categories

Macworld Rumors Mac mini

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...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

33 Comments

Filter by:

Shahryar

Interesting. I'm planning on buying a current Mac Mini soon used off of craigslist but if the new Mac Minis do what you're suggesting, I might have to look at getting a Mac Mini again in the near future - or maybe I can do this home automation stuff of the Mac Pro I'd like to own next year?

December 17 2008 at 6:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

vandil

Say goodbye to the Mac Mini FireWire port.

If I am right: See? Glad I prepared ya.

If I am wrong: At least I prepared you to face the worst.

December 16 2008 at 7:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Armando

does unibody mean no upgradability? That it's become an appliance?

December 16 2008 at 5:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Randy

I want to see what happens to the Mac pro. (Nehalem based Gainestown anyone?) If apple doesn't offer a GPU with some cojones on that thing, I'm going to be disappointed.

December 16 2008 at 5:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dohsane

Mac Mini-based Media Center... here I come!!! Can't wait! Now, if only we could get PVR functionality in Plex... baby steps, I guess.

December 16 2008 at 5:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jon

Apple is transitioning its whole line to DisplayPort so if the Mini is to be killed off, it will be in 2009. I hope they don't though - the Mini makes a great low-powered server and is perfect for my small company's intranet. If they killed it off I would not buy an Xserve because that would be overkill - I would unfortunately be forced to buy a Windows or Linux SFF PC which I really don't want to do.

December 16 2008 at 5:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Jon's comment

AppBeacon

@Jon

So right you are. In fact, we're using them right now for our site. They do a fine job for us. Of course, if we ever become a big hit, we'll probably need to move up to some Xserves.... One can dream!

December 16 2008 at 10:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

SpinThis!

Does anyone else have a sneaking suspicion Jobs/Apple won't be doing the keynote this year? In OWC's newsletter, Larry mentioned the non-announcement as well. It's entirely possible... so we might as well get ready for it.

The Expo is quite early this year... I wonder if Apple is simply waiting until the last possible minute or still working on things they don't have ready yet? After last year's mediocre keynote, it wouldn't surprise me if Apple decided to announce products on their own terms, at their own events.

December 16 2008 at 4:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to SpinThis!'s comment

Armando

they already said he won't

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/16/apple-announces-final-macworld-steve-jobs-wont-deliver-keynote/

December 16 2008 at 6:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ivan berroa

Please please please please please please please please pleaaaasseee. I refuse to get rid of my 23" Apple Cinema Display. I hate All-In-One computers, and the Mac Pro is too expensive. I already own a MacBook. Please Mista Jobs.

December 16 2008 at 4:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Ivan berroa's comment

Janet

Display compatibility was a major concern for me before I read any of these comments. I still have the original 22" display. I'd love to get a new one when I purchase the new mini (IF I get the mini), but in no way will I be able to afford a new one. I have an old G4 and was considering replacing it with a new mini. Am I out of luck, or is there an adaptor that will allow me to stay with my old 22" display?

January 03 2009 at 11:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

AppBeacon

"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.

December 16 2008 at 2:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to AppBeacon's comment

Stephen Lang

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.

December 16 2008 at 3:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mabhatter

here I was rooting for a new mac mini with 2 mini-displayports and slim like an Apple TV. Now that you mention the built in DRM, will that apply to ALL video from new macs? People have already said the new notebooks won't display video to non-DRM secondary monitors, what about a new mini.. will an Apple branded monitor be the ONLY output allowed? Now I'm not so thrilled.

December 16 2008 at 10:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve

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.

December 16 2008 at 2:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply