Mac mini updates confirmed and shipping

So the Mac mini update rumours we caught wind of last week are officially official and are shipping out now. The wee bumped up minis (1.5GHz new 1.42GHz, 1.33GHz nee 1.25GHz) are still arriving in the old labelled boxes, however, so don't be alarmed if your 1.5GHz machine is mislabelled outside. Unfortunately, there's actually no way to really tell which you'll be getting, because Apple wants to clear current inventory without lowering prices — customers are only guaranteed the Mac mini they purchase will have specs "at least" equal to the label. If you get one of the older configurations, you also won't be able to return it in hopes of getting the newer config without paying a restocking fee. Tricksy! The other new specs we reported are also confirmed — Bluetooth 2.0, an 8x dual-layer burner on the SuperDrive mini, and doubled VRAM on the ATI Radeon 9200 graphics card.

[blake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Ok, let the crying begin! "I got what I ordered, not the upgraded one...blah blah blah...!"

[Jordan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

FINALLY MORE GRAPHICS MEMORY FOR TIGER!

HOO-RAY!

[Chetchez @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

We are the Knights who say.. nee!

[Jordan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

ROFLMAO! 'Tis but a scratch!

Just saw on the ThinkSecret article that it still doesn't support Tiger Core Image, even with 64 megs. Oh well.

[Bart @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Does anyone have any idea why it still doesn't support Tiger's Core Image? Seems rediculous that an Apple computer can't support all of the operating system made by Apple...

[otaking241 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Might be a good idea to buy one of these from Best Buy or somewhere else with an independent, NQA return/exchange policy so you can get what you want instead of what Big White wants to give you.

[Mad Mac-er @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Ok, just got a new superdrive mini with the old labels less than a week ago...how can I tell if I have any of the upgraded components?

I am new to the macs and am used to seeing these with device manager in Windows, but what/where is the equivalent in my Mac OS X?

[Fred @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Click on the blue Apple in the upper left, and go to "About this Mac"

[iband @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

I joined the apple world in January and have been very happy. But selling a computer in a box not knowing what you are getting is the stupidest thing I have heard.

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

It can support Core Image, just not in hardware.

[Sameer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Amazing, my Mac mini shipped 2 weeks ago, and has the upgraded 1.5Ghz G4 with double VRAM (64MB), but not the Bluetooth 2.0 (just 1.6.3 but I'm not complaining!)

[Allo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Just a friendly reminder that the G4 processor is mother$%*#ing prehistoric.

[Jon K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Just so you know, as far as I know Core Image, and the ability to use Core Image, has to do with the shader capabilities of the GPU - not the Vram. Cards like 9600 and fx5200 can fully use Core Image, not the 9200...

[Simpel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Ok, quick question: Will more vram have _that_ much to say, because I'm a little bit pissed right now.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Mad-Macer... go to the Apple menu, select "About this Mac" and click "More Info" then click "ATA" to see what devices are connected to the IDE channels.

[cecil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

What company does this to their customers? Hey, we just upgraded this line of products, but guess what? You have no idea if you will get it or not, and if you get the old one, piss off...

[warrenpeace� @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

This sounds a little fishy to me. Since when have you known Apple to be so nonchalant about their products. They're usually really uptight about specs and branding and packaging, so I'm taking this with a grain of salt. I image the G4 chips were what they could get from Motorola at the time and that's what's in there.

[Badtz Maru� @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

I look at it like this...

The product in the box meets or exceeds what's specified on the box.

If you want to guarantee that you receive an updated Mini, wait until it's spec-ed out on the box and the Apple web site; patience.

Only us geeks really care about this stuff, most of the people buying online or going to a Mac store won't care, and might actually be happy if/when they discover that their Mini is better than what they thought they bought.

[The Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Who wants to bet that the better machines will be sold at the Apple Stores and CompUSA and BestBuy will be stuck with the older models to shill?

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Core Image requirements are roughly analogous to Direct X 9.0 requirements in terms of the hardware features the card must support. Since the Radeon 9200s do not have the hardware features that make them Direct X 9.0 compatible, they are also not Core Image compatible. HOWEVER, this just means, of course, that it's not supported in (the GPU) hardware, not that it's not supported at all. In other words, you can run an application that uses Core Image, but it will all be done in software (and is therefore slow).

[ChillyWilly @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Meets or exceeds? How about Apple print some new labels on the boxes that have the upgraded mini's in them?

This isn't some sort of Cracker Jack thing where you get a cool toy mixed in with your carmel popcorn.

I can understand not wanting to get stuck with older equipment, but isn't that what Overstock.com is for?

C'mon Apple... this isn't horrible news, but it's not a good trend to be starting.

[Dr Doom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

This sort of thing makes me really angry, as does the mainly muted response on this site. I'm sure that if this was anything other than a Mac there would be outrage that they're basically trying to flog off old crappy stock to unwitting customers. Outrageous

[Badtz Maru� @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Like it's so deceptive that Apple is slipping some upgraded units out there as it tries to clear its old stock, please. Again, only some of us geeks really care.

[Badtz Maru� @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Like it's so deceptive that Apple is slipping some upgraded units out there as it tries to clear its old stock, please. Again, only some of us geeks really care.

[Mr Yuk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

I called the local apple store and asked them when the upgraded minis will be available. He told me that they will come when the current inventory is depleated and they get new ones shipped in. I should check in later in the week or buy online.

Sounds like they're running a business to me.

[Benn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

How can anyone possibly be irritated by this? Apple HASN'T announced new Mac minis yet, the only reason we know some people are getting BETTER than they ordered is through the rumour sites.

Of course Apple wants to clear stock before they announce an upgrade, everyone does this, only Mac fanatics would think Apple is somehow above this. It isn't like Apple is sending customers the previous model when they order the current. I know a lot of stores still stock the previous model and are trying to get rid of them at a cheaper price, dropping the price on the current model would then force the price on the previous model to plunge even further. I'm sure retailers would be very pleased with Apple if they pulled that one.

The fact that people are actually receiving the new units obviously shows that stock is extremely low on most units, so I expect an announcement very soon.

[sojo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

yuck.

my 1yr old ipod mini shuts off as soon as I hit the play button saying the batteries run out. If I restart it 5 or 6 times it plays for a lil while before it does the same thing again. no more apple products for me. ever again. ever.

[Trevor @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Apple has done this for years with their refurbished computers. I bought a G5 tower and it came with a bigger hard drive (250 vs 160) and twice as much ram as was listed. Just look at the specs as the lowest you will get, anything more is just a happy bonus.

[jarbles @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Apple has to do what it can to make itself viable in the market. They have a very strict upgrade policy because they want to get rid of as much of the old stock as possible. The part that makes it so *ewww* sticky is that they don't mark up the prices. It's hard for consumers to *ewww* swallow the fact that they didn't get a superior product for the same price. Whatever, I've gotten screwed them before in the past but I still love me some big white. Daddy isn't hitting you cause he hates you, he just has to... sometimes.

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Now I know what happened. I ordered a "refurbished" 1.42Mhz/Combo Mini to be a webserver at home. I planned to max out the RAM on my own, but to my surprise, it came with 1GB installed :-). Also an airport and bluetooth that I hadn't expected :-) Now since Apple was so nice to me, I'm thinking about splurging and getting OS X Server for it (it runs on a Mini).