Mac mini refresh allegedly caught on camera
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Feb 19th 2009 5:21PM
posted Feb 19th 2009 5:21PM
Well, what do we have here? According to MacRumors, this could quite possibly be the next-gen Mac mini we've been waiting so patiently for. This guy would seem to correspond roughly to other possible "leaks" we've been hipped to in the past, including the presence of five USB ports, FireWire 800, Mini DisplayPort, and Mini DVI. Coincidence? Underhanded Photoshoppery? You be the judge.
Update: Looks like the pic hit both MacRumors and AppleInsider at the same time, but the MR forum poster who put it up included some alleged specs: a 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB Level 2 cache, 2GB DDR 3 memory at 1066MHz and a ATA Super Drive. Believe what you will!
[Thanks, iB3nji]
Update: Looks like the pic hit both MacRumors and AppleInsider at the same time, but the MR forum poster who put it up included some alleged specs: a 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB Level 2 cache, 2GB DDR 3 memory at 1066MHz and a ATA Super Drive. Believe what you will!
[Thanks, iB3nji]
looks to me like a lot of ports squeezed together
Total Photoshop job.
Who would take a device that supposed to be under wraps and put it on a wood floor to photograph?
Have you been to an Apple factory? How do you know that's not what it looks like?
It's obviously fake, because Apple's made it pretty clear that they're abandoning FireWire except on "Pro" machines, and they've also abandoned their proprietary "Mini-DVI" connector. No way would they ship a Mini with a Mini-DVI and a Mini Display port.
wood tables exist?
Apple puts Firewire on the bottom-of-the-line Macbook (plastic). There's only one machine that doesn't have a Firewire port, maybe it is the exception.
"Apple's made it pretty clear that they're abandoning FireWire except on "Pro" machines, "
No. They abandoned it on the MacBook. I have seen no statement that they are abandoning it altogether on desktops. If you have a source for this I'll gladly retract my statement.
"and they've also abandoned their proprietary "Mini-DVI" connector. No way would they ship a Mini with a Mini-DVI and a Mini Display port."
No. They've put that connector on all 3 of the latest Mac Books. multiple connectors on a desktop makes a lot more sense than multiple connectors on a laptop.
However, just because I think you are completely wrong does not make this real. There are way too many people with too much time on their hands to create fake mock-ups. I'll believe it when I see it.
my apologies. I misread mini DVI. I thought you were saying Mini DP.
Regardless, just because they don't put it on a laptop doesn't mean they won't put it on a desktop,
Actually noone from Apple has ever said that they are abandoning firewire. The only thing stated was the the Macbook will not come with firewire since the majority of user ( those are Macbook users alone ) do not need or use the port. And from what I've seen the market research is quite on the money. On the other hand the mini has a somewhat different user base and is tailored towards a group of people who want to illusion of control over their choice of peripherals. Those pictures make total sense and so do the rumored specs. 2ghz cpu is a little bit underpowered and the hardware comes just under iMacs so they are not really competing with each other. Also cheaper CPUs allows Apple to keep the price of the current model and will make the mini affordable for a lot of people. ( even with a 24" display ) The mini will probably come with a dvi adaptor included since it's supposed to let you chose your monitor.
Oh and in exactly what part of the world are wood floors rare? The mini is under wraps for you the general consumer but just like with all previous Apple products there are people building these long before they get unveiled.
@CraigJ and @Mike Cerm
This has been discussed and rumoured about elsewhere. There would be a good reason for one mini DVI and one mini DP. Apple are still aiming the mini at PC switchers, and they want to be able to plug in their old monitors. Having dual monitor support is also no biggie, since using the same architecture as their laptops, effectively this makes them dual screen capable.
Every port in this picture has a related rumour... Which makes me think that it's too obvious to not be fake. Four USB ports are enough surely...
The biggest argument that it is a fake is that apple has switched from aluminum and white plastic to aluminum and black plastic. Having the white plastic on the mini wouldn't fit aethstetically with the rest of their line.
Of course wood tables exist. Where do you think the timber from those Apple trees go when the fruits have been harvested?
I think the FireWire 800 is actually pretty legit. If this will be powered by nVidia's Ion platform, which seems to be a pretty hot possibility these days, and with Apple's recent bonding with nVidia's 9400M processor, FireWire 800 is more than likely to preform well on this little guy.
I do still think its a fake, due to the presence of that Mini-DVI connector. Apple is definitely ditching Mini-DVI and I'm proud of them for it.
However, one thing I expected to see on the Mini is a MagSafe power port. The Mini was designed to be as portable as a desktop could get and adding MagSafe would allow the Mini to be completely compatible with the new Apple LED Displays. So if you know you're going somewhere with one of those displays, you can just pop out the Mini and not have to take your power cord with you. And it would make for great advertising for both products.
The biggest question to me is why the hell is there a Mini-DVI *and* DisplayPort? I thought that DisplayPort was supposed to be THE replacement for Mini-DVI, and not something that they have in addition to DVI. Plus, Mac Mini never even had a Mini-DVI port in the first place...it's always been a straight DVI port. There's really no reason to have Mini-DVI aside from Component/S-Video, which I don't think is reason enough to keep it.
I think it's fake, because I seriously doubt apple would put five USB ports on it.
Hm... its the 5 USB ports that make me think its real. Macs are the only desktop computers I've ever seen with an odd number: Its one of the little things apple does to stand out.
And all of the other ports seem reasonable - especially the mini display port. The mac mini comes with the BYODKM policy, and while apple will definitely try to push the new display port technology, they need to include all possible compatibility. The required adapter makes a little extra profit.
As to the inclusion of Firewire 800 - Think external hard drive. macs dont come with ESATA, sot FW800 is needed for Super high speed disks, which, due to the limited drive space on the mini and TIMe MACHINE, are often used with it.
Of course, this doesnt mean this photo is real, it just means the creator used some good (in my opinion) logic.
Identical to the current mac mini I'm typing on. Apple wouldn't release a product so similar to it's previous model
hmmm ipods gen 2-5?...u be the judge.
Don't forget the iPhone and the iPhone 3G. oooo it got bigger and I like it better. Any other company do that, they get laughed to bankruptcy.
We can only hope that this was sarcastic.
You are correct my friend, the photo is TOTALLY off
Here is the VIDEO proof, the new "Mactini"
http://wimp.com/tootiny/
Identical... So I'm guessing you also think the iPhone and iPod Touch are "identical" as well?
but a 2GHz chip from 3 years ago and a 2GHz chip from now are different things. Also, the faster memory would help out... it would be the same CPU and DDR3 as the Uni Macbooks which are faster than the same speed White Macbooks.
Doesn't look clean enough to be apple. Plus, they wouldn't put a FW800 on this thing if they can't squeeze it on their Alum. Macbook.
I call fake!
Not clean enough? Are you dumb? This is the back of a computer, you know, where the I/O ports of the mobo are...
Ooh... an insult... good one. Haven't seen that one on 'teh interwebs'...
Yes, I'm fairly certain I know how a motherboard is configured and that most of the ports are *gasp* on the back of the computer. My reasoning was the ports seem too crammed together. Crammed together doesn't seems to be the usual level of polish for an Apple product.
Go back to complaining about Apple fanboys.
lol gotta go with invisiblemoose on this one. laughed out of my chair. plus apple != clean. maybe glossy....extra glossy.
Not to pile on (because frankly I don't agree with those 2 f-tards in ripping you) but the iMac's ports are all stack up on each other. I think it's fake (see my other comment) but not because of the ports.
> hey wouldn't put a FW800 on this thing if they can't squeeze it on their Alum. Macbook.
They have more room to cram on the mini than a MacBook and FW800 would be even more desirable on a mac mini for super speedy access to your external fw drive full of media, no?
@Tim... They why the hell did they "cram" all the ports to the left side of the iMac and not space them out across evenly across the whole thing.
Noooooooo!!! I just bought one yesterday... *sob*
Bad move. Mac minis as they stand aren't a great value and most people seem to think that a big upgrade is coming soon. You read Engadget, you should know better.
Don't distress. This is yet another lazy mac rumor post by the editors.
True, but I had to. I needed another computer for a project and saw the chance to jump into the Mac bandwagon :)
you bought a new Mini?
That has got to be the worst purchasing decision ive heard of. That thing is an absolute horrible value as it stands today.
I would return that so fast.
People buy PC's everyday and like them, what's the difference? :P
@Ruben
You want bad value? If I could see anyone purchasing a 1TB Time Capsule, I'd laugh uncontrollably in their face. You can buy the 500GB one and upgrade it to 1TB for about $40/$65 less. How's that for screwy prices!
ooops meant £40/$65... not some random double-price.
New Mac Boy,
You've still got 13 days to take that thing back, now get on it!
yo...i feel bad for you.
current mac minis are pieces of crap
don't be too concerned. if they release this in the next 2 weeks you can take back the one you bought. you have 2 weeks if you bought it thru apple. some stores like Futureshop in Canada allow you to return for a full refund up to a month after purchase.
I really hope its a fake. I was hoping for a Silver and Black case. In addition I was hoping for Optical audio ports.
But any refresh is a good refresh I think...
The current Mini is compatible with TOSLINK-mini plugs. I doubt Apple would change that.
Silver and Black? Personally, I'd rather Apple give the Mini specs that are at least on par with their laptops! Apple's entry-level laptop has more power than this thing.
I HATE APPLE WITH A PASSION....but i use a macbook have an ipod touch and am a huge fan of everything made by them
????????????
That is actually entirely possible. It's like 'Love the sinner, hate the sin', except a little backwards... kind of.
Good products.
Fascist business model.
( I more or less hate Apple too, but I'm rather fond of my mac. )
I would say that I really like the apple products that I have, but that I have some level of frustration with Apple.
I have no problem with non-replicable and a number of things that people like to complain about ad-nausea, but why, for example, do they not put a professional quality display on their pro machines? Why no copy and paste on the iPhone? Why no blu-ray (bag of hurt aside), and other issues. I have had nothing but good service from Apple, in fact I generally get the no questions asked replacement service, but I have heard some personal horror stories of Apple screwing up, for which there is no excuse.
On the other hand I have had all kinds of issues over the years with Dell, Sony and others.
I guess, in general, in my personal experience, Apple does a better job than most, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of room for improvement.
Apple Products = Good
Apple = An evil plot trying to take over the world
(just like hulu)