iMac, Mac mini supplies growing thin, refresh expected soon

Rumors of updated iMacs have been flying fast and furious lately, and now it seems like they're getting a bit of credibility -- AppleInsider says retailers, including Apple's own stores, have been told supplies of iMacs and Mac minis are "constrained" and that future orders will go unfulfilled. You heard that right -- the Mac mini, the red-headed stepchild of the Mac line, is now also officially on Refresh Watch. Combined with the rumors of revised and potentially cheaper plastic MacBooks and we're hoping Apple's about to get aggressive with its low-end pricing, but that's probably just wishful thinking.

P.S.- Doesn't that seem like a lot of updates to dish out at once? The savvy rumor connoisseur would be expecting a couple random analysts to mouth off at this point, followed by whispers of an impending event and its cancellation due to "last minute issues." Gene Munster swirls his glass and predicts the MacBook will feature CableCARD slots and function as a DVR. Spring follows winter, winter follows fall.

[taoprophet420 Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:03PM]

No it doesn't seem like that many updates at once. All of them are close to their normal update cycles, a mac pro update will prob be thrown in too since intel just released the new chips that they would use and seems like Apple gets first dibs on new chips from Intel now. What I am surprised about is that there isn't more precise details of the upcomming imac or macbooks.

[mabhatter Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:22PM]

Macbook (white) and Mac Mini and iMac are all very similar internally. It makes sense for Apple to update it's chip contracts all at once as they're mostly the same for these lines.

[trio112 Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:06PM]

Mac Mini - Now 1/2 the size double the heat! Only $599.99

[crescentdavid Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:08PM]

I don't get the mac mini ... if it was combined with Apple TV and the price remained the same ... dunno. Cheers for an iMac refresh and I'm definitely wanting to see a mbp update.

[ttringle Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:10PM]

They won't do HDMI, thats the entire reason they started using display port, to avoid having to give the consumer agency in charge of HDMI money to license it. The Display port is a royalty free display technology just like VGA and DVI before it.

So the odds of a Mini coming out with HDMI are about as slim as they are coming out with Blu-Ray. Steve Jobs is pushing online distribution only because they sell media through the iTunes store. I hated the idea before I realized that I was paying nearly $200 on cable that I barely used, and now for the new seasons I'll be purchasing them in HD for about the same price as a DVD.

TimT

[Michael Scrip Posted Sep 29th 2009 3:53PM]

It sucks Apple doesn't use HDMI... as it's a standard on flat-panel TVs. AppleTV has HDMI.

And... wouldn't it be better to buy TV show seasons on DVD or Blu-Ray? Then you can rip them and have them on any computer or device, and not have them stuck in iTunes.

[ChillyCat Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:20PM]

@ ttringle

"They won't do HDMI, thats the entire reason they started using display port"


Well, ain't that a brilliant move. Whilst shopping for my new LCD TV last month,
I seem to remember EVERY set had HDMI. But, I also remember, that NOT ONE
had display port.

[drakino Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:33PM]

Then buy a DisplayPort to HDMI cable and be done with it. Monoprice has video only ones for $8, or ones with audio support (using a USB audio device) exist as well.

Never understood everyone whining about having to buy a cable to hook a device to their TV. Odds are, you are going to have to buy an HDMI cable for a game console, DVD/Blu-ray player or whatever else you attach.

[ChillyCat Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:55PM]

Great point Tom. [buy yet......................... another adapter]


But ain't it kinda funny.........Every TV has HDMI.
Looks like the industry "as a whole" took the proper approach
and universally adopted a single standard = HDMI

Appears that 99% of audio/video Mfg's all complied with this adopted
format. Then comes along the 1% who decides they'll buck the system
and run off and make stuff with another means of conectivity.

Personally, i'll stick with devices that comply with proper standards.
The only pitfall I can possibly see is...... I'll end up getting more bang
for my buck.......and, on top of that....I'll pay 30-50% less.

[KAL326 Posted Sep 30th 2009 4:47PM]

Yes well here are two different points that are related to the usage of a Mac Mini with through HDMI with audio. First off yes TVs have HDMI inputs, you can get an adapter to get a HDMI connector on the TV to connect to a Mac Mini. Now comes the audio part, unless you have a pretty decent receiver that picks up audio off of the HDMI you are going to be running a separate line from the device using HDMI to your receiver for audio. If you are only using the speakers on your TV for sound then you might have a valid complaint. So you can run a fiber optic line from the Mac Mini to your receiver and the audio problem is solved. If you have a receiver that allows you to pick up audio off the HDMI, it probably also have a spare fiber optical port and again problem is solved.

Now for a side complaint about standards and HDMI. The first HDTV I bought had 1 HDMI port and a ATSC tuner that both passed Dolby Digital back over the fiber optic out on the TV. The next TV I bought was a DLP and had 3 HDMI ports, a ATSC tuner, and a fiber optic output. The only pain in the ass is the fiber optical output on the new TV only put the digital audio off the over air tuner, nothing off any of the HDMI ports. So then I had to get a receiver that would pick up audio off HDMI because the devices I was hooking up were all fiber optical audio outs and the receiver I had didn't have enough audio inputs. The TV I replaced that passed HDMI audio back out the fiber optical out had a HDMI switcher that allowed all three HDMI devices and the OTA tuner to work off one fiber optical connection to the receiver.

So short story long, its possible to hook a Mac Mini up to a TV with HDMI and have audio just fine one way or another to a receiver and probably a TV as well if you really try.

[prw Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:26PM]

Can people stop quoting this asshat, Gene Munster like he's some kind of authority? His job is to goose Apple stock for his investors, all off the back of escalating lunatic claims of upcoming products - none of them ever grounded in fact. Remember the great Apple TV refresh of early 2009? How about the great Apple foray into the television screen market?

[taoprophet420 Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:32PM]

Gene always said the tv would be 2010 or 2011.

[prw Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:42PM]

yep - right about the time when everyone crosses the line into full tv/net convergence - where every new set sold will be also be an internet portal. predictions are neither smart nor brave when they're simply polished conventional wisdom.

[glamajamma Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:27PM]

People are still using Macs?

[ChillyCat Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:36PM]

827 of um....last time I heard

[parisv Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:43PM]

i'm waiting for a mac mini refresh. would like some hd audio to be enabled through hdmi!!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:05PM]

Does this mean the old ones are any cheaper?

[HektikLyfe Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:19PM]

DANG! I JUST bought a Mac Mini last month! XO

[Jordan Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:33PM]

Why? Mac Minis are the most worthless, unpowered pieces of hardware there are.

[HektikLyfe Posted Oct 1st 2009 5:33PM]

I upgraded it on the cheap and it is still the cheapest way I can get into the prettiness and experience that the Apple OS can offer.

It is a pleasant, reliable experience that will never make me throw away the variety of PC's I have in my home but when I working on a simple little slide-show, doing some photo editing or just simply browsing the internet, this little machine works fine and makes my room look really nice.

If I can afford it and I enjoy it, why the heck not?

[parisv Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:31PM]

good site to check before buying any apple product is here:

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:35PM]

Well that sucks.. I my mini is on its way from China right now :\

I guess Apple does not do any trade up deals? LOL

[paralysis Posted Sep 29th 2009 3:01PM]

Just don't open it and you should be able to return it.

[Requiemvalorum Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:56PM]

I read all these articles about apple, and all I see in every one is PC fan boys chiming in with their apple hate.

For gods sake people it's a computer, if people want to pay the price for what are interesting to use and good looking computers then that is their choice and the news about them needs to be reported.

I myself use a combination of PC and Mac and find both to be good machines each having their own take on the personal computer experience.

People need to grow up a little, and if you are one of the people who just chimed into the thread to say something along the lines of 'apple suck' for no other reason than to say it, I think perhaps you should take a look at yourself and consider why a white bit of plastic shaped like an apple strapped to a PC gets you so angry before you consider seeing an anger management consultant.

[Dale P Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:35PM]

Thank you! I also use both - each has its own strengths and weaknesses. There really is no need for all this playground namecalling.

[McHoffa Posted Sep 29th 2009 3:24PM]

I am pretty much a Mac only person, but I am getting ready to build a Windows 7 media center monster with blu-ray, HDMI, 2tb HD and 4 GB ram for only $700... I would pay a small amount more if Apple made a Mini with similar specs, but I know they won't...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:43PM]

Are you going to get that machine in a 6.5" by 6.5" by 2" area?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 3:33PM]

Very cool design as usual, good job MAC people.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:41PM]

Will it be crap or not? I dunno, obviously there is a right way to do things and a wrong way.

Right way: Release your own i5 or i7 (apple) intel chip
Wrong way : put atom in Macbook and mac mini

Either way I need to get some $$ to buy more apple stuff.

[Ethan Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:44PM]

Cablecard is something not all consumers want, and hardly ever in a laptop.

[rjflyn Posted Sep 29th 2009 5:37PM]

Well Black Friday is so far away, could have a White Friday in the next few weeks though.

[DestrictoEnse Posted Sep 29th 2009 5:57PM]

"Red-headed stepchild"

What the hell man, not cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 9:09PM]

Whoa, wait... people are BUYING mac minis?

[cassnate6259 Posted Sep 29th 2009 10:53PM]

I never understood why everyone is so down on the mac mini. I've used one, along with my macbook for quite some time and it's always been small, quiet, and totally reliable.
Let me state the obvious downsides: specs are not as good as imacs or mac pro, not as easy to upgrade in some cases, not expandable.

But it has a lot of value and benefits:

- Lots of USB, isn't everyone clamoring about that nowdays?
- Not limited to a particular monitor/don't have to haul the screen around like with iMac
- Least expensive mac, and a decent value specswise IMO, especially considering the latest refresh. Isn't everyone always saying that macs are too expensive?
- Actually isn't that hard to upgrade ram/HD, just need a putty knife.
- Handles my audio and video projects surprisingly well. Works great with Logic (which is an amazing value, BTW), Final Cut, etc.
- Great resale value, upgrading to a new system doesn't cost much
- When you upgrade, use the old one as a media center (It's essentially an Apple TV as long as your video card is good enough.) Just use a super cheap HDMI adapter and digital audio cable.
- Never had a reliability issue, never seems to overheat like some have claimed. Runs quiet and always works.

So I've made my case. And just for the record, I also use and enjoy a Sony Vaio laptop, so this isn't simply fanboy talk here.

[jedi Posted Sep 29th 2009 11:12PM]

> - Actually isn't that hard to upgrade ram/HD, just need a putty knife.

Yes. A putty knife for a PC upgrade.

That should pretty much speak for itself.

In terms of getting it apart and putting it back together, a mini is
more like a watch than it is a desktop PC or a laptop.

Making a mini more like a PC laptop upgrade-wise would be a very handy improvement.

[prevenge Posted Sep 30th 2009 1:47AM]

The Mini's been good to me, I'm on an updated one now. The lower power use is nice,the size is awesome, and it's rock solid [well, except if you have someone stick coins into the CD drive ... but yeah ...].
I don't think they'll update it, though. It took them 4 years or so to update the last one, they don't have too much interest.
Hopefully they update the Touch with a camera at the same time, though. ... I need that.

[dcm Posted Sep 29th 2009 9:40PM]

I was planning on a MacMini purchase Thursday. I guess I'll wait a few weeks. I'll be glad if the "new" one has a larger hard drive. My Dad has one and it's a very nice computer, particularly if you already have a monitor. Otherwise, I would recommend an iMac. I am a recovering PC user.

[Valan Posted Sep 29th 2009 9:51PM]

I hope they kill off the Macbook. People want it for $300 less. If they do refresh it I hope Steve Jobs tells us it's the last of the line. get them while you can folks.

I hope they replace them with an iBook tablety thing. A big brother to the iPod touch aimed at people who need to use a computer where they cannot type on a keyboard.

[bantam Posted Sep 29th 2009 9:55PM]

Jobs said he would see us very soon..... i mean its totally possible we will get some new hardware soon.

Hell it could be the event to mask the tablet launch leak that your launching macbooks and macminis imacs on that day and jobs pulls out one more thing for the first time in like 2 years.

[jedi Posted Sep 29th 2009 11:17PM]

> um.... ION would be a downgrade for the mac mini. it already has the nvidia 9400 and a core 2 duo.

If there isn't anything for that C2D to do, then it's a big waste of money.

Why spend $600 when you can do the same job for $200?

I have no interest in giving Steve Jobs free money.

[Nicnac Posted Sep 30th 2009 3:14PM]

> If there isn't anything for that C2D to do, then it's a big waste of money.

How about pushing 1080p mkvs and full screen youtube/hulu? Last I checked any shipping ION is still a slide show with one or the other.