Yes the ram did seem a little on the expensive side (added nearly 500 quid to the price). How well do these things run on 512mb as that would save a few pennies?

Also, is it possible to stick one of these on the same network as a load of pcs, and get them to see each other? (shared drives etc like you can between two windows pcs)? I presume you need an additional bit of software to get the two networking system to see each other?

Feeling very tempted to take the plunge....

 

The mac will run just fine with 512MB, though as always OSX LOVES memory, so if the guys come up trumps with being able to install 3rd party ram then you are set mate...

and the comments about attaching it to a PC network..well that is what i do every day 5 days a week, putting macs and pc's together and it is sooooo easy. no additional software needed, from home networks to full corporate networks, it just works out of the box as they say !!

If you want some pointers on how to do it..enter your credit card details below
............................................



PM me if you are stuck

 

See, they try and reel you in with unreal stats so when you actually price up the box, with the hardware that is bog standard these days, you are met with a bill twice the size of a PC!

Apple, Shmapple.... in other words... b o l l o c k s

 

We have said loads of times about Apple astonishing RAM prices. If you go for crucial ram instead the price would be more like £500 instead of £850.

To confirm, Apple say you will NOT void your warranty if you install your own RAM, so go crucial/kingston/whoever.

Iain, networking is so very very easy with OSX

 

And networking is so very very easy with the same breed... that proves nothing

 

That's good to know. I'd still want the superdrive, bluetooth keyboard and mouse and airport installed. Will take a look in the LA Apple store next month, if they have one it's going in my suitcase. If not it can wait.

 

No one said it wasn't Iain asked whether there would be any complications or whether any extra software was required.

It is easy, and shock horror, its easier that it is with Windows. That's not just the ramblings of a Machead, its the truth.

 

Thought it best I chime in with my comments

I was actually on-site during the keynote, so was having it transtribed to me.

I must say I do like the new mini. Will I order one, hmm, well, seeing as I've just been given a nice new 14 inch iBook, it might be a bit churlish to get another mac, however, the mini is very very nice, and I the boss and I are in agreement that it would be perfect for demos and such like, so I think we'll be getting a couple, in which case, think I might slip one in BTO of course, with superdrive, bluetooth and wireless.

Now, bear in mind I've not had a great deal of time to look at the specs, but is there any mention of PS2 to USB convertors? The idea of the mini is for PC users to 'switch' over and use their existing monior, keyboard and mouse, now forgive me, but all of our machines, and most of my friends machines all still use PS2 kb's and mice, thus you'd either need to get convertors, or new kb's and mice, hmm. Would have been nice if they had put usb AND PS2 connectors on the box, but there is only so much room in a 6 inch slab of white.

The comment about optical out, yeah, that's a let down. I could quite happily have had the mini set to R2 on the DVD and used it to play R2 dvd's but with no optical out, sod that, I want DTS/DD support, and I am not going to get a G5 just for that.

Bottom line, I'm impressed, it's nearly good enough to tell my dad to chuck out his PC and get one.

As for the iPod Random, OMG! sorry, if I get it right, it only plays random tracks? oh dear, very, very poor in my esimation, I really cannot see a market for it. sad really, as a tiny player like that would be excellent

 

As for running OS X on 256mb, well, I'm sitting on a 1.33ghz G4 iBook with 256, thought it would be slow, compared to the 1GB I've got in the original Ti book sitting next to me, but nope, it's pretty slick.

The non user servicable thing, hmm, interesting. give it a month or two after units ship and see what problems there are, if not many, then I'd be inclined to just rip the bugger apart and sod the warranty. Apart from the laptops here being abused by the tech team, and the odd drive dying, we've not had a problem (touch wood) with them at all. In fact, even shipping the G4's from the UK to Canada (and they took a bit of a knocking) did not kill them.

Yes, it's a new computer, and you like the warranty, so it is your choice, I know that if I had the nod from the boss, I'd be getting the biggest HD I could into this iBook, as well as a superdrive. Sod the warranty. lol

 

iPod shuffle play modes are:

- Random Autofill (iTunes will automatically pull songs from your Library to fill, probably based on song rating and play count, like Party Shuffle)

- Playlist (a playlist is sync'd to the shuffle)

- Manual (as in manually manage songs, so drag and drop from your Library onto the shuffle).

Remember Apple added "Shuffle Songs" to the main menu of the other iPods because they learned that it was one of the most popular ways people were listening to music.

For £69, existing iPod users will pick up a shuffle to use at the gym. People could also justify buying one just as an upgrade from a smaller USB flash drive. This thing will be an impulse purchase to get people hooked on iPod/iTunes integration and the iTunes Music Store. They'll probably sell shedloads. And next Christmas they'll all upgrade to a full size iPod.

Cheers
Alex

 

Thanks for the info. Just need to decide what I want the most now....

PSP, mini mac, new camera lenses, TSL 333bhp upgrade...

Why is it all the best gadgets always cost so much

 

LOL, tell me about it, currently saving for new Powerbook (desperate), PSP, mini mac...

 

Normal PC DDR memory works fine on the G5 I have - just make sure its the same speed (333mhz on mine) And just fit it yourself - takes all of 3 mins

You can also get your memory from Crucial.com and it will tell u exact type you need for your mobo/machine combination....fast delivery too.

 

Trouble with Mac mini is that we're not sure how easy it will be to get into and at the moment, the Apple product page states that RAM must be installed by an authorised Apple Service Provider. This means that if the user installs RAM it will invalidate the warranty.

 

Alex, I have had it confirmed that they do recommend it is installed by an ASP but it will not invalidate the warranty if it isn't

Although you do need a special tool to open it up, coincidentally, that tool can only be obtained by ASPs!

Don't think it will take long for a RAM producer to come up with the tool though, maybe 2 months?

 

Ok, I'll hold my hands up and say I'm a fool for not seeing that the iPod Shuffle is not just a random player, it does have a normal mode. Hey, one mistake now and again isn't too bad

 

TBH Andy, it wouldn't bother me anyway (nor you I expect), if it breaks just buy another! Sounds stupid, but Apple's RAM pricing makes it almost a sane position. Just wanted non-Mac "switchers" to be aware of it.

I guess you read it at this blog?



I PITY THE FOOL

Ok, being serious, we now know a little bit more about the specs. of the Mac mini. The HDD's are 2.5" 4200RPM laptop units (confirmed by Macworld attendees checking System Profiler). 1GB PC2700 DIMMs are supported and it is very likely that 2GB modules will work too.

Crucial PC2700 part list

So why laptop drives? Less heat, less power consumption and smaller. Also, many now expect the eMac to be discontinued. The eMac is now the only Mac to use 3.5" PATA HDD's, whilst Mac mini will use HDD's also used in the PowerBook and iBook lines. This means Apple can negotiate bigger discounts on those parts.

eBuyer list of 2.5" HDD's

 

Disappointing they are 2.5" drives, even if I understand the logic of them. Seems to me these are often a performance killer, certainly seem to slow down PC laptops

 

Hitachi have the TravelStar 7K60 and E7K60 which are 40GB or 60GB 7200rpm 2.5" drives. The E5K100 is 100GB / 5400pm 2.5". Seagate also have a Momentus 5400.2 which is the same as the E5K100.

Shame it doesn't support SCSI - Seagate have 2.5" 10k Ultra320 SCSI HDs in 72GB and 36GB

 

It will be interesting to see if the eMac is EOL'd. It's a big seller in education, as it's a nice, robust all-in-one box. I've had use of one and they are rather pleasant to use. the table-lamp iMacs would not hold up to student abuse, and I doubt the new G5 iMacs would either.

Education was screaming out for a 17" eMac and they, eventually, got one. Education is a funny market, they don't have the same budgets as corporates or consumer users, so are very picky about what they purchase and it must stand up to the abuse it will be subjected to.

I do recall seeing a couple of students having a tug of war with a G4 tower once, that was fairly amusing

The only issue I have with upgrading the Mac mini's HD is heat. It's fanless, and if you put a high RPM drive in there, it;s going to generate a hell of a lot of heat, which could cause problems.

Can't wait to see the boxes piled high at Best buy and futureshop on the 22nd.