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Apple unveils a new Mac Mini

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Re: Apple unveils a new Mac Mini

#4
post #3
post #2

minor refresh, practically the same. very sad because the mini was long long overdue for a refresh.

Whats missing?

it's underpowered compared to NUC's (and similar) in it's price range, even after adding hdd's and ram to the NUC kit if you don't buy it pre-made.

the top $1k model still is only a dual core cpu.

it comes with a slow 5400 rpm drive instead of a ssd. even the pro $1k model has a slow 5400 rpm mechanical drive unless you pay extra for the upgrade.

not to mention thunderbolt ports have not really caught on outside the apple-peripheral community, would have liked to see more USB3's than thunderbolts.

(also not sure about their claim of "lowest power computer in the world", guess it depends what your definition of a computer is, because RPi takes 700mW. None-the-less, some of the NUC kits sip only 8W or less, while the new Mini is rated at 83W)

Re: Apple unveils a new Mac Mini

#5
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whats missing?

it's underpowered compared to NUC's (and similar) in it's price range, even after adding hdd's and ram to the NUC kit if you don't buy it pre-made. the top $1k model still is only a dual core cpu. it comes with a slow 5400 rpm drive instead of a ssd. even the pro $1k model has a slow 5400 rpm mechanical drive unless you pay extra for the upgrade. not to mention thunderbolt ports have not really caught on outside the…

It has 2 thunderbolts and 4 USB 3.0 ports...

http://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/

Re: Apple unveils a new Mac Mini

#7
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whats missing?

it's underpowered compared to NUC's (and similar) in it's price range, even after adding hdd's and ram to the NUC kit if you don't buy it pre-made. the top $1k model still is only a dual core cpu. it comes with a slow 5400 rpm drive instead of a ssd. even the pro $1k model has a slow 5400 rpm mechanical drive unless you pay extra for the upgrade. not to mention thunderbolt ports have not really caught on outside the…

Intel NUC uses low TDP mobile CPUs. The new Mini uses regular TDP mobile CPUs. The fastest NUC tops at 1.3GHz with Intel HD 5000 graphics. The new Mini tops at 3.0GHz with Intel Iris graphics.

If you are refering to compact desktop computers there aren't many (none?) that use regular TDP mobile CPUs, have Intel Iris graphics and are virtually silent. The only ones that are similar or have better specs are the Gigabyte Brix Pro line of compact desktops and most of them are noisy or extremely noisy and have bad cooling solutions. I know because I've owned two and ended up selling both after only a few weeks. The only one that show promise is this [1] and I still have doubts that it will be any good...

My only issue with the new Mini's is that you used to be able to buy one with a quad core CPU and now that option is gone. Other than that...

[1] http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5156

Re: Apple unveils a new Mac Mini

#8
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's underpowered compared to NUC's (and similar) in it's price range, even after adding hdd's and ram to the NUC kit if you don't buy it pre-made. the top $1k model still is only a dual core cpu. it comes with a slow 5400 rpm drive instead of a ssd. even the pro $1k model has a slow 5400 rpm mechanical drive unless you pay extra for the upgrade. not to mention thunderbolt ports have not really caught on outside the…

It has 2 thunderbolts and 4 USB 3.0 ports... http://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/

yes but plug in a keyboard, mouse, and this leaves only 2 ports. Some USB sticks are girthy and will take up 2 slots, meaning you may really only have 1 slot to use. I'd of preferred one or two more USB3's instead of the second thunderbolt port personally.

Re: Apple unveils a new Mac Mini

#9
post #6

Did they drop the server version?

the server edition really was the same but had no cd drive in lieu of an optional second hdd, and it came pre-installed with OSX server (which most wiped anyways in favor of a linux or BSD flavor)

Re: Apple unveils a new Mac Mini

#10
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's underpowered compared to NUC's (and similar) in it's price range, even after adding hdd's and ram to the NUC kit if you don't buy it pre-made. the top $1k model still is only a dual core cpu. it comes with a slow 5400 rpm drive instead of a ssd. even the pro $1k model has a slow 5400 rpm mechanical drive unless you pay extra for the upgrade. not to mention thunderbolt ports have not really caught on outside the…

Intel NUC uses low TDP mobile CPUs. The new Mini uses regular TDP mobile CPUs. The fastest NUC tops at 1.3GHz with Intel HD 5000 graphics. The new Mini tops at 3.0GHz with Intel Iris graphics. If you are refering to compact desktop computers there aren't many (none?) that use regular TDP mobile CPUs, have Intel Iris graphics and are virtually silent. The only ones that are similar or have better specs are the Gigabyt…

Gigabyte has a model[1] with the Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics which includes a 128 MB L4 DRAM cache. The Iris Pro is a big jump up[2] from the Iris 5000 graphics.

[1]: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4888

[2]: http://www.anandtech.com/show/8175/gigabyte-brix-pro-a-secon...

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