New Mac mini
by Volker Weber
Biggest news: HDMI port, SDcard slot, power supply built-in (no more extra brick). A little bit on the expensive side.
Comments
Still no blueray. Missed chance
Video goes from DVD straight to the net. Blu-ray does not really matter anymore.
No more sub 600 Euro Mac. Sad. Big mistake, if you ask me.
Hey Volker - this looks lush! Have you seen any unboxing videos or reviews of it yet?
Wonder what boxee on this would be like ... and if buying it now I'll regret later when another codec/standard comes out that it doesn't support!?!? :-)
I want one.
Waiting for revision B though.
@vowe - How do you get video from DVD "to the net"? Surely not possible due to that sophisticated encryption they use ;-)
You don't, unless you made them. The studios do. See Netflix.
.. ahh, see Netflix ... unless you live in the UK and it's not available (although likely by year end, apparently!)
anyway, Chris .. there'll be a zero-day hack for playing your own stuff :-) And running your own uTorrent client on it, no doubt :-)
You don't need a hack. It's a Mac, not an iSomething. Just install your codecs and software that you like.
You don't need a hack. It's a Mac, not an iSomething. Just install your codecs and software that you like.
Sweeet! I didn't realise :-) I've not owned one thus far - relying on my lovely Silverstone LC19 case, and mini-ITX board and various other lovely bits for my own boxee box ... but I'm always tempted with new kit - particularly things you post!!
@Mark, if you want Netflix or Hulu install a VPN (StrongVPN works great). On the other hand, LoveFilm now offer streaming as part of their DVD rental plans. Works great.
I always saw that the cost of MacMini+Apple display made the imac 24/27 a more sensible home movie proposition, but now large LCD TV screens are so cheap and the Macmini has HDMI out, this is a great solution.
Drat carries an even heavier Apple Tax: nl store lists it for 799 Euros
I can get $909 for that.
That's 30% tax...
@Stuart - I never went the VPN route because I figured it would kill some of the speed - and speed's super important with a HD stream. I think I tried it noticed stuttering and stalling all the time.
I didn't realise LoveFilm did streaming. You using it?
Volker, thank you for your first statement 'Video goes from DVD straight to the net. Blu-ray does not really matter anymore.' - because it really does set the tone for a set top device like this. (not being sarcastic, I mean this).
For me, the BluRay experience is what I want out of a movie. I want the 1080p and super high end audio when I watch a movie. I want Avatar to shake me house. I want the first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan to feel like I am being shell shocked. And if that means I need to bypass the set top devices and buy bluray discs until all the streaming content gets up to that quality, I am totally fine with that.
Hulu and Netflix are great for TV, but I want the movie experience to be the closest to a theater as possible. And now all my computers have bluray drives :-)
Thanks for the info - appreciate the level set. I guess I will be one of the few that keep the physical disc companies in business for the next few years.
The all new Apple TV....!?
I'd love to see an iFixIt teardown of this thing. It looks to be a smidge wider and deeper than the previous version, but close to half as tall. And they managed to get the power supply in there too. If you account for the optical drive, and the fan and RAM visible in the bottom, and the ports... I'm not sure where the HDD is?
It certainly looks like they took cues (lower, wider stance, integrated power supply) from the appleTV.
I know it is the low end machine, but I'd also like to see SSD options BTO.
Considering an unlimited server license is included, a mac mini server + a Drobo with 3 or more 1.5 TB drives connected via FW800 is pretty compelling for the small business environment...
I meanwhile think I can't wait for a revision B ;-(
However I think it's a major drawback that I have to buy an optical drive. I don't see what for.
Yes, I know the server edition comes without one, but the consumer thing is too pricey as it is already.
OK. I want one. Now I need a sub $150 2-port DVI-KVM. Where?
Nice.
Now if someone would just make a set of ears that can be used to rack mount the devices..
the new design is really nice.
