New Mac Minis announced March 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

hugh · 2009-03-03, 09:37 AM

The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $599 (US), includes:

2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
1GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T);
five USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port; and
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog.

The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $799 (US), includes all of the above with following differences

2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB;
320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;

Build-to-order options and accessories for the Mac mini include: a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 80GB, 250GB or 320GB 5400 hard drives.

tablo · 2009-03-15, 04:13 PM

Mac mini is the cheapest mac computer in Apple store, isn't it? Why does Apple products looks so overpriced?

EmmEff · 2009-03-16, 09:41 PM

I'm not sure what your posting is contributing to this thread, but if Apple is too expensive for you, buy a Dell!

Nuje · 2009-03-17, 12:24 AM

Or.....buy a Dell and make it into a Mac.
(I just did - bought the Dell part, anyway; can't wait to get it and fire up my new Mac netbook.

)

pcuz · 2009-03-25, 02:58 PM

Hi all,

Been thinking about getting a HTPC for sometime, the new mac mini has really sparked my intrested as it seems to be perfect for the job.

Anybody got any views or advice on going this route?

Cheers,

P

dbarron · 2009-04-04, 12:05 AM

We have a Mac mini hooked up to our living room TV via DVI-HDMI cable, and digital optical to our stereo.

We mostly use it as a PVR. We record HD/SD from over the air antenna using an Elgato EyeTV 250, and play back in the EyeTV software, and also export shows to iTunes (AppleTV format) for longer term storage since it uses a lot less disk space. We watch iTunes material that is on other computers - Mac and PC - via wireless network, e.g. movies, TV shows, music, photos, YouTube, podcasts, etc. We also watch DVDs , check email, and plug digital camera into it to grab digital photos/videos and show them on the TV.

We use a wireless mouse and keyboard with it so I guess we're not using it exactly like an HTPC but really as a computer.

We added an AppleTV to the bedroom TV, it automatically syncs with iTunes on the mini. So we can watch anything that's in iTunes on the mini in the bedroom.

I also export the Daily Show and Colbert Report to iTunes in ipod format, so I can sync them to my ipod touch and watch them while commuting to work on Skytrain.

We're really happy with it.

interfxrence · 2009-04-29, 09:14 AM

i bought one as an impulse buy. storage will be an issue, but i use the mini as a temporary drive, if i'm watching a movie i copy it over, if i want to listen to audio, i stream it from my pc (wired connection). it plays PAL dvds, which is an excellent bonus. toslink to the receiver and i have 5.1... i have an apple discount, so with that, i say its cheaper than building an htpc. and it doesn't look like a computer in your ht. go for it.

2009-03-03, 09:37 AM	#1
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	New Mac Minis announced March 3 The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $599 (US), includes: 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache; 1GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB; NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics; 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm; a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW); Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI for video output (adapters sold separately); built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T); five USB 2.0 ports; one FireWire 800 port; and one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog. The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $799 (US), includes all of the above with following differences 2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB; 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm; Build-to-order options and accessories for the Mac mini include: a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 80GB, 250GB or 320GB 5400 hard drives. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2009-03-25, 02:58 PM	#5
pcuz Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: TO Posts: 26	New Mac Mini as HTPC? Hi all, Been thinking about getting a HTPC for sometime, the new mac mini has really sparked my intrested as it seems to be perfect for the job. Anybody got any views or advice on going this route? Cheers, P

2009-04-04, 12:05 AM	#6
dbarron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 382	Mac mini as HTPC We have a Mac mini hooked up to our living room TV via DVI-HDMI cable, and digital optical to our stereo. We mostly use it as a PVR. We record HD/SD from over the air antenna using an Elgato EyeTV 250, and play back in the EyeTV software, and also export shows to iTunes (AppleTV format) for longer term storage since it uses a lot less disk space. We watch iTunes material that is on other computers - Mac and PC - via wireless network, e.g. movies, TV shows, music, photos, YouTube, podcasts, etc. We also watch DVDs , check email, and plug digital camera into it to grab digital photos/videos and show them on the TV. We use a wireless mouse and keyboard with it so I guess we're not using it exactly like an HTPC but really as a computer. We added an AppleTV to the bedroom TV, it automatically syncs with iTunes on the mini. So we can watch anything that's in iTunes on the mini in the bedroom. I also export the Daily Show and Colbert Report to iTunes in ipod format, so I can sync them to my ipod touch and watch them while commuting to work on Skytrain. We're really happy with it.

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2009-03-15, 04:13 PM	#2
tablo Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 536	Mac mini is the cheapest mac computer in Apple store, isn't it? Why does Apple products looks so overpriced?

2009-03-16, 09:41 PM	#3
EmmEff Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Newmarket, Ontario Posts: 371	I'm not sure what your posting is contributing to this thread, but if Apple is too expensive for you, buy a Dell!

2009-03-17, 12:24 AM	#4
Nuje Veteran Join Date: May 2002 Location: A charted un-desert isle Posts: 2,465	Or.....buy a Dell and make it into a Mac. (I just did - bought the Dell part, anyway; can't wait to get it and fire up my new Mac netbook. )

2009-04-29, 09:14 AM	#7
interfxrence Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12	i bought one as an impulse buy. storage will be an issue, but i use the mini as a temporary drive, if i'm watching a movie i copy it over, if i want to listen to audio, i stream it from my pc (wired connection). it plays PAL dvds, which is an excellent bonus. toslink to the receiver and i have 5.1... i have an apple discount, so with that, i say its cheaper than building an htpc. and it doesn't look like a computer in your ht. go for it.