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Mac mini Quietly Updated To Core Duo
How-To: Turn Your Mac mini into a DVD Jukebox
Mac Mini S meets Mini Cooper S
Mac mini Quietly Updated To Core Duo
Along with the unvveiling of the latest iMac update yesterday, Apple also quietly announced that it has increased processor speeds on both models of the Mac mini, delivering dual-core performance across the line while holding the price point. The $799 Mac mini now includes a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, and the $599 model now includes a 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from a 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor.
This is moderately big news for the littlest Mac, and it baffles me as to why Apple chose to downplay the announcement, relegating it to a single short paragraph in the iMac news release.
The Intel Core Duo, delivering unprecedented power in such a small package, powers the the Mac mini to run up to four times faster than previously. According to testing conducted by Apple in August 2006 using preproduction Mac mini units with 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo; all other systems were production 1.42GHz G4 units. Estimated SPECint_rate_base2000 score: 30.8. Estimated SPECfp_rate_base2000 score: 26.3. SPEC is a registered trademark of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC); see http://www.spec.org for more information. Benchmarks were compiled using the IBM and Intel compilers for Mac OS.
Inside its charmingly tiny 2-inch tall, 6.5-inch square anodized aluminum enclosure, Mac mini houses that fast Intel Core Duo processor, a 60 or 80GB hard drive, slot-loading Combo or SuperDrive, as well as built-in wireless.
Mac mini At a Glance
• 1.66GHz or 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• Apple Remote with Front Row
• Up to 2GB memory(4)
• Intel GMA 950 graphics processor
• DVI connector, VGA adapter
• Slot-loading optical drive
• Up to 160GB hard drive(4)
• Built-in gigabit Ethernet
• Analog and digital audio
• Expansion via USB and FireWire
• iLife ’06, Mac OS X Tiger
For more information, visit:
http://www.apple.com/macmini/
Mac mini photos:
http://www.apple.com/macmini/gallery/
How-To: Turn Your Mac mini into a DVD Jukebox
modmini.com says:
In our DVD Kiosk How-To, we configured our Mac mini to function as a DVD player. But what if you want to do away with the platters and store your movies on your hard drive? If iTunes allows you keep your CDs in the closet forever, so why not do the same with your DVDs?
Alas, storing DVDs on your hard drive isn’t as straighforward as ripping a CD. Simply put, movies are huge. An industry DVD weighs in at a maximum 8.5GB. Hard drives for the mini currently cost about $1 per gigabyte, so storing that DVD could cost as much as $8.50 in hard drive space—about half what you paid for the DVD. (By comparison, you can stuff 13 raw CDs in that same 8.5GB, or 150-200 audio CDs converted to to MP3 or AAC formats.) This value calculation has prevented any kind of iTunes-for-movies from gaining mass acceptance. But the pieces are out there to crack this nut, and we'll show you how.
You can check it out at:
http://modmini.com/theatre/howto/dvdjukebox/index.php
Mac Mini S meets Mini Cooper S
BareFeats' rob-ART morgan says:
Last week we purchased a "carrying case" for transporting our new Mac Pro to remote test venues: a 2006 Mini Cooper S.
The Mini is not just a car. It's a driving experience that assaults all the senses -- especially if you opt for the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit that not only squeezes out 100 horsepower per liter, but purposely pipes the sound of the supercharger into the cockpit.
It don't remember when I've had so much fun -- not even the time I was spent a weekend at the Jim Russell School of Racing at Laguna Seca --- not even the Saturday I spent in a go kart racing school in Ventura. My Mini experience is enhanced by the fact that there are over 25 miles sweeping curves and hairpins from the nearest interstate to our mountain hideaway. I can drive a 50 mile "racing loop" on any day of the week.
I arrived at church early last Sunday to get a good parking place. Another early arriver saw the Mini and wanted to know who owned it. Without saying a word, he jumped in his pickup and left. He returned in a few minutes with his Mini Cooper S convertible, parking it next to my Mini. As we compared features and complimented each other on the deep wisdom of our car choices, he informed me that there are four other Mini owners in our small mountain town. He rattled off their names and a description of each Mini. "Maybe we can sponsor a Mini Cooper event for the whole county..."
As I was reflecting on the amazing performance of this "pocket rocket," on the subculture of "rabid" Mini owners, and on the tongue-in-cheek marketing approach of Mini USA, I saw a connection to Apple Computer.
I think Apple is missing a potential market. I believe there exists consumers, like myself, who like small things that go fast. And I know how to reach that market. Offer "S" versions or "supercharged" versions of the "smallest Macs": Mac mini Core Duo and 13" MacBook.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.barefeats.com/mini-coop.html
Editor's note: I agree enthusiastically. In January, 2005, I posted a column exploring the parallels between the Mac mini and the original British Motor Corp. Mini automobile and its successors. You can read it here:
http://www.applelinks.com/index.php/more/minis_and_minis/
Charles W. Moore
Tags: Blogs ď Mac mini Muse ď
