Mac Mini to become a digital hub?

Thank The Cheese · #1 November 30th, 2005, 08:14 PM

I found this article the other day which suggests the mac mini might evolve into a media center type device.

I have never even considered buying a mac mini, because I need something with a bit more grunt, but if it was useful as DVR/media centre/ etc. then I would snap one up in a second.

Wouldn't be a huge leap, I mean, minis have been fitted into cars and living rooms for a while now, but I'd love to see Apple actually release a mini version that was made for such a purpose.

Lt Major Burns · #2 November 30th, 2005, 08:59 PM

i don't like the 3.5" drive thing. it would suggest to the public a U-turn. it wouldn't be a mac mini any more. it'd be mac slightly-bigger-than-a-mini

Thank The Cheese · #3 November 30th, 2005, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt Major Burns

i don't like the 3.5" drive thing. it would suggest to the public a U-turn. it wouldn't be a mac mini any more. it'd be mac slightly-bigger-than-a-mini

lol, true. although surely they can fit a 3.5" without needing to enlarge the mini. I mean, it's only 1 inch. There has got to be a way to compress the other components to compensate for the larger drive.

Perhaps I'm being naive; it's probably more complicated than that.

texanpenguin · #4 November 30th, 2005, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thank The Cheese

lol, true. although surely they can fit a 3.5" without needing to enlarge the mini. I mean, it's only 1 inch. There has got to be a way to compress the other components to compensate for the larger drive.

Perhaps I'm being naive; it's probably more complicated than that.

Have you ever seen the inside of a Mac mini? The only way they could introduce a bigger HDD (or a bigger ANYTHING) would be to shrink EVERYTHING ELSE. Which would be a huge expense (especially with things like RAM, where non-standard is not a good idea). And when you say "it's only one inch", well it's one inch more on the HDD platters. Which manifests itself about threefold in volume. A 3.5" HDD is enormous next to a 2.5" one.

Thank The Cheese · #5 November 30th, 2005, 10:30 PM

aah. so I was being naive

how much bigger are we talking? I mean, a 3.5" would certainly bring the cost down and disk space up, which is good. unless it's a lot bigger, I think it may be worth the trade-off imo.

kainjow · #6 December 1st, 2005, 01:05 AM

Either way, the Mac mini is still a small computer! You can't really complain about its size.

I have a feeling that if they come out with an Intel Mac mini in January, they will sell an insane number of them! Not only will the consumers want them madly, but developers who can't afford to rent a $1000 computer, will go after them also!

Apple's a freakin' genius

**fryke** · #7 December 1st, 2005, 05:27 AM

Maybe such a home entertainment device would _not_ be called the Mac mini and would maybe not even replace it?

Reality · #8 December 1st, 2005, 08:31 AM

I would love a Apple DVR. I hope it has wifi support too or something so that it can broadcast to other macs or even accept veido/picture feed from one to display on the TV.