Neil
My guess is that Apple is just following its normal for new products skim-the-cream pricing model. Few desktop computers will be sold during 2009 so Apple figures to charge the folks who really need the kind of power the dual-CPU MPs represent. Then with economic improvement and new chip prices Apple can later reconfigure the line, adjust prices, etc. There certainly is room for all kinds of speed bump performance improvements, including new models.
IMO the product mix is changing. Part of this is the logical consequence of the large amount of power available in desktop computers today - even at the C2D levels of 2006. All of today's Macs perform graphics work in milliseconds that used to take many minutes, if not hours (remember running PS on PPC 8500 boxes?).
The new Mini IMO is the sleeper of the new Macs. iMacs are hamstrung by their glossy displays intolerable to many (not all) graphics pros but the Minis are not. Running OS 10.6 with FW 800 connectivity, 9400M graphics, 4 GB DDR3 RAM and third-party displays a Mini will be able to actually drive a desktop Aperture or Photoshop workflow (although obviously not like a 4x-the-price MP would drive such apps) at a very cheap price.
However for tech evolution reasons the Mini will live a much shorter life cycle than the top MPs. The 4 GB RAM will soon prove limiting in the future, as will the maximum 8 GB RAM of the low end MP. In fact that 8 GB RAM limitation probably makes investing in a new low end MP appropriate only for certain very specialized usages (not Photoshop) that do not evolve to benefit from additional RAM.
-Allen Wicks
It might work for my wife though, actually. Her mini is only used for web and email.
Unless the new mini has an eSATA connector it's a no go. Apple should
have included a solid state hard drive option or a one tB drive option
also.
Umm, the Mini is the lowest end, 1/4 the price of an adequate Mac Pro. FW800 works just fine at that price.
4gB in a new box is ridiculous.
Same answer.
pbc
And what's up with the MiniDisplay port?
As I recall, that's the port that the new 24" LED Cinema Display uses to connect with the new laptops.
Neil
Apple will not survive if they don't start staying ahead of the curve.
Right. You are telling that to the one of the best few US firms by any measure and that has been gaining market share like crazy.
As I recall, that's the port that the new 24" LED Cinema Display uses
to connect with the new laptops.
I think you're right Neil - at the Apple Store one of the accessories you can order with the Mac Pro is an adapter from the Mini Display port to DVI. Neat. Can anyone say ADC?
It's got to be done so off we go…
pbc
Configuring a tight little system is what I want, and at that rate, I might be best off with a iMac or Macbook. Just because of the tight economy, I'm going to shop and think this one out carefully.
Thanks for the links,
Ken
Mac Mini (just to stay on topic).
Mac Pro.
KBR Halliburton lost money in Iraq.
I'm sure they did and they have no clue where it is. Could that be why they moved the HQ to Duba? Sounds like a bunch of traitors to me, their only loyalty is to money not their country.
Halliburton lost money in Iraq
OMFG! When's the telethon.
Oh yeah Mac Pros.
Lots of them.
OMFG! When's the telethon.
Very funny.