The specs of the new mac Mini (MB463LL/A) and its variants are confusing on a few points. Perhaps some kindly Apple person can help interpret http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html .

Memory: Supports to 4GB
--Does it actually use it all, or only 3GB as in some older Intel Macs?

Graphics: 128 MB shared, 256MB shared (MB464LL/A)
--The note on this implies that, if I upgrade the main memory, the graphics memory will increase. Is this correct?

Beyond the specs:

Is there any reason not to use a 7200 rpm drive in this machine?

Would I be correct in assuming that a disk swap on the new Mini would be about the same complexity as for an older Mini? (about a 24-pack of Pepsi or so?)

This looks like a marvelous controller/recorder for a couple of HD receivers, even though eSATA is not there yet.

A full 4GB memory set is only about $66.

Where is the 4GB RAM set available at that price? You just caught my attention. This new Mac mini is looking good.

It uses the full 4 - but some of that will be takes by the graphics chip.

The memory borrowed by the graphics will go up if you put more in the machine. I don't know where the break point is.

The only reason not to use a 7200 RPM drive would be the heat generated.

From the take-apart photos, the new Mini is about the same as the old for disassembly/reassembly, with a few minor changes.

I am quite tempted to order a new Mac Mini with 4 gigs of RAM and the 320 gig HD. Putting in a 7200 RPM HD would not really offer any advantage for most users. Jack and I both agree that heat would be the biggest concern.

This is the Mac Mini model that should have been offered all along

When Snow Leopard comes out, I will most likely order a Mini with 4 GB and the 320 GB hard drive as a replacement for my current server - a PowerMac G5 2.0 Ghz dual core with only 3 GB of memory. And I'll be getting a much more powerful machine that doesn't require a ton of power and space, all for a *lot* less than I paid for the G5!

The Mini looks to be a great machine. I have an original G4 hooked to a TV as a media server (this was before the AppleTV was out).

Jack,
You've really got me thinking! I too have a Power Mac G5 as a Mac OS X server. I don't really have a reason to upgrade it right now, but the mini is appealing from a size/power use perspective.

Question, what about the piping (bus speeds). I have the impression that the Mac mini doesn't have sufficient throughput from a networking standpoint. Granted it now has gigabit Ethernet and Firewire 800 which is what I would need to hook up my Drobo, but does it have enough overall speed to move large files back and forth?

quote:

Originally posted by Jack Beckman:
When Snow Leopard comes out, I will most likely order a Mini with 4 GB and the 320 GB hard drive as a replacement for my current server - a PowerMac G5 2.0 Ghz dual core with only 3 GB of memory. And I'll be getting a much more powerful machine that doesn't require a ton of power and space, all for a *lot* less than I paid for the G5!

The Mini looks to be a great machine. I have an original G4 hooked to a TV as a media server (this was before the AppleTV was out).

The front-side bus speed of the PM G5 I have - the original - is 600 Mhz. The Mini is 1066 Mhz. The G5 has a 512 kb cache for the processor, the Mini 3 MB. The Intel chip running at 2 Ghz runs rings around the G5 at 2 Ghz. The G5 memory runs at 400 Mhz, the Mini is at 1066 Mhz.

The only thing slower on the Mini is the disk. But I use externals for my server anyway (so it can easily be moved in case of a computer problem). So for me, this is a no-brainer. The PM G5 is usually loafing right now and uses 1.5 GB-2GB of memory regularly. So a maxed out Mini should be fine.

I'm waiting until Snow Leopard because the chances are it won't run on PPC hardware. I should be getting 10.6 as part of my maintenance agreement, so I have already paid for it. So I will need an Intel machine to replace the G5, and the Mini looks to have more than enough power. (Oh, and I'd get a working SuperDrive again - the G5 drive died over a year ago!)

If it turns out 10.6 runs on my G5, I'll just hang onto it as the server.

Normally I'd consider moving my current desktop (a MacPro) and buying a new MacPro for my desktop, but my current system is doing just fine and hopefully will last me another year or so (until I can afford a new one!).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jack Beckman,

There was a time when heat was an Intel PC thing and you would never deal with it with a Mac ....

The Mac mini is just the right size. Go for the 7200 drive and you'll have a great coffee mug warmer, with all that power, right on the desktop!

It's really only a heat issue because of the tight packaging. All those parts are squeezed into a pretty small space. I had to replace the disk on my original Mini, and that was almost as bad as disassembling a Cube. Lots more screws in a Cube but the larger size made it a bit easier to work in.

I found good reason to NOT modify a Mini in this article: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Re...Terabyte-Drive/660/1 It looks easier to break than the older Minis.

It doesn't look any harder or more involved to add or change RAM, though. This article is about substituting an extra harddrive for the optical drive. That's a pretty exotic change.

The presence of several fragile antenna cables causes even me to hesitate to open this new Mini if it can be avoided.

from the Ports list: - What is the difference between these 2? I'm guessing that the mini-DVI is the standard monitor port for an LCD display.

What is the "Mini DisplayPort"?

mini-DVI output; Mini DisplayPort

I'm both surprised and happy that Apple included both ports. The mini-DVI port allows you to hook up directly to a DVI/HDMI monitor/TV (with the proper adapter(s) of course).

The Mini DisplayPort is the direction Apple is heading in and will likely build this port into all future desktops and notebooks as well as its Displays. The newest 24" LED Apple Display has a Display Port connection therefore could only plug into the newest MacBooks. Now it can plug into Apple's latest desktops.

Other than being smaller (therefore probably cheaper to build), I'm not sure what advantage it offers over the older ports.

Lastly the Display Port is not Apple proprietary and therefore other manufacturers can (and I think have) started using this port as well.

Are there adaptors for the display port to use a monitor with a VGA or DVI port connection?

http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html

In the box:
Mac mini
Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter
110W power adapter and power cord
Install/restore DVDs
Printed and electronic documentation

Graphics and video support:
DVI output using Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (included)
VGA output using Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter (sold separately)

quote:

Originally posted by chris.fx:
Are there adaptors for the display port to use a monitor with a VGA or DVI port connection?

quote:

Originally posted by Terry White:
Other than being smaller (therefore probably cheaper to build), I'm not sure what advantage it offers over the older ports.

A good write-up at Wikipedia explains some of the reasons for going to DisplayPort.

Just to clarify:
My Viewsonic LCD monitor (purchased Dec 2006) has this connector:
Analog/Digital 15-pin mini D-sub/DVI-D
(I'm using the digital one.)

It connects directly to my early 2008 MacBook Pro with no adapter needed.

Apple specs on this computer say simply that the Video connector is DVI.
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP4

Is this the "mini-DVI" described here?

Should I assume from Terry's comments that the "Mini DisplayPort" is a newer one, and what I'm using is an older standard configuration?

No, MBPros with DVI connectors have full-size DVI connectors.

Mini DisplayPort is the newest connector.