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Apple Makes 512MB RAM Standard on Mac mini; Adds SuperDrive Model (UPDATE)
by , 8:35 AM EDT, July 26th, 2005
Apple Computer announced Tuesday it is increasing the standard memory on its entry level Mac mini models to 512 megabytes and is adding a top-of-the-line model with a SuperDrive retailing for US$699.
The Mac mini lineup now includes three models: the 1.25 gigahertz (GHz) Mac mini with 40 gigabyte (GB) hard drive and Combo drive retailing for $499, a 1.42GHz Mac mini with 80GB hard drive and Combo drive retailing for $599, and the new 1.42GHz Mac mini with a 80GB hard drive and SuperDrive for burning DVDs and CDs, costing $699.
The top two models of the Mac mini now include built-in AirPort Extreme for 54 Mbps 802.11g wireless networking, along with an internal Bluetooth module, the company said. Previously, these options were extra-priced options.
Except for the addition of the new top-line, SuperDrive model, the entry-level and mid-range models stay the same in terms of processor speed, hard drive capacity, graphics processor, and price.
Apple said the new Mac mini models were "available immediately."
Observer Comments
Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:00 am Subject: The Mac mini lineup now includes three models
Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:01 am Subject: Dell 2400 - 2.4 GHz, 80GB, 17" Monitor, $299, Free Ship
Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:05 am Subject: For once I agree with RC
QuoteRealityCheck wrote:
The Mac mini is still a bad deal for back to school. Instead of just a processor, you can get a faster complete system with monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse for about 1/3 of what you'll end up paying for a complete Mac mini system. Still an iLemmings system.
Here is the proof that the Mac Mini is a bad deal http://news.com.com/Security+holes+add+up+in+second+quarter/2100-1002_3-5803078.html?part=rss&tag=5803078&subj=news
Here is the proof that the Mac Mini is a bad deal http://news.com.com/Security+holes+add+up+in+second+quarter/2100-1002_3-5803078.html?part=rss&tag=5803078&subj=news
This link does not say anything about the Mac Mini? What are you getting at?
Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:28 am Subject: Getting at it
Quotephkn69 wrote:
Here is the proof that the Mac Mini is a bad deal http://news.com.com/Security+holes+add+up+in+second+quarter/2100-1002_3-5803078.html?part=rss&tag=5803078&subj=news
This link does not say anything about the Mac Mini? What are you getting at?
What I am getting at is no matter inexpensive the Windows system is there is a price to pay. Reality Check, our resident troll, usually has some "proof" link in his posts to show how much better a Windows is better than Macintosh.
Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:45 am Subject: The cheap Dull?
God start RC, but don't mention that you get "shared memory" which will really be great for university students. Then remember that it will have the neutered XP - not XP Pro. (OS X only comes in one Pro level so add the costs of XP Pro to the Dull.)
Now add the money and time to try to keep it healthy. Virus protection, spyware protection, worms? You get the starter kits for free - then comes the annual payments. Also don't forget that protection against a virus is only developed after the virus hits the wild.
Hate to say it, but it's not cheap to go to university. There is a lot investment in money and time and having a major paper lost because of a disease or the famous blue screen can generate a financial loss greater than your Dull will save you. Let's not even think about Dull's tech support that will suggest you reinstall Windows for any minor fault. Doesn't work when you are on a tight schedule to get a paper or project in.
You also forgot the free iPod mini that can be set as a back up hard drive if you don't like music - throw that into your calculations. You can also spend about $8 a month for .Mac for off site back up of important papers, research etc. as well as posting pictures for family & friends.
Since dorm rooms are small add the fact that you will be updating the cheap monitor to a flat screen, and upgrading the mouse. (Actually, you'll probably upgrade the memory on both the Dull and Mac so that's an even trade off.)
Going away to school? Gonna take pictures with the digital camera? Compare iPhoto the the crap on the Dull. Might even be able to borrow some rich kids digital movie camera and use the Mac to send the folks a Quicktime movie.
I won't even mention the joys for parents of iSight chats. I had an iSight chat with my wife while on a business trip to Korea and it was like I was in the same town. But people who want to get the cheapest don't concern themselves about how much parents will miss their kids during the college years.
I'm sure you are happy with your $299 Dull - just don't wish that misery on others.
Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:25 am Subject: Re: Dell 2400 - 2.4 GHz, 80GB, 17" Monitor, $299, Free
QuoteRealityCheck wrote:
The Mac mini is still a bad deal for back to school. Instead of just a processor, you can get a faster complete system with monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse for about 1/3 of what you'll end up paying for a complete Mac mini system. Still only for iLemmings.
Ahh, yes...the mythical $299 Dell PC. Let's take a look at that, shall we?
256MB shared RAM (btw your 400MHz DDR RAM runs at 266MHz with Celerons). But the Mini now comes with 512MB, so let's bump up the RAM...Oh wait! You can't! If you want more RAM, you have to step "up" to the Dimension 3000. So let's do that (+$100). We'll take away the monitor to make it more even (-$50). BTW...the keyboard and mouse they give you are worth about $20, so we'll remove that. Speakers? Those are $10 at Target.
XP Home? I don't think so. Pro is more comparable to OS X. Cha ching.
Firewire? Riiight. Add that too.
Now, how about a "productivity suite" like Appleworks? Oh, wait! Doesn't come with one! have to add that on. (and still no e-mail capability, btw)
Warranty? 90 days? Apple gives you a year. Need to add that on.
An actual CD with a backup of XP Pro? Not a chance. You have to pay for that too.
AV and anti-spyware? Didn't add that in, but if you are buying this boat-anchor, you probably aren't aware that you need it. Otherwise add a subscription fee of $79. (there goes the difference between the parts the Dell has and the parts the Mini doesn't)
You are now up to $516 with the bits added and removed (after the discount, btw) ($595 if you get the AV and AS subscriptions). And this is to get it comparable to the BASE Mini. But you still have shared RAM for the graphics. No iMovieHD, no GarageBand, does include PhotoAlbum SE Basic (how does this compare to iPhoto?), no Quicken (comes with the Mini), no 3rd party games (comes with Mini) (solitaire and freecell don't count).
Such a deal.
Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:27 am Subject: Back to school with Dell? Think twice...
Seriously, a member of my extended family, a devoted Windows guy, has had miserable experiences with them. He bought his daughter an Inspirion laptop with what was supposed to be a 4 year, on-site service extended warranty for her college use. One morning, the thing refused to boot — dead as as doornail. She called tech support. She got “Harold,” who had a suspicious, New Delhi accent. He told her that she’d need to get out a screwdriver and crack the case open and “run some diagnostics” to see what was wrong, before they’d consider sending a technician out. (Turns out you have to buy from their Latitude (business) line to get that kind of service.) His daughter said, “I’m a music major, I don’t own a screwdriver, my father paid big bucks for an extended warranty, so do something.” In the end, her dad spent the equivalent of a couple of working days on the phone with Dell (at some point actually getting to speak to someone in the Continental United States) and after threatening to tell the IT person at his business that they should stop buying Dell products, they took care of my niece’s computer. If you poke around online, you’ll find myriad stories of people complaining bitterly about Dell’s crummy tech support.
YMMV, of course.
Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:56 am Subject: Re: 1Gb Upgrade
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
The top end spec is great but to upgrade to 1Gb is a wopping $175. Am I right in thinking that is a lot of money
Yup. Get a 1 GB chip from www.crucial.com for about $120.
Plus you'll get to keep the 512 chip that you remove from the mini and use it for something else!
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Exactly. I think they need to drop it definately!!
Apple RAM has always been expensive and I doubt that will change anytime soon.
As long as I can still put my own in I don't mind too much.
They HAVE gotten a little better, at least. $120 to $175 is about a 45% increase. Apple RAM used to cost about twice as much as other RAM, in other words, a 100% increase.
So yeah, they should do better, you're right, but it looks like they're doing a little better than they used to, at least.
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Or an even better deal from NewEgg.
How are they? I know crucial sells high-quality RAM that has a lower failure rate than some brands. $20 is not enough of a savings to risk bad RAM.
That doesn't mean newegg is bad, I've just never ordered from them before is all. Have you ordered from them before? Everything work out?
Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:11 pm Subject: Re: 1Gb Upgrade
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
I wonder whether you could order an empty RAM slot and buy your own RAM and fit it yourself
No, but if you buy your Mac from a 3rd party dealer you MIGHT be able to buy a 1 GB upgrade for less than upgrading it yourself. The 3rd party dealer would be able to sell the RAM it came with and so they might not charge you for it.
QuoteSmall White Car wrote:QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Or an even better deal from NewEgg.
How are they? I know crucial sells high-quality RAM that has a lower failure rate than some brands. $20 is not enough of a savings to risk bad RAM.
That doesn't mean newegg is bad, I've just never ordered from them before is all. Have you ordered from them before? Everything work out?
I've used Newegg several times. Never a problem. Great prices, good service. definitely a recommend.
One word in the Dell Specs kills it.
Celeron.
Doesn't even make it on to the Systems Shootouts page
http://www.systemshootouts.org/processors.html
Say no more.
Tue Jul 26, 2005 1:15 pm Subject: RC (THIS TIME) isn't that far wrong
Far be it for me to defend a troll, but here he's not entirely wrong.
Mind you, it isn't a Dell system but my girlfriend just bought a system as a gift for a friend of ours. After rebates, tax, etc she just bought a Compaq system for $430 from Staples.
That system has 512MB of PC2700 RAM, an AMD Sempron 3000+, 160GB hard drive, a dual layer DVD-RW, a 17" CRT, keyboard, speakers, AND an HP 3845 printer. It had 6 USB ports, 1 firewire 400 port, 100MB ethernet, 56k modem, and even a parallel port.
And yes, it had XP Home. And trial software with the typical compaq/hp flufware, all of which I removed.
However: It also came with some 25 games, MS Works and Quicken. There were other minor software programs too that I can't remember.
For AV I downloaded Microsoft's excellent Anti-Spyware program (for free). It schedules its own runs and own updates automatically. I turned on the Windows firewall and I downloaded Bit Defender as a free AV program. That does not require a yearly subscription, the updates are also free.
This computer will be on ADSL so there's a hardware NAT router guarding its back.
All in all, one heck of a deal if you ask me. Oh, and if I hear one more post about Garage Band I'm going to scream. How many of us have the ability to take advantage of that program? Hmm?
So this computer *system* and software was $430. That compares very favorably with the $499 base Mini. Remember this system had a good monitor and a decent printer.
I guess even a troll can be right once in a while... 
QuoteYippee! Finally somebody used the word "drivel"! Who knew we had such highly educated individuals gracing TMO with their presence? All we need is for someone to say "tripe" and it'll really be a party! Guest perhaps you could thrill us with some anecdotes from the last Harvard Club meeting!Guest wrote:
There's not much to this "update," aside from the sorely needed increased minimum RAM. Looks like no changes to the motherboard at all, just a repackaging of options. Although it does represent a price reduction for certain configurations.
No one seems to have noticed that they made the modem an option in all but the base configuration.
Moderators: It would be nice if replies to RC were automatically closed/compressed so we don't have to read a bunch of useless drival. The folks who reply to RC are as boring as (and have nothing any more intelligent to say than) RC herself.
QuoteYou should set up a blog so we can see how many times she calls you asking if you can come over and fix something or download a driver or something.Roger Plowman wrote:
Far be it for me to defend a troll, but here he's not entirely wrong.
Mind you, it isn't a Dell system but my girlfriend just bought a system as a gift for a friend of ours. After rebates, tax, etc she just bought a Compaq system for $430 from Staples....
...So this computer *system* and software was $430. That compares very favorably with the $499 base Mini. Remember this system had a good monitor and a decent printer.
I guess even a troll can be right once in a while...
QuoteRoger Plowman wrote:
That system has 512MB of PC2700 RAM, an AMD Sempron 3000+, 160GB hard drive, a dual layer DVD-RW, a 17" CRT, keyboard, speakers, AND an HP 3845 printer. It had 6 USB ports, 1 firewire 400 port, 100MB ethernet, 56k modem, and even a parallel port.
Even a parallel port? Oh man, if it also comes with a floppy, then this thing would be seriously SWEET!
Tue Jul 26, 2005 1:57 pm Subject: Since We're Talking About RAM
I just got a new iMac delivered today, and the search for another GB fo RAm begins.
I've seen several places claim their RAM is configured specifically for Macs. Soudns like BS to me. Anybody know if there's any validity to such a claim?
Quoteacdc1174 wrote:QuoteSmall White Car wrote:QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Or an even better deal from NewEgg.
How are they? I know crucial sells high-quality RAM that has a lower failure rate than some brands. $20 is not enough of a savings to risk bad RAM.
That doesn't mean newegg is bad, I've just never ordered from them before is all. Have you ordered from them before? Everything work out?
I've used Newegg several times. Never a problem. Great prices, good service. definitely a recommend.
Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:50 pm Subject: Re: Good RAM, Crucial
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Hence my question: is there any validity to this claim of RAM being "Specially Mac Configured?"
Well, no, that terms doesn't really mean anything. But that doesn't mean it's meaningless.
They probably mean that they've actually tested their RAM with the Mac model you say you have. So no, you don't need a special kind of RAM for the Mac, but at the same time it's good to know they've tested it.
But yeah, any site that says they guarantee that their RAM will work with a Mac is just as good as the one that claims it's "Mac Configured." I think it's all marketing talk for "Will Work With Macs." Nothing more and nothing less.