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rich82fox · Jan 25, 2008, 06:19 PM

hi

I am planning on buying the superdrive version of the mac mini

I was wondering if anybody knows when the next revision of the mac mini will be?

as am deciding whether to buy it now or wait a bit?

also - is the mac mini a viable solution for video edtiting (with external hard drive)

I am planning on using it to edit High Definition digital video

any ideas?

thanx in advance

rich

adamfishercox · Jan 25, 2008, 10:40 PM

For casual editing it should be fine, but don't expect blazing fast speed. If you're work is video editing, the mini is not for you. It's a toss up as to when they will be updated. The Mac Mini doesn't usually get too much attention. The last update was in August. I'd say buy it now.

rich82fox · Jan 28, 2008, 01:51 PM

surely the mac mini must be better for HD editing than my G4 1.4 GZ machine?

it's a choice between the mini or the iMac

the Mac Pro is just too expensive for me to consider

rich

adamfishercox · Jan 28, 2008, 01:52 PM

Oh, no doubt the mini is better than a G4, but go for the iMac if you can.

rich82fox · Jan 29, 2008, 07:34 AM

is the mac mini or the imac powerful enough to allow for real time HD preview/video viewing?

rich

hwojtek · Jan 29, 2008, 07:57 AM

iMac does HD no problems.
Mini - maybe the C2D models do, my CD doesn't.

stukdog · Jan 30, 2008, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by rich82fox

I was wondering if anybody knows when the next revision of the mac mini will be?

Usually I'll see a pretty big drop in our Mac mini supplies before a refresh and we aren't able to order our regular large batches. But, right now the channels seem normal so I don't suppose there will be a refresh soon.

As far as HD performance, I haven't used it on a Mac mini but I do edit HD on my iMac with no problem. (It's the 2.4 Aluminum one with 4GB of RAM.)

Tom53092 · Feb 6, 2008, 06:22 PM

I've been hoping for an update myself sometime in the next few months. If you look at the current list of Core 2 Duo mobile processors on the Intel site, the new chips are 45nm technology which offer some internal speed improvements over and above clock speed. Clock speeds are now 2.1ghz, 2.4 ghz and up. Also front side bus speed is increased from 667 to 800. I'm hoping Apple will take advantage of this new technology and we'll see it in the minis sometime soon.
As for video editing on the mini, the biggest drawback is the speed of the hard drive. The mini's hard drive is not a screamer. You would need to add a faster external hard drive. I have one of the new Seagate 7200.11 SATA drives in a firewire enclosure hooked to my G4 mini. It is way faster than the internal drive. A 500gb drive and enclosure would set you back less than $200.

mduell · Feb 7, 2008, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Tom53092

I've been hoping for an update myself sometime in the next few months. If you look at the current list of Core 2 Duo mobile processors on the Intel site, the new chips are 45nm technology which offer some internal speed improvements over and above clock speed. Clock speeds are now 2.1ghz, 2.4 ghz and up. Also front side bus speed is increased from 667 to 800. I'm hoping Apple will take advantage of this new technology and we'll see it in the minis sometime soon.

I doubt it. Even after Core 2 Duo was available, the following update for the Mac mini was another Core Duo chip; I suspect Apple will do the same, just bumping the mini up the 65nm line instead of switching to 45nm

imdipped · Feb 7, 2008, 09:57 PM

I would buy a mini if it had the footprint that Time Machine and Airport Extreme has. This would allow for a decent size HD and extra full size ports. Make it taller to allow for ram slots and heat distribution. That’s your entry-level price. Make discrete graphics and PCI express (or better) and the usual upgrades optional and that’s your high profit price. With time machine’s footprint, you have a matched pair.

If you don’t want Time Machine because you want accessibility to be able to choose your own HD, pair it up with an OWC NewerTech miniStack v3 NewerTech miniStack FireWire and USB Hub and Hard Drive up to 1.0TB at OtherWorldComputing.com or equivalent. I’m sure they would match the footprint and hopefully they could enhance it with an express card slot and maybe SD type card readers.

If Apple would bundle it all into one case, what would you have? Headless Mac for the masses?

MacosNerd · Feb 8, 2008, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by imdipped

I would buy a mini if it had the footprint that Time Machine and Airport Extreme has.

Time Machine has no footprint - its software. I think you mean Time Capsule

imdipped · 12:42 PM

You are correct sir. My bad.

Mac mini 6.5 x 6.5 x 2"
Airport Extreme 6.5 X 6.5 x1.3"
Apple TV 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.1"
Time capsule 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4"

What would be a good footprint? Apple has done 7.7 x 7.7 twice. Did they find the earlier 6.5 insufficient? Would they standardize on 7.7?