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selowitch · Jan 11, 2005, 10:30 PM

Could I conceivably cart around a Mac Mini in a bag with a LCD display, a wireless keyboard and a mouse and have it be a semi-portable computer with a replaceable screen? Could it be an alternative to an iBook?

d4nth3m4n · Jan 11, 2005, 10:31 PM

wasn't there a bag where you could tote a cube and a cinema display together?

selowitch · Jan 11, 2005, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
wasn't there a bag where you could tote a cube and a cinema display together?

I'm definitely thinking along those lines, yes. I don't specifically recall a cube/ACD bag, but it wouldn't surprise me if there used to be one.

ManOfSteal · Jan 11, 2005, 10:33 PM

Can the Mac mini hookup to a DVI TiBook?

amsalpemkcus · Jan 11, 2005, 10:36 PM

With 2.9 pounds it is surely tempting to haul this mini between the dummy termial at home and the other at work? Perish the thought! I may end up buying one! sheeesh!! this thing is grossly under powered, crap video card. meh forget it! ;D

MaxPower2k3 · Jan 11, 2005, 10:37 PM

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
Can the Mac mini hookup to a DVI TiBook?

in what way? the DVI port on the TiBook is an output, so you can't use the TiBook as a display for the Mac mini.

selowitch · Jan 11, 2005, 10:37 PM

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
Can the Mac mini hookup to a DVI TiBook?

Sure:

Via Ethernet
Via FireWire Target Mode
Via Internet Connection Sharing over AirPort

But if you mean in order to use the display of the TiBook, probably not (as MaxPower2k3 said almost at the same time I did.)

ManOfSteal · Jan 11, 2005, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
in what way? the DVI port on the TiBook is an output, so you can't use the TiBook as a display for the Mac mini.

Good point.

selowitch · Jan 11, 2005, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by amsalpemkcus:
With 2.9 pounds it is surely tempting to haul this mini between the dummy termial at home and the other at work? Perish the thought! I may end up buying one! sheeesh!! this thing is grossly under powered, crap video card. meh forget it! ;D

It's not underpowered. Think of it as an iBook without a display.

Mac Write · Jan 11, 2005, 10:43 PM

I will be waiting for the Rev B.'s and get one with largest HD, 512MB RAM and use it as a headless Website Development server to replace my Beige G3, which hasn't gone as well as I had expected. TIme-frame September-December. It's so quit, it can run 24/7, processing site logs, backuping live server, running my dev sites and more. Might use it as a download station for my USB 2 CF Reader since my MDD 1.25 is the June 2004 model.

The Mac Mini Web Server will have to last through late 2010 running the latest OS X. Since it will be headless should be no problem.

TETENAL · Jan 11, 2005, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by selowitch:
It's not underpowered. Think of it as an iBook without a display.

If there's no ripple effect in Dashboard, this think is pretty much useless.

selowitch · Jan 11, 2005, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
If there's no ripple effect in Dashboard, this think is pretty much useless.

What ripple effect? Tiger isn't even out yet....

chabig · Jan 11, 2005, 11:00 PM

The Mac mini does show the ripple effect. My 12 inch Powerbook with 32MB VRAM does, so how could the mini not?

Chris

TheBadgerHunter · Jan 11, 2005, 11:17 PM

As far as portability, no. Absolutely useless as a laptop replacement. If you wanted a desktop you could move around with relative ease, sure.

MaxPower2k3 · Jan 11, 2005, 11:20 PM

Also remember that there's (i assume) a power brick to lug around with this thing if you're taking it somewhere. It draws 85 watts, 20 more than the big PowerBooks, so the power brick may be bigger than the PowerBook ones (I don't know how increased wattage relates to size increase).

TETENAL · Jan 11, 2005, 11:26 PM

Originally posted by chabig:
The Mac mini does show the ripple effect. My 12 inch Powerbook with 32MB VRAM does, so how could the mini not?

OK, I didn't know that. If so, then the Mac mini is really a full fledged Mac.

TETENAL · Jan 11, 2005, 11:30 PM

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
Also remember that there's (i assume) a power brick to lug around with this thing if you're taking it somewhere. It draws 85 watts, 20 more than the big PowerBooks, so the power brick may be bigger than the PowerBook ones (I don't know how increased wattage relates to size increase).

The retail box that Steve showed in the keynote was pretty small (and I assume it includes the power supply). So if you want to carry it to a friend, or to work, or to a client where you know there is a USB keyboard, mouse and display, it looks like this would be easy enough to carry. If you have to take a display mouse and keyboard with you it's probably too annoying. And of course you can never use it on the way like a real notebook.

MaxPower2k3 · Jan 11, 2005, 11:40 PM

actually, you could use it as a music server in a car pretty easily. there are plenty of power inverters that will handle 85 watts, and it's small so you could put it in the trunk or somewhere inconspicuous and hook it up to the stereo system. As for portability, i'm sure someone will come up with some kind of travel case for it... something that can hold it, the power brick, one of those little folding bluetooth keyboards, and a little bluetooth mouse, maybe? I'd have to see the thing in person.

OwlBoy · Jan 12, 2005, 12:12 AM

From the QTVR it looks like the Power brick is about half the size of the "tower"

-Owl

TETENAL · Jan 12, 2005, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by OwlBoy:
From the QTVR it looks like the Power brick is about half the size of the "tower"

http://www.macnews.de/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=16

Looks more like 1/8th the volume.

OwlBoy · Jan 12, 2005, 12:24 AM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
http://www.macnews.de/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=16

Looks more like 1/8th the volume.

Ah yes, your right. Thats great!

-Owl

TETENAL · Jan 12, 2005, 12:30 AM

Or is that the display's power supply?