[monkpea]

Hello,

Has anyone taken one to bits yet? : )

I would imagine everything but memory is all on the mainboard.

Monkpea

[ixus_123]

I'd say by this time next month there will be a link to someone having stripped one apart. It would be excellent if upgrading the graphics wasn't a majorly difficult task - then Apple might move in on a LAN party scene

[Love Calm Quiet]

As far as I'm concerned, upgradeability is the biggest remaining question regarding the value of the mini as an investment - to use as a backup and supplementary machine.
I can't imagine using it long with 256MB RAM... or with 40GB HD (or even 80GB in a year or so). So...

First person to assess the insides, please post "the word" on ease of consumer upgrade for RAM & HD.

[eddiecatflap]

apple make a big thing of it being upgradeable to 1 gig ram , even 2 gig with pc2700

it cant be that hard

can it ??

[ixus_123]

The ram looks easy to upgrade in the picture - take the cover off & put a new stick in. Minimac is only one slot though

With the hard drive issue, it uses a laptop hard drive. I'm not sure what speed that spins at but I would guess (becuase I'm too lazy to go look at the specs) 5,400rpm. I haven't seen many laptop harddrive for sale bigger than 80gb but it's only a matter of time & I guess this too woulsn't be that hard to upgrade.

graphics on the other hand might well be part of the board

[jamesl]

So it looks likekly that it would be easy and cheap for a user to upgrade RAm them selves?

[andreas_g4]

I hope RAM is as easy to access as it looks in the picture. One can get a 1 GB module for 175 �, which is quite cheap for that capacity, I guess. BTW, are these the correct modules?

1 GB RAM module

The page is in german, but the tech specs are obvious...

[Eriamjh]

According to this page

Memory upgrade must be performed by an Apple Authorized Service provider.

...the device might be a challenge to open. Once open, there may be fancy heat pipes, sinks, etc. also which could make servicing the HD difficult.

See all the plastic snaps around the edge in this pic?



It might be a bear to open without breaking those or a special tool might be required.

I think there are 100GB HDs in the 2.5inch size either out, announced, or coming soon. Either way, a FW drive would be the easiest way to add more space to this machine. Ironically, it will be bigger than the computer itself!

I want to know how much and where the cable described on this page is:

The optional Composite/S-Video Video adapter lets you use a TV for graphical output.

[andreas_g4]

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
According to this page...the device might be a challenge to open. Once open, there may be fancy heat pipes, sinks, etc. also which could make servicing the HD difficult.

See all the plastic snaps around the edge in this pic?

You are most probably right. I'm still looking foreward to get a pictured online manual how to open the little thing. Some japanese guy will make it, eventually. I guess.

[chabig]

It has firewire port. You can add external hard drives to your heart's content.

Chris

[Zwilnik]

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
[

I want to know how much and where the cable described on this page is: [/B]

The link on the accessories Mac mini accessories page goes to the G5 Video out adaptor, so I'm guessing it uses that and they haven't updated the product details of it yet (same as the iBook/G4 iMac video out adapter one hasn't been updated to say if it works on the iMac G5 or not yet)

[tr]

Originally posted by Eriamjh:


I want to know how much and where the cable described on this page is:

Apple DVI to Video Adapter M9267G/A
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nMore=M9267G/A

$19

tr

[ashtoash]

Specs so far (I took one apart ;-)

*Slimline laptop disc drive (You could put a pioneer dual layer burner in it)

*2.5 inch Ultra/ATA 4200 RPM hard disk (You could replace with 5400rpm 100gb segate drive)

*On board video (would require some serious soldering to modify)

I'd like to have one Mac Mini and the case of another one to stack them. The second Mac Mini would have a 3.5 inch disk inside with firewire interface out...

Ideas for the mac mini:

Add RF remote control, hack audio port to the front, add firewire/usb port on the front use airport extreme slot for PCI expansion (somebody did this), build in media card reader into the case.. (probably can squeeze one in..), Use out to TV (dvi to plasmas) for media player box.

[andreas_g4]

Originally posted by ashtoash:
Add RF remote control, hack audio port to the front, add firewire/usb port on the front use airport extreme slot for PCI expansion (somebody did this), build in media card reader into the case.. (probably can squeeze one in..), Use out to TV (dvi to plasmas) for media player box.

* having a laser-burned "FREAK"-typo on the forehead...