Mac Mini, iMac updates coming next week?

Apple could have the newest Mac Mini ready to go by next Tuesday.

(Credit: CNET)

UPDATED 4:20pm: Apple has denied that new systems are on the way. See new story, "Apple debunks Mac Mini, iMac rumor"

Apple may clear up the confusion regarding the future of the Mac Mini a week from Tuesday.

That's what MacNN thinks, reporting Monday that Apple will have refreshed versions of the Mac Mini and iMac desktops to announce next Tuesday, Apple's traditional day of the week for product launches. Both systems could be in line for refreshes with new Intel hardware, but it doesn't sound like any drastic changes will be made to either system.

A few weeks ago it seemed Apple was getting ready to kill the Mac Mini, with reports that European retailers had been told not to expect further shipments of Apple's cheapest Mac. But U.S. customers expect Apple to keep the product line alive, perhaps with tweaks such as the new Mini DisplayPorts added to Apple's new MacBooks. And it sounds like the iMac, Apple's main desktop product, could receive similar treatment with the additional inclusion of the new Nvidia graphics chipsets introduced to Mac customers with the new notebooks.

MacNN's report didn't have specific details on the configurations or pricing that might arrive with the systems. Given the gap between Apple's last major hardware event in October and its yearly Macworld extravaganza in January, it would make sense for Apple to tweak its desktops ahead of Macworld. That would free up space in January to talk about things like Snow Leopard and the iPhone and allow Apple to take advantage of the usual increase in demand during the holiday shopping season.

[sciontcya]

I hope so.
We've been holding off on buying about 8 of these and we're hoping it's true...
Great testing machines and good for training too.

[johnqh]

My predictions:
Both Mini and iMacs will be much easier to upgrade for both HD and RAM. They will all use the same NVidia chipset. Mini and 20" iMac will have the 9400M. 24" iMac will have 9600M. Mini and 20" iMac will lose Firewire. 24" iMac will have a single FW800.

The more interesting part is the multi-touch. Will Apple ship a keyboard with integrated glass trackpad so people can use multi-touch on the desktop Macs? I don't know.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

Hopefully they provide the appropriate mini displayport adaptors this time around. If they don't continue to support composite, component, and s-video, and if they don't add a mini displayport to displayport adaptor, I, and many others, will be highly irritated.

[ferretboy88]

Just like the Macbook air, no one will buy it. Not a large demand for these last time around.

[mmntech]

For the Mini, I expect a speed bump with a 2.0ghz and 2.4ghz model using the Nehalam architecture. Upgrading the wifi to 802.11n is a given. Graphics updates are also extremely likely since it still uses the GMA950. If the MacBook is any indication, we might get DDR3 as well. I also think the system should do away with the DVD/CDRW combo and make the SuperDrive standard. There's no reason why any new computer shouldn't have a proper DVD burner these days. My biggest concern though is that Apple will increase the Mini's price like they did with the MacBook. The Mini has a lot more competition in its form factor these days and we know it hasn't exactly been selling well. Apple really needs to sweeten the deal with new features or drop the base model to $499.

[jkammen]

17" inch PowerBook Pro? So when will Apple introduce the 17" with real upgrades as they did the 15" and 13"?

[frank bruce]

This could be another corporate bait to catch who is leaking information to the press.