Files in Mac OS point to new iMacs, Mac Minis

New Mac Minis and iMacs could be on the short list for Macworld 2009.

(Credit: Apple)

A Mac fan with way too much time on his hands may have discovered evidence of new iMacs and Mac Minis coming soon.

A forum poster on InsanelyMac.com found code strings inside the version of Mac OS X running on the new MacBooks that point to a new version of the iMac and Mac Mini. MacRumors.com verified that the identifying marks uncovered by the poster (iMac9,1 and Macmini3,1) would indeed represent a new version beyond the marks used by the current iMac and MacMini (iMac8,1 and Macmini2,1).

The new systems appear to use the same Nvidia chipsets that Apple introduced in those new MacBooks, the MCP79 chipset. That chipset uses the Nvidia 9400M graphics processor, and would give both systems a boost in graphics processing power over the Intel integrated chipsets they currently use.

New Mac Minis and iMacs are high on the list of systems expected to arrive at Macworld 2009. The Mac Mini has been the subject of much speculation about its future this year after it appeared the systems were headed out to pasture, but it appears Apple will bring it around for another go.

[Mr. Dee]

That person with 'way too much time on their hands' gave you a news story.

[SeizeCTRL]

LMAO! If I could, I'd buy you a beer for that comment ;)

[karport]

A mini notebook would be a pleasant surprise. It is my understanding that apple could not or would not design one below the $500 price point. The now hottest product line in the industry with no offering by Apple. Sometimes Apple hits a home run, sometimes they miss the game.

[Hep Cat]

Apple can't make a nice-looking, well-performing machine for $500.00 Maybe someone else can. As soon as Apple figures out how to do that, those other folks had better watch out.

That's the iPod/iPhone strategy, and it seems to have worked quite nicely in those market segments.

[Geir Werner Hagen]

I think Apple has not missed this game. The game is a lousy one with extremely low margins, so there´s no good reason for Apple to join yet. Apples game are more like higg margins.

[Get_a_life_Leo]

They choose which games they want to be in. The missing netbook argument misses the point that these devices have low profitability and in the Apple Mac OS X ecosystem would serve to suck revenues from the MacBook sales. Apple's products are not commodities, unlike computers that run Windows. While you can gerry-rig a netbook with OS X, the vast majority of buyers do not have the wherewithall. So, this is not lost revenue to Apple, its simply a sector thy don't feel compelled to compete in. Apple even seems to treat the Mac mini as the Rodney Dangerfield of the line.

[rbannon]

I am one with the wherewithal to configure an MSI Wind U100 with Mac OS X, and I can tell you first hand that although it's cool with a capital K, it's no Macintosh. Apple needs to make a Netbook!

[ddanckaert]

My predictions for the new Mac Mini:

(1) Ability to address 6GB of DDR3 RAM

(2) No ability to swap out optical drive for a second hard disk.

(3) Apple TV-like design.

(4) Loses Firewire :-( and DVI.

(5) Gains the new Display Port and HDMI.

(6) Current Macbook chipset (obviously).

[FellowConspirator]

Why 6G? The limitation to 3G on earlier iMacs was due to the specific Intel chipset used. More recent models eliminate that limitation. Now you're limit's specified by the number of slots and the size of the SO-DIMMS.

Otherwise, Id say you're right. Also, they will move to a an NVidia chip of some sort.

[Maclover1]

6gig with out a doubt. My Santa Rosa Blackbook has 6gigs in it right now with Leopard and runs fine, great for multiple Fusion VM's.

If they do indeed upgrade the Mini, I am all over it.

[drpr]

It's only fair that since you posted an entire story based on what this Mac fan found, that you credit him/her by name.

[Tom Krazit]

It's the Internet. The person posted under the name "DiaboliK," which you can see if you click the link to the forum posting itself.

[jasonaorr]

The guy with 'way too much time on his hands' probably wrote the code...

[bakedpatato]

Diabolik is one of the people behind writing video card "drivers" for OSX86 Macs. (His drivers are real useful for my Hackintosh)
Therefore, he does a lot of rooting around in OS X...not surprising eh?
A regular Mac forum would've not found this out as they have no reason to root around OS X.

[random truth]

Fail
iMacs already have atleast an ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics card. The Nvidia 9400 is a downgrade compared to it.

[Maclover1]

You Fail

The 2400 XT in the low end iMac is a notebook version with a 64bit wide memory bus. The 9400G has a 128bit. The 9400 is the same or faster. The new Macbook Pro has the 9600GS, so I would assume the two middle iMac's would get the 9600GS. The current high end iMac has a NVIDIA card already.

The move will happen and makes huge sense. All Macs will now have NIVIDA video cards and most chipsets. NVIDIA is 120% Grand Central which is Open CL in Snow Leopard.

[ikramerica--2008]

How can he determine that they use any graphic chip at all from 9,1 and 3,1?

All those numbers mean is that it's the third Mac Mini design (after the G4 and the current Intel based ones) and the 9th iMac design after the original Bondi, iMac G3 slot loading, iMac G3 Mark II, iMac G4, iMac G5, CoreDuo White, Core2Duo White, Aluminum. (I think I have those 8 right, based on logic board changes)

[John Howell]

Maybe a return of the Cube?
Typical though, I've just sunk money into a new Mini, so of course they will be replaced within months of me doing so, killing resale value - grrrr!

[Bob Thedino]

@ikraamerica: "How can he determine that they use any graphic chip at all from 9,1 and 3,1?"

He can't, but if you look at the original source (linked to in the article) you'll see that the string "CFG_MCP79" is also included in the description of the two machines. This is the NVIDIA 9400M chipset.

[lixpaulian]

It's not necessarily a person with 'way too much time on their hands', it could as well have been a person with way too much knowledge of Unix. A couple of 'fgrep'-s with the appropriate parameters may have earthed up the coveted hints.

That being said, I can't wait for the new Mac Mini to be announced: I need one to replace my aging Linux home server (9 years old by now, and running 24/7).

[sparrowhyperion]

The Mac Mini in the picture reminds me of my lunchboxes when I was in Elementary School. Eegads, can a system be more boring?

[Perry_Clease]

Your lunch box had ports? Well if you want a more boring system I think that you can still get beige box PCs :)

[rapier1]

They may have been boring but they were also built like a freaking tank.

[GRobLewis]

Given that the very first Mac Mini was essentially a repackaged iBook, it makes sense that the recent revamp of the portable line could lead directly to an updated Mini. Most of the engineering is already done.

And I wouldn't write off the Mini's market prospects. It's become popular as a budget web server appliance and there are hosting companies that specialize in them (see, e.g., macminicolocation.com).

What I REALLY wish Apple would do is build the home-oriented "XServe Mini" product fantasized here:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Home/3FE506E2-FD6D-4FC6-BC9C-055F27279DF4.html
Dilger's concept of equipping it with a killer telephony app is brilliant. I would add to his list of services another big untapped consumer market: Home Automation.

[3rdalbum]

Upgrading the graphics card to an Nvidia 9400M is just going to reinforce the perception that Macs are underpowered for their price. I can do calculations in my head faster than that GPU.

[nbrucej]

Apple does have a laptop under $500. the iphone. for all the crap that aint right, like copy/paste or text fwds. i gotta tell ya it is way more stable than a $500 year old windows machine. its reliable, fun as hell and they threw me a bone of free wifi at any starbucks, mccyds and barnes n noble. i subscribed to mobile me it syncs my contacts, calendar, mail and bookmarks with my other machines. i also downloaded a free app that loads all my idisk content so i can access all that info too.

[man290663]

I hope so I'd like the mac-mini to have the appleTV interfaces added so it can become a true Media Center and then perhaps its going to sell they way apple had hoped that either product would have.

The mac-mini must surely be apples most underrated system (only Vegas casino's seem to have hit on its usefulness by using it as security centre controllers in theri 1000's).


I have only ever used the mac-mini as a media centre attached to my TV but the lack of HDMI and digital audio output (coax and optical please) has limited its usefulness. and new one with these features would beat the whole Windows Media Centre market hands down but please a minimum of 250GB hard drive!!

[xbrando7]

the Mac Mini never gets any attention, sadly. I can't wait to see it's revisions, as it definitely is an innovative product, though it is failing because of equipment insignificance and lack of advertising.

[ciggieoxo]

My Mac Mini and Airport Extreme sit quietly and compactly (6.5" x 6.5") upstairs out of the way so that my "17 Macbook Pro can sit wirelessly downstairs on the coffee table acting as an elegant, powerful 1" thick "desktop." Okay. I must admit I have go upstairs to pick-up my printing and use my three-in-one for scanning and copying work. It feels pretty good having all that power and the internet sitting pretty within reach.