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.
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That's the iPod/iPhone strategy, and it seems to have worked quite nicely in those market segments.
(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).
Otherwise, Id say you're right. Also, they will move to a an NVidia chip of some sort.
If they do indeed upgrade the Mini, I am all over it.
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.
iMacs already have atleast an ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics card. The Nvidia 9400 is a downgrade compared to it.
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.
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)
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!
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.
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).
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.
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!!
- by ciggieoxo January 14, 2009 10:17 AM PST
- 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.
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