So the new Mac Pro is out, and while looking through apple's completely new revamped line up, i couldnt help but wonder "where is the gammers option"??
Macbook for everyday laptop users
Macbook Pro for hardcore laptop users/proffesionals
Mac Mini for home casual users that already have a monitor/kb/mouse
iMac for those that one an all in one package for home casual users
Mac Pro, for buisness proffesionals.
IMO they need to add in another stage in the line up:
Mac Mini Gamers Edition:
It would be a SFF enclosure, about the size of 2x mac mini's stacked on top of each other. A single core 2 duo processor, ddr2 800 memory, and a 16x pci-express expansion slot capable of supporting high end video cards like the 7900gt from nvidia.
Starting Price somewhere around $1,000
Mac Mini Gamers Edition
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A grand without a fancy video card, right? Being from that side of the world a long time back, I can assure you that Apple really likes to jack you for good video cards (price wise). I figure they could probably hit your pricepoint though (they like their 99's, so it'd probably be 1099), with something like a 7300 stock, have options for a 7600 GT (here's where they'll hit you, that upgrade will cost something like $400 with a nominal CPU upgrade or maybe more RAM), or a 7900 GT (Think $750 Price Bump). It'd be nice though, That sort of thing might convince me to swing back into their camp. They broke my heart with Copeland though.
You know, it's not that Apple won't release a product for a non-existant market segment, it's that they won't release a product they don't want to make. This is one of those things I can't really explain but Apple only releases products that someone in the company (probably Jobs) decides are "cool" or something. Why they haven't released a headless upgradeable mini-tower somewhere between $1000 and $1500 I don't understand, because it would almost certainly sell like hotcakes. This would allow gamers to add a good vid-card, it would allow everyone who has a special screen need, or wants more than one hard drive to use it, it would allow tons of people to simply swap out their Windows PC for a Mac. Apple will never do this in its current incarnation though.
Expandability in a mid tower chassis, oh, man, that's heresy. Next you'll be talking about licensing so that third parties could make Mac compatible hardware... I miss my PowerTower Pro 210.
I don't think that a Mac with the ability to fit a nice 3D card is a nonexistent market. Not everybody wants to spend 2.5 g's on a Mac Pro, and the fit and finish on the OS is pretty impressive these days. There are some current Mac games out there that would benefit from a little more video card, and as the hardware standardizes, the onerous task of porting a game to the Mac is going to become less, well, onerous.
Apple won't, however, produce a model like this without something serious to back it up with (say, Valve agreeing to make games for OSX). And they won't do that, or announce it, until they have all eyes on them.
I don't think that a Mac with the ability to fit a nice 3D card is a nonexistent market. Not everybody wants to spend 2.5 g's on a Mac Pro, and the fit and finish on the OS is pretty impressive these days. There are some current Mac games out there that would benefit from a little more video card, and as the hardware standardizes, the onerous task of porting a game to the Mac is going to become less, well, onerous.
Apple won't, however, produce a model like this without something serious to back it up with (say, Valve agreeing to make games for OSX). And they won't do that, or announce it, until they have all eyes on them.
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DaveSimmons
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2003 12:52 pm
- Location: Bellevue, WA (U.S.A.)
I'd rather have a media server mini that's slightly taller with a 3.5" drive bay, like the Shuttle X100. With optical out and a 500 GB HD I'd have the 1,000 CD changer of my dreams 
That's why Apple doesn't do either -- 1,000 people want a gamer mac, 1,000 people want a media mac, while 10,000,000 people are happy to buy it as it is.
That's why Apple doesn't do either -- 1,000 people want a gamer mac, 1,000 people want a media mac, while 10,000,000 people are happy to buy it as it is.
I really think it could work like a Trojan Horse much like their iPod did.
Now that you can load Windows on any Mac, an upgradable, expandable mini tower that you can put OSX or Windows on would pull ALOT of people over the line i think.
If i were to buy a prebuilt, and i had my choice of Dell or Apple, id choose an apple. I can play around with OSX and still have windows for gamming.
right now however, your only choices are a notebook, or a notebook without a monitor, or a notebook with a monitor that isnt portable like a notebook. not a very good lineup if you ask me.
Now that you can load Windows on any Mac, an upgradable, expandable mini tower that you can put OSX or Windows on would pull ALOT of people over the line i think.
If i were to buy a prebuilt, and i had my choice of Dell or Apple, id choose an apple. I can play around with OSX and still have windows for gamming.
right now however, your only choices are a notebook, or a notebook without a monitor, or a notebook with a monitor that isnt portable like a notebook. not a very good lineup if you ask me.
I'm not a gamer, but I'd love to see Apple release a mid-range desktop with some upgradability.
The Mac Pro is too expensive, I just don't need that kind of hardware for the office/multimedia/internet tasks I'd use it for. With those high end CPUs and hard mounted drives, I imagine it'd also be noisier than I'd like.
The Mac Mini is a interesting little computer, the low noise definitely appeals and it's in a very neat package for a good price. Unfortunately it can't be used with a dual headed display, and I find two monitors really useful when working with graphics, DTP and web design. Even with all the USB hardware that's available now, a spare PCI slot for would also be a very nice option. Overall the Mac Mini is too restrictive and would be too much of a downgrade from my current PC.
Surely there's space in Apple's product range for a system that fits between those two options? Maybe a system that's primarily aimed at the HTPC market, with more storage and the option of an included TV card. I'm sure Apple could create a very stylish media centre if they wanted to, and they already include basic media centre software with their computers.
With the option of a better graphics card that could also be a decent SFF gaming system, one that wouldn't look out of place under your TV. I know Mac's aren't known for games, but bear in mind that you can boot Windows on Intel Macs, and Transgaming's Cider should make more PC games available under Mac OS.
The main thing that would sell it to me is the option of having a dual headed display, and I'm sure there are other people who'd be interested in a cheap and upgradeable desktop Mac for various other reasons. I see plenty of people complain about the lack of upgrade options in Apple's consumer Macs, anyone else think Apple are missing out on a market here?
The Mac Pro is too expensive, I just don't need that kind of hardware for the office/multimedia/internet tasks I'd use it for. With those high end CPUs and hard mounted drives, I imagine it'd also be noisier than I'd like.
The Mac Mini is a interesting little computer, the low noise definitely appeals and it's in a very neat package for a good price. Unfortunately it can't be used with a dual headed display, and I find two monitors really useful when working with graphics, DTP and web design. Even with all the USB hardware that's available now, a spare PCI slot for would also be a very nice option. Overall the Mac Mini is too restrictive and would be too much of a downgrade from my current PC.
Surely there's space in Apple's product range for a system that fits between those two options? Maybe a system that's primarily aimed at the HTPC market, with more storage and the option of an included TV card. I'm sure Apple could create a very stylish media centre if they wanted to, and they already include basic media centre software with their computers.
With the option of a better graphics card that could also be a decent SFF gaming system, one that wouldn't look out of place under your TV. I know Mac's aren't known for games, but bear in mind that you can boot Windows on Intel Macs, and Transgaming's Cider should make more PC games available under Mac OS.
The main thing that would sell it to me is the option of having a dual headed display, and I'm sure there are other people who'd be interested in a cheap and upgradeable desktop Mac for various other reasons. I see plenty of people complain about the lack of upgrade options in Apple's consumer Macs, anyone else think Apple are missing out on a market here?
Dual monitors is nice, but you can still get a fairly decent output from a Mac Mini on a 21+ inch widescreen, which can suffice for alot of people.
The lack of gaming ability is just about the only reason i wouldn't go for one, have a mate that's set one up as a HTPC and he's loving it - small, quiet and can run OSX when he wants to check his email etc, all through his loungeroom LCD.
Great for most people, but i suppose there'll always be those (like me! ) who wish it could do that little bit extra.
Would you pay an extra $500 for the privilage of Dual DVI and better video ? It kinda blows the price point of the mini out a bit.
The lack of gaming ability is just about the only reason i wouldn't go for one, have a mate that's set one up as a HTPC and he's loving it - small, quiet and can run OSX when he wants to check his email etc, all through his loungeroom LCD.
Great for most people, but i suppose there'll always be those (like me! ) who wish it could do that little bit extra.
Would you pay an extra $500 for the privilage of Dual DVI and better video ? It kinda blows the price point of the mini out a bit.
I'd pay $500 for the ability to upgrade video card and possibly run a second hard drive, suspend a 2.5" drive, or run a desktop 7200 rpm hard drive... Something in the small desktop/tower form factor (look at the Dell Optiplex GX520 and imagine something a little shorter). Probably not going to happen though.
I like the 24" iMac, but I like the option of running a KVM, personally.
I like the 24" iMac, but I like the option of running a KVM, personally.
FWIW, if all you want is to add a 3.5" drive to the mini, just get an external SATA enclosure and route the SATA cable outside to it.
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heddhunter
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:48 am
My housemate works for Apple and just brought home a top of the line Mac Pro with the X1900 graphics card and 4 drives installed internally.Steve_Y wrote:The Mac Pro is too expensive, I just don't need that kind of hardware for the office/multimedia/internet tasks I'd use it for. With those high end CPUs and hard mounted drives, I imagine it'd also be noisier than I'd like.
It is totally silent. The fans spin up at full blast for about 2 seconds when you first apply power, but after that the only way you can tell it's on is to stick your ear on it or look for the power LED.
God I hate him!
Screen Spanning Doctor?Unfortunately it can't be used with a dual headed display, and I find two monitors really useful when working with graphics, DTP and web design. Even with all the USB hardware that's available now, a spare PCI slot for would also be a very nice option.
The main thing that would sell it to me is the option of having a dual headed display
Mac Mini not supported, per http://www.rutemoeller.com/mp/ibook/supportlist_e.htmlScreen Spanning Doctor?
Mac mini
These machines can NOT use the patch:
Unfortunately the patch does not work with ANY Mac mini configuration.
It is not possible to use both the DVI and the VGA part of the display connector simultaneously.