new Mini Mac

[Sasq]

az, the core is bsd, so you can ssh into it.

yes, 512 is really the realistic min, but its also the realistic min for XP

[Nowhere]

Perhaps finally I will have a new mac...

[KeiFront]

Originally posted by az

Oh, and is that port DVI-I?

AZ

It's not really clear from the specs also no indication of the noise produced.

[Sasq]

the port will be dvi-i not -a, although the dongle will output to dsub-15, it is designed to work with apple tft monitors which are dvi-i

[az]

DVI-I includes the analog portion, DVI-D is digital only, DVI-A analog only, DVI-I a combination of both.

BTW, winXP does run well with 256MB RAM without eye-candy and if you don't really multitask (which my parents don't).

Sasq, well I can SSH into it but MS-DOS is all the command line experience I've got

I was wondering if there was a way to remotely use the machine as if I were sitting in front of it.

Oh, and does anyone know how easy it is to install korean keyboard input and to switch between german and korean layouts? (korean groups characters into syllables, it's not one character after another as in latin, but it is a character-driven language, not a symbol alphabet)

AZ

[Sasq]

meh, tired, drinking beer, you want realistic responses.

osx comes with all language support and formats, my ibook came in Japanese, i changed to OS to english, and i also have chinese support turned on.

not only can you swap the kb layout, you can change the whole UI language as well

[KeiFront]

Originally posted by az
I was wondering if there was a way to remotely use the machine as if I were sitting in front of it.

Oh, and does anyone know how easy it is to install korean keyboard input and to switch between german and korean layouts? (korean groups characters into syllables, it's not one character after another as in latin, but it is a character-driven language, not a symbol alphabet)

AZ

OSXvnc is an VNC client for OSX, I already use it since the first version to access my Mac at work (doesn't always have a monitor attached). The only thing you need to know is that osx will disable the graphical shell when you start it without a monitor attached (but a simple dongle will trick OSX in believing it has a monitor attached) http://www.redstonesoftware.com/vnc.html

Switching languages (you only need to logout login again) and keyboard layouts (on the fly) is painless . At least switching between dutch and english is, never tried korean .

Edit: changed post a bit so it's slear that one doesn't need to login logout to change keyboard languages thanks Az.

[az]

You need to log out to change KB settings? That's a show stopper. Can you change KB settings independant from UI settings?

AZ

[Sasq]

no, you do not need to log out to change kb settings, just select from the list. if you want to change UI settings, log out is best.. as 'finder' will remain in the original language, however all new apps opened will be in the set language *provided they have language packs for that language

[PAugustin]

Is there a fan in there ? Looking at the inside pic on appel site I doubt there is active cooling.

Originally posted by Wombat
I see the fan vents on the back.

The cube was fanless, I think.

Plus, the aluminum case has to help some, assuming they used the exposed metal wisely.

[GNEP]

I reckon there's a blower type fan in there rather than the normal sort.

[VJ]

Originally posted by Jesterzwild
A random quote from Gizmodo:

"The Mac mini is 2 x 7 inches. Your car stereo is 2 x 6.5 inches. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
- Matt Myers, System Administrator

Yes, I also saw that quote...

While it looks a great system (if I hadn't configured a computer with XP for them, I'd probabely pursuade my parents to by this device), some specs seems disappointing:

• 256 MB RAM (a bit low for standard)
• DVD-ROM / CD-RW combo: why not a DVD writer? (it is an option, and then only DVD-R/W)
• just one firewire port (and why not FW800?), so combining video capture with an external harddisk could be a problem
• combination TV + monitor output is not possible (TV-output replaces the monitor)
• limited sound (stereo out, no input, no digital out, ...)
• few ports: just 2 USB (and they are in use for keyboard and mouse, unless you go wireless via the optional bluetooth module)

So while most options are possible (i.e. the sound via a USB soundcard), it will be hard as there aren't much connectors and no room to put other ports.

Then again, I should remind myself that for many people, it will suffice (i.e. for my parents).

As a HTPC, apart from the sound (which can be solved) output it does seem like a nice device.


Jörg

[Nowhere]

Crap, Apple still thinks that 1$=1€

Fortunatelly the price is still attractive...

[Wombat]

For all the people that say 256MB isn't enough: You don't have to use that little. You can get it from Apple with 512MB or 1GB. Or you could put your own DIMMs in.

[Jessterw]

For basic use, 256MB is enough. I should know, I ran a number of dev apps, Photoshop, iTunes, Firefox, Thunderbird, and a few mini apps at once on my iBook's default 256MB for a few months. Sure it can get slow, but for the basics it's well enough.


az, Apple has remote desktop software and there are a number of VNC apps for Mac, as mentioned previously.


I don't have a very elaborate home theatre set up, so all I need from it is the s-video or composite video out (via the adaptor) and a adaptor that splits the speaker/headphone jack out into (two, left and right) compostive audio lines (run about $3 in a local shop) that I can plug into the back of my TV. Then all I'll need is a wireless keyboard with a built-in trackpad/ball and the remote that Dan linked to earlier.