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Apple Upgrades Mac mini, Doesn't Tell Anybody
echomancer writes "Think Secret is reporting that Apple has released a slightly updated version of the Mac mini, but has failed to tell anyone. Some Mac minis may now include a 1.5GHz processor, 64MB of VRAM, and an updated 8x superdrive but these new machines are being shipped in boxes reflecting the original specs. 'The motivation behind this is to help clear current inventory without lowering prices. Essentially, customers are promised that the Mac mini they purchase will have specifications at least equal to the label, but that their system may exceed those.'"
I bought one about a week ago. I can't say I've noticed it's faster in real-world use, but it does benchmark slightly faster (in accordance with the CPU speed bump). Since its main purpose is to look gorgeous in the living room, run email and web-browsing, I have no complaints, but then I wouldn't have had, anyway
Having the extra VRAM seems to improve video performance a fair bit as well - subtly but noticeably smoother when doing the 'cube' switch using 'Desktop Manager', for example. (Which is the *very* first piece of s/w I ever install on a mac). Yes I use expose too, but with DM I can dedicate one screen per task. Much nicer
Simon
Physicists get Hadrons!
Reported here:
In a swift and decisive move, Dell Computers announced today that it will begin shipping all systems with intentionally mis-labeled specifications on the boxes. In what is being seen as an obvious attempt to play catch up with Apple computer's brilliant move to sell its Mac mini systems with specs that may "meet or exceed" those listed on their packing, Dell took the move one step further.
"We feel the average consumer is becoming bored with the computer buying experience." says Dell's Chief Marketing Officer Mike George. "They no longer wish to choose an item, pay for it, and have that item arrive at their front door. It's predictable. It's what their parent's would want. Today's consumer needs the element of surprise to add a bit of excitement to the table."
To that end, Dell plans to ship all of its consumer desktop models and its Inspiron 6000 and 1200 model laptop computers with wildly off-base specifications. "We've actually created a random number generator which is responsible for listing the model number and processor speeds. Even WE don't know exactly what is in those boxes. It really is exciting." says George.
We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.
YMMV
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
Why stick with the 9200 video chip? That one part has kept me from buying from the day it was launched.
Finally Apple has learned from some of their shipping problems of the past. This is a good move on three levels. First, it's better to surprise a customer with something better than expected. Second, it's also a great way to avoid a sales slump when updated models get announced. Apple has always feared the Osbourne effect, but hasn't been able to stop the rumor mill from letting people know when to stop buying old machines and wait for new machines. Third, its a nice way to ramp to volume production without the pressure of backorders on a new model.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
Working for a telecom hardware company in the mid-90s, our team (burly xx and xy consultants all) came up with the strategy to enhance the software and packaging of their flagship product and *only* tell their trusted distribution channel.
God bless 'em, they took the advice.
Product launched. They ran out of manufacturing capacity in a couple of months; stuff flew off the shelves. Their competitors were in the "Michael Corleone without a gun in the restaurant" mindset for about 18 months.
Of course, they thought the world was circuit switched big dial tone and divided themselves pretty well by zero by 2000.
Verizon: Latin for "poor rural service".
is when will Apple 'officially' update the mini? I am ready to buy the top model, but when I heard this I thought "well, hell, I'm not going to order now and risk getting the lower spec'd model."
So, seeing as how this news has been around for about a week, I wonder if it's backfiring for Apple and no one is buying until they update 'officially'.
It's not that Apple is up-specing the Mini, which it needs, so much as they've run through their stock of low-end parts. It's also profoundly embarrassing to have the same 1.5 GHz processor in entry-level desktop as in your $2,500 Powerbook.
Expect a final PPC-based Powerbook revision almost immediately. THEN they'll own up to the Mini upgrade.
This is my post. There are many others like it. If you don't like what you read here, go try one of the others.
"Ze whole point of upgrading ze specs is lost if eet is kept secret. Vhy didn't zey tell ze vorld, eh?!?"
Specialization is for insects. - R.A.H.
Why? You would be getting exactly what you played for.
"For Great Justice."
In a new ad campaign Sun has said that they are '100% more random then dell' and has begun including only a random 12 parts in each box, you could get an entire server or 12 mice.
You actually mean that I could get more than what I agreed to pay for?! Those bastards, how dare they do such a thing! Honestly, people, it's not a bad thing.
I propose we all donate so that Slashdot story submitters don't have to live under a bridge and can get back on top of tech news (instead of two weeks behind)...
I think, therefore I am...I think.
This is an outrage! This PROVES that Apple obviously has no respect for it's customers, and this is just another example of how the high and mighty have falle--
...
...shit, I give up. Carry on.
Whoa, wait a minute...this is a good thing? Arrgh, goddamn it. I blew my rant load for nothing...
What will I do now?
Guess I could...maybe do a cliche? Let's see... In Soviet Russia, you upgrade Apple's specs? Nah. Upgrade Natalie Portman's specs? Nice idea, but no. Not after Episode 3.
Hrm...
BytesTemplar.com
First, it's better to surprise a customer with something better than expected.
CNET News has a good point about this though, in that new owners hearing of this and being among the "unlucky" may complain about it, since they know there are betters setups out there, of the same model. And even if they don't, they certainly won't belong to the positively surprised crowd. I'm not sure singling out users on random with computers even using the same part number to confuse the retailers is such a good idea, especially when done silently from Apple's part.
Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
A similar thing happened when I bought my Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 near its end of life. They ran out of the buggy PXA250 processors and started shipping the last units with the improved PXA255. It was even marked on the box, but since most people mail-ordered the units it was a crap-shoot what you got. I got the old unit, and was a bit disappointed even though I did get what I paid for. I suspect Mac Mini buyers who don't get the lucky upgrade will feel the same way. They may even return their units and try again.
are you retarded?! this is a way of bloating the price of old models. how is that ethical?
dont look at it as "hey, im paying for a 1.4ghz box and i got a 1.5ghz box!"
look at it as "hey i could have had the option of buying this 1.4ghz box for 100 bucks less or paying the $699 for a 1.5ghz box"
by your logic apple can continue selling mac minis for $699 in 10 years advertised as a 1.4ghz machine and you dont know whether you are getting a 3ghz box or a 20ghz box.
Worst. Analogy. Ever.
Well, yes and no. There is still the occasional "what's it doing ?" pause when you start up something new (eg: System Prefs component). Spotlight is only marginally faster (pure "feel" rating there), but there are things that are noticeable as above. It's not a new computer, it's just marginally better.
:-)
This still isn't a bad thing
Simon
Physicists get Hadrons!
Oh great....now Fry's is going to run out of return labels. Oh the slightly related note, I have a Toshiba Libretto 50 which supposed to only have a Pentium 75 on it. But by the time mine was built, Intel has stopped making P75 and Toshiba ended up putting a P120 in it and underclock it to 75mhz....didn't take long before someone noticed that and a few soldering later, we have P120 Libretto 50s :-)
Every CPU maker on the planet does this. They try to spec out every part of the wafer so that they can all be potentially the fastest rated chips, but due to microscopic flaws, some finished chips have problems at higher speeds, thus they sell them as slower versions. AMD, IBM, Motorola all do it.
Marxism is the opiate of dumbasses
"macs" spelt backwards is "scam" .
So.. you're saying that macs are the complete opposite of scam?
there is a certain firewire chipset that is known to have a bug that causes freezes with os x. drive manufacturers have released fixes. check your manufacturers site
context menus are supposed to have less options than the menu bar by definition. context menus only have options that are relevant to that context, and in addition ux people will tell you they should only have the most relevant ones, not the whole kit and cabodle. context menus wouldnt save you any time if you had to dig through as many options as the menu bar
the close window control is supposed to close a window, and not shut down the application. you may be used to windows, where closing the last open window also shuts down the app, but many ux peeps will tell you this is not a good assumption to make: if you close the last window of a database server (say, a query window), do you want the database to shut down? if you close the last window to your mail app, do you want all mail services to shut down (i like still being able to see when ive got incoming mail)? the apple ux teams position on these things and others are well known (try google)
im surprised you would trust development to a system you see as so flaky
Lies about crimes
This method allows them to ethically clear unused inventory and provide additional value to the customer
I know vocal Apple users have a hard time really understanding that what is good for Apple might not be good for youself but I'll post this anyway and take the hit.
A lot of people attempt to keep up or do a little asking around and research before buying a product. In fact, it is really not hard for a lot of products because companies and sales folks will advertise up and coming products days, weeks, and maybe even months ahead of time. I would be not be the happiest person in the world or get a good feeling about buying a $500 product and find out 2 days later a new version was on the market. Add to the fact that the company is doing everything within its power to prevent me from knowing a better one was just around the corner and about to be released, including the very unusal step of keeping it quite after the fact and packaging the product in the old box. I know this is only a step upgrade and not a platform change like the difference between a Sony PS2 and a PS3 but it is not a small trivial change either.
Mod as you wish but no one needs waste time explaining Apples position on why they did this. It is a simple to understand reason and already mentioned many times in other threads. My point is, there are two ways to introduce a new or improved product. As a person like many others who is actually buying the products, Apples method is not in my best interest and probably not in many others.
Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
I want the one with better specs.
Get out your wallet and buy something better. Do your research and get the best model, like you said. If a 1.42GHz mini is not what you need/want, then go buy a G5 or whatever. Or wait until Apple is willing to guarantee you a 1.5GHz unit.
I can't believe you'd complain because there's a chance you might get more than you paid for. Do you get annoyed when you see those "20% More Cheez Doodles!" packages in the supermarket two days after you bought a regular-sized bag?
I got a mac mini, it's actually a prety powerful computer. And so insanely silent 99% of the time, I don't even know it's on. This is a great update because they fixed some of the key issues:
- 512MB RAM is now standard (256MB isn't really very usable on OS X).
- More VRAM! Sadly not upgrading the chipset yet, but it's still an improvement
- 5400 RPM HD!!!! This is the biggest upgrade. The 4200RPM drive and minimal RAM makes this computer really slugish. Upgrade the RAM and the HD, and it's a whole new computer. That paging file will get you.
The processor upgrade isn't a big deal. The DVDR isn't bad, but don't know how much I'd use it.
It's a great computer. For anyone wanting to experiment on the Mac, or just want a cheap system, it's a steal. It's well engineered. The first time you hold it, you know it's well made. Solid, and good hardware.
I personally like this upgrade they offer. Wish mine had more RAM and a faster HD out of the box.