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Briefly: Intel Mac mini in production; iBooks due at later date

At a special media event to be held on its campus next week, Apple Computer will unveil a new line of low-cost Intel-based Mac mini desktop computers but will not debut its next-generation iBook consumer notebooks, AppleInsider has learned.

According to reports from a variety of sources, Apple this week released the Intel Mac mini design to its manufacturing partners in the Far East, which are currently ramping production of the compact computers in an effort to build an initial inventory stockpile.

Based on this information, it would appear that there will be at least some availability of the systems immediately following their announcement next Tuesday.

One the other hand, Apple's Intel-based iBooks are not expected to make an appearance at the event — they remain on target for an introduction at a later date this Spring.

The Feb. 28th Apple event is also expected to deliver some "fun products," the company teased in an invitation sent to analyst and members of the media last week.

One such product is believed to be the iPod Boombox, a radical new approach to traditional Boombox systems that will reportedly retail in excess of $300.

The device is believed to be just one of several iPod companion products that have been under development by the company's iPod division.



135 Comments

tensdanny38 19 Years · 31 comments

I guess I am not too upset over this. Assuming they are announced on April 1st shipping end of April, I suspect you will see a 1.67 core duo in them since the price will have dropped 18-40% on the chip according to Intel. The MacBook Pro's will also get a speedbump(one processor faster in Intel's multiple clockspeed attack) on the day the iBooks are announced, since the 2.33ghz Yonah Core Duo will be out by then.

That is good news for anyone looking to buy an iBook.

If they did this, the Macbook pro would still be about 30% faster at max usage then the iBook.

30% speed seems like a big enough difference, no?

robin hood 21 Years · 505 comments

A big differentiating fact will also be the graphic card. While the MacBook Pro includes a high end graphic card, the iBook (or its replacement) as well as the new Mac mini will ship with Intel integrated graphics.

ibook911 21 Years · 550 comments

Quote:
Originally posted by tensdanny38
I guess I am not too upset over this. Assuming they are announced on April 1st shipping end of April, I suspect you will see a 1.67 core duo in them since the price will have dropped 18-40% on the chip according to Intel. The MacBook Pro's will also get a speedbump(one processor faster in Intel's multiple clockspeed attack) on the day the iBooks are announced, since the 2.33ghz Yonah Core Duo will be out by then.

That is good news for anyone looking to buy an iBook.

If they did this, the Macbook pro would still be about 30% faster at max usage then the iBook.

30% speed seems like a big enough difference, no?

Considering Apple is still not coming anywhere to meeting demand on Mac Book Pro. I somehow doubt they'll speed bump in 1 month. Still, I think indeed the iBook will get a 1.67 Duo once it is announced. What do you guys think about the Mac Mini intel? I think it is too inexpensive to have a Yonah processor. I think it will have a Celeron or maybe a Yonah Solo IF they get a very special price on them.

The boombox must really be something special or they wouldn't bother. I wonder what its catch features could be?

wings 22 Years · 261 comments

Quote:
Originally posted by Robin Hood
A big differentiating fact will also be the graphic card. While the MacBook Pro includes a high end graphic card, the iBook (or its replacement) as well as the new Mac mini will ship with Intel integrated graphics.

Apple will never have Intel Integrated Graphics in anything they sell.

ryanh 21 Years · 109 comments

Quote:
Originally posted by Robin Hood
A big differentiating fact will also be the graphic card. While the MacBook Pro includes a high end graphic card, the iBook (or its replacement) as well as the new Mac mini will ship with Intel integrated graphics.

No. Apple will not use integrated graphics. Maybe in the minis, but I'm still guessing they won't. There will definitely be a seperate GPU in the iBook/MacBook.

Apple prides themselves on a robust yet intuitive GUI utilizing Expose as well as Dashboard. Not to mention real-time video resizing which utilizes Core Image. While newer integrated GPU's could handle this, it is not ideal. Apple wants to show that the switch to Intel is bringing new life into Apple products that are incredibly long in the tooth. Using integrated graphics is even a step back from the current 9200's in some ways.

The new consumer level portables and the minis could easily use an ATI 9600 or even an X300. Integrated graphics are doubtful, in my mind.