" I received my 1.5 core solo Mac mini yesterday. Interestingly, the profiler states that it is a 1.5 Ghz intel core duo. I'm surprised I haven't heard more reports of this. Is it simply a bug in the profiler or did I get a chip with both cores still intact?
(I mentioned there was a post/link here recently to a screenshot of this and asked him to run Cinebench 9.5 (which does single and MP CPU render tests) to verify it was just a Solo-Mike)
I ran Cinbench and it reported only one rendering test for the mac mini. It looks like it's a profiler issue with regards to reporting a core duo.
Thanks, Michael P. "

I don't know if the Core Solo actually has a different ID for ASP to key on or if it's the same as the Duo. (Solo is reportedly a Duo with one core disabled.) If it's the same CPU ID, then Apple system profiler would need to key on something else to correctly report the Solo. (Currently 1.5GHz models are Solo models.)

" The OWC Neptune FireWire 400 line of solutions, with the latest Oxford 911+ Chipset, is great for Audio/Video, Music, Backup(Dantz/EMC Backup Certified), or general storage. These solutions are also fully bootable on any system with FireWire boot support. All models include: EMC/Dantz Retrospect Backup Software (Mac/PC), Intech HD Speedtools, FireWire Cable, Pretested/preformatted with 1yr OWC Warranty.
Price drops to existing models:
80GB 7200RPM w/2MB Data Buffer remains $99.95
160GB 7200RPM w/8MB Data Buffer was $129.99, now $127.99
200GB 7200RPM w/8MB Data Buffer remains $149.99
250GB 7200RPM w/8MB Data Buffer was $169.99, now $159.99
320GB 7200RPM w/8MB Data Buffer was $199.99, now $187.99
400GB 7200RPM w/8MB Data Buffer was $289.99, now $279.99
Neptune solutions listing online here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/owc-neptune-drives/
Also available - OWC Neptune Enclosure Kits to add your own 3.5" ATA Drive up to 500GB+ supported - $47.99, cables included.
Best Regards,
Lawrence R. O'Connor
Other World Computing "

" New mini videos (includes tips/commentary on take-apart tools): 3 flavors
http://media.macsales.com/videos/mini/intel/high.html
http://media.macsales.com/videos/mini/intel/med.html
http://media.macsales.com/videos/mini/intel/low.html
Big one is only 102MB. H264 is so nice :>)
Thanks!
Jamie Dresser
Product Manager & New Product Development
Other World Computing, Inc. "

"I'm not sure how much this will help any of your readers, but I finally got the resolution set on my Mac so that it displays correctly on my Japanese Sony HDTV.

Currently I'm using an old B&W G3 as my home server. It's got all my music & photos stored on it, along with my personal website and file shares. I upgraded the video card from the stock card the PCI version of the ATI 9200 (128MB video memory). My TV doesn't have DVI or HDMI inputs, but it does have component inputs (separate R G B) so I had to use some sort of converter to get the video to the TV. I plan on replacing the B&W with one of the new Mac mini's soon.

Here's my current setup:
G3 B&W 450MHz Server
ATI 9200 PCI 128MB VRAM
Audio Authority 9A60 VGA to Component video adapter
Sony KD-32HD800 (Japan Model) (720p & 1080i)
(closest US Model = KD-34XBR2)

I ran a VGA cable from the computer to the Audio Authority 9A60 converter. Then I ran an component cable to the TV

I used SwitchResX Control Panel to adjust the resolutions built into Mac OS X. It took about 30 reboots to finally get the correct resolution and placement on the screen!

I've attached a screen shot of my resolution settings. For some reason, I cant get the TV to accept 720p resolutions (too much overscan), so I had to reduce the resolution a little. It still looks great though!
Best regards, Fred U."

Another popular utility with readers for resolution/mode tweaking (especially with TVs used as monitors) is DisplayConfig X. It (along with switchres) has been linked in the FAQ's Monitors/Displays section for years now.

"Possible upgrade path for Intel Core Duo
An interesting piece of news from the Intel Developer Forum as reported at: http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2715
It suggests that the future Merom mobile processor (the successor to Yonah - the Core Duo) will be pin compatible with current systems. Intel showed a comparison of a Dell laptop running the Core Duo and the same system with the processor swapped for the faster Merom which runs at the same power. This provides a possible future upgrade path for Intel CPU iMac/Mini.
Malcolm H. "

Douglas also sent a link to another article on Intel's future processor Conroe with benchmarks.

• Powerlogix acquired/OWC secures Powerlogix Product Designs (dated Mar. 6th)
• Apple to hire 3,000 by 2007 (in India for Tech support)
• SuperDuper! 2.1 released (now Univ. binary)
• Synergy 2.6 released (bug fix)
• APC Tracker Updated (now Univ. Binary, new features added)
• Captain FTP 4.5 (now Univ. binary, more features)
• Free Taste of OnScreen DNA for Macintosh now Univ. binary (link corrected)
• Nova media unveils message2net|SMS and phonebook mgmt for OS X
• Power Manager 3.2.1 (now Univ. binary)
• Nvidia launces 3 new graphics chips
• Review of Edimax Bluetooth 2.0 adapter
• Cebit: Samsung shows 10 MegaPixel Camera Phone
• Cebit: Logitech announces a host of new Consumer products
• Intel seeks Efficiency with new Dual Core Designs (PCworld)
• The latest in Professional Photo Printers (PCworld)

DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-K05 in iMac G5 (OS X 10.3)
  (Noted using Toast for burning but I think in OS X 10.3.x you'd need to install a Patchburn 3 profile for iApps burn support. OS X 10.4.x has native iApps burn support.)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-110D in B&W G3 (OS X 10.4)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers B&W G3 and G4 towers up to the digital audio model.)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-110D in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
  (although Tiger has basic iApps burn support without it, he noted using Patchburn 4.)
• IDE Samsung SH-W162C in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
  (noted using Patchburn 4.)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Western Digital Caviar 120GB in B&W G3 (OS X 10.4)
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 rev2 and G4 towers up to the QuickSilver models.
  IDE articles page RAID section has an illustrated guide for adding 2 more drives in the side bays and IDE PCI controller card)
• IDE Western Digital WD800VE 80GB in iBook G4 (OS X 10.4)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• Giga Designs G4 1.8 GHz (7447A) in (sawtooth) G4/AGP (rated 10)
• Sonnet G4 1.8 GHz (7447A) in (sawtooth) G4/AGP (rated 8)
• XLR8 G4 600MHz in B&W G3 (rated 10)
  
  (Full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades compared to stock CPUs, including real world apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked at the CPU upgrades page. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand).