The last time they revamped the Mac Mini (to the Core 2 Duo processors), they didn't do a reveal at MacWorld or WWDC. The Apple store was simply updated to reflect the update. Be interesting to see if this happens again, given all the "leaks" about a new Mac Mini being imminent.

The bright lining to the missing mini is that maybe they have to wait for the next round of processors from Intel. That would mean even better minis when they do get upgraded. (Alert: unwarranted optimism detected)

If I had to roll out a mini now I'd be of two minds: 1) take the price down so people will buy even in a depressed economy. 2) leave the price on the theory that the cost sensitive will buy horrible low end machines for $100 less anyway. If you choose 1 and the economy starts to rebound you have shot your profits for product lifetime. Maybe it is best to wait and see how the next month or two plays out before committing to an 18 month product cycle.

Well, the minis have used mobile versions of the "Core" CPUs in the past, and the "P" (25W TDP, 3M cache) and "SP" series (like "P" but socket-less, 6M cache) were only recently released to accompany the "Centrino 2" platform. There's even a quad-core mobile Core2 out. (except it's got a TDP of 45W, so calling it "mobile" is a stretch) On the desktop side, the Nehalems (Core i7) are brand new.

I doubt they're waiting for yet another iteration.

You think the Mac Mini, a product that accounts for a tiny sliver of all of Apple's revenue, rates a slot alongside a new rev of Apple's flagship computer?

Yes! It's the cheapest entry into owning a Mac at a time when people are looking to spend less money (e.g. netbooks).

Portables do almost double the amount of revenue as the whole desktop category for Apple; the Mini is accounted for alongside the Mac Pro and iMac lines --- either of which surely dwarf the Mini. However important you think it is, I don't think Apple thinks it's as important as the MBP, or the 3.3Bn iTMS, or even the 2.2Bn Apple software line.

It's not really a new revision, though, is it? It's just a different size of the newest revision that has been out for a while. On top of that, it's a "release" that has been assumed for months. It strikes me as a bug-fix release, instead of a major new release, if you will.