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2018 Mini Spec/Price Predictions/Hopes

I'm in the market for a desk based Mac, but I already have a some decent 4K monitors (which of course don't work with my 2012 Mac Mini). I use them for work on a work laptop and I also want to use the same monitors on my home PC: an iMac would just be annoying as it would take up more room.

I had an iMac previously but I dislike the single point of failure of the system and the need to have a screen on to run the thing. My Mac Mini works as a server for my family as well as my home PC, with RAID disks connected to it and running 24 hours - an iMac just isn't designed for that sort of work.
 
Sorrel said:
I'm in the market for a desk based Mac, but I already have a some decent 4K monitors (which of course don't work with my 2012 Mac Mini). I use them for work on a work laptop and I also want to use the same monitors on my home PC: an iMac would just be annoying as it would take up more room.

I had an iMac previously but I dislike the single point of failure of the system and the need to have a screen on to run the thing. My Mac Mini works as a server for my family as well as my home PC, with RAID disks connected to it and running 24 hours - an iMac just isn't designed for that sort of work.
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I doubt whatever Apple updates the Mac Mini to will fit those needs on a reasonable price point.

I used to have a nearly identical setup to yours. Instead of waiting for a new Mac Mini, I got a Synology NAS (RAID 6) for my storage, and a cheap Macbook Air for my personal computer. It can't run two 4k displays, but I can run one. The Synology NAS is basically a full-fledged linux desktop but with a web gui - it does a lot through various packages available for it.

In terms of future Mac Minis, there are really only one of two ways Apple will go: (1) It will be so closed-up and soldered that your complaint of a "single point of failure for the system" will be just as bad as with an iMac. (2) It will be a pro-level computer targeted at a wholly different audience and priced too high to use as just a home server.

The 2012 MM was sort of a unicorn, I don't think we will get a Mac like that ever again.
 
oneMadRssn said:
I doubt whatever Apple updates the Mac Mini to will fit those needs on a reasonable price point.

In terms of future Mac Minis, there are really only one of two ways Apple will go: (1) It will be so closed-up and soldered that your complaint of a "single point of failure for the system" will be just as bad as with an iMac. (2) It will be a pro-level computer targeted at a wholly different audience and priced too high to use as just a home server.

The 2012 MM was sort of a unicorn, I don't think we will get a Mac like that ever again.
Click to expand...

Could there be a Mac Mini and a Pro Mac Mini model in the works? Pro, as in more expensive but not a replacement for the higher end Mac desktops.
 
fastlanephil said:
Could there be a Mac Mini and a Pro Mac Mini model in the works? Pro, as in more expensive but not a replacement for the higher end Mac desktops.
Click to expand...

Sure, there could be. But I am 99% sure there won't be a Mac Mini with two replaceable drive bays, replaceable RAM, and a quad-core or better CPU for under $1500. That I am sure of.
 
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redheeler said:
Already posted this in the other thread, but makes sense to leave it here as well. Here’s a practical, powerful, sensible Mac mini lineup we probably won't see from Apple:

$549 Mac mini 8,1:
  • Intel Core i3-8109U (2 cores, base 3 GHz, turbo 3.6 GHz)
  • Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
  • 500 GB Fusion drive (32 GB SSD portion) or 128 GB pure SSD (+$50 for the SSD)

$799 Mac mini 8,1:
  • Intel Core i5-8259U (4 cores, base 2.3 GHz, turbo 3.8 GHz)
  • Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
  • 1 TB Fusion drive (128 GB SSD portion) or 256 GB pure SSD

$1,099 Mac mini 8,2:
  • Intel Core i7-8850H (6 cores, base 2.6 GHz, turbo 4.3 GHz)
  • AMD Radeon 550 (2 GB GDDR5)
  • 1 TB Fusion drive (128 GB SSD portion) or 256 GB pure SSD

All models:
  • 8 GB user-upgradable 2400 MHz DDR4
  • 2014 design with the 2012 twist-off bottom for upgrading RAM
  • 2x Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C ports in place of the 2x Thunderbolt 2
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • Available in Space Gray or Silver

The base model is still priced low-enough and performs adequately for light-use budget-conscious buyers, while every subsequent tier brings a decent performance bump making it worth the extra money.

Edit: Corrected the $549 model's iGPU; added processor clock speeds, links to processor spec sheets.
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I think this might be plausible lineup although I thing the Best tier will be I7-8750H (already used in the base MacBook Pro 15") rather than the I7-8850H.

While I would like to see user upgradeable RAM I think Apple will stick with soldering it on, cheaper and more reliable for them, they get to pocket any upgrade profits at purchase and no 3rd party memory issues AppleCare will have to dodge.
 
My money is on the Mac mini to increase in height about 50% in order to fit 65W CPU's

The line-up could look like this:
Core i3-9000 65W quad core / 8GB / 256GB m.2 $499
Core i5-9500 65W six core / 16GB / 256GB m.2 $749

No eight core core i7 will be part of the line-up as they take 95W. Also no dedicated GPU. People wanting 8core and more or a dedicated GPU will need to buy an iMac or (new) Mac pro.
 
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youdontsay said:
What I'd ilke :

  • I don't care about the form factor
  • 32GB DDR4 memory
  • 2.7GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor
  • Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
  • 256GB SSD Storage
  • Wifi AC
  • Bluetooth 5
  • I/O : Jack/optical and4 thunderbolt 3 ports
1499$

Won't happen :D
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I wouldn't count that configuration out. It won't be one the three pre-configured tiers but I think its very possible you will be able to have this as a Build-To-Order configuration.
 
absynth said:
My money is on the Mac mini to increase in height about 50% in order to fit 65W CPU's

The line-up could look like this:
Core i3-9000 65W quad core / 8GB / 256GB m.2 $499
Core i5-9500 65W six core / 16GB / 256GB m.2 $749

No eight core core i7 will be part of the line-up as they take 95W. Also no dedicated GPU. People wanting 8core and more or a dedicated GPU will need to buy an iMac or (new) Mac pro.
Click to expand...

Or an eGPU. With a 6 core i7 and decent eGPU this could be awesome!
Basically very similar to the intel NUC design.
 
All Apple has to do is offer the following and they can have my money:

2.6 GHz Core i5 (I5-8269U) (Quad Core)
Iris Plus Graphics 655
16GB 2400Hz DDR4 memory
1TB Fusion Drive or 256GB SSD standard (Fusion drive would be OK so long as its still the 128GB SSD paired with 1TB HDD, if they try to put in 24GB SSD with 1TD HDD, then I will opt for 256GB SSD) A NVME based SSD would be even better.

I'm pretty sure it should price out to $1,199 + tax

My Mid 2011 Mac mini needs a new big brother, come on Apple.
 
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opeter said:
The biggest surprise would be, if Apple would in October (silently) remove the Mac mini from stores.
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I don’t believe that will happen this time. However, this pending update may be the last for the Mini.

If only Apple would retun the Mini to a user friendly configuration with user modifiable RAM, SSD, and other replacement parts instead of a viciously sealed box...
 
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opeter said:
The biggest surprise would be, if Apple would in October (silently) remove the Mac mini from stores.
Click to expand...

dirtylilhobo said:
I don’t believe that will happen this time. However, this pending update may be the last for the Mini.

If only Apple would retun the Mini to a user friendly configuration with user modifiable RAM, SSD, and other replacement parts instead of a viciously sealed box...
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The imminent demise of the Mac Mini has been predicted for more than a decade........

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-to-be-discontinued.307146/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-to-be-discontinued.586243/

While the RAM on the Mac Mini, along with most of the current Mac line-up, is soldered, thus not modifiable, the HDD or SSD can be replaced by a technician..... or a user with the required tools and confidence.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+mini+Late+2014+Hard+Drive+Replacement/32815
 
absynth said:
My money is on the Mac mini to increase in height about 50% in order to fit 65W CPU's

The line-up could look like this:
Core i3-9000 65W quad core / 8GB / 256GB m.2 $499
Core i5-9500 65W six core / 16GB / 256GB m.2 $749

No eight core core i7 will be part of the line-up as they take 95W. Also no dedicated GPU. People wanting 8core and more or a dedicated GPU will need to buy an iMac or (new) Mac pro.
Click to expand...

The i5 would work fine for me. And put my home directory on an external drive, possibly with enclosure supporting TB or USB 3.1 (I have an unused 500GB SSD).
 
absynth said:
My money is on the Mac mini to increase in height about 50% in order to fit 65W CPU's

The line-up could look like this:
Core i3-9000 65W quad core / 8GB / 256GB m.2 $499
Core i5-9500 65W six core / 16GB / 256GB m.2 $749

No eight core core i7 will be part of the line-up as they take 95W. Also no dedicated GPU. People wanting 8core and more or a dedicated GPU will need to buy an iMac or (new) Mac pro.
Click to expand...
There is no way Apple does this, they will use 28W CannonLake processors currently used in MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar, 8GB RAM across the board and storage options similar current models. No case redesign.
 
Geezus. For a 20 gazillion dollar company, they could afford to give every Macs desktop user in existence user a free mac pro just for the hell of it.
Just make a flipping' mini already contemporarily comparable to how the 2012 was you nickel and diming penny pinching capitalist pigs
 
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Cape Dave said:
Are you sure?
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Sure?
No, I don't have inside information and I'm not psychic.

I just know how Apple doesn't care enough about the Mini to do more than the minimal effort. I think any Mac-centric resources will be focused on the Modular Mac Pro coming next year and laptops, that's where the money is.
 
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tedson said:
Sure?
No, I don't have inside information and I'm not psychic.

I just know how Apple doesn't care enough about the Mini to do more than the minimal effort. I think any Mac-centric resources will be focused on the Modular Mac Pro coming next next and laptops, that's where the money is.
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Copy that. It was kind of sounding like you worked for Apple and knew Tim personally :) My opinion is that Apple will do a substantial upgrade to the mini, providing a decent "pro" version of the mini. It will not have ECC or Xeon chips, so will not in any way conflict with the new Mac Pro.

Some may speak of conflict with that laptop or that all in one. I am tired of that argument, personally. The people have spoken. We want a decent mini. And we do not care about what that does to Apple's line. Like the man said, they could afford to give everyone in this thread a brand new 10K Mac Pro. And have it be the fart of a mosquito in a cat 5 hurricane. It would waste more money in the time it takes to say the words "Rounding Error" than actual money spent by giving us all a 10K computer. BUT WE DO NOT CARE! All we want is a decent mini. We kind of deserve it.
 
Frankly, my expectations are so low that if they could just update the Mini with an 8th genenration chip, I would be a happy man.

I don't give any credence to a Mini Pro at this point, even a midrange headless iMac is crazy talk given Apple's total lack of interest in this product.
 
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