The only gear I have that can't run Ventura is an older Mini - and I want that EDP/iCloud so after almost 11 years I will retire it for M1.
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2020 vs. 2023 Mac Mini Buyer's Guide
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I doubt that's what they are after. Most of my friends upgrade their phones after four or five years. My sister is using a 5S I gave her when I upgraded. My wife is still using her X with cracked screen and weak battery. Doesn't want the hassle of an upgrade. I'm hoping she can hold on until the 14 and USB-C. For the same reasons she is still using a Mid 2015 MBP.
A co-worker used to say "think like the competition." In other words offer what is best for the customer. Support products for a long time. Apple doesn't need you to upgrade every year.
Reading the tea leaves of the remaining M2 products left to come, I think the real "goldilocks" configs for the Mini are at $999 and $1499.
At $999, you get 8/10 CPU/GPU, 16gb RAM, and 512GB SSD. Upgrade to the 512GB SSD for full read/write speed (and an actually usable amount of storage). 16GB should be more than enough for general computing and give much better longevity/headroom for the future.
At $1499, you get 10/16 CPU/GPU, 16GB, and 1TB SSD. This is really the perfect computer. A very nice GPU bump and a couple extra CPU cores to shore up performance, and a very solid 16GB and 1TB SSD to round things out.
Once you go above $1500, 1you should 100% wait on a M2 Mac Studio. Its not hard to predict that the base M2 Max Studio will be the 12/30 config for CPU/GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD (at $1999). Add in the 10GB networking, the additional GPU cores, the extra USB and SD ports, and it makes zero sense to go for a top-tier Mini.
At $999, you get 8/10 CPU/GPU, 16gb RAM, and 512GB SSD. Upgrade to the 512GB SSD for full read/write speed (and an actually usable amount of storage). 16GB should be more than enough for general computing and give much better longevity/headroom for the future.
At $1499, you get 10/16 CPU/GPU, 16GB, and 1TB SSD. This is really the perfect computer. A very nice GPU bump and a couple extra CPU cores to shore up performance, and a very solid 16GB and 1TB SSD to round things out.
Once you go above $1500, 1you should 100% wait on a M2 Mac Studio. Its not hard to predict that the base M2 Max Studio will be the 12/30 config for CPU/GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD (at $1999). Add in the 10GB networking, the additional GPU cores, the extra USB and SD ports, and it makes zero sense to go for a top-tier Mini.
I’ve got a base model from 2018 but because it has an SSD it still flies. No need to upgrade for me.
I have used three Viewsonic 4K for years now that are cheaper than Apple. I have the pro-grade-color monitors but they also make less expensive ones.
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2019 macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Security Update 2022-005 (19H2026) was on July 20, 2022. That is over 5 months ago.
Unless your Mac isn't used online it will slowly become a security liability.
I use dual Dell 43" UHD displays. They are in the $500-1,000 each price range. They work with all of my Macs either Intel or M1.
For anyone going on about HDMI 2.1 in the new minis, I have a base M1 Mini and am pairing it right now with a 32” 4K 144Hz monitor through a single thunderbolt cable. HDR works and everything.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love HDMI 2.1 so I could get 120Hz on my LG C1 OLED TV through HDMI, but you can get it done if that’s what you’re looking for.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love HDMI 2.1 so I could get 120Hz on my LG C1 OLED TV through HDMI, but you can get it done if that’s what you’re looking for.
Good to be able to configure Mac mini with M2 Pro for those who need it.
I upgraded from a top-of-the-line M1 mini to an almost-top-of-the-line M2 Pro (only 2 TB SSD). My ongoing issue with the M1 – which I knew would be an issue when I got it – was the limit of 16 GB of RAM. 32 GB for everyday use in the new one should be good. Anyone need a working M1 mini with a completely replaced chip as of a year ago?
My sentiments exactly! Very glad I’ve waited this out. My new Mini will become my primary but my 2012 will still be running a lot of low level automated tasks. Such a GREAT machine!!!
Now you’ve made me paranoid! I’ve been wondering why I haven’t got any updates for a long time.
While it can still handle photoshop, it can be painfully slow, I can only imagine what a new one is like with that M2 chip? It must open and render stuff in PS almost instantaneously?? That starting price on the new one is tempting, but 8gb ram seems low, I upgraded my 12 to 16gb from 4 and it made a big difference.
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We're on the same boat. I have a 2012 iMac 27" that has the same last macOS Security Update. If Apple were to offer a mid 2023 iMac 27" replacement by WWDC 2023 in June then I'm buying one.
A M2 is more than sufficient but at 24GB memory I'd be induce to go M2 Pro for the 32GB memory. Hopefully it will cost no more than $2800.
What is actually scary is that we are using a computer that will be
- 3,650 days old
- 520 weeks old
- 120 months old
- 10 years old
- 1 decade old
So its mechanical/physical failure and losing your data that is nearly impossible to replicate.
When the typical replacement cycle is
- 4 years per Apple
- 5-6 years per Intel
- 10 years per Me using the last macOS / Windows Security Update
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My 2012 mini is still in service thanks to the ability to open it up and swap out drives, replacing the spinner it came with with an SSD.
That option is, unfortunately, history.
Yes you are correct but its just so old already. I'd only comfortably use it as a play thing for an under 10yo without identifiable or financial data.
When it breaks because is a decade would merit at most a shrug.
So, I am replacing a 2011 Windows desktop computer (yes, 2011!) with a Mac Mini, and was waiting for the update. I have already preordered the M2 8GB RAM with the 512GB SSD upgrade, but I am wondering if this is not the best decision for me. I have already received my Magic Keyboard (with Touch ID and Keypad) and my Magic Mouse that I ordered the same time. I have a Samsung 32" Curved 4K monitor I purchased last year over the holiday season.
I also am planning to use a Sonos Move speaker via AirPlay as my Mac Mini speaker system.
Largely, the computer is going to be used for spreadsheet work, e-mails, and web browsing. I used to game but nearly all of my gaming is on my iPhone (SWGOH)... I do occasionally like to play some older games like the Half-Life 2 series and Rocksmith through the Steam app, and would occasionally like to play them if they work with the Apple Silicon.
I don't need to run everything at max graphics, I am simply looking to relive some nostalgia, and I don't think I need to cancel my order and make the jump to M2 Pro. I don't create or edit videos/music on the Mac nor do I plan to.
Ideally, I am just hoping that this computer can last me 4-5 years, and then I can swap it out to the M5 or M6 Mac Mini, whatever they're using at that point!
I watched the M2 vs. M2 Pro YT video from MacRumors, but now I have concerns as the video suggested they couldn't run a podcast without having performance issues. Are podcast (hosts) an intensive program, or is it a hardware problem? Is there an expectation that the M2 will greatly outperform the M1?
Does the community think that the M2 will outperform or match the performance of the M1 Pro?
I also am planning to use a Sonos Move speaker via AirPlay as my Mac Mini speaker system.
Largely, the computer is going to be used for spreadsheet work, e-mails, and web browsing. I used to game but nearly all of my gaming is on my iPhone (SWGOH)... I do occasionally like to play some older games like the Half-Life 2 series and Rocksmith through the Steam app, and would occasionally like to play them if they work with the Apple Silicon.
I don't need to run everything at max graphics, I am simply looking to relive some nostalgia, and I don't think I need to cancel my order and make the jump to M2 Pro. I don't create or edit videos/music on the Mac nor do I plan to.
Ideally, I am just hoping that this computer can last me 4-5 years, and then I can swap it out to the M5 or M6 Mac Mini, whatever they're using at that point!
I watched the M2 vs. M2 Pro YT video from MacRumors, but now I have concerns as the video suggested they couldn't run a podcast without having performance issues. Are podcast (hosts) an intensive program, or is it a hardware problem? Is there an expectation that the M2 will greatly outperform the M1?
Does the community think that the M2 will outperform or match the performance of the M1 Pro?
I would have paid for extra RAM and bought an external SSD. (I'm contemplating a similar purchase).
I am going with 4tb bto. The price makes the machine so much more, but the idea of having an external on a new machine doesn’t seem great to me. It’s those darn enormous photo libraries doing it..
yes, but I refuse to upgrade anything past 10.14.6 when Adobe makes you switch to subscription
And for those of us who were smart enough to use ONLY external SSD storage the entire time we owned it, the resale value will be increased, because the internal SSD is still almost new! Mine only has a couple hours on it!
Mine does too for my mundane daily tasks. The only time I notice it being slow is the boot times are long but it goes months without restarting.
My biggest issue is being stuck on Catalina and I'm concerned it doesn't get security updates any more. I don't run Safari so I'm not sure how big a risk it is though. I'll probably get an M2 as soon as some reports come back that there are no major glitches.
I doubt the value of a used Mac Mini will be significantly increased (if at all) due to non-use of the internal SSD, plus the performance of the Mini will have been significantly impacted by the very much slower read/write speeds of an external drive compared to the internal drive.