The general concept of "user upgradeable" means not only that the parts can be removed and replaced without specialized tools -- but also that upgraded parts are available to buy. Until Apple, OWC or others put those upgraded parts on the market, it's pointless to debate about how easy it is to replace a graphics card on the Mac Mini Pro.
I don't think the cards will be user upgradable. That said, that's different than upgradable.
The "card" in the case of the CPU is a proprietary form factor motherboard. It's a "card" simply because the Mac Mini Pro has to be assembled, and needs to be repaired.
Right, but those are the same requirements for upgradability. And the mount is very... particular for something that's not intended to be removed after purchase at any time. Apple could have done a lot more screws, or bolted it more directly into the case. Usually in things Apple doesn't intend to be swappable, they're buried somewhat into the case.
Apple also knows that replacing GPUs is something a lot of pro users desire. They did surveys beforehand, and my inability to get a commitment from anyone at Apple isn't definitive, but it's telling. They haven't entirely forgot upgradability, and putting those cards in an area so accessible is telling.
I think third party cards, at least for now, are totally out of the question though.
It's fine for Apple to streamline its repair process by treating the mobo+CPU as the FRU. But unless the CPU is socketed and the mobo can be removed and replaced without special tools or skills - it's hard to consider that the CPU is upgradeable.
Again, not "user upgradable", but upgradable.
The hard drive in the first Macbook Pros were not "user upgradable", but if you took them to an Apple store, they'd do the upgrade for you. Same thing for the iBooks.
They'll do a GPU upgrade on a Mac Pro today, but given that that has been user upgradable, it hasn't been very common.
Some here have been pointing at the screws that hold the Mac Mini Pro together as proof that it's upgradeable. To me, it just means that the robots that build the Mac Mini Pros use those screws to put it together. It says nothing about end-user upgradeability.
Yes, but it's interesting that IS the design to start with. Apple didn't have to build a case that was user accessible with the cards front and center. Just look at the disks in the Mac Mini. They're buried under piles of boards.
If you can't buy the upgraded parts, and if the disassembly/reassembly process it too difficult for even the skilled tinkerer to attempt, then in practice one would have to conclude that it is not user-upgradeable.
Let's all repeat again: "User upgradable" is not the same thing as "upgradable."
Perhap in a year from now the Apple store (or OWC and....) will have GPU and CPU and other hardware upgrades for the Mac Mini Pro - and those of us with doubts will be proven wrong.
Which is exactly what I said (at least the Apple having upgrades and doing them in store part.)
