Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Current Mac Mini worth it?
- Thread starter ugadawgs311
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I'll declare a vested interest here, as I bought a Mac mini server a couple of weeks ago....
However, I'm surprised how much chat there is on this thread about 'what might happen next' rather than what you want now.
If you can wait until Oct 17th, wait. But, what happens if there is no change? Does the MMS look worse?
I am absolutely delighted with my new toy - it is fast, capable and 'unbelievably cute' (TM Mrs Pembell). It is also incredibly portable (with care, of course) having already survived use in three different locations as far as 3500 miles apart. My needs were to consolidate a variety of laptops and hard disks and to serve three iPads in one neat package. It's great for that.
My advice therefore is wait as long as you feel comfortable (I hear rumours of thought control and integrated cappuccino makers in 2025), or get something that covers your needs now and looks the biz.
However, I'm surprised how much chat there is on this thread about 'what might happen next' rather than what you want now.
If you can wait until Oct 17th, wait. But, what happens if there is no change? Does the MMS look worse?
I am absolutely delighted with my new toy - it is fast, capable and 'unbelievably cute' (TM Mrs Pembell). It is also incredibly portable (with care, of course) having already survived use in three different locations as far as 3500 miles apart. My needs were to consolidate a variety of laptops and hard disks and to serve three iPads in one neat package. It's great for that.
My advice therefore is wait as long as you feel comfortable (I hear rumours of thought control and integrated cappuccino makers in 2025), or get something that covers your needs now and looks the biz.
It's too bad it doesn't have free shipping like Amazon. And I hadn't considered the possibility of taxes since there are no sales taxes in my state...
I think that it is worth waiting to see if a new Mini comes out in October. If it doesn't, then Fry's is likely to offer the MBP at $999 again. It has been on sale three times in the past couple of months...
I think that it is worth waiting to see if a new Mini comes out in October. If it doesn't, then Fry's is likely to offer the MBP at $999 again. It has been on sale three times in the past couple of months...
Thanks for the heads up on multiple sales. That makes me feel like I'm not missing out on a big sale if I don't buy today.
sales are sort of like the Disney vault for movies. They want you to think there will never ever be another release again, but there will and probably very soon.
There's plenty wrong with it. It doesn't have USB 3 and that's a deal breaker here. No update = no sale. I'd sooner build a Hackintosh than get an iMac (and they haven't been updated either) and I don't need another notebook. I need a server to replace my aging PowerMac one that now no longer has iTunes updates available for it. I already use a 3TB USB 3 media drive for my whole house system and the current Mac Mini would be like a step sideways in terms of the server (i.e. no faster transfer rates) whereas USB 3 basically lets the drive run 5x faster and handle multiple HD streams at the same time. If there were a reasonably priced Thunderbolt USB 3.0 adapter, it might work, but there's NOTHING (even the announced hubs with USB 2.0 on them have been pushed back).
IMO, Apple is spending too much freaking time releasing iOS products and basically ignoring their computer lines for the most part. The Mac Pro is PATHETIC at this point and there's simply NO EXCUSE WHAT-SO-EVER for that SHAME. This is the most powerful richest company on Earth and they cannot find the resources to keep their computer lines updated anymore with a reasonable schedule? Shame on Apple. Given the recent missteps, I wouldn't be shocked if Tim Cook runs the company into the ground in less than a decade at this rate.
Phones aren't everything and sooner or later fads end and people will realize that nothing beats a solid keyboard and mouse/trackpad. Tablets are so large in area, you might as well get a notebook (as thin as Apple's are, I see no reason to get a tablet except to save a few bucks and then you cannot run the full versions of things like Photoshop, so what are you saving?)
Apparently, Apple has decided it's not a computer company anymore and they are the 21st Century Radio Shack or something and well, Radio Shack used to be a popular store....
There's plenty wrong with it. It doesn't have USB 3 and that's a deal breaker here. No update = no sale. I'd sooner build a Hackintosh than get an iMac (and they haven't been updated either) and I don't need another notebook. I need a server to replace my aging PowerMac one that now no longer has iTunes updates available for it. I already use a 3TB USB 3 media drive for my whole house system and the current Mac Mini would be like a step sideways in terms of the server (i.e. no faster transfer rates) whereas USB 3 basically lets the drive run 5x faster and handle multiple HD streams at the same time. If there were a reasonably priced Thunderbolt USB 3.0 adapter, it might work, but there's NOTHING (even the announced hubs with USB 2.0 on them have been pushed back).
IMO, Apple is spending too much freaking time releasing iOS products and basically ignoring their computer lines for the most part. The Mac Pro is PATHETIC at this point and there's simply NO EXCUSE WHAT-SO-EVER for that SHAME. This is the most powerful richest company on Earth and they cannot find the resources to keep their computer lines updated anymore with a reasonable schedule? Shame on Apple. Given the recent missteps, I wouldn't be shocked if Tim Cook runs the company into the ground in less than a decade at this rate.
Phones aren't everything and sooner or later fads end and people will realize that nothing beats a solid keyboard and mouse/trackpad. Tablets are so large in area, you might as well get a notebook (as thin as Apple's are, I see no reason to get a tablet except to save a few bucks and then you cannot run the full versions of things like Photoshop, so what are you saving?)
Apparently, Apple has decided it's not a computer company anymore and they are the 21st Century Radio Shack or something and well, Radio Shack used to be a popular store....
I'm waiting, but I disagree with "There's plenty wrong with it." If I didn't think a new Mini was coming out soon, I'd happily buy the 2011 model.
I agree with most of your other points, especially the point about Tim Cook being a dope. Apparently, Steve Jobs appointed the wrong guy as his successor.
There's plenty wrong with it. It doesn't have USB 3 and that's a deal breaker here. No update = no sale. I'd sooner build a Hackintosh than get an iMac (and they haven't been updated either) and I don't need another notebook. I need a server to replace my aging PowerMac one that now no longer has iTunes updates available for it. I already use a 3TB USB 3 media drive for my whole house system and the current Mac Mini would be like a step sideways in terms of the server (i.e. no faster transfer rates) whereas USB 3 basically lets the drive run 5x faster and handle multiple HD streams at the same time. If there were a reasonably priced Thunderbolt USB 3.0 adapter, it might work, but there's NOTHING (even the announced hubs with USB 2.0 on them have been pushed back).
IMO, Apple is spending too much freaking time releasing iOS products and basically ignoring their computer lines for the most part. The Mac Pro is PATHETIC at this point and there's simply NO EXCUSE WHAT-SO-EVER for that SHAME. This is the most powerful richest company on Earth and they cannot find the resources to keep their computer lines updated anymore with a reasonable schedule? Shame on Apple. Given the recent missteps, I wouldn't be shocked if Tim Cook runs the company into the ground in less than a decade at this rate.
Phones aren't everything and sooner or later fads end and people will realize that nothing beats a solid keyboard and mouse/trackpad. Tablets are so large in area, you might as well get a notebook (as thin as Apple's are, I see no reason to get a tablet except to save a few bucks and then you cannot run the full versions of things like Photoshop, so what are you saving?)
Apparently, Apple has decided it's not a computer company anymore and they are the 21st Century Radio Shack or something and well, Radio Shack used to be a popular store....
you don't have the correct usb3 drive.
you really need 2 pieces of gear you need
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeAgent-GoFlex-Desktop-Adapter/dp/B003KGBBRW
this piece is 15 dollars
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-GoFle...d=1349383669&sr=1-1&keywords=seagate+stae+122
this piece is 170. end of story .
I am pretty much in full agreement with the rest of your opinion.
for myself i have gone all t-bolt as it is more stable for external booting then anything i have ever owned.
usb2
usb3
firewire 400
firewire 800
esata
none of these work as well as t-bolt for external booting.
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Second this, I got tired of waiting for the mini, found a new 13" MBP for £800 and got that, threw in 16Gb ram and a 512GB SSD, got a 12south stand for my desk for when it's plugged into the monitor, hardly takes up any space that way and is plenty fast, the HD4000 is a big step up and the ivy bridge i5 encodes movies with handbrake almost 3 time faster than my old core 2 duo MBP that it replaced. And USB 3...is definitely worth it, my TC backups take a fraction of the time now.
Plus I still have the optional mobility which I thought I could do without but having it does help.
Options, all I'm saying is I would advise against spending 2012 money on what is now 2.5 year old tech.
the 2011 mini has sandybridge and t-bolt niether one is 30 months old. Altough it may feel that we have been waiting for 30 months we have not. It is more like 18 month old tech.
Now when the 2010 mini came out with a c2d 2.66 cpu that cpu was more then 2 years old from day 1.
your idea of the 2012 macbook pro is pretty good. if it were not for my older eyes I would have done the same
Last edited:
You got a good deal.
Thanks! Updating it to ML as we speak.
Still, 18 months? That seems a bit nuts to buy now. With as quickly as technology advances, you shouldn't have to buy something that came out a year and a half ago.
While we're talking about possible upgrades, does anything think the MBP will be updated any time soon? Correct me if I'm wrong, but they just updated them earlier this year right? I would not expect an update until next summer then at the earliest. I'm getting closer and closer to getting the current MBP, but I'll wait to see if a new Mini comes out soon.
Waiting a couple of weeks to see if the Mini is upgraded this month is one thing, but speculating about the next MBP update is pointless. If you stick with this line of reasoning you will never get a new Mac because there will always be an update in the works, sooner or later...
As far as the comment about T-Bolt being more reliable for booting from an external drive, I've never had a problem booting via Firewire and I haven't come across any complaints about USB 3.0 booting problems. The suggested workaround requires spending $200 for adapters that only work with Seagate Free Agent drives, so that means spending around $400 if you don't own the compatible drives.
I won't be throwing money at a problem that doesn't exist...
Last edited:
I agree, I was only bringing up the MBP just to see if there is any chance at all of it being mentioned at this month's "announcement." I figure there is no chance, but just though I'd throw it out there.
MBP Alternative
Need aside, if you want to get the most for your money, I think you wait for the newer version. It is probably done and waiting to release with the mired-in-production problems iMac update.
But given that it is likely to be base MBP 13 specifications except for the MMS model, MBP 13 seems like a viable alternative that is/will be way easier to update to a SSD now or in the future -- along with being more portable and offering more screen real estate when used with an external monitor.
Need aside, if you want to get the most for your money, I think you wait for the newer version. It is probably done and waiting to release with the mired-in-production problems iMac update.
But given that it is likely to be base MBP 13 specifications except for the MMS model, MBP 13 seems like a viable alternative that is/will be way easier to update to a SSD now or in the future -- along with being more portable and offering more screen real estate when used with an external monitor.
Well, that's $185 extra I won't need with an updated USB3 Mini. There's also the question of future USB 3.0 stuff. I'd rather have an updated Mini.
I had no trouble with a FW800 boot on my 2008 MBP. It feels just as fast as the internal.
October 17 Mac Mini Announcement?
I received a new i7 SSD Mac Mini from Apple yesterday, 10/8, still in the shrink wrap. I've got 16GB memory from OWC sitting next to it, still unopened.
I've decided to wait until October 17 to see whether they either announce it at the "supposed" event that day, or just update the store after the event to make it clear that the specs reflect Ivy Bridge.
Good approach? I just hate to buy a brand new BTO system the week before a new version comes out at the same price point.
I suppose a benefit of the bird-in-the-hand is that it's a mature model, meaning that all the hardware issues have presumably been identified and resolved.
I received a new i7 SSD Mac Mini from Apple yesterday, 10/8, still in the shrink wrap. I've got 16GB memory from OWC sitting next to it, still unopened.
I've decided to wait until October 17 to see whether they either announce it at the "supposed" event that day, or just update the store after the event to make it clear that the specs reflect Ivy Bridge.
Good approach? I just hate to buy a brand new BTO system the week before a new version comes out at the same price point.
I suppose a benefit of the bird-in-the-hand is that it's a mature model, meaning that all the hardware issues have presumably been identified and resolved.
I've gone back to a 2010 Mac mini server - it has enough grunt to do what I am running 24/5 (work week) and silence is golden. 128Gb SSD for Windows 7 and the 500 Gb OS X for backup / weekend. CPU at 42 C ~ 44 C @ 7 ~ 8% CPU load continously. Bought it with two years Applecare remaining and needed logic board replacement (faulty mini display port) so basically it was a new machine when the board got replaced.
Don't need more power for my application and neither for surfing the web.
External backup is onto a RAID 1 Newertech (Firewire 800) which is done once a month and goes offsite.
All is well and "happy as Larry" as we say down under.
Was waiting for the Ivy bridge release but it does not look like it will be coming - I suspect the Haswell version will be the next replacement.
That Apple has seen fit to keep the existing machine reinforces my opinion that Apple sees the product as a commodity item for the masses.
Let's face it do you replace your stereo, HDD video recorder, TV, washing machine, whatever every year? As long as it does what it is supposed to do then why replace? It is not as in the days of the 186 / 286 / 386 days where every upgrade was a magnitude faster. Heck I remember a 8088 with 128K memory costing as much as a car. The computer is now falling in that same commodity category.
