I agree, Apple should offer, at least in the 27" models, either a second HDD or an Optical Drive (internal, external superdrive is bad and we all know this). It's the lack of options, really.
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Discontinue the Mac Mini?
- Thread starter Steelseries
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I agree, Apple should offer, at least in the 27" models, either a second HDD or an Optical Drive (internal, external superdrive is bad and we all know this). It's the lack of options, really.
My point still stands.....For the iMac. I do think that Apple should move to a more traditional MicroATX case, one of my main reasons for the Mac mini is having a small desk (One steve jobs biography away from being an art table....Seriously it's an art table I have propped up parallel with a copy of the Walter Isaacson steve jobs book) and being able to fit my computer on it. If I had a job, and a bigger desk, I'd have an iMac. I used to use my nightstand as a desk, and the Mac mini worked well with that.
The Mac mini has gone for longer periods of time between updates, ref. MR Buyer Guide. There will likely be a Haswell update to the Mac mini line in early 2014. The mini updates tend to be staggered around iMac updates.
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Only we're not talking about the iMac...
At least he's true to his handle.
You do realize that the 27" iMac DID offer both things that you were asking for in your previous post, right? An internal SuperDrive and 2 HDD bays. Find a mid-2011 27" iMac and you'll have it all.
The iMac fills a pretty popular niche and I don't see any reason for them to change it drastically.
If Apple made a "Mac Mini Pro" then it would fill a gap that's been there for a while, IMO.
You do realize that the 27" iMac DID offer both things that you were asking for in your previous post, right? An internal SuperDrive and 2 HDD bays. Find a mid-2011 27" iMac and you'll have it all.
The iMac fills a pretty popular niche and I don't see any reason for them to change it drastically.
If Apple made a "Mac Mini Pro" then it would fill a gap that's been there for a while, IMO.
If it's pretty popular, it's not a niche.
And also I was speaking in today's terms, I think they should introduce those things to the CURRENT iMac lines, because a lot of people need them, I'm not just saying "I need an iMac that fits ME".
Did you get confused again?
There are niches, some are obscure and some are more common, but being one of the larger niches doesn't mean it's no longer a niche. Take a look at Apple's PC market share, roughly 13% in the US. The rest are Windows. Apple isn't quite the boutique computer that it used to be, but it's still essentially a niche computer; Media creators, artists, and students tend to be the biggest consumers. Sometimes you'll see iMacs in medical offices and such, but Apple is a long way from taking the lion's share of the market away from Windows.If you need a 2nd HDD then get a 2nd HDD, that's what USB3 and TB ports are for. If you need an ODD then get one, the external SuperDrive functions just like the internal one, the exception being when you plug it into a Mac that came with an internal SuperDrive.
The vast majority of people no longer have a need for ODDs, so why include them? If a lot of people need them then there are alternatives, but including something that the minority wants/needs and the majority doesn't isn't something that makes business sense.
The current 27" iMac can have up to a 3TB fusion drive, that's two drives. Would you rather have two SATA3 bays with slower SSDs or a PCIe SSD and a SATA3 HDD? I'd rather have the latter, awesome speed for hot data and plenty of storage.
If you have room for a 27" iMac then you have room for a couple of external peripherals, IMO. For someone that says they're not wanting something JUST for them you sure are placing a lot of strict "requirements" on what it should have and why. The bottom line is that the current iMacs can do everything you need/want and have decent specs. The current Mac Mini does NOT have the same specs, nowhere near it. Today the iMac can effectively do more than the Mini in terms of performance. The discussion about a "Mac Mini Pro" was to address a problem that cannot be overcome with the current hardware and likely not with the refreshed model either. Your issues with the iMac are personal ones and not technical limitations. If you COULDN'T add external drives then you'd have something, but you can and that makes it a personal limitation on your part.
But, back to the Mac Mini since that's what we were talking about before you jumped into the Mac Mini section with your iMac posts...
Exactly. You can ignore this post if your still stuck in 2014. This is a time capsule message for the people living in mid-2015:
No, the Mac Mini is not being discontinued. You're getting a new Broadwell based version soon...
I've Said it Before, And Damn it I'll Say it Again...
APPLE WON'T DISCONTINUE THE MAC MINI. It is the perfect entry level Mac. For the personal user who is switching over from Windows who already owns peripherals, for the school district that already owns monitors, keyboards, and mice, for the companies that need small servers, the Mac mini is a perfect solution. Apple won't kill off a massively effective product. Just because it hasn't been updated since Late 2012 doesn't mean it's on the kill list, (See iPod, Thunderbolt Display).
APPLE WON'T DISCONTINUE THE MAC MINI. It is the perfect entry level Mac. For the personal user who is switching over from Windows who already owns peripherals, for the school district that already owns monitors, keyboards, and mice, for the companies that need small servers, the Mac mini is a perfect solution. Apple won't kill off a massively effective product. Just because it hasn't been updated since Late 2012 doesn't mean it's on the kill list, (See iPod, Thunderbolt Display).
See also: White MacBook.
Quite honestly, the Mac mini is pointless and should be killed off. I have one, and haven't touched it in ages.
As a typical MacRumours forum member, I believe that if a system doesn't have any use for me, it is completely useless to everybody.
I think alcohol manufacturers should stop making wine. Wine is pointless.
Lol
LOL. They always blame us.
And I will throw my invisible hat into the ring again, and repeat hopeful rumors of a February release for the Mini.
LOL. They always blame us.
And I will throw my invisible hat into the ring again, and repeat hopeful rumors of a February release for the Mini.
I think the Mac Mini makes a lot of sense as a home computer. Let's face it, most people do a large amount of their personal computing on mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). So, for home use, an upgradeable simple inexpensive desktop might be all they need for that 10% of the time when their mobile device won't cut it.
Almost everyone has a monitor, keyboard and mouse laying around the house. If not, you can buy these really inexpensively, especially if you don't need a top flight monitor for that 10% use case. Also, if the monitor craps out, you can easily replace it. This would be a major issue for an iMac. Finally, adding RAM is a piece of cake with the Mac Mini, but it isn't even possible on some iMacs.
There is a huge cost difference between the Mini and the iMac....$600 base Mac Mini vs $1299 base iMac. The $700 difference could be used to purchase an iPad plus still have some jingle in your pocket.
The Mac Mini is not for everyone, but I would be disappointed if it was discontinued.
Almost everyone has a monitor, keyboard and mouse laying around the house. If not, you can buy these really inexpensively, especially if you don't need a top flight monitor for that 10% use case. Also, if the monitor craps out, you can easily replace it. This would be a major issue for an iMac. Finally, adding RAM is a piece of cake with the Mac Mini, but it isn't even possible on some iMacs.
There is a huge cost difference between the Mini and the iMac....$600 base Mac Mini vs $1299 base iMac. The $700 difference could be used to purchase an iPad plus still have some jingle in your pocket.
The Mac Mini is not for everyone, but I would be disappointed if it was discontinued.
The iMac is considered a desktop: it's not upgradable at all!
*RAM doesn't count, that's the minimum upgrade!
You know sometimes I'd like a glass of wine after I look at these forums.... Alright, maybe two...
Be that as it may, just because a system serves no purpose to one user doesn't mean that same situation applies to every user, in every scenario, in every profession.
I just got rid of my (purchased brand new at the time) early 2008 Octo-core Mac Pro. Loaded with memory, fast, silent - best computer (Mac *or* PC) that I'd ever owned. Unfortunately it started to have more and more power problems that's weren't worth fixing.
Luckily I had purchased a 2011 Mac Mini that I was able to put into service immediately, and for what it is (base model i5, maxed out RAM), I can keep lots of programs open at once, including Photoshop. Obviously the Mini is no Pro, as I can hear the fan spin up when the computer works hard, but it (unlike the MP) has never crashed.
I was so impressed with the Mini, that I'm now eagerly awaiting an update. Planning on a quad i7 to give me that extra boost, and probably will install my first SSD as well.
"Entry-level" Mac? No way.
Luckily I had purchased a 2011 Mac Mini that I was able to put into service immediately, and for what it is (base model i5, maxed out RAM), I can keep lots of programs open at once, including Photoshop. Obviously the Mini is no Pro, as I can hear the fan spin up when the computer works hard, but it (unlike the MP) has never crashed.
I was so impressed with the Mini, that I'm now eagerly awaiting an update. Planning on a quad i7 to give me that extra boost, and probably will install my first SSD as well.
"Entry-level" Mac? No way.
I suspect it's possible that the Mac Mini will be redesigned. Perhaps into a smaller cylinder shape to match the Mac Pro?
I see most of the advantages to having the Mac Mini, however unless it sees an overhaul it's basically the equivalent of a low range/browsing machine.
If I ever need a desktop again I'll pick up an iMac for sure, the Mac Mini never even crosses my mind as an option for anything related to power.
I see most of the advantages to having the Mac Mini, however unless it sees an overhaul it's basically the equivalent of a low range/browsing machine.
If I ever need a desktop again I'll pick up an iMac for sure, the Mac Mini never even crosses my mind as an option for anything related to power.
The big thread includes info about a redesign having thermal issues, creating a delay. If true, this suggests a lack of a thermal core design (which would not have such issues). So probably one more round with the current design before things get interesting.
Then you are utterly stupid: sell it! There is no other computer selling for so much second hand as the Mini. Sold a G4 mini for 100€. It is insane. 2009 models still do like 350€, and the 2011 ones can be sold for new price if you bought it on some promotion like the Mediamarkt VAT-free days.
My statement is the total opposite: The Mini is the best computer ever made, it can stand all other models even as it is a bit outdated, and makes all the other lines of Apple irrelevant, especially if you are CTO and in charge of buying workstations: overpriced portables with tiny screens that are less portable than the mini and you need to buy decent screens anyway to comply with ergonomic laws, ridiculous expensive all-in-ones that also suck big time on the ergonomic laws, and quite-similar-powered Pro models that cost triple the money (search Mini Raid0 SSD!).
Using a new Mini as HTPC is blasphemy. It is like using a Ferrari for grocery shopping. It is such a powerful machine!
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Why does that reason always come up. The mini comes with exactly the same standard keyboard and mouse that the Mac Pro comes with.
they both don't come with keyboard and mouse.
this privilege is limited to the imac.
The Mini and Mac Pro come with exactly no keyboard or mouse. None. Must buy separately.
Would you like to be required to buy a new garage every time you buy a new car?
Oh, what, you just want a Honda and don't want or can't afford to buy a Porsche?
Your post doesn't make any sense.
Look at what is actually happening i.e., APPLE have moved the Macpro and Mac mini production back the USA.
Hardly a sign they are discontinuing. In fact a very positive sign if you ask me.
They might be looking to embrace the SFF end even more but something is up post the Tim Cook visits to China and this coudl have more to do with currency valuation over the mid and long term relating to the Special Drawing Rights and a world where the US$ may not act as the sole reserve currency of the world financial system. >> WATCH THIS SPACE << is all I can say really.
Reducing the amount of materials computers are using is a win win where commodity and energy price rise, so the move to make smaller has a real material motivation but is often introduced
The amount of aluminum the old Mac Pro packed must now be far to high a component cost. Making things lighter and less material intensive is a simple cost saving measure on many fronts.
Hopefully we don't see a loss of upgradability of this little fella in the race to reduce material input by making the machine wafer thin.
For such a system, too small a form factor become problematic when the cables are larger than the device itself, looks bad and is not stable in terms of balance. I have a ZOTAC for the TV and this is my main complaint. It's maybe a bit too small! Ha!
If anything they could embrace what users and server farms do and create something that allows more application in that area. If you can build one machine format that satisfies both these large end user bases then WOW is the only word. COmpared to the excess of traditional PC based formats apple manage to cover a lot of bases with one design.
Hardly a sign they are discontinuing. In fact a very positive sign if you ask me.
They might be looking to embrace the SFF end even more but something is up post the Tim Cook visits to China and this coudl have more to do with currency valuation over the mid and long term relating to the Special Drawing Rights and a world where the US$ may not act as the sole reserve currency of the world financial system. >> WATCH THIS SPACE << is all I can say really.
Reducing the amount of materials computers are using is a win win where commodity and energy price rise, so the move to make smaller has a real material motivation but is often introduced
The amount of aluminum the old Mac Pro packed must now be far to high a component cost. Making things lighter and less material intensive is a simple cost saving measure on many fronts.
Hopefully we don't see a loss of upgradability of this little fella in the race to reduce material input by making the machine wafer thin.
For such a system, too small a form factor become problematic when the cables are larger than the device itself, looks bad and is not stable in terms of balance. I have a ZOTAC for the TV and this is my main complaint. It's maybe a bit too small! Ha!
If anything they could embrace what users and server farms do and create something that allows more application in that area. If you can build one machine format that satisfies both these large end user bases then WOW is the only word. COmpared to the excess of traditional PC based formats apple manage to cover a lot of bases with one design.
