It's official. You have to lift up the mini to turn it on

[tomtad]

Everyone's designing levers that can reach around the device and press the on/off switch but everyone seems to be missing the obvious solution. If you set the device on a thickish coaster, you'll then be able to fit your finger under the corner to reach it without lifting it up.

In fact I'm curious if this may answer how we've ended up with a button you can't press, was the mini originally supposed to sit on a taller base hence why the button was placed where it was, and at some point during the design process this changed leaving the button inaccessible.

 

[johannnn]

Who’s really making all these power button threads? Trolls?

I’ve never ever pushed the power button on any Mac. Ever.

 

[O.N.Y.X]

This is a disaster.

Yup. Probably among the top 10 first world problems.

 

[polyphenol]

I just tried two approaches which have been suggested around the internet. But I tried with an M1 mini - not M4.

First, use Find my.. to get it to make a sound. It made a sound - when I switched it back on manually.

Second, try to use file or screen sharing from another machine. Did nothing useful.

Didn't expect either to work, but can't know without trying. And, just possibly, the M4 mini might be different.

From where I am sat, it would be good to be able to use another device to switch it on. I imagine a built-in switch that appears in My Home and I could just turn it on. I am often not actually in my house but on the same network. My Home works fine for mains switches and HomePod.

 

[polyphenol]

Everyone's designing levers that can reach around the device and press the on/off switch but everyone seems to be missing the obvious solution. If you set the device on a thickish coaster, you'll then be able to fit your finger under the corner to reach it without lifting it up.

In fact I'm curious if this may answer how we've ended up with a button you can't press, was the mini originally supposed to sit on a taller base hence why the button was placed where it was, and at some point during the design process this changed leaving the button inaccessible.

View attachment 2445789

I've been thinking about placing a sheet of coarse fibrous material under my M4 mini in order to (hopefully) collect some of the dust and fibres that will, inevitably, be drawn in and could collect. Quite easy to wash the material occasionally.

It would merge neatly with your coaster idea - with a coaster holding the material in place and making it easy to get the positioning of both the material and the M4 mini just right.

And I really don't care if the material is visible! Others might.

 

[Blue Quark]

I know when I saw this initially, I thought to myself it's a pretty stupid location to put a power button. A lot of times computers get put into places that having to regularly move them makes this not an option, or a decidedly sub-optimal one. Personally, I still miss having the power button on the keyboard. I also miss ADB... an elegant interface for a more civilized time.

 

[triptolemus]

Should I get one of these (which is most likely) I think I will be standing the computer on a wooden disk, to hold it up high enough to get my finger to the power switch.

As has been noted, Apple have made silly design mistakes before...

The idea that you would place the thing on a wooden disc when simply grasping the machine and sticking your finger underneath would suffice, while in the same breath criticizing Apple for silly design choices is simply remarkable!

 

[Antoniosmalakia]

You can automate the Mac to turn off and then on again, so you can probably get away with only ever touching that button once, since it is so rare to need to force reset Macs these days.

If you really want to turn your Mac off and on manually every day, then perhaps stand it on an old iPhone to raise it enough to press the button.

 

[halo9]

Saw this and thought it solves this problem as well as the magic mouse charging issue. After Thursdays earnings call there was one last surprise for the media behind closed doors.

Apple has released the iDesk for Mac users. It comes with special features including a cable management system in the top of the desk that allows the magic mouse and keyboard to be plugged into the usb-c cable*1 and be used at the same time, with no unsightly cables distracting your workspace. By utilising a special grid structure cut into the recycled aluminium desk, it allows Apple users seamless movement of the magic mouse with the cable attached and no restrictions in usability. This breakthrough will supercharge productivity for Mac users.
The iDesk pricing starts at $1899 and is available with a range of optional accessories. One of the upgrades, that users are most excited about, is the iHole, a finger sized cutout in the desk surface that allows the user to poke their finger through the desk to access the on/off botton on the new M4 Mac Mini. There are 2 preconfigured options for the hole location, left or right. The iHole upgrade is $249. Other available upgrades are the iDesk drawers*2 and iDesk wheel kit, taking it's design cues from the Mac Pro wheel kit*3.

*1 - The Apple iDesk is only compatible with the new Apple Magic Mouse and Keyboard with Usb-C ports. Use of a usb-c to lightning adapter is not possble due to design constraints.
*2 The iDesk drawers are unable to be used when a Mac Pro is mounted in the space (mounting kit sold seperately).
*3 The Mac Pro wheel kit is not compatible with the iDesk.

 

[xraydoc]

You guys turn off your computer?
Half joke, half serious -- sleep is about the lowest power setting that I put my machine in to, but usually I leave it running 24/7 as I've got background things that I want active at all times. I agree that the bottom is an odd place for the power button, but TBH, I almost never turn my machine off.

 

[acblue94]

I'd initially not been too bothered by the power button being on the bottom, seeing it as no different to placing the power button on the back of the device in reality. Except rather than reaching to the back you'd reach to the bottom left of the device and press the inset button. The circular base would of course have enough height so you could place your finger under the corner. No problem.

That's now all changed as The Verge has just confirmed you have to actually lift up the device to press the button. Yes, lift up your desktop computer to turn it on. From the hands on article "He also says there’s no way to reach the power button, which is on the underside of the computer, without lifting it up."

https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/30/24283861/apple-redesigned-mac-mini-macbook-pro-imac-m4-photos

This is a disaster.

First world problems astonish me.

 

[kingjames1970]

I’m still struggling to understand why people complain so much about charging the Magic Mouse so maybe I’m not best to judge. But massive amounts of power in a tiny budget package and Apple have made the decision (maybe Ifixit will tell us why) to put one button on the bottom and the sky is falling.

 

[chrono1081]

Bad design, almost as bad as the butterfly keyboard.

The butterfly keyboard was fantastic. I had all three iterations and would buy a new one in a heartbeat. It was just a few online that seemed to hate it.

 

[chrono1081]

Makes you wonder if Apple pulled statistics/metrics on button pushes to make a final decision on relocating the button to the bottom. I never touch the power button on my Studio, but that's my experience.

This. I couldn't care less if the button was on the bottom. I pretty much never turn my machine off. If I do a restart I don't need to press the button.

I prefer the sleek look of the machine and couldn't care less about pressing the power button a whopping one time.

 

[JuicyGoomba]

The craziest thing is, there's more than enough space to put your finger under and click a well defined power button.

People easily forget just how annoying a perfectly flush, curved, and flat power button was on the old Mini.

Not saying the new method is any better, but it certainly wasn't peachy before.

When the only thing people have to cry about is a mouse that no serious user ever touched in the first place and the location of a power button, you know Apple actually had a good few announcements for a change.

 

[JuicyGoomba]

The butterfly keyboard was fantastic. I had all three iterations and would buy a new one in a heartbeat. It was just a few online that seemed to hate it.

Loved it as well, was extremely pleasant to type on. The reliability was a serious issue though that cannot be ignored.

I have the M3 Pro 16" for work and I absolutely hate the keyboard. It's by far the worst feeling keyboard Apple have ever released. Shallow, no tactility, and feels like you're slapping a piece of wet paper.

 

[jz0309]

You don’t get it. This is not a cheap $150 run of the mill computer you’d find at Walmart. This is a premium computer that can cost thousands. Details like this are important and unacceptable in a product like this.

Ok, don’t buy one then, no one forces you to and you do have choices

 

[jz0309]

Everyone's designing levers that can reach around the device and press the on/off switch but everyone seems to be missing the obvious solution. If you set the device on a thickish coaster, you'll then be able to fit your finger under the corner to reach it without lifting it up.

In fact I'm curious if this may answer how we've ended up with a button you can't press, was the mini originally supposed to sit on a taller base hence why the button was placed where it was, and at some point during the design process this changed leaving the button inaccessible.

View attachment 2445789

Seems like a disaster of a solution
/s

 

[rafark]

Ok, don’t buy one then, no one forces you to and you do have choices

So if I buy one I have to shut up? Am I not allowed to express my opinion?

 

[jz0309]

So if I buy one I have to shut up? Am I not allowed to express my opinion?

You don’t get it. This is not a cheap $150 run of the mill computer you’d find at Walmart. This is a premium computer that can cost thousands. Details like this are important and unacceptable in a product like this.

You say it’s “unacceptable” - why buy something that has an “unacceptable” feature?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

From the same company that brought you a brand new USB-C mouse with the power cord in the bottom, and an Apple TV without a power switch.

Why on earth would the Apple TV need a power switch?
Also, every Apple TV since 2021 has shipped with a remote included… With a power button in the top right corner.
Unless you are suggesting that the entire Apple TV needs to be completely shut down frequently, which… Is there even an option to shut it down in the settings?
Just looked, nope. Only to restart.

 

[azentropy]

Non issue for me as well.

 

[DailySlow]

That’s not the point. I (and I am pretty sure many other mini users) often or occasionally by choice or by necessity -like when the Mini locks up- shut down the mini. All that may come of this will be some 3rd party gadget/app to either (maybe using Apple Home?) remotely or mechanically switch mini off/on-maybe a hub? Good grief.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

What on earth are you people doing with your computers that you don't have to power them back on more than what was it, twice over the lifetime of the machine??? I don't think I have a mac in this office that doesn't get rebooted at least once a day, and a fresh reinstall of the OS every 6-8 weeks bc of some thing not working or an update breaking something. Are you just using a computer to check your email or what?

Assuming this is sarcasm makes me happier.

Not rebooting my Macs daily, weekly or monthly. I don't reinstall the OS either. Using my Macs for routine web/email stuff, yes. Plus commercial photography and photo editing for publications. Also gaming, streaming video services, music, etc. Normal Mac stuff.

 

[azentropy]

So if I buy one I have to shut up? Am I not allowed to express my opinion?

Of course not, but then it by definition isn't "unacceptable"!
Or as a line from one of my favorite movies goes... "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."