Mac Mini / Intel NUC shock

[jpietrzak8]

And yet tablet sales are in decline and sales of Notebooks are on the rise. This seems at odds with what you are asserting.

Eh, pretty much the same thing -- low-power hardware that works fine for e-mail and light office software. Both are devices lower in specs than the average Mini. And Apple has both areas covered! Heck, the new Macbook "Pro" is more about thinness and the glitzy touchbar than about actual CPU & GPU power; the market they are going after just don't need all that much computing ability.

I do believe Apple is short-sighted in their strategy, but I can't argue with the return they are getting in the short term here...

 

[Cave Man]

Word (which I do occasionally use) is more feature rich than Pages (which apparently you have never used), but the latter is easier to use, and has all the features I need, thus it is what I usually use.

The current Pages app is still worse than Pages 09. Apple is so wrapped up in its iDevices that it has totally screwed iWork. I still use Pages 09 because the current Pages is so terrible.

 

[nnoble]

I do get the point. But in my case, and I'm sure many others, the included apps are simply not adequate for my needs. I don't care that they are included and ready to go out of the box. Why bother with a Mac if I don't use iLife and iWork? Seriously?

I use Mac hardware because I use a computer as a tool - not as a child that needs constant nurture. Using Windows a decade ago simply keep the hardware and software in tune with each other was time consuming. I've never needed to re-install or 'fix' OSx. As for iLife and iWork, I hadn't realised they were still going, let alone people using them. This is simply because of interoperability and working with people who use the industry standard and like it or not, this is Microsoft Office.

 

[Lankyman]

I use Mac hardware because I use a computer as a tool - not as a child that needs constant nurture. Using Windows a decade ago simply keep the hardware and software in tune with each other was time consuming. I've never needed to re-install or 'fix' OSx. As for iLife and iWork, I hadn't realised they were still going, let alone people using them. This is simply because of interoperability and working with people who use the industry standard and like it or not, this is Microsoft Office.

As your telling post admits to - 'using Windows a decade ago'. Windows and MS have moved on considerably during this period. I doubt you would recognise the MS and Windows of today.

 

[MacUser2525]

I doubt you would recognise the MS and Windows of today.

Oh yeah you would at least the underlying operation of it/them. The anti-consumer policies, the drive by hacks, Christ they even when with the malware/virus method of updating the OS the last time through. In short nothing at MS has changed it has only got worse.

 

[Richard8655]

I'd almost always go with a modestly configured Mini from Apple's refurbished store. I think that's where the best Mini values are. I'd avoid the bottom-end like the current 1.4ghz. But the 2012 refurbished I7 quad core was an excellent value, I thought.

I don't want to deal with a NUC and cobbling everything together, all the while keeping my fingers crossed installs were successful. But the current Mini gluing and soldering approach is a potential problem going forward, for sure.

 

[Lankyman]

Oh yeah you would at least the underlying operation of it/them. The anti-consumer policies, the drive by hacks, Christ they even when with the malware/virus method of updating the OS the last time through. In short nothing at MS has changed it has only got worse.

And you know this how? It's just the usual mine is better than yours kindergarten post.

 

[richpjr]

And you know this how? It's just the usual mine is better than yours kindergarten post.

Microsoft is certainly not a perfect company and has done some pretty shady things in the past but they are definitely a different company today. And Windows is night and day better than it was and their hardware has some pretty interesting things going on as well. I'm glad as competition is good for me as a consumer.

 

[MacUser2525]

And you know this how? It's just the usual mine is better than yours kindergarten post.

And yours a defend MS at all costs post. How??? Well read the internet namely about the Windows 10 updater that installed a program on your machine then downloaded programs to it to run if permission was denied to run it did it anyways.. Mainly described in articles I have read as behaving just like I described it in my post. Anyway enough of you.

 

[Lankyman]

And yours a defend MS at all costs post. How??? Well read the internet namely about the Windows 10 updater that installed a program on your machine then downloaded programs to it to run if permission was denied to run it did it anyways.. Mainly described in articles I have read as behaving just like I described it in my post. Anyway enough of you.

Really? I thought it all you had to do was tick the correct box in order to prevent this happening. Mind you, it did involve the user reading the instruction - radical idea I grant you. It certainly didn't happen to me.

Some of MacOS and iOS10 updates haven't been without controversy of late either.

Great debating skills btw - 'anyway enough of you'...... well that's told me.

 

[DesertSurfer]

Windows 10. I updated Adobe shockwave (mistake). Along with it came malware from Norton. Now very 20 minutes a set-up screen pops up, bugging me to install Norton Utilities. No one, not even Symantec, seems to know how to get rid of it. Perhaps one of you Windows promoters knows how to fix this? It's a file that disappears when the pop-up disappears, and can't be deleted while the pop-up is active. Malware from Norton! nu16esd_dlm.exe, which shows in Task Manager to ve in
Program Files (x86)\Norton Wrapper\NSS Wrap, but isn't there once the pop-up screen is off (and can't be deleted while it is on). Fortunately, I'm typing this on my good computer, the one running macOS Sierra.

 

[Crosscreek]

Windows 10. I updated Adobe shockwave (mistake). Along with it came malware from Norton. Now very 20 minutes a set-up screen pops up, bugging me to install Norton Utilities. No one, not even Symantec, seems to know how to get rid of it. Perhaps one of you Windows promoters knows how to fix this? It's a file that disappears when the pop-up disappears, and can't be deleted while the pop-up is active. Malware from Norton! nu16esd_dlm.exe, which shows in Task Manager to ve in
Program Files (x86)\Norton Wrapper\NSS Wrap, but isn't there once the pop-up screen is off (and can't be deleted while it is on). Fortunately, I'm typing this on my good computer, the one running macOS Sierra.

I would suggest uninstalling shockwave and see if you get the pop up. If you don't then your beef would be with Adobe for the malware if that is where the upgrade came from. If you got the upgrade from other than Adobe it is a lesson learned to never download or upgrade from any site that you do not know exactly what your getting and especially with Windows.

My advise to anyone who bought a pc from a manufacturer that has added their own malware is to start with a fresh install of the OS and wiping out anything other than Windows 10. Don't use their crapware. Take back control. Just go to Update and Security and then recovery, reset pc.

You can then add what ever apps you want on your machine from there.

 

[bopajuice]

Nonsense. The average computer user is fine with minimal-spec machines. Heck, the average computer user is fine with just a tablet, as has been shown with Apple's rewards in creating that market.

I personally believe that Apple is stiffing its customers by providing a Mini that is so low-spec and so out-of-date that it will essentially become unusable long before other PCs do (whether by not being able to run modern applications, or not being able to run macOS); certainly, older Windows PCs are more capable of running modern software than older Macs (as shown most obviously by being able to run Windows 10 today on Macs for which Apple has already dropped support!). But, that doesn't mean it can't do the job today...

Might explain why soldered in components is the new trend. Most people would not even attempt to add memory or an SSD.

I use Mac hardware because I use a computer as a tool - not as a child that needs constant nurture. Using Windows a decade ago simply keep the hardware and software in tune with each other was time consuming. I've never needed to re-install or 'fix' OSx. As for iLife and iWork, I hadn't realised they were still going, let alone people using them. This is simply because of interoperability and working with people who use the industry standard and like it or not, this is Microsoft Office.

Talk about living in the past. You are comparing Windows Vista to a modern OS?
[doublepost=1480572592][/doublepost]

Really? I thought it all you had to do was tick the correct box in order to prevent this happening. Mind you, it did involve the user reading the instruction - radical idea I grant you. It certainly didn't happen to me.

Some of MacOS and iOS10 updates haven't been without controversy of late either.

Great debating skills btw - 'anyway enough of you'...... well that's told me.

Seems to be the way people approach everything these days. My side vs your side. Sounds like arguing politics. It's not about learning something new from someone or keeping an open mind, it's about reaffirming what you "Think" you already know right?

 

[nnoble]

'Living in the past'? No. Nothing I wrote indicated that.

 

[DesertSurfer]

I would suggest uninstalling shockwave and see if you get the pop up. If you don't then your beef would be with Adobe for the malware if that is where the upgrade came from. If you got the upgrade from other than Adobe it is a lesson learned to never download or upgrade from any site that you do not know exactly what your getting and especially with Windows.

My advise to anyone who bought a pc from a manufacturer that has added their own malware is to start with a fresh install of the OS and wiping out anything other than Windows 10. Don't use their crapware. Take back control. Just go to Update and Security and then recovery, reset pc.

You can then add what ever apps you want on your machine from there.

It's a Norton installer, so I contacted Norton support. Spent several hours with two different people. We thought it was fixed, but after a restart the darn thing came back. The second fellow found the file (nu16 in case anyone else runs into this) and deleted it and it seems to be gone.

Good advice to buyers from a manufacturer. I put my windows gaming machine together.

 

[Count Blah]

My advise to anyone who bought a pc from a manufacturer that has added their own malware is to start with a fresh install of the OS and wiping out anything other than Windows 10. Don't use their crapware. Take back control. Just go to Update and Security and then recovery, reset pc.

You can then add what ever apps you want on your machine from there.

So go out and purchase a new copy of windows?

 

[Cape Dave]

So go out and purchase a new copy of windows?

No, just re-install the copy that came with it "naked". Or, as many have the license burned into the BIOS, download from MS and create a media install USB stick and install fresh. You may have to chase down a driver or two depending on exactly how your machine was shipped.

 

[robotica]

Yeah you don't need to rebuy windows, just download the ISO from their website.
Any new pc or laptop will have the serial embedded.
If you upgraded when it was free it will just activate by intself after reinstall.

 

[hawkeye_a]

Begin rant...
My current main home machine is 8 years old. I've been desperate to upgrade for most of this year. I was hoping to get one of the new MacBooks(which I am still considering), or maybe compliment my current MacBook with a mini-Desktop number-cruncher.

My old MacBook(with extra RAM and an SSD upgrade) serves it's purpose to this day with no problem (cant upgrade to Sierra, and quite frankly I dont care.... as far as i'm concerned SnowLeopard was the last great MacOS Apple released... it's been down hill since then. (I think Avi Tevanian might have left the team around the time SL was released))

But I *want* a new Mac. I wish there was an up-to-date option I could buy; there isn't. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for Pro users hoping and waiting for new Mac Pros.

This might sound 'fuddy-duddy', but wth has happened to Apple?...
-$3bn for a sub par headphone and music streaming company?
-More attention spent of watch bands and "fashion"?
-Thousands of engineers working on cars?
-Even the Music app on my iPhone, a function which Apple nailed with the original iPod, has become terrible to use.
-Apple TV going nowhere

They might be the most valuable company by market valuation, and have higher revenues and profits than they've ever had, but the last couple of years just do not bode well when you compare Apple2016 to Apple2005 or Apple2010. With the exception of Apple's financials and balance sheets, Apple's product line/strategy of today reminds me of the first half of the 90s... complicated and stale. Is it just me?

..end rant.

 

[Cape Dave]

Begin rant...
My current main home machine is 8 years old. I've been desperate to upgrade for most of this year. I was hoping to get one of the new MacBooks(which I am still considering), or maybe compliment my current MacBook with a mini-Desktop number-cruncher.

My old MacBook(with extra RAM and an SSD upgrade) serves it's purpose to this day with no problem (cant upgrade to Sierra, and quite frankly I dont care.... as far as i'm concerned SnowLeopard was the last great MacOS Apple released... it's been down hill since then. (I think Avi Tevanian might have left the team around the time SL was released))

But I *want* a new Mac. I wish there was an up-to-date option I could buy; there isn't. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for Pro users hoping and waiting for new Mac Pros.

This might sound 'fuddy-duddy', but wth has happened to Apple?...
-$3bn for a sub par headphone and music streaming company?
-More attention spent of watch bands and "fashion"?
-Thousands of engineers working on cars?
-Even the Music app on my iPhone, a function which Apple nailed with the original iPod, has become terrible to use.
-Apple TV going nowhere

They might be the most valuable company by market valuation, and have higher revenues and profits than they've ever had, but the last couple of years just do not bode well when you compare Apple2016 to Apple2005 or Apple2010. With the exception of Apple's financials and balance sheets, Apple's product line/strategy of today reminds me of the first half of the 90s... complicated and stale. Is it just me?

..end rant.

I truly believe the emperor has no clothes. Or Tim is on crack. That headphone thing was as bad as when Time Warner bought AOL. Sheesh. WTF? And watch bands? I mean REALLY? How can people not see that something is terribly wrong?

 

[MacUser2525]

I mean REALLY? How can people not see that something is terribly wrong?

They have been in the RDF bubble too long they believe in the "vision" of the company. When contrary to the reality distortion field would have had them believe the only vision a corporation has is to get as much of your money as possible while spending as little of theirs as they can. Although lately I have seen the hold slipping with all the whining and whinging going on here and elsewhere. Nothing like it used to be the just plain trolls most of them then but now long time Apple users getting at it.

 

[Osty]

Re-reading this thread because my Mini died this weekend

When I replace it, it's not going to be with a Mac mini.

 

[Count Blah]

Re-reading this thread because my Mini died this weekend

When I replace it, it's not going to be with a Mac mini.

Sorry that Apple has abandoned us both.

Good luck with whatever you purchase.

 

[Osty]

Sorry that Apple has abandoned us both.

Good luck with whatever you purchase.

Thanks mate, appreciate it.

Yes it is a shame in many respects but I'm not going to lose sleep. If Apple prefers to court disloyal mass-market monkeys to their traditional base of loyal power and creative users that's their business.

 

[Santabean2000]

Thanks mate, appreciate it.

Yes it is a shame in many respects but I'm not going to lose sleep. If Apple prefers to court disloyal mass-market monkeys to their traditional base of loyal power and creative users that's their business.

Pages will open Office files fairly seamlessly. And export them as .docx no probs too.

For simple design/layout work, Pages is superior to Word. But for straight word processing, then Word wins every time.

Still much prefer Keynote to PowerPoint.

Excel is, however, waaaaaaaay in front of Numbers.