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I find it kind of strange that they didn't release a Mac Mini with the M1 Pro and then discontinue the Intel Mac Mini. The (Mini desktop) lineup would be pretty complete and have an Apple Silicon option at every price point.
I suspect that they are supply constrained on the M1 Pro right now. As the lowest price chip in the MBP line, that is likely the one most people ordered. Until they can catch up on demand, they will probably not extend that Pro chip to any other computers. Then we will see if they launch that as an upgrade on the Mini or a new baseline on the Studio. Or we may be in M2-series chips by then and seeing upgraded M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max options.
 
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I simply don't believe that a low spec M1 can handle a few hundred tabs or a dozen or so 10,000+ cell spreadsheets.
A 16GB M1 can certainly handle that workload. Of course it all depends on which sites and how many calculations are don in those spreadsheets. You can always push things to ridiculous levels if you really try. :)

A browser will swap tabs to disk if they are not being used.
 
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What happens if they simply discontinue the Intel i5 Mac mini in the following weeks and there won't any replacement at all? So no M1 Pro grad SoC in the Mac mini for at least another year or so.

Maybe Apple wants to finally and forever separate the line between consumer and professional products.
Apple is in the business of selling computers and of trying to do so at the highest price it can get for them. To do that effectively you need to offer your customers choices at different price points. those points should be like a set of stairs. Each step up gives the customer a benefit and the additional cost should not scare them away. As the customer steps from price point to price point, eventually they get to the point where they say “that’s enough, I won’t spend more” and you have a sale. If those price steps are too big between some models, more customers will get stuck at a lower price point and not be able to afford the next step up.

It benefits Apple to have a smooth path from cheapest to most expensive so there is no friction stopping customers from upgrading their purchase. If you make too steep a dividing line between products that produces that price friction.

If Apple were to drop the Intel Mini without a replacement, it is likely that they would bring in a model in that price point before too long to plug the gap. When that is a Mac Mini with M1/2 Pro or a Mac Studio with M1 Pro, that step is useful to Apple.
 
A 16GB M1 can certainly handle that workload. Of course it all depends on which sites and how many calculations are don in those spreadsheets. You can always push things to ridiculous levels if you really try. :)

A browser will swap tabs to disk if they are not being used.
What ridiculous levels? I already deal with those workloads and it takes seconds to minutes for Excel to recalculate. As for tabs, the real bottleneck is the browsers which often lose track of what they have even though they have plenty of free RAM. They should never write to the disk.
 
This, right here. I might or might not need the Max or Ultra chip, but I DEFINITELY need more than the 2 USB 3.0 and 2 Thunderbolt ports I currently have on the back of my M1 Mini. Yes, I have hubs for the USB 3.0's, but I need a 3rd Thunderbolt for my 2nd Monitor, my desktop external hard drive array and my hub that gives me a front facing USB-C port for my portable drives. I am also sure I can find a good use for that 4th back Thunderbolt port and would love to ditch my current daisy chain of hubs that include 1 USB-C post on each.

A new Mac Mini may emerger with the Max or Ultra chip in a few months, but there is no indication I am going to get more ports like the Studio has, so it might be work and extra $1K (the difference between a Studio and the likely price point of a new M1 Max Mini) for the ports.
The Mini has traditionally offered a nice selection of ports. The Intel Mini still does. The current M1 Mini is constrained by the i/o port setup on the M1. It is likely, when Apple upgrades to M2 they will increase the max RAM and the ports. They may decided to include an M1/2 Pro which would allow more RAM and ports. I doubt that they would offer the M1 Max or Ultra in the Mini, though.
 
No you’re right, nothing from Apple comes cheap but you get what you pay for. Still think there’s a hole the lack of a similarity priced AIO 27” iMac doesn’t fit.

At this juncture if I do decide to upgrade I know where I’m going. The mini is not enough so a Studio it is. Will have to find another monitor.
That is a good choice....I think. I was looking to upgrade from my 5,1 because I was up to Big Sur, and I just didn't was to go that whole DOS Dude thing. I came a cross a crazy good deal (in my opinion) somebody on the cMP upgrade page on FB looking to sell a 7,1. 12 core, 64GB, 1TB, D500 no blemishes etc for $1500 plus shipping. i covered the $50 shipping and gave him the $42 PayPal fee and still came out at 1598.00. Just had to rethink the drive situation which I would of had to with a maxed out Mini.
 
If the current m1 mac mini had a 32 gb option I would buy one immediately but instead my only option is the studio. Apple knows exactly what it's doing.

Exactly. They know full well how to squeeze that extra little $$$ out from every transaction. Take away just enough options to make sure you buy the more expensive thing.
 
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This, right here. I might or might not need the Max or Ultra chip, but I DEFINITELY need more than the 2 USB 3.0 and 2 Thunderbolt ports I currently have on the back of my M1 Mini. Yes, I have hubs for the USB 3.0's, but I need a 3rd Thunderbolt for my 2nd Monitor, my desktop external hard drive array and my hub that gives me a front facing USB-C port for my portable drives. I am also sure I can find a good use for that 4th back Thunderbolt port and would love to ditch my current daisy chain of hubs that include 1 USB-C post on each.

A new Mac Mini may emerger with the Max or Ultra chip in a few months, but there is no indication I am going to get more ports like the Studio has, so it might be work and extra $1K (the difference between a Studio and the likely price point of a new M1 Max Mini) for the ports.
It does have HDMI. One TB to one monitor, HDMI to the other, that's my setup.
 
Mac Studios are now available for pickup at many stored near me (Seattle area). I really want to pull the trigger on the lowest-end model, but that's really more than I need. With the M1 Mini and iMac being less than I need, I guess I'm going to continue waiting for Apple to hit the (my) sweet spot between these two systems. My guess (hope) is that we'll see an M2 Mini in this ignorosphere gap within the year.
 
I have a strange feeling, that the Mac mini will get only the regular M1/M2/M... CPUs and not the Pro variants. Because than who would buy the low end version of the Mac Studio with M1/M2/M... Max?

PZIYPgP.jpg


The only real difference is in graphic department:
Wffgx8n.jpg


For regular users not worth it.

Images from this video.
 
If you're correct, and probably are, I just hope that the M2 will provide for more ports.
More ports that can support a display. And more memory. Performance is fine for an entry level machine.

Most of the rumors about an M2 are for next generation (smaller) tech and nothing else so guessing no extra ports.
 
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I think they'd sell more low-end Studies right now if they'd announce their plans for what is to fit between the M1 Mini and the low-end Studio. If what they plan is not going to meet my needs, I'll buy a Studio as soon as I can get one. Otherwise, I'll wait. As it is (no announcement from Apple), I am most likely going to wait anyway. If they make plans for mid-range headless systems based on first-year Studio sales I think they'll underestimate the market because of people like me.
 
After seeing so many user reports of the noise from the studio max im leaning towards a mini now , certainly not blowing 4 grand on the ultra just because it’s quieter than the max

The m1 mini looks like an absolute bargain in comparison plus it’s basically silent which helps a lot
 
After seeing so many user reports of the noise from the studio max im leaning towards a mini now , certainly not blowing 4 grand on the ultra just because it’s quieter than the max

The m1 mini looks like an absolute bargain in comparison plus it’s basically silent which helps a lot
But is also much slower... anyway, if you want to buy an M1 Mac mini, look for the one that has 16 GB of RAM for longer usability.
 
After seeing so many user reports of the noise from the studio max im leaning towards a mini now , certainly not blowing 4 grand on the ultra just because it’s quieter than the max

The m1 mini looks like an absolute bargain in comparison plus it’s basically silent which helps a lot
I’d be careful depending too much on commentator reports of noise. I notice a lot of people on here have binary reactions to things and see them as either ”fantastic” or “offensive” without any shades between. I’d put more weight on an actual review, especially if it provided some Db measurements. The MBP with M1 pro/max has been described as surprisingly quiet. Not sure why the larger cooling system of the Studio would be worse.
 
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Seems it’s down to the built in power supply , if that was external maybe the whole thing wouldn’t require the fan so much
 
This is straight out an irrelevant comparison.
Mac Mini hase been primarily used by developers (to build iOS application), where Mac Studio is more aimed towards artists and video editors, people who relies on heavy GPU.
So, for a developer like me, Mac Studio would be an overkill while Mac Mini is the absolute perfect solution within a fair budget. They both have different targeted customers and completely different price-tier.
 
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The BT issue is why I'm somewhat hesitant to get the M1 Mac Mini and like most people, the Mac Studio is overkill. I have the Logitech MX Master 3 mouse that came with a USB dongle so that shouldn't be an issue. I'm using an Apple wired keyboard so no problem there. But I have the Skull Candy Hesh 2 wireless head phones that I really like and they are BT. I know it sounds petty but that's where I'm at. If I configure the M1 Mac Mini with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage with Apple care and tax, I'm just over $1500.00 or do I bite the bullet and get the the base Mac Studio and hopefully be good for quite sometime? Hope this wasn't too drawn out. Thanks
 
The BT issue is why I'm somewhat hesitant to get the M1 Mac Mini and like most people, the Mac Studio is overkill. I have the Logitech MX Master 3 mouse that came with a USB dongle so that shouldn't be an issue. I'm using an Apple wired keyboard so no problem there. But I have the Skull Candy Hesh 2 wireless head phones that I really like and they are BT. I know it sounds petty but that's where I'm at. If I configure the M1 Mac Mini with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage with Apple care and tax, I'm just over $1500.00 or do I bite the bullet and get the the base Mac Studio and hopefully be good for quite sometime? Hope this wasn't too drawn out. Thanks
If you can hold out for about 3-9 months, you will probably start seeing the next generation of M-series chips, the M2. Apple is likely to upgrade the Mini to that. We may also see whether Apple decides to put the M1/2 Pro into a Mini or a lower end Studio. We will also see if they change the case of the Mini and whether that improves the BT issues. By then you should have enough information to make an informed decision.
 
If you can hold out for about 3-9 months, you will probably start seeing the next generation of M-series chips, the M2. Apple is likely to upgrade the Mini to that. We may also see whether Apple decides to put the M1/2 Pro into a Mini or a lower end Studio. We will also see if they change the case of the Mini and whether that improves the BT issues. By then you should have enough information to make an informed decision.
I was thinking the same thing after my last post, thanks. Now we play the "hurry up and wait" game.
 
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There is no obligation to pair Studio with only an Apple monitor. PLENTY of fish in that sea. PLENTY!

Whoever actually makes that screen for Apple probably packages the same screen in their own branded case (or will soon). Want something other than 1 size that doesn't cost $6000? Pick ANY size. Want ultra-wide? Those are available too. Want one that comes with the flexibility to rise & fall, rotate, use cheap 3rd party VESA mounts, and can readily switch to any of those options during the life of the monitor? Just about ALL of the others have that kind of flexibility as defaults. Need some jacks that are not Thunderbolt or not only 3 jacks? Plenty of such options.

Need a tangible bootcamp option but want to embrace Silicon? That means you need a a PC too and there are monitors with dual/trio/etc jacks so that one monitor can cover BOTH computers or BOTH + a console, etc. Even split screen option so those who need both or more can run both or more on the same screen at the same time... kind of Parallels like without the annual subscription.

Be a consumer. Flex the most fundamental of consumer muscles: shop around. There's TONS of options.
Have to disagree with that. Having used a 5k iMac screen a lot of years, nothing less than that panel will be good enough in my view. Easily the best screen I’ve ever used. Pin sharp, no blurring due to mismatched pixels due to being exactly 4x 1440p res. 4K is inferior in every way. So Studio Display or LG Ultrafine are the only 2 options I’d consider.
 
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