New Mac Minis, No Quad Core, No Server

[wwohl]

Wrong. People want a sub $2000 Mac with performance similar to a $1200 PC. It's not about getting a Mac cheaper than a PC. People are willing to pay substantially more than the PC price, for the stability, comfort, and ease of use of a Mac.

The problem with the Mac is this: There's no Mac below $3000. If you don't want to pay $3000, you've two options: low-end dual core, or all-in-one with laptop components and difficult repair/upgrades.

So, you want a Mac. Well, fine, provided you have more than $3000 to spend. There's no Mac below that price.

And don't talk about Macbooks, please, nor about pros using laptops. Laptops aren't good computers: they soon show thermal issues when stressed to 100% CPU+GPU work for hours.

Apple is neglecting the "prosumer" market: users willing to pay $2000 for a real Mac. There's no product for us right now.

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No, no, no, you didn't understand: We want an Apple keyboard. We want an Apple Magic Trackpad. We Want an Apple Display. And we want a Mac. But we don't want an iMac. And we don't want to pay >$3000 for it. Apple can easily produce what we want and sell it for $2000 while still having a >$500 margin per unit.

'

I think the majority of writers, associates etc can use a laptop daily for work and not have a desktop station at the office. They almost all do. For professional use, I totally agree.

I completely understand everything you said. Unfortunately, thats not the way theyre doing it. Im not saying I like it. Ive got a quad core mac mini maxed out from 2012... My next build will be matx sized hackintosh because Apple doesn't offer what I need/want

Still though, I believe apples product lineup reflects there reputation. If you buy from us, you will be satisfied. I don't see it likely they will expand the prosumer upgradeable desktop unit (mac mini or whatever) anytime soon because there are too many variables associated with it. Having just a few great products to choose from protects that brand reputation.

Apple has solved the PC manufacturing reputation puzzle. Tons of PC manufacturers have come and gone and the remaining continue to have mixed reviews because of one single problem: The consumer. See, if a customer purchases a HP computer for $350 because thats all he can afford and he is suddenly unhappy with his purchase...Well, that consumer isn't going to blame himself for being a cheap bastard, he's going to blame HP for making a ****** computer (and probably windows too). And then he's gonna tell all his friends not to buy HP/Dell whatever. The customers budget and his understanding of "get what you pay for" have a direct impact on the review and ultimately reputation of the brand. Apple solved this by simply restricting users into what they can buy. And if you're even considering buying one, you better bring some serious cash.

Could apple create a mac pro mini in the $1000-2000 range. Probably. But they still lose control over the quality of the experience that way. Based on their lineup now and for the previous five years, I think thats the way they think. Protect the user from itself.

I agree though, the mac mini was not what I wanted either. And when I'm ready to replace this mac mini next year, I'm likely going to have to build my own and go through the headaches of the hackintosh experience.

Bill

 

[cypriot]

New Mac Minis, No Quad Core, No Server

'



I think the majority of writers, associates etc can use a laptop daily for work and not have a desktop station at the office. They almost all do. For professional use, I totally agree.



I completely understand everything you said. Unfortunately, thats not the way theyre doing it. Im not saying I like it. Ive got a quad core mac mini maxed out from 2012... My next build will be matx sized hackintosh because Apple doesn't offer what I need/want



Still though, I believe apples product lineup reflects there reputation. If you buy from us, you will be satisfied. I don't see it likely they will expand the prosumer upgradeable desktop unit (mac mini or whatever) anytime soon because there are too many variables associated with it. Having just a few great products to choose from protects that brand reputation.



Apple has solved the PC manufacturing reputation puzzle. Tons of PC manufacturers have come and gone and the remaining continue to have mixed reviews because of one single problem: The consumer. See, if a customer purchases a HP computer for $350 because thats all he can afford and he is suddenly unhappy with his purchase...Well, that consumer isn't going to blame himself for being a cheap bastard, he's going to blame HP for making a ****** computer (and probably windows too). And then he's gonna tell all his friends not to buy HP/Dell whatever. The customers budget and his understanding of "get what you pay for" have a direct impact on the review and ultimately reputation of the brand. Apple solved this by simply restricting users into what they can buy. And if you're even considering buying one, you better bring some serious cash.



Could apple create a mac pro mini in the $1000-2000 range. Probably. But they still lose control over the quality of the experience that way. Based on their lineup now and for the previous five years, I think thats the way they think. Protect the user from itself.



I agree though, the mac mini was not what I wanted either. And when I'm ready to replace this mac mini next year, I'm likely going to have to build my own and go through the headaches of the hackintosh experience.



Bill

If you develop something in an other direction that suit your customers but they are not aware what you say is true. However if you downgrade your product and tax it more that can hardly be called a customer satisfaction strategy. All this idea about protecting customer is true in some points but with mini this is very different. Flash ssd? Ok soldered memory? Ok you can defend that it is fr customers sake to do these because there might be amateur people reading from the net and attempting but breaking it. I am not saying this is difficult update but apple can defend this. However Missing cores? Funny bto taxes? 15 second keynote time? These cannot be justified. If you will make a controversial change for your customers you have to explain it.

Even 1% customers are important. It may not be profitable but it is not a loss for apple to provide a simple option that will satisfy small amount of users. I guess its more like they are repositioning the categories and brand image but it is loosing its position already accomplished.

 

[Baunkjaer]

Well, my original plan was an i7 QC MM. But I could´t wait for the new ones to arrive, hence I bought a refurbished MP 5,1. No regrets here.

 

[asiga]

I agree though, the mac mini was not what I wanted either. And when I'm ready to replace this mac mini next year, I'm likely going to have to build my own and go through the headaches of the hackintosh experience.

I tried the Hackintosh experience. Building one wasn't a big headache (maybe a week fighting to get everything working, but you soon forget that week). The problem is the result: Not everything works, some stuff isn't recognized as the Apple counterpart (example: WIFI not recognized as AirPort, but using a custom third-party control panel instead), and, the most important of all: not being able to easily update the OS.

I don't have any of such problems in my genuine Macs, so taking everything into account, I doubt I'll try another Hackintosh (except perhaps for the purpose of giving a second life to a PC which wouldn't be used anymore otherwise).

I'm not buying a new Mac anytime soon because the current product line doesn't meet my needs and because my current Macs (from 2009 and 2010) are still operative. Also, Intel should upgrade their CPUs, and maybe Apple might consider ARM Macs. Taking all of this into account, and adding that I hope they'll make the Mac Pro more affordable some day, I prefer to wait.

 

[Dsching]

I think the majority of writers, associates etc can use a laptop daily for work and not have a desktop station at the office. They almost all do. For professional use, I totally agree.

"Writers, associates, etc" are not professionals? How about teachers, lawyers, doctors, DJs, architects, Photographers, designers, accountants, coaches, psychologists, ... They are all not professionals either? Because all these use macbooks daily for their work and are more than happy with them.

 

[Meister]

And don't talk about Macbooks, please, nor about pros using laptops. Laptops aren't good computers: they soon show thermal issues when stressed to 100% CPU+GPU work for hours.

Not all "Pros" stress 100% of the cpu+gpu for hours. That's a tiny minority of users. You seem to think that everyone who doesn't use their computer exactly the same way as you is not a "Pro". I use my 13" rmbp daily on a professional basis (professional as in "for my profession") and so do million other users.

That aside i am also not happy about the mac mini "upgrade". I almost feel like updating my late 2012 dualcore to a quadcore while they are still sold.

 

[Cape Dave]

I tried the Hackintosh experience. Building one wasn't a big headache (maybe a week fighting to get everything working, but you soon forget that week). The problem is the result: Not everything works, some stuff isn't recognized as the Apple counterpart (example: WIFI not recognized as AirPort, but using a custom third-party control panel instead), and, the most important of all: not being able to easily update the OS.

I don't have any of such problems in my genuine Macs, so taking everything into account, I doubt I'll try another Hackintosh (except perhaps for the purpose of giving a second life to a PC which wouldn't be used anymore otherwise).

I'm not buying a new Mac anytime soon because the current product line doesn't meet my needs and because my current Macs (from 2009 and 2010) are still operative. Also, Intel should upgrade their CPUs, and maybe Apple might consider ARM Macs. Taking all of this into account, and adding that I hope they'll make the Mac Pro more affordable some day, I prefer to wait.

Agreed. From all that I have read, Hackintosh, as good as it sounds, would be, at some point for some reason, problematic.

So, I have the 2.3 i7 mini with 512GB and 16GB for now, and that will have to suffice for awhile.

All in all, a very decent machine. Would I like more? Yup. But it did not happen this time.

 

[wwohl]

"Writers, associates, etc" are not professionals? How about teachers, lawyers, doctors, DJs, architects, Photographers, designers, accountants, coaches, psychologists, ... They are all not professionals either? Because all these use macbooks daily for their work and are more than happy with them.

Let me clarify... Media professionals... i only mean to separate media professionals from everyone else. Those that truly need high processor and graphics performance that the other majority do not. Example: encoding and editing. The remainder of professionals who do some editing and lots of word processing/web etc, even multi tasking with multiple monitors...they don't need max processor performance, just good ram.

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I tried the Hackintosh experience. Building one wasn't a big headache (maybe a week fighting to get everything working, but you soon forget that week). The problem is the result: Not everything works, some stuff isn't recognized as the Apple counterpart (example: WIFI not recognized as AirPort, but using a custom third-party control panel instead), and, the most important of all: not being able to easily update the OS.

Yea I continue to have reservations. And I continue to research. Currently, I'm on hold while the bugs are worked out on the Z97 chipset motherboards
Im considering a hackintosh for the following reasons:
-CPU of my choice and the ability to actually cool it.
-GPU of my choice, not integrated
-Ports and connectivity of my choice
-Internal HDD space. 2.5 HDD are a joke in terms of performance. 3.5HDDs are far better when it comes to speed and volume availability. Internal drive volume with the reliability and speed of direct SATA connection is a big factor.
- Price. I can easily build a mAtx sized case with two internal drives, two SSDs running windows and mac on dual boot, 4.0ghz quad core processer and dedicated GPU for less than $1200 considering I own a lot of the pieces already. A computer that should perform with the likes of base model mac Pros for 30% of the price

Im following tonymac86 closely to see how Yosemite integration is going. With the right patches, many users have 100% functioning Mackintoshes that are stable. Im willing to put the work in, but Im not willing to lose major features of the operating system