Next gen mac mini versus 2011 price

[Aniseedvan]

A quick hi, just joined the forum as looking to buy a base model mac mini in the next few months.

Probably a trip down memory lane for a few but my last mac was an LC475 way back in something like '92 or '93.. I digress...

Reading the buyers guide and a few bits around the web, it's almost a certainty that the new model will be with us before the end of July.. Ish?

What typically happens to the price of the old model? I am in a quandary as to whether to wait for the new one, and snap up a 2011 model or wait for the new one and hope it comes out at around the £529 price mark of the existing model?

Having been out of the mac world so long (and my current experience limited to how iOS works with my iPad), will the upcoming OS release work on the current model or will buying the 2gb RAM version be a bad idea either way?

The mac will be put to use as a general family computer, especially as one my son can start using for his homework without me fearing him downloading viruses and trashing it lol. I have a separate PC laptop for photography work which is only a couple of months old and I'm keen to separate the family dross from my photo editing!

Sorry for a rambling first post, appreciate everyone's views on the most likely upcoming model.

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Nuts realised there's a dedicated forum thread for buying decisions now i've posed it. Can my post be moved? Sorry

 

[The-Pro]

The next entry mac mini will most likely be priced the same or similar but no one knows for sure. The 2011 versions will continue to be sold as refurbished models for less then the refurbs now.
Buying the 2GB is no problem because 8GB of RAM cost under 40 pounds. And one 4GB stick costs 20 so you can use it with a original 1GB stick for 5GB. Should be enough. Changing RAM on the mini is really easy, take of the bottom and exchange, done. 2GB is too little more OSX Lion all ready, so an upgrade to at least 4 is needed so that you can have a well running computer without slowdowns.

 

[calvol]

I would wait and buy a 2012 Mini with Ivy Bridge, as it will run cooler. The 2011 Mini with Sandy Bridge runs toasty. Touched the ones in an Apple Store and they would make a nice grill iron.

 

[CausticPuppy]

My mini's been on 24/7 for a couple weeks now and it's cool to the touch. But it's idle most of the time. Or maybe because the server has a higher fan speed.

 

[SR45]

I would wait and buy a 2012 Mini with Ivy Bridge, as it will run cooler. The 2011 Mini with Sandy Bridge runs toasty. Touched the ones in an Apple Store and they would make a nice grill iron.

My 2011 model with 16 GB of ram and runs cool to the touch, so unknown why calvol stated the above. Ones in the store I visited also did not seem toasty either.

 

[Aniseedvan]

Thanks, I hadn't realised how cheap memory was £34 for 8gb from crucial!

I doubt mine will be on for more than a few hours at a time as all my music and the odd video are on a synology nas.

I think I'll just be after the base model, grab my own memory and buy iWork so we've got pages, etc. all the other stuff from the old laptop is things like Evernote, etc.

Ok, waiting game it is. One other question, which is probably more speculation at this point, is will the new model come with the new OSX being slated for release soon? If not, is it an expensive upgrade? The little I saw on the website seemed to look sensible for me with a house of two iPads and a touch, but I may be missing the point...

 

[The-Pro]

Ok, waiting game it is. One other question, which is probably more speculation at this point, is will the new model come with the new OSX being slated for release soon? If not, is it an expensive upgrade? The little I saw on the website seemed to look sensible for me with a house of two iPads and a touch, but I may be missing the point...

No one knows but it depends on when the minis are released and when the new OSX is released. If the mini is released before the OSX update then it will come with the current OS. If at the same time or later then the OSX update then it will have the update all ready installed. But last year all people who bought a mac within months before the release of Lion were able to upgrade for free. So im pretty sure they will offer that again.

 

[Fishrrman]

"What typically happens to the price of the old model?"

Typically, with the release of a new Mac model, the "old models" will get a price cut of, say, $100-150 (US) until the inventory clears out. Refurbished versions of those models will get a price cut, as well.

 

[nydennis]

Waiting is entirely up to you at this point. For Homework and such any model will be fine. Is School is almost over and the Summer break will start soon? If so, and it was me, I'd wait and see what is going to be offered in the new model and compare features on new and prices. (USB 3.0 included or not, Price, etc.) Then make the decision on the old vs new models.

 

[MJL]

I would wait and buy a 2012 Mini with Ivy Bridge, as it will run cooler. The 2011 Mini with Sandy Bridge runs toasty. Touched the ones in an Apple Store and they would make a nice grill iron.

That was the original marketing spiel from Intel, however Intel has now admitted they run hotter according to this story:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Inte...PUs-are-Hotter-than-Sandy-Bridge-267619.shtml

I do not know how accurate the story is and if it only applies to those that are into overclocking....

 

[Aniseedvan]

Waiting is entirely up to you at this point. For Homework and such any model will be fine. Is School is almost over and the Summer break will start soon? If so, and it was me, I'd wait and see what is going to be offered in the new model and compare features on new and prices. (USB 3.0 included or not, Price, etc.) Then make the decision on the old vs new models.

We've got a whole term and two weeks to get through here in the UK, school holidays are July but yes, we've coped this long through the school year, I'm waiting to see what the new model brings.

My new laptop has USB 3 on it and I'm yet to take advantage of it on there!

 

[John Adams]

I run my Mini all day and it's usually cool to the touch. Its never felt more than slightly warm.

 

[Chippy99]

The next entry mac mini will most likely be priced the same or similar but no one knows for sure. The 2011 versions will continue to be sold as refurbished models for less then the refurbs now.
Buying the 2GB is no problem because 8GB of RAM cost under 40 pounds. And one 4GB stick costs 20 so you can use it with a original 1GB stick for 5GB. Should be enough. Changing RAM on the mini is really easy, take of the bottom and exchange, done. 2GB is too little more OSX Lion all ready, so an upgrade to at least 4 is needed so that you can have a well running computer without slowdowns.

I would have thought you want the 2 sticks the same, or you are going to greatly reduce the ram bandwidth. The ram can't run in dual channel mode if the sticks are different.

 

[The-Pro]

I would have thought you want the 2 sticks the same, or you are going to greatly reduce the ram bandwidth. The ram can't run in dual channel mode if the sticks are different.

Yes that is correct, it will be slower but the speed difference is something like 15% slower. It could be 50% slower, you wouldn't notice on daily use as long as you don't have programs that constantly write GB's worth to the RAM every couple seconds. DDR3 1333MHz can do something like 6500MB/s. So its no biggie if you loose 15% of that. More RAM and a marginal slower speed is a lot better then less ram and quicker. I said you can get one stick of 4GB so the OP can easily get another 4. If he buys 4GB (2x2GB) then he would need to replace those to get more, ending up with probably around 55 pounds (15-20 for 2xGB + 34 for 2x4GB) instead of 34

 

[Adz76]

I've been waiting to step up to either an iMac or a Pro but am unable to get by so have just stumped up the cash for a mid range mini to tie me over until later in the year. Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the power / price.
I got the £700 one for £530 on eBay, so not far off the base price, its brand new and sealed with a full warranty. You won't regret getting one, just hunt around, the only option of a store discount is to wait for the refresh and go to a third party reseller like PC World. Apple won't have them when the new ones release and you're best chance is via this method. If you're happy on ebay and check user's feedback then the deals can be incredible!