Polling the audience -- update probabilities?

[photogineer]

So, I have a(nother) dilemma! I am all set on the Mac Mini, and (im)patiently awaiting the arrival of the new one, but I'm about to run out of time I think to wait. See, I tend to use my PS3 for nearly all of my TV watching, and the MM is slated to replace that. It's getting a bit long in the tooth and flaky. Also, next Tuesday it is probably getting relocated to another house in my family. As such, that's really when I'd like to have the Mini by the latest, which is pretty much impossible now anyway, unless I go to the Apple store.

So, I know nobody knows anything, and I know there's been speculation all over, but I'm trying to consolidate the opinions here. If possible, I'd like to poll the audience, could everyone please let me know which you think is most likely:

1. There will be a silent update before the end of October
2. There will be a silent update in the first half of November
3. There will be an update of some kind of before Christmas
4. There will be an update in 2014
5. There won't be an update until late 2014 if ever.

The problem is of course my head's going to explode if I end up buying one and a new one comes out, and if I have to run to the Apple store to get it, I'm very limited on returning it once it's opened. I hardly need TV to survive, so I don't mind waiting if there is a good chance something is coming out reasonably soon, but I don't want to be waiting months and months!

So, can everyone weigh in?

 

[donato]

I'd wait for the upgrade, but I don't know when either. Suffer through it in the meantime, it will make you appreciate it more in the future.

 

[Micky Do]

Get a life!

I can't understand the obsession with having to have the latest, greatest. fastest or whatever…… which will soon be surpassed anyway.

With just a few exceptions, updates these days tend to be incremental rather than earth-shattering, hence disappointment from some as and when they do come.

For most of us, such small changes are a good thing. We want to be able to carry on doing what we have always done without having to update peripherals and relearn how to do things afresh.

If you need a new computer, get one that suits you present and medium term requirements.

I have an early 2009 base model Mini, with OS X and RAM upgrades. I reckon it will function just fine for a good while longer for my humble needs.

 

[theonekcrow]

I'd say there is going to be a silent update. Just when they are going to do so, I don't know. If anything the silent update is going to be to Haswell CPU's which in turn won't be that much more different than the ones in the current generation.

To that end, buy whenever you want and enjoy your Mac! From what I've heard, even the 2009 models run great on Mavericks.

 

[Mr. McMac]

I love my 2011 mini so much I sold my 2009 iMac to get another mini. I'm definitely waiting for the update, assuming there will be one at some point. I just hope it's not too long of a wait.

 

[fig]

Considering everyone and their dog has been wrong about updates to the Mini for the last six months or so, I don't think anyone's opinion about when they think it will happen matters much.

I bought a loaded Mini about 5 months ago and run a variety of graphics, web dev, and 3d apps on it and it does everything I need nice and fast. If a new Mini comes out my current one will still do everything I need nice and fast.

If something a whole lot faster comes out I'll sell my current machine, pretend my few hundred dollar loss was for rental of a nice Mac, and get a new one.

 

[opinio]

There are about 28 other threads covering the next update.

 

[macs4nw]

So, I have a(nother) dilemma! I am all set on the Mac Mini, and (im)patiently awaiting the arrival of the new one, but I'm about to run out of time I think to wait. See, I tend to use my PS3 for nearly all of my TV watching, and the MM is slated to replace that. It's getting a bit long in the tooth and flaky. Also, next Tuesday it is probably getting relocated to another house in my family. As such, that's really when I'd like to have the Mini by the latest, which is pretty much impossible now anyway, unless I go to the Apple store.

So, I know nobody knows anything, and I know there's been speculation all over, but I'm trying to consolidate the opinions here. If possible, I'd like to poll the audience, could everyone please let me know which you think is most likely:

1. There will be a silent update before the end of October
2. There will be a silent update in the first half of November
3. There will be an update of some kind of before Christmas
4. There will be an update in 2014
5. There won't be an update until late 2014 if ever.

The problem is of course my head's going to explode if I end up buying one and a new one comes out, and if I have to run to the Apple store to get it, I'm very limited on returning it once it's opened. I hardly need TV to survive, so I don't mind waiting if there is a good chance something is coming out reasonably soon, but I don't want to be waiting months and months!

So, can everyone weigh in?

Whadda ye think, we're psychics here…lol?

But seriously, fig below, put it very well; you can't really lose, besides there'll always be something better just around the corner, and if you obsess too much about that, you'll be joining the legion of 'eternal waiters', who never get to enjoy anything, cause they're always, you know…..waiting for the next big thing.

If you're not in a huge rush, I'd say give it another month. A quiet upgrade is a definite possibility imho. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, nothing further will be updated till Jan-Feb at the earliest.

Considering everyone and their dog has been wrong about updates to the Mini for the last six months or so, I don't think anyone's opinion about when they think it will happen matters much.

I bought a loaded Mini about 5 months ago and run a variety of graphics, web dev, and 3d apps on it and it does everything I need nice and fast. If a new Mini comes out my current one will still do everything I need nice and fast.

If something a whole lot faster comes out I'll sell my current machine, pretend my few hundred dollar loss was for rental of a nice Mac, and get a new one.

 

[Sean869]

I have a late 2012 Mini i7 2.3. The only thing I have done to it is upgrade the RAM to 16GB, at it flys. I'm yet to find anything it won't do. ( I don't play games). If you constantly wait for the next best thing you will always be waiting. Just get the current one you won't be disappointed.

 

[blanka]

It will be released AFTER the Mac Pro. So in 2014.
For your use the 2014 Mini will be off absolutely NO benefit. It will probably be even worse for your needs. For HTPC use it is nice to have 2 drive bays. Apple will most certainly drop that on a new one.

 

[yardbird]

I'm a retired IT person.
There are 2 things here that are for sure...

#1 The longer you wait, the longer you go without
#2 If you buy it today, a newer model WILL come out shortly

Seriously though, if a new model comes out within 2 weeks of you picking up a current model, you return yours and get the new one. Beyond that, up to you. I've seen people sell a month old machine because the new one came out and they had to have it.

And I eally don't think Haswell is going to mean much to you for the intended purpose you stated.

So just go get one and stop analyzing your purchase. Go buy it and enjoy it for what it is

 

[Fishrrman]

[[ 4. There will be an update in 2014 ]]

Here is your answer.

Look for a Mini update in 1st quarter of 2014.

It _WILL NOT_ arrive until AFTER the new MacPro has begun shippping.

If there's going to be a new Mini, I would expect to see it in Jan/Feb 2014, possibly March.

The Mini doesn't seem to be on Apple's "highest priorty track" for updates. No doubt because it's low price does not make it a "high revenue earner" for them (although the Mini dept. no doubt earns a profit).

When it does ship, I expect it will have some nice upgrades that will have been worth the wait...

 

[Micky Do]

[[ 4. There will be an update in 2014 ]]

Here is your answer.

Look for a Mini update in 1st quarter of 2014.

It _WILL NOT_ arrive until AFTER the new MacPro has begun shippping.

If there's going to be a new Mini, I would expect to see it in Jan/Feb 2014, possibly March.

The Mini doesn't seem to be on Apple's "highest priorty track" for updates. No doubt because it's low price does not make it a "high revenue earner" for them (although the Mini dept. no doubt earns a profit).

When it does ship, I expect it will have some nice upgrades that will have been worth the wait...

How can you be so sure? Does it matter anyway?

As others suggest, if you wait till the next latest thing there will soon be something even more up to date. Day to day, chances are the only real gain will be bragging rights. In use there will likely be little difference for the average user.

If you need a new computer, get one to use and be happy.

 

[ElectronGuru]

4, and no way there will be an announcement this month.

Minis are so versatile, it almost pays to have a spare one sitting around. Pick up a spare old one for the price of an iPad, use it till the new release, then pass it on or tuck it away. When the new one comes out in a few months, you'll appreciate it even more. And if you end up selling the temp unit, it will be worth close to what you paid, like a free rental.

 

[blanka]

The current mini is very close in performance to all macs, even the big i7 iMacs, except for GPU power. So the current model is not outdated, it is still the fastest lightest compact low power machine there is.
If they make it much better (major GPU improvement), they will cannibalise iMac and MacPro sales, and they will place it a decent amount of time behind the Pro release. If they keep it similar, you won't benefit much from the wait.

 

[Lesser Evets]

As of 2011, the Mini became a more-serious computer. It began to have capabilities of processing that made it welcoming to "pro" users like myself which don't do CGI or huge amounts of video editing or boggling amounts of data crunching, etc. I own one, but it wasn't quite as fast as I hoped.

Last year's top-end Mini is pretty impressive. If others are like me, a new top-end Mini with small speed bump in processing and graphics will probably be a truly impressive computer for a low price (under $1000). But, we have to wait for it.

... please let me know which you think is most likely:

1. There will be a silent update before the end of October
2. There will be a silent update in the first half of November
3. There will be an update of some kind of before Christmas
4. There will be an update in 2014
5. There won't be an update until late 2014 if ever.

… 6!--November to May, probably silent.

I think it could be anywhere in that window. They might bring it out right alongside the MacPro as a silent upgrade with little more than a new processor, to give the market a span of devices.

A large dollop of doubt concerning the next mini causing ANY problem for MacPro sales. If they release a Mini on Dec. 1st and a Pro on Dec. 21st, there is no way those MacPro buyers will get a Mini just because it is new and available: the two markets are SO far apart and the abilities of the machines are so distant. Serious Pro users will NEED the power of the MacPro, and a MacMini will not do the work which Pros must have to facilitate work instead of waiting.

There are now a lot of possible processors for the Mini, so an update could come along any time. Apple could also be waiting for a large redesign in mid-2014.

 

[blanka]

Serious Pro users will NEED the power of the MacPro

I doubt that. What is a serious Pro? If you are a pro photographer looking for a machine to drive 36 mpixel D800 images on a NEC PA301W screen with adobeRGB? Then your option is 1) A mini with a geekbench of 13000-14000, B) a 3 times as expensive MacPro with a geekbench of probably 16000-17000.

I think you are a true pro then if you don't waste 2000 bucks on a max 5% increase in post-process productivity and get that nice lens instead.

I bet 95% of current MacPro users don't use more GPU power than a HD4000 delivers!

 

[paulrbeers]

I doubt that. What is a serious Pro? If you are a pro photographer looking for a machine to drive 36 mpixel D800 images on a NEC PA301W screen with adobeRGB? Then your option is 1) A mini with a geekbench of 13000-14000, B) a 3 times as expensive MacPro with a geekbench of probably 16000-17000.

I think you are a true pro then if you don't waste 2000 bucks on a max 5% increase in post-process productivity and get that nice lens instead.

I bet 95% of current MacPro users don't use more GPU power than a HD4000 delivers!

Well considering that 90% of Pro apps are offloading much of the CPU burden to the GPU anymore since the GPU's can do ungodly more number crunching than a multipurpose CPU can.... that completely invalidates your point about Pro users. Photography isn't really a Pro use anymore. CGI, Movies, and Audio (for example) are Mac Pro targets.

Edit: Even photoshop can make use of the GPU for some of its rendering.