Rant about the new Mac Mini.

[mode11]

Wow
That is about the most hostile and anti-customer reply I can imagine

(Especially to a business support customer!)

Yeah. Tbh though, there's literally nothing else the service agent could have done, besides apologise for their employer's greed.

I've just purchased a 14" MBP M4 base model for $1k BNIB and currently am working on how I'll attach my external NVMe to the back of the screen

Wow, that's a hell of a deal. Congrats. Are you going with a TB enclosure? Otherwise, something like a Lexar SL500 might be the ticket.

 

[phoenix-mac-user]

I've just purchased a 14" MBP M4 base model for $1k BNIB and currently am working on how I'll attach my external NVMe to the back of the screen

They actually have this on Amazon. There are some other ones as well but that was the first one I found searching. I use a case so I'm not as concerned about the adhesive part but ymmv.

https://www.amazon.com/Afterplug-Reusable-Adhesive-Portable-External/dp/B0B2R8CPWH/

 

[Reality4711]

If you don't like it, "don't buy it'!
Oh if a CTO cannot get his purchase right perhaps replace the CTO?

 

[Reality4711]

Briefly tried the base M4 Mini and was very impressed -- but decided upon a laptop form factor to solve all my needs at once.

I've just purchased a 14" MBP M4 base model for $1k BNIB and currently am working on how I'll attach my external NVMe to the back of the screen



Sorry Tim -- value had to win out here

Had to look it up ... $600 they charge for a 2TB (1.8tb) upgrade?
🤣😂

Did the mini not fit in your bag?

 

[AppliedMicro]

Oh if a CTO cannot get his purchase right perhaps replace the CTO?

Needs may change.
Also, counterintuitive as it may seem, they’re not paid to get their own storage needs right.

If you don't like it, "don't buy it'!

If you’re suggesting consumer should just suck everything up and „take it or leave it“, I disagree.

Being vocal about the shortcomings of products or services and a company’s business conduct is catalyst to change. (That’s not saying manufacturers or service providers should give in to every customer‘s whims. But they may reconsider).

So is making buying decisions - but if a company makes enough to sustain their, where else should it base its decision upon?

 

[Reality4711]

Needs may change.
Also, counterintuitive as it may seem, they’re not paid to get their own storage needs right.

If you’re suggesting consumer should just suck everything up and take it or leave it, I disagree.

Being vocal about the shortcomings of products or services is catalyst to change. (That’s not saying manufacturers or service providers should give in to every customer‘s whims. But they may reconsider).

Thats OK - it is allowed.

Oh yes. Managers/directors, bosses what do they need to know?

 

[AppliedMicro]

Managers/directors, bosses what do they need to know?

There’s a chance that CTO in question did not require more storage.
Or did not adhere to company policy for employee laptops (including what may or is supposed to be stored locally).

May have just felt that policy didn‘t need to apply for him/her.
And to be in a position where he/she would get away with it.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They actually have this on Amazon. There are some other ones as well but that was the first one I found searching. I use a case so I'm not as concerned about the adhesive part but ymmv.

https://www.amazon.com/Afterplug-Reusable-Adhesive-Portable-External/dp/B0B2R8CPWH/

Thanks for the recommendation - I'm going to put a plastic case on it (something I do for all my MacBooks as I'm not super gentle on them) so adhesive won't be a concern.

Curious -- anyone know if I can use magnets?
Don't think it's an issue for an NVMe stick, but I wonder about the screen?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Did the mini not fit in your bag?

The Mini has no screen, keyboard and trackpad

This is intended to be serve my longtime goal of getting back to one machine for desktop/laptop

My 2015 MBP 15" still gets used around the house but mostly in a single spot as it's such a big hoss when traveling and the battery life just isn't amazing, even though it has a new battery this year.

Back to your original point though - the M4 Mini is mighty impressive
I'd be very happy with that as my only machine if not needing to be portable from time to time

Really amazed at how my simple Windows gaming needs are well served with Whisky / Game Porting Toolkit now too

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yeah. Tbh though, there's literally nothing else the service agent could have done, besides apologise for their employer's greed.



Wow, that's a hell of a deal. Congrats. Are you going with a TB enclosure? Otherwise, something like a Lexar SL500 might be the ticket.

I'm currently trying an Acasis clone for $72
It works flawlessly and very fast (nearly 3k/3k on Blackmagic disk tests)

I just wish it was a touch smaller .. so I might still shop that before settling on one

The MBP coming with 512GB base SSD is just enough for my needs on internal and then I can relegate projects, large downloads, gaming and general "swap" stuff to the 2TB external ... which can also be detached with no issue when I don't "need" those things with me/plugged in.

It's a reasonable compromise

 

[dotnet]

Being vocal about the shortcomings of products or services and a company’s business conduct is catalyst to change.

No. Not buying said products or services is a catalyst for change. Buying something knowing full well its shortcomings and then bitching about it is just stupid.

 

[Reality4711]

No. Not buying said products or services is a catalyst for change. Buying something knowing full well its shortcomings and then bitching about it is just stupid.

Can agree about the bitching but just giving an informed opinion, thats OK.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Buying something knowing full well its shortcomings and then bitching about it is just stupid.

Sometimes you don’t have a (reasonable) alternative choice.

When you’ve bought into an ecosystem, for instance.
It may still prevent others from doing the same.

Given how I’ve bought into Apple’s ecosystem over many years, it doesn’t make sense to not buy a new Mac (and buy a PC instead). That said, people being vocal about rip-off pricing may prevent others from doing the same.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Sometimes you don’t have a (reasonable) alternative choice.

When you’ve bought into an ecosystem, for instance.
It may still prevent others from doing the same.

Given how I’ve bought into Apple’s ecosystem over many years, it doesn’t make sense to not buy a new Mac (and buy a PC instead). That said, people being vocal about rip-off pricing may prevent others from doing the same.

Also an underrated point. I have been sitting here trying to talk myself out of a mac mini m4 because I already have a great windows setup. But then I realize that for all my issues with Apple, Microsoft is even worse.

 

[mode11]

Curious -- anyone know if I can use magnets?
Don't think it's an issue for an NVMe stick, but I wonder about the screen?

The Lexar I linked to uses magnets. They show it attached to the back of a laptop screen (I believe after sticking a magnetic panel to the surface). Also works with MagSafe it seems.

Don’t think LCDs are affected by magnetism, though I’d query that too (as the thing will be stuck there 24/7 in one spot). Perhaps it’s just having grown up with CRTs.

 

[Reality4711]

The Mini has no screen, keyboard and trackpad

This is intended to be serve my longtime goal of getting back to one machine for desktop/laptop

My 2015 MBP 15" still gets used around the house but mostly in a single spot as it's such a big hoss when traveling and the battery life just isn't amazing, even though it has a new battery this year.

Back to your original point though - the M4 Mini is mighty impressive
I'd be very happy with that as my only machine if not needing to be portable from time to time

Really amazed at how my simple Windows gaming needs are well served with Whisky / Game Porting Toolkit now too

OK - I was a bit sarcastic there.
Seriously, there are a number of 15" portable displays (some with kickstands & 4k) that would pair up with a mini for travel.
I used the setup in hospital for over a fortnight - better than an iPad and familiar UI. Amazon (UK) have a few. Just a thought. Even a second hand iPad Pro works well I am told (good display).