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Saying Farewell to the Mini...

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gkarris

gkarris

macrumors G3
Original poster
Dec 31, 2004
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"No escape from Reality...”
August 7th is one week away. Well, if the Mini gets discontinued, and not replaced, it'll be the Cube all over again.

I'm a collector, and when the Cube was out, was planning to get one. Then, one morning I woke up, and on the Internet there was the announcement that the Cube was discontinued. The frantic search for one started.

Apple, of course, was sold out. I called other Mac retailers, and they said that they had a bunch that morning, but they all sold out within an hour of the announcement.

I went on to eBay and found a guy selling his complete in box for "Buy It Now" at the same price as a new one, but included shipping, had 384 Megs RAM (instead of the stock 128), and was hardly used. He replaced it with an iBook. I snagged it. As a bonus, he shipped it overnight instead of ground (cost him a lot more).

I would imagine the same may happen with the Mini. I, luckily, got my Intel one over Christmas last year and love it (I'm on it right now).

I would imagine that if you want one and Apple doesn't replace it, you will need to have a strategy to get one. I would imagine getting ready to head over to the Apple Store to scoop up what is left. Maybe you have connections at a local authorized reseller and you can call them to hold one for you until after the announcement and not buy if it's still available, or stop by after work to purchase it if not.

The Mini is awesome. I have the original one still new in box unopened in my collection.

I hope that Apple keeps it and updates it, or releases its replacement. If not, these things may actually hold their value for years to come.

Good luck, all you Mini hunters!

10/21/2008 EDIT: RESURRECTED AS IT MAY BE FOR REAL THIS TIME....

Please post over here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/586243/
 
You are aware that the Mini has been out much longer than the Cube ever was? Therefore there are many more out there, and not so hard to find/get. The only similarity between the cube and mini is the relative size compared to a Mac Tower.
 
My Intel Core Duo mini is my main computer isnt exactly in mint condition since it is my main computer. I'm more of a PC collecter since they're les expensive, but mini's price will go up for sure.

But, I doubt the mini will be discontinued. if it does, I'll hate Apple for a few months.
 
I've had a good run with my mini, it will be sorely missed when i replace it with a Macbook Pro next year.
It seems like the mini sold rather well (compared to the cube) so unless for some reason, people start junking them, they probably won't be that hard to find on ebay, or craigslist. Also, the cube had a few more upgrading options, and was easier to upgrade.
 
I'm still not totally convinced that the mini and the 17" iMac will be discontinued. If the rumours that the 17" iMac is to be discontinued are true in addition to the impending EOL of the mini, Apple would not have a viable, entry-level computer. I don't think that Apple is totally oblivious to the commonly held notion that people have about their computers being more expensive than standard PCs. This is who the mini was targetted towards: iPod buying PC switchers who already had the keyboard and monitor. Similarly with the 17" iMac, which has been kept on as a solution for the education market. As an elementary teacher, I cannot see a computer lab full of 20" monitored computers, both for space and cost reasons.

I'm also not totally convinced that Apple will release an upgradable mini-tower. Apple has historically had control over the upgradable parts that require drivers in their computers; I cannot see Apple's software engineers writing a series of drivers for every graphics card that might fit into such a machine.

My hope is that the mini will be continued as the machine with the older technology with a cheaper pricetag. That said, I can see a potential mini upgrade get a 1.83 and 2.0 Ghz Core2Duo. Ideally they'd get a discreet video card (the x1600?), but I doubt that they would exceed the specs of the MacBook, so I can see them sticking with the GMA 950. I don't think they'd go with the GMA 965, although that would be kind of nice.
 
I actually would love to get a mac mini for my parents so I hope they dont discontinue it. I am looking forward to a much needed upgrade.

I want to see a new mac mini with more ram, bigger hdd, a better video card
and a new or revised design that would make for easy upgrades.

Maybe they should combine the mac mini with the apple tv and make a new mac... the "MacTV.

Think about it, a MacTV.
 
Less coffee. More common sense.

Minis keep their value fairly well b/c they are so cheap to begin with, so it's all relative. But b/c of the supply, expect them to be less of a commodity if they do get EOL'd. And remember places like MacMall, MacZones, etc. will still have stock even if Apple takes them out of the Apple Store supply chain.
 
hdsalinas said:
I actually would love to get a mac mini for my parents so I hope they dont discontinue it. I am looking forward to a much needed upgrade.

I want to see a new mac mini with more ram, bigger hdd, a better video card
and a new or revised design that would make for easy upgrades.

Maybe they should combine the mac mini with the apple tv and make a new mac... the "MacTV.

Think about it, a MacTV.
Click to expand...

Or just :apple:Mac. A Mini in an :apple:TV form factor, and instead of the brick, use a MacBook power adapter (hey, it's just laptop parts).

I mentioned in another post, Apple got rid of the floppy one year, maybe with its ultraportable and new mini replacement they should get rid of the optical drive (just get an external).

(runs and hides)
 
Saying farewell to the iMac too?

Because by the logic that "the mini hasn't been updated in so long so it's going to be discontinued", the iMac and Mac Pro are also being discontinued too. Apple is just going to announce on Tuesday that they are stopping all desktop products and will focus just on laptops.
 
zioxide said:
Saying farewell to the iMac too?

Because by the logic that "the mini hasn't been updated in so long so it's going to be discontinued", the iMac and Mac Pro are also being discontinued too. Apple is just going to announce on Tuesday that they are stopping all desktop products and will focus just on laptops.
Click to expand...

?

It's been known for some time now that the iMacs will be updated August 7.

The fate of the Mini is unknown, many thinking that Apple is "upscaling" its computer line by getting rid of the budget end all together...

If so, Macs will start at $999(?) for a 17" iMac (if they choose to keep that form factor which is looking that way).
 
I sure hope the mini isn't discontinued. I love the form factor. It is great for doing non professional audio recording. It is silent and compact. I would not be happy if it were good byes for the mini.
 
kwood said:
I sure hope the mini isn't discontinued. I love the form factor. It is great for doing non professional audio recording. It is silent and compact. I would not be happy if it were good byes for the mini.
Click to expand...

Indeed it is, Logic express works fine under rosetta, for the most part. ;) GB is great, too, even on a core solo.
 
Yeah, I'm still not convinced that the mini's going anywhere. Apple, just update it, just like you need to update the iMacs on the 7th. Many people first consider a Mac because of the mini's price tag. Some buy minis, other buy up the pricing chart and get a more expensive iMac. By any means, Apple's gaining sales because of the mini.
 
I really don't think they'll discontinue it, but if they do, that'll suck. They are great machines. I've had mine for a year on the 15th or 16th of this month and I love it, but if they release new iMacs on the 7th, I will be getting one. I've wanted one for a while, mostly because I just LOVE the all-in-one form factor. I will be selling the mini once I get the iMac, but I have to say that's it's right up there with my eMac (my first Mac) as the best computer I've ever had. :cool:

Hopefully, Apple will just drop in a Core 2 and keep the mini around.
 
This is not a rhetorical question. Does Apple LOSE money on the minis? But I guess supposedly they don't release true sales data right, or am I mistaken?
 
I don't think they can discontinue the mini. I mean, I know they can, but they can't! It has such a desirable form factor, and PC manufacturers have since leapfrogged Apple by putting more/better components in the same-sized housing.

I think designing and developing new internals for the mini is an expensive task, not to mention a difficult one, and that this alone has probably hampered the release of updated models. However, it's not like the current mini is obsolete or anything - my original 1.66 is so quick and generally excellent that I often forget what's inside. I know VFM has really suffered.

Perhaps we'll see new SR mini's with the new Intel integrated graphics when, or after, the MacBooks get it. Perhaps they'll take it in a different direction altogether. We'll see!
 
Royale w/cheese said:
This is not a rhetorical question. Does Apple LOSE money on the minis? But I guess supposedly they don't release true sales data right, or am I mistaken?
Click to expand...

I don't see how Apple could possibly loose money on a Mini right now. The components in it are Ancient and still selling at a premium price. They have core duo chips, when we have had core 2 duo and now santa rosa core 2 duo, combo drive, 512Mb RAM!!!! They should be selling them for £199 not £399. It is without doubt the most ridiculously overpriced piece of hardware you can buy from anyone right now.
 
I really hope it is not discontinued (or continues to be not enhanced). But it does feel like Apple are going to let it die.
 
Father Jack said:
I don't think we will say farewell ... just yet .. ;)
Click to expand...

I hope not... but I have a hard time understanding why it hasn't been updated in well over a year (I do not consider the minor speed bump 330 days ago and update). Maybe it will get updated with a price drop, the C2D merom ships are cheap enough now.
 
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