The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[scottsjack]

As soon as some store credits come through I am going to get a mini. I would prefer a Haswell with Iris Pro and an external, more powerful, power supply.

Most likely I will end up with a 2012 2.3 quad. The Crucial 16GB RAM and 960GB M500 SSD that I installed in my late 2012 MBP work great. The mini will get the same, cost effective treatment.

 

[philipma1957]

no, the concept (not mine) while looking good is not good (imo).
My first comment in this thread was more or less what you wrote: I would take the upgradeability and a little more space (preferable for better cooling) over smaller any time.
I am probably going for an 2012 refurb, because who knows what is coming (I want to upgrade ram and ssd myself and not pay the apple premium). It's an awesome computer, the only thing I'd love would be Thunderbolt 2 ports (together with a bit better graphics)

I agree completely . I have a 2012 quad and it does all that I need or want.

And if I misread your post earlier my apologies .

 

[imageWIS]

I have a mid 2011 with 2.5GHz, AMD HD 6630M, 8 GB Ram. It's perfectly fine for my uses at the moment, however, I would really like USB 3.0 as I keep on adding more and more external HD's and need to move more and more data faster. I really can't wait for Apple to release a new model so I can upgrade.

 

[andychelt]

Trust me, a new mini is coming next week,

Oh dear............

 

[Jambalaya]

Retail stores must count and value their entire stock every year, then pay an income like tax on any increase in the total valuation vs the previous year. This can be reduced by buying inventory with borrowed money and then writing off the interest, but it's not lock tight.

The IRS is the leading cause of sales between Black Friday and dec 31.

Sorry but this is totally incorrect.

Stock is held at purchase price, ke trade price. There is no tax to pay until its sold. Sales tax is paid by purchaser and passed on to IRS by retailer. The profit from the sale goes into the companies income statement and is set against costs like staff wages, premesis rent etc and the resulting profit (if any) is taxable. If anything unsold stock is marked down as it ages so creates a loss and thus reduces tax.

Companies try and sell things before your end as that's a very active period for consumers to spend money, Jan and Feb tend to be quiet as consumers have less spare cash. A retailer who doesn't sell in Nov and Dec is likely to be holding stock and thus incurring expenses so like any business the sooner you can sell the better. Also it's likely they will need cash for other bills so it make sense to sell in a "hot" period to raise cash

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Hello everybody,
I wanted to buy a Mac Mini i7 today in Paris : I was in one of the largest electronic chain (Fnac) and asked the seller for 1 MacMini but the had 0 in stock in the shop.
Then I asked the seller for an other shop with stock but none of them had stock in Paris and suburbs.
Then I asked to order one : no stock at the central buying service...
...I asked him if it looks like a new model will be released : he confirms
So I look at this forum and made this little movie : Mac Mini Haswell (But they do not have any MacMini i7 at the "Paris-Italie2"... unlike shown on theyr website)
Sound good ^^
Alex

Did you try Apple store at Opera ? I was there on Friday and I remember seeing Mac Mini although was really looking at other things. Also the French Apple online store says delivery in 1-3 days. Also if fnac tels you a new model is coming you will be less likely to leave his shop and go straight somewhere else to buy one, he wants to delay your purchase as he (fnac) cannot sell you anything

 

[haravikk]

Does anyone have any idea when Apple's next major event will be, one where a new Mac Mini might be announced? WWDC is a while away (June?) but I'm hoping the new Mac Minis are coming sooner than that!

 

[talmy]

Does anyone have any idea when Apple's next major event will be, one where a new Mac Mini might be announced? WWDC is a while away (June?) but I'm hoping the new Mac Minis are coming sooner than that!

Apple's events have very short lead times. Mac minis have been typically announced outside of any event, so we are most likely to first hear about them the morning they become available!

 

[haravikk]

Apple's events have very short lead times. Mac minis have been typically announced outside of any event, so we are most likely to first hear about them the morning they become available!

True, but it seems more and more likely that Apple will be redesigning the Mac Mini, which might explain why we haven't received the usual silent update by now. If that's the case then it may make sense for them to show it off?

Of course I'm mostly just impatient for news as it's starting to look like a Mac Mini will be my replacement for my early 2008 Mac Pro; while I'd love a new Mac Pro they're very expensive, plus my storage options (unless I went to spend loads more money) are either USB3 or eSATA, but the new Mac Pro's USB3 performance sounds limited and eSATA is somewhere in the region of ~£200 for the privilege of owning an overpriced, externally powered hub since no-one does a simple adapter cable.

But yeah, this is when Apple's tight-lipped approach gets really annoying, as I just know if I buy a current Mini it'll be updated days later

 

[jlanpheer]

But yeah, this is when Apple's tight-lipped approach gets really annoying, as I just know if I buy a current Mini it'll be updated days later

I finally jumped in. I had been wanting to switch away from Windows for awhile now, and last August, i stopped into Microcenter to get a Mac mini and make "THE SWITCH" . He advised me to wait, which i did for over four months. Finally, i decided that i would probably eventually own TWO minis in my ideal configuration and i took the leap this month.

Am still setting up my audio software etc. (the mini will be the center of a home recording studio), but i've installed the SSD drive and upgraded the RAM. The jury is still out on whether it was the right move (and timing) for me, but i think that it is going to be at least a few more months before we see a new one (IF we see a new one). I didn't want to keep my life on hold any longer. My contact who advised me to wait now no longer has any expected timeline on when he expects a new one. The current model is in stock, selling well, and shipping fast, according to him.

good luck and cheers!

 

[talmy]

True, but it seems more and more likely that Apple will be redesigning the Mac Mini, which might explain why we haven't received the usual silent update by now. If that's the case then it may make sense for them to show it off?

The Mini has been slow to update and there have only been two designs. The first, the white plastic ones, lasted for 5 1/2 years. The current design is a mere 3 1/2 years old. I don't remember if they showed it off. I know I was on vacation when it came out.

I'd expect a silent upgrade with new processors (not much faster than old). Perhaps a port change (Thunderbolt 2, delete FW800). Nothing major. For the new design, it might be another two years!

 

[haravikk]

I'd expect a silent upgrade with new processors (not much faster than old). Perhaps a port change (Thunderbolt 2, delete FW800). Nothing major. For the new design, it might be another two years!

The current form factor though is designed around an optical drive that is no longer there. Granted that may not mean anything, as Apple could have properly redesigned the Mac Mini last time it was updated. But if they were going to go for a quiet spec-bump release, then wouldn't they have done it by now, rather than skipping a year completely?

 

[Crosscreek]

The current form factor though is designed around an optical drive that is no longer there. Granted that may not mean anything, as Apple could have properly redesigned the Mac Mini last time it was updated. But if they were going to go for a quiet spec-bump release, then wouldn't they have done it by now, rather than skipping a year completely?

if Apple is producing the Mini in Texas it could be due to several production related issues. All the production engineers could be getting the Pro in production. Assembly lines and solder mother board machines need to be installed and tested. Quality insurance standards need to be tweaked. People trained. Suppliers could be a problem. The Pro will come first in any of these cases.

 

[talmy]

The current form factor though is designed around an optical drive that is no longer there.

They used the current form factor for a year with an optical drive, but 2 1/2 years now with no optical drive available. So that's not likely to compel them to make a new design!

But if they were going to go for a quiet spec-bump release, then wouldn't they have done it by now, rather than skipping a year completely?

I wouldn't put it past them! But the latest processors are only slightly faster than the ones in the mini now. The major claim to fame is in reduced power consumption, which is of major benefit to notebook computers.

 

[Maxedonia]

I wouldn't put it past them! But the latest processors are only slightly faster than the ones in the mini now. The major claim to fame is in reduced power consumption, which is of major benefit to notebook computers.

True. But the graphics power is also much improved in the latest chips. Which for me is the reason I'm waiting for the new Mac Mini since I want it to be able to connect to a 4K display in the future.

 

[Crosscreek]

True. But the graphics power is also much improved in the latest chips. Which for me is the reason I'm waiting for the new Mac Mini since I want it to be able to connect to a 4K display in the future.

Haswell GPU will not give you 4k even with TB2.

 

[Jambalaya]

Much as many of us want to see a Mini refresh soon I think @talmy speaks the likely reality. I upgraded my 2009 machine last summer as it seemed likely a wait for a refresh would be a long one.

 

[tubular]

Mac minis have been typically announced outside of any event

Except when they aren't. The last Mac mini update was announced at the iPad mini debut event.

 

[Alrescha]

Haswell GPU will not give you 4k even with TB2.

Since the 13" Macbook Pro supports 4k, why wouldn't the mini?

A.

 

[Crosscreek]

Since the 13" Macbook Pro supports 4k, why wouldn't the mini?

A.

I had a rMBP. It will power a 4k display but at 30hz and when you move the mouse there is so much lag that it is unusable. My fan was running at full throttle. The 15 rMBP will run it with the dedicated GPU. I sent mine back and bought a Mini. I'll wait until the Mini is capable. It will probably be Broadwell but there is no proof of that.

 

[jlanpheer]

True. But the graphics power is also much improved in the latest chips. Which for me is the reason I'm waiting for the new Mac Mini since I want it to be able to connect to a 4K display in the future.

Well, you've got time then. Unless you are a hardcore graphics designer, there is no need for a 4k display now anyways. As i was advised the other day by a guy who was motivated to sell me one: "In a couple of years, they'll be half the price and much higher build quality".

cheers!
p.s. I bought two HP Pavilion monitors instead. I'm diggin' 'em so far!

 

[voigtstr]

How long till the new mini? My core2duo mini server (originally snow leopard server) second hard disk has failed... nearly time for a new box!

 

[jwhazel]

WUnless you are a hardcore graphics designer, there is no need for a 4k display now anyways.

Why does one have to be a 'hardcore graphics designer' to use them? I'm a programmer and I'd pay a premium to have a pair for the text aliasing of hidpi mode. Everyday casual use would be enhanced too.

 

[Osamede]

Has anyone considered the next may be not a refresh or new version of the Mini, but killing it altogether, thus pushing the moneyed buyers up the food chain to buy the Mac Pro - and shoving the rabble downward to the Apple TV (while simultaneously getting them on the hook to to buy content from Apple).

For me, this is most likely outcome here, given the way Apple thinks and acts.

If you are really hot for for this product line, I'd buy the current Mini while you can. Can't see Apple being the one to support relatively open computing at this price point.

 

[Crosscreek]

Yea, we have been over the sky is falling and the Mini is dead. It is not just a consumer machine. Many businesses rely on them as servers. I think when the new chips show up whether updated Hasswel or Broadwell and Texas catches up on their Pro orders we will se them. Sometime in June or October.

 

[Maxedonia]

Why does one have to be a 'hardcore graphics designer' to use them? I'm a programmer and I'd pay a premium to have a pair for the text aliasing of hidpi mode. Everyday casual use would be enhanced too.

Same here. I'm also a programmer and I think that 4K is especially important for people who work with text a lot.