The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[Crosscreek]

There will be no Broadwell chips available this year do to large inventory of Haswell processors and few drivers for Broadwell so the Mini should get Haswell refresh.
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140212PD209.html

 

[hwojtek]

If the mini becames too popular they might even try to kill it.

They are in the business of selling hardware for too long to kill a cash cow.

 

[ElectronGuru]

Apple prices are mad outside US.

Non us prices generally include additional (mandated) warranty and national rate sales taxes.

 

[pcd109]

Not that any of us truly do, but I don't think you understand what's going on either. Apple isn't afraid of consumers picking one Apple product over a more expensive one.

Then how do you explain the constant cripling of macmini. For example the elimination of dedicated graphics card once the cpus became strong. or the much longer refresh rates then for other products? All this are clear marks that Apple wants to sell more iMacs then minis, so i guess you still need to understand how Apple operates.

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Non us prices generally include additional (mandated) warranty and national rate sales taxes.

Then how do you explain that Dell and Hp maintain a parity between US and Europe prices? Well, Apple supra charges EU clients apart from sales taxes(VAT in Europe) and warranty(Apple still sales extended care packages in Europe, so that is not the reason either). And even if you add all that taxes and warranty and what not, you still don't come to almost double the price..... It's just that Apple like to rip off they customers as much as they can. The 3k nMP is almost 5k in Europe and the 4k hexa core is about 6,5k. How do they justify this prices??? Will you still purchase at this prices? I, for one, will purchase a new mac mini, but no more mac pros, at least not at this prices. Once Apple start treating us with respect and decent prices(US like), then will purchase again.

 

[talmy]

Then how do you explain the constant cripling of macmini. For example the elimination of dedicated graphics card once the cpus became strong. or the much longer refresh rates then for other products? All this are clear marks that Apple wants to sell more iMacs then minis, so i guess you still need to understand how Apple operates.

They have a target market for the mini. It always was an entry level product, recently taking on a new role with the server version after the elimination of the XServe product. From the very beginning people questioned its existence and predicted its demise. For it's intended market there is no need to have it be state-of-the-art hence it's always been the last to get upgraded with a very infrequent schedule.

Apple has never been scared to offer new products that might cannibalize existing ones. One only has to look at the introduction of the Mac mini in the first place! And they made the iMac powerful enough in recent years to take Mac Pro sales. The iPad hurts Mac sales, the iPhone hurts iPod sales... They don't care as long as you buy Apple products and hopefully collect the whole set!

 

[pcd109]

They have a target market for the mini. It always was an entry level product, recently taking on a new role with the server version after the elimination of the XServe product. From the very beginning people questioned its existence and predicted its demise. For it's intended market there is no need to have it be state-of-the-art hence it's always been the last to get upgraded with a very infrequent schedule!

Nope, i remeber the imac g3(well, i might be too old than i like to admit) and G4. Well, on those day you could get Apple macs for under 1000$ too, the imac g3. It had a smaller screen then 17" imac g4(15" crt on imac g3, 15 and 17" lcd on imac g4) a g3 cpu instead of g4, a lower end graphic card etc. So Apple has a long history of crippling it's 'low end model' for the sake off high profit margins sales. This is the exact reason they eliminated the dedicated graphics on mini, or when it was it only got 256mb of ram(on a 800$ computer!!!). Good God you can purchase a full spec intel tower with a dedicated graphics card for lower then this. We are on 2014 for God's sake, people have at least 1gb of dedicated video ram on the cheapest win boxes for years. So you still don't get it, do you? Apple cripples the products to sell you the highest profit ones. For example if you want to play games on your mac, your only choice is to purchase the 'high end' 27 inch imac with 2gb of video ram. So they do it even within imac line. How do you explain the soldering of ram ONLY on 'cheap' imac models? Same way, they try to force clients to purchase the most expensive computer. Now you are going to tell me that the imac clients don't need user upgradable ram because is entry level? Don't get me wrong, i am an Apple user for more then 10 years, i am just sick of they model of ripping off they clients... I love MacOS X and i hate Apple way of doing business. This is the sole reason why we don't have yet IrisPro on mac mini yet. Is pure and simple too powerfull for Apple. Once people will stop purchasing the now obsolete mini, they will update it(i hope), but they will cripple either graphics, either cpu. I am for too long an Apple user to not know it..... Maybe someday you will too.

 

[talmy]

So Apple has a long history of crippling it's 'low end model' for the sake off high profit margins sales.

I wouldn't disagree with that. The entry model is crippled so you will buy the mid or high model mini. I disagreed with the comment that they were crippling minis to not hurt sales of Mac Pros or iMacs. Everyone knows about the "Apple Tax".

If you are buying a computer to play games, get a Windows PC or a gaming console. Macs are just not the way to go. I bought the top end iMac 4 years ago not to run games but for Aperture to run as quickly as possible. My wife uses mainly Safari and Mail and does fine with a base iMac. I see nothing wrong with having to pay more for my iMac and am glad that the low end models are available. (4 of the 7 Macs in our home are base models). They make the highest profits on the options, so the availability of the base "crippled" models is a plus for applications that don't need the performance but want the Apple Experience.

 

[Jambalaya]

Don't be too tough on Apple "crippling the low end machines" even my base 2009 Mini with 2gb RAM and 160 HDD was still limping along and with a RAM and HDD upgrade last summer its still happily ins service as my main amchine running Mavericks. That was never the sort of experience I had with MS/Windows over the prior 20 odd years. Apple's not perfect but it's way way better than what we were stuck with before.

I'm very happy with my upgraded Mini but am looking forward to a refreshed go faster Mini as I deserve one !

 

[Cloudsurfer]

We are on 2014 for God's sake, people have at least 1gb of dedicated video ram on the cheapest win boxes for years.

Yes but do you need it? It's nice to have a car with 500 BHP, but what good will it do if all you need it for is to get some groceries once a week? That sure is a waste of energy and resources. Even if oil was free.

And if you do need it, there's always iMac and Mac Pro.

 

[Jambalaya]

I've been waiting since May/June 2013, frustrating isn't it? Patience is a virtue I keep telling myself! I'm just about coping, but memory is becoming a bottleneck for me and I don't see any point in getting any more at this point when I could get a new machine soon. At this point I suppose it will be nice to get to 5 years with my '09 mini, which will be in March I think. Pretty good longevity for a desktop isn't it?

I was reading these threads in May/June 2013 and rather than wait and hope decided to upgrade my 2009 base Mini to 8gb ram from the original 2. Together with a Scorpio Black 7200 rpm 750gb HDD the machine is now running really well. I want a new Mini and will probably get one if the refresh is significant but to be honest the machine is really all I need for normal home/office and media centre work.

 

[Blinis]

Hello everyone,

My first post here, hurray! I am a Mac user trying to replace my late 2008 MacBook Pro (RIP), and I was thinking about a Mac Mini when I saw that the new ones are thought to be coming... I am an experienced Mac user but a n00b when it comes to the Mac community, so my question is simple: can really the new Mac Mini be coming, say, next week?

I'm a bit surprised that there is no information available more than rumours... Is it the way Apple deals with their new products? Nothing, then BANGS it appears on the website?

 

[talmy]

so my question is simple: can really the new Mac Mini be coming, say, next week?

I'm a bit surprised that there is no information available more than rumours... Is it the way Apple deals with their new products? Nothing, then BANGS it appears on the website?

Apple doesn't announce products in advance. This thread was started over two months ago with a post having a rumor that new minis would be out "next week". So far, all "next week" predictions in this thread have been wrong. There will be new ones some day.

 

[kwijbo]

It's just that Apple like to rip off they customers as much as they can. The 3k nMP is almost 5k in Europe and the 4k hexa core is about 6,5k. How do they justify this prices???

Where is the 3k nMP 5k? In Italy the base model nMP is 3,049 euros including VAT. Without VAT its 2,500 euros. Factor in 125 euros (half of cost of Apple Care) for the 2nd year warranty that's included and its at 2,375 euros or $3,206 USD. There's some additional margin built in for currency risk and probably a higher amount of corporate allocations due to smaller sales bases and increased cost of doing business in Europe. Not sure what I'm missing?

 

[pcd109]

Yes but do you need it? It's nice to have a car with 500 BHP, but what good will it do if all you need it for is to get some groceries once a week? That sure is a waste of energy and resources. Even if oil was free. And if you do need it, there's always iMac and Mac Pro.

This is exactly why i hate this way of doing business. This was true when mac was the only Apple product so they where FORCED to have a high margin on macs. Then i paid gladly for my mac experience. I purchased g3, g4, g5 knowing that for the same dollar i could get much more on Intel side. But that did not bothered me because Apple NEEDED to do so to stay alive. So i was happy to pay for my Mac experience knowing that Apple is forced to have a bit of a more expensive line of products. Can you tell the same thing now??? Don't get me wrong, i know Macs are way better then anything windows. But i say it's time for Apple to make a bit of concession to they mac clients, don't you think? Today is just pure greed, Apple has tons of cash so they can afford to offer just a bit more to they clients. I guess they have enough money now to put a decent graphics card in a 800$ computer(be it mobile, be it integrated, BUT DECENT by TODAY standards), or user upgradable ram on ALL iMac models. Is too much to ask? Well, now i guess all i want is a new mini with IrisPro. I don't need a MacPro(i have an 8core) and i don't want iMac(i have a very good screen) this leaves me with mini. Now, how about some love for this machine, like a decent graphics card(IrisPro if anyone at Apple can hear us)?

 

[pcd109]

Where is the 3k nMP 5k? In Italy the base model nMP is 3,049 euros including VAT. Without VAT its 2,500 euros. Factor in 125 euros (half of cost of Apple Care) for the 2nd year warranty that's included and its at 2,375 euros or $3,206 USD. There's some additional margin built in for currency risk and probably a higher amount of corporate allocations due to smaller sales bases and increased cost of doing business in Europe. Not sure what I'm missing?

Well you are missing some math classes, but that's just your problem. In Romania base mac it's 4700$ in US dollars. There are only Apple resellers here, no Apple store so we pay extra. Ain't life's a bitch sometimes? And 3050EU means 4148 dollars for the base model at the current exchange rate of 1EU=1,36 US$. Auuuch, a bit too much don't you think? More precise exactly 38,3% more expensive then US. In US the six core is 3999US$(in Itally without VAT 4510$ or 5507$ with VAT). Now, how about that? More then 4k for a quad core.... By the way, without sales taxes the base mac is STILL 3400$ in Europe witch is exactly 401$ MORE then in US. Or in percentage is 13,37% more then in US. And if you are a business, the warranty for Apple products is just one year. If you want more you need to pay Apple Care, so that's not included in price. Don't you think that this is too much? I am not going to enter any more debates about Apple price politics from now on. Just do your own math folks...

 

[iydkmigthtky]

...

1. this phenomenon is not apple-exclusive. i live in germany and can't think of any big company that alters their prices in europe according to the currency exchange rate. it's depressing, but sadly true.
2. USD is simply very weak compared to EUR. some quick numbers to show the huge difference:
   - macbook air 731€
   - mac mini 438€
   - ipad air 365€
   these hypothetical prices would be extremely competitive, which has never been part of apple's strategy. market share would probably explode. in fact, it might even destroy apple's premium reputation.

 

[kwijbo]

LOL, this is too funny. You've confused yourself, and I'm sorry.

First, you're mixing Apple direct and resellers. Resellers set their own pricing so if you have any gripe with the price in Romania that would be the source to pursue. Remember what you wrote?

Well, Apple supra charges EU clients

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Well you are missing some math classes, but that's just your problem. In Romania base mac it's 4700$ in US dollars. There are only Apple resellers here, no Apple store so we pay extra. Ain't life's a bitch sometimes? And 3050EU means 4148 dollars for the base model at the current exchange rate of 1EU=1,36 US$. Auuuch, a bit too much don't you think? More precise exactly 38,3% more expensive then US. In US the six core is 3999US$(in Itally without VAT 4510$ or 5507$ with VAT). Now, how about that? More then 4k for a quad core.... By the way, without sales taxes the base mac is STILL 3400$ in Europe witch is exactly 401$ MORE then in US. Or in percentage is 13,37% more then in US. And if you are a business, the warranty for Apple products is just one year. If you want more you need to pay Apple Care, so that's not included in price. Don't you think that this is too much? I am not going to enter any more debates about Apple price politics from now on. Just do your own math folks...

Again, you're taking the price of the base model and converting the price INCLUDING VAT. That has nothing to do with Apple at all. So a $400 premium for currency exchange risk, higher corporate allocations and higher cost of doing business in European countries certainly accounts for an increase in price. Not sure how else to explain that. And if businesses don't get the additional warranty year they get even more benefit by not having to pay VAT.

The 3k nMP is almost 5k in Europe

That was your original post, and your numbers simply don't work. The 3k nMP is 3,400 in Europe plain and simple.

 

[pcd109]

That was your original post, and your numbers simply don't work. The 3k nMP is 3,400 in Europe plain and simple.

Nope, it's 4148 USD, cheapest available.... This is a mini post, so i was debating about that price. So let's keep it about mac mini, ok? I am afraid that the next mini will not be user upgradable anymore. I HOPE for, but not sure. Maybe Apple is doing a redesign. What is sure is the fact that Broadwell integrated gpu is even far more better then Iris Pro(is said to be 2-3 times better then Iris Pro). Now this, will give even dedicated graphic cards a serious run for they money. So i think Apple will seal off the mini. It's not a very bad thing, as long as they leave at least the RAM user upgradable. I am in need for one right now, but can wait up to Christmas. If a new one appears sooner will not wait for Broadwell, i will go for it. Oh boy, i can't wait to get a new one!

 

[Schnort]

Well, if you subtract out VAT, then convert to dollars, it's about $3400+tax

Of course, our sales tax is considerably less than their VAT.

So it's more like $4200USD in europe vs. $3300USD in the US after taxes.

Both of which prices are truly ludicrous for what you get.

 

[iMacFarlane]

Now, how about some love for this machine, like a decent graphics card(IrisPro if anyone at Apple can hear us)?

I'm with this guy.

How cool would it be if Apple released a Mini with a powerful GPU, and the ability to dual boot to SteamOS? BAM. One stop SteamMachine (PS4 and XBone? FACE!), AppleTV, and OS X environment on the big screen, in the living room. It would basically create a new niche, shake up the market, and we'd all win big.

It would also be cool if unicorns could fly.

 

[pcd109]

1. this phenomenon is not apple-exclusive. i live in germany and can't think of any big company that alters their prices in europe according to the currency exchange rate. it's depressing, but sadly true.
2. USD is simply very weak compared to EUR. some quick numbers to show the huge difference:
   - macbook air 731€
   - mac mini 438€
   - ipad air 365€
   these hypothetical prices would be extremely competitive, which has never been part of apple's strategy. market share would probably explode. in fact, it might even destroy apple's premium reputation.

This is what i keep saying and no one really understands it, apart from you that is. And there are few companies who do it right(hp z series is only 5% or so more then in US, so who wants can find a way). I don't know about they reputation, but i DO know that they will sell far more units then now. In a recent interview Mr. Tim Cook said that Apple is not doing very well in all EU(apart from UK, France and maybe Germany, i don't recall exactly). Well Mr. Cook, put your prices on par with those in US like Dell and HP do in Europe and you'l see the sells rising like never before! What do you expect now? For regular folks the price is 40% higher then in US, so it's normal that people go after windows boxes. Maybe will see that trans Atlantic tax free treaty in place and prices will drop at least 20%.
Back to the subject of new mini. What do you think about the next mini? I want one very bad, and possibly rather sooner then later, but will not go for current configuration. I am afraid that Apple will redesign to seal off upgrades, or will cripple the graphics very bad. If ram stays upgradable will go for a new one, even if it's Haswell not Broadwell.

 

[hleewell]

Don't be too tough on Apple "crippling the low end machines" even my base 2009 Mini with 2gb RAM and 160 HDD was still limping along and with a RAM and HDD upgrade last summer its still happily ins service as my main amchine running Mavericks. That was never the sort of experience I had with MS/Windows over the prior 20 odd years. Apple's not perfect but it's way way better than what we were stuck with before.

I'm very happy with my upgraded Mini but am looking forward to a refreshed go faster Mini as I deserve one !

Upgrade to SSD and you will never see beach balls again.

 

[Blinis]

Apple doesn't announce products in advance. This thread was started over two months ago with a post having a rumor that new minis would be out "next week". So far, all "next week" predictions in this thread have been wrong. There will be new ones some day.

Thank you very much. It's a bit of a surprising strategy to do not announce products in advance, but it does not harm Apple too much I assume...

So I now have a decision to make, but I guess that I will be going for the i7 model, it does not seem too bad.

 

[Jambalaya]

Upgrade to SSD and you will never see beach balls again.

I put a Scorpio Black running at 7200 rpm and very rarely get a beachball. For me the 750gb HDD was a better and cheaper option than 256gb SSD, at least for the time being. If we do get a refresh I would probably go with 256ssd and use the HDD in an external housing for media libraryor use the old mini as a server.

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Thank you very much. It's a bit of a surprising strategy to do not announce products in advance, but it does not harm Apple too much I assume...

So I now have a decision to make, but I guess that I will be going for the i7 model, it does not seem too bad.

Not announcing in advance gives the competition less time to react.

Depending on what you're doing ram and drive upgrades will probably give you more than i7

 

[dalupus]

Depending on what you're doing ram and drive upgrades will probably give you more than i7

Put another way. If you are doing anything where the difference between an i5 and an i7 is going to give you more performance than more ram and faster drives you are probably looking at the wrong machine to begin with