The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[Micky Do]

The new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming with hopefully a new design instead of this tired old box that disguises a throw away tamperproof disaster.

I just thought I would keep the thread alive.

Yes, of course this thread needs to be kept alive. A new Mac Mini came, and got old quite quickly. The new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming.

 

[Cape Dave]

I use the Ethernet port whenever I can. Always at home, even with a laptop, and and in hotels, when it existed ... faster and more secure. Wireless is everywhere now and it's convenient, but I would hate to see the wire fall off the mini. Am I just a relic, or does anyone else keep wires around?

Got a spare Token-ring card or two if anyone needs one ..

I agree! Wireless sucks. I never use it for home computer.

 

[iFitzgerald]

This is a common misconception. There are many abstraction layers between hardware and software precisely to make the hardware easy to change and the software portable. If ever one is dependant upon the other something is going disastrously wrong.

Apple introduced Swift - in my mind a cobbled-together compromise of a development language which Apple claims is 'modern'. It is compared to Objective C, Java and the other legacy languages. However, it has been designed to further seperate Apple hardware from Apple software irrespective of OS.

Apple has been investing heavily in its own silicon in recent years and I would not be at all surprised by an anouncement that all future Macs will be transitioned to its own just to leave the competition incapable of following. Apple taught Intel a few things - e.g. performance per Watt is critical rather than cooling ever hotter chips - with their partnership but Apple is in a position where it need no longer be dependant on a CPU partner.

The new Mac Mini is certainly coming, but not yet.

Tim.

Not doubting your word, but somehow I still imagine many developers won't bother porting, especially game developers on Steam.
But even if that isn't a problem, ARM based Macs won't run Windows (correct me if I'm wrong) and that alone will make Apple lose costumers.

 

[corvus32]

I still imagine many developers won't bother porting, especially game developers on Steam.
But even if that isn't a problem, ARM based Macs won't run Windows (correct me if I'm wrong) and that alone will make Apple lose costumers.

When I looked at the breakdown of Mac hardware ownership on the Steam Hardware & Software Survey the overwhelming majority are using MacBook Pros (52%), iMacs (23%), and MacBooks (19%). The Mini - just 3.54%!

I don't think anyone here is advocating that MBPs and iMacs switch to Apple designed chips. Where it would make the most sense is on the low end to create some dichotomy, which the Mac lineup sorely needs.

For example, a sub-$500 desktop and sub-$800 notebook. They would have their own ecosystem, and of course be tied into the iTunes store.

The majority of Apple's customers are iOS users, so I think this is something they could relate to and get behind more so than Apple's current trend of another year, another overpriced neutered PC.

 

[talmy]

The majority of Apple's customers are iOS users, so I think this is something they could relate to and get behind more so than Apple's current trend of another year, another overpriced neutered PC.

I see that you have no investment in the Mac ecosystem, so a lower cost Mac with non-compatible software would have appeal. But speaking as a person with heavy investment in the current Macs and their software, you are my biggest nightmare. In my family (including my adult children with systems I support) there are 5 minis, 3 iMacs, and 5 MacBook (Air/Pro/neither). Last thing I want is a non-compatible Mac.

(There are also 3 iPhones, 2 iPod Touches, and an iPad, so there is some iOS representation here.)

 

[corvus32]

I see that you have no investment in the Mac ecosystem, so a lower cost Mac with non-compatible software would have appeal. But speaking as a person with heavy investment in the current Macs and their software, you are my biggest nightmare. In my family (including my adult children with systems I support) there are 5 minis, 3 iMacs, and 5 MacBook (Air/Pro/neither). Last thing I want is a non-compatible Mac.

(There are also 3 iPhones, 2 iPod Touches, and an iPad, so there is some iOS representation here.)

You act as though Intel macs and support for the products you have would disappear.

I suppose you must also believe you'll never need to replace your current hardware or purchase additional software ever again.

 

[talmy]

You act as though Intel macs and support for the products you have would disappear.

I suppose you must also believe you'll never need to replace your current hardware or purchase additional software ever again.

I currently have to deal with two sets of Apple applications, purchased separately. Why would I want to deal with a third? It's pretty nice now that any software I buy in the Mac App Store can be used (and used legally) on every Mac in the family. It's not nice that a title I want for both iOS and Mac I have to buy twice. It's even more not nice (?) if I have to buy three times.

 

[Micky Do]

I agree! Wireless sucks. I never use it for home computer.

Some of us don't have a choice….. neither a phone line nor cable to my apartment.

 

[Micky Do]

The majority of Apple's customers are iOS users, so I think this is something they could relate to and get behind more so than Apple's current trend of another year, another overpriced neutered PC.

So you are among the majority of Apple's customers, but without owning a Mac, let alone a Mac Mini you are among the minority here.

It is OS X that makes a Mac, not the hardware. Macs have long since got by on lesser seeming specs because the OS makes more efficient use of hardware…… that would be neutered by Windows bloatware.

 

[Crosscreek]

The new new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming.

I don't have anything good to say about the new Mac Mini but I have thrown the thread back to the top.

Tuesday of next October is coming with new Minis.

 

[JoelBC]

I have been following this thread for some time but have yet to post until now...as much as I need and want a MacMini I will not buy one until:

1. Apple releases a Quad Core Mac Mini that is Broadwell or better; and

2. Apple releases a new Thunderbolt display with the newer power connector as well.

No way Apple is getting $2,500+ of my money without updating the above items.

One more point...I have no interest in an iMac as I don't need / want to have to dispose of my display every time I get a new computer.

 

[chleuasme]

With the 2014 mini and the general direction Apple and the whole industry are following, an easy bet is Apple is switching to 15W chips in the mini to be able to introduce a new smaller design.
With this assumption you won't see a quad mini again until intel delivers quad CPUs variants of 15W chips. Broadwell NUCs also will be 15W but don't expect a quad CPU before at least SkyLake or later with a 10 nm process.

 

[crazzapple]

With the 2014 mini and the general direction Apple and the whole industry are following, an easy bet is Apple is switching to 15W chips in the mini to be able to introduce a new smaller design.
With this assumption you won't see a quad mini again until intel delivers quad CPUs variants of 15W chips. Broadwell NUCs also will be 15W but don't expect a quad CPU before at least SkyLake or later with a 10 nm process.

I am looking forward to 2017/18 for the next quad-core mini. Too bad we will never have upgradable ram, but by that time hopefully 16GB is not as expensive to upgrade to.

 

[Micky Do]

I have been following this thread for some time but have yet to post until now...as much as I need and want a MacMini I will not buy one until:

1. Apple releases a Quad Core Mac Mini that is Broadwell or better; and

2. Apple releases a new Thunderbolt display with the newer power connector as well.

No way Apple is getting $2,500+ of my money without updating the above items.

One more point...I have no interest in an iMac as I don't need / want to have to dispose of my display every time I get a new computer.

You may be waiting a long time for Broadwell or better, given that the Mini has just been updated. But fear not, the new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming……. sooner or later (at this stage, probably the later).

Quad core may or may not return. It depends on what Intel has to offer. Previous generation processors fitted whether they were dual or quad core. With the currently used Haswell generation they need different fittings.

As to the display, one of the reasons many people get a Mac Mini is that they are not tied an Apple monitor (or other peripherals). There is plenty of choice out there. If Apple is what you want, a choice new display is almost certainly coming……. sooner or later.

You can hang out waiting forever for this hardware spec or that. When it arrives there will always be something more modern in the offing.

In the end, it is OS X that makes a Mac. Once you have a Mac that fits your needs (if not your desires) updates are available online as soon as they are released.

 

[JoelBC]

You may be waiting a long time for Broadwell or better, given that the Mini has just been updated. But fear not, the new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming……. sooner or later (at this stage, probably the later).

Quad core may or may not return. It depends on what Intel has to offer. Previous generation processors fitted whether they were dual or quad core. With the currently used Haswell generation they need different fittings.

As to the display, one of the reasons many people get a Mac Mini is that they are not tied an Apple monitor (or other peripherals). There is plenty of choice out there. If Apple is what you want, a choice new display is almost certainly coming……. sooner or later.

You can hang out waiting forever for this hardware spec or that. When it arrives there will always be something more modern in the offing.

In the end, it is OS X that makes a Mac. Once you have a Mac that fits your needs (if not your desires) updates are available online as soon as they are released.

I agree with everything that you say...perhaps I should provide more details:

1. I currently have an mid-2012 MB is working fine. The next purchase / upgrade is a monitor to use with my MBA. While an Apple TBD would be functionally best -- can power my MBA, can connect to my Drobo, etc. -- the price / performance makes no sense hence I could / should look elsewhere unless I can find and inexpensive refurb.

2. I was going to get a Mac Mini to run as a server where the main needs were a) VPN server, b) network access / distribution of the Drobo and, c) finally, device management...well the need for a) was easily solved with iVPN and my needs for b) and c) will have to wait...would like a quad mini because I run / use a number of VMs.

Thanks again.

 

[Cape Dave]

Some of us don't have a choice….. neither a phone line nor cable to my apartment.

Come on over

 

[Micky Do]

Come on over

A bit far away for me to be sure of getting there, I reckon, but……..

The new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Some of us don't have a choice….. neither a phone line nor cable to my apartment.

I can only get satellite based internet where I live. Got wireless router but still prefer the wire. Maybe it's like a security blanket.

When will the real new mac mini almost certainly come?

 

[Micky Do]

I can only get satellite based internet where I live. Got wireless router but still prefer the wire. Maybe it's like a security blanket.

When will the real new mac mini almost certainly come?

The new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming……..

However, just when cannot be said with any degree of certainty. I doubt that even anybody at Apple can say. They'll just let it loose when it is ready, with or without fanfare.

The last time anybody was game to hazard a guess, the prediction turned out to be about 10 months too soon.

Hi,

i work in an Apple Reseller and like many of you i'm waiting for the mini 2013 refresh.

From monday the two major Apple suppliers in Italy are suddenly and completely out of stock of minis. I know that this happen from time to time, but the timing is no coincidence.

Trust me, a new mini is coming next week, or at least we have solid evidence to believe it.

For sure, it had better be traditional Tuesday. Recent experience suggests that Thursday new Mac Minis are underwhelming.

And another thing, be careful what you wish for…….! Haswell was never going produce a big jump in performance. The 2014 came with a (very) few enhanced features, which will likely to be of benefit to many for day to day usability, but has earned scorn from those who want the fastest machine on the block.

 

[corvus32]

I still say Apple would do better with something less expensive based on their own SoCs.

The Mini is the least selling Mac, and has the worse PR problem. Its got overpriced underwhelming PC written all over it.

 

[Crosscreek]

I still say Apple would do better with something less expensive based on their own SoCs.

The Mini is the least selling Mac, and has the worse PR problem. Its got overpriced underwhelming PC written all over it.

With the latest review and analysis of the A8X CPU and GPU performance, It may be sooner than later.

The question is what does Apple do about Windows compatibility.

With enterprise becoming such a part of Apples future track they must keep compatibility with Windows and VMs.

 

[corvus32]

With the latest review and analysis of the A8X CPU and GPU performance, It may be sooner than later.

The question is what does Apple do about Windows compatibility.

With enterprise becoming such a part of Apples future track they must keep compatibility with Windows and VMs.

ExaGear Desktop lets you run x86 Linux and Windows apps on ARMv7 at near full speed.

With Apple's resources, I'm sure something even better for their SoCs could happen.

That said, I don't feel Windows compatibility should be a primary goal for a Mac like this.

If that's the case, then just keep making expensive Wintels that just happen to run OS X.

 

[Crosscreek]

ExaGear Desktop lets you run x86 Linux and Windows apps on ARMv7 at near full speed.

With Apple's resources, I'm sure something even better for their SoCs could happen.

That said, I don't feel Windows compatibility should be a primary goal for a Mac like this.

If that's the case, then just keep making expensive Wintels that just happen to run OS X.

I don't think it's such a good idea to run a virtual machine inside a virtual machine especially for scientific and engineering apps and without 3d rendering.

This is what this app does with Wine from what I see.

 

[corvus32]

I don't think it's such a good idea to run a virtual machine inside a virtual machine especially for scientific and engineering apps and without 3d rendering.

This is what this app does with Wine from what I see.

Wine is not a virtual machine.

But, as I said, I don't think Windows compatibility should be a top priority for a Mac like this.

 

[Micky Do]

Dunno why there is all this nonsense about alternatives…….

A new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming.