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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

Altis said:
I do wonder how much CPU power the average person really needs these days. I'd say a mid-tier CPU and SSD with decent RAM is about all the hardware you need at the moment.
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Most people want quick not powerful. SSDs and iGPUs now deliver the quick.

All up I would say it doesn't look good for a quad Mini, and that Apple are going to abandon the mid-range headless desktop segment of the market.

I will be very happy to be wrong.
 
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Altis said:
I don't disagree with you, but I do wonder how much CPU power the average person really needs these days. I'd say a mid-tier CPU and SSD with decent RAM is about all the hardware you need at the moment.

In fact, I have a PC from 2007 (I believe) with a Q6600 (quad). That thing with an SSD is just as fast as any new computer for what 80%+ people do on a computer. Booting up, opening/using office suites, browsing, email, etc, all worked about as quickly as it does on my i7 4790K with 16GB of 2133 MHz RAM and GTX970. Keep in mind that computer is turning 8 years old this month.
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Yes, every current Mac model is overkill for most computer users. Gamers are best served with a Windows PC and power users (CAD, video, music) are well served by the higher end models.

The 2009 base mini I use at work does great with its SSD and 4GB memory upgrade. And the new base mini everyone derides would be twice as fast with the optional SSD. As entertainment centers or server computers the SSD isn't needed. I'd say I could use the 2014 base mini to replace all four minis I use, only upgrading the RAM on one and the drive on a second, and see an improvement.

Where I'm going with this is that I think that Apple doesn't really care that much about the so-called 'power users'. It seems to me they just want to move devices, and to do that they just want to target the average user and profit off them as much as possible. [...]

In the end, Apple is always putting their profits ahead of all else. They don't care about any of us any further than what we're willing to spend.
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Corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to increase value. They have no such responsibility to customers! However we are lucky that Apple looks at the long term and not just at the next quarter, and they view "value" as more than just the bottom line, although as a result they do well. People willingly pay the "Apple tax" but would they pay a "Samsung tax" or "Dell tax"? Most Apple customers become lifelong fans. Apple relies on repeat business so they have to keep us satisfied.
 
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LOL you guys, I appreciate the chuckle. It annoys me every Apple store in Manhattan has the low end base Mac Mini set up when I really want to test the high end especially for the integrated graphics before I buy. While I probably do need a Macbook Pro, a part of me saying no way (I just cannot get use to.)

It's not so much the dual core chip but if the Iris graphics chip will work well enough over the next 3 years to get me through university. I don't know enough about the integrated graphics to really grok that. I will have to make some videos, a podcast etc.; which I am sure the high end 2014 mini could handle, but can someone else confirm? I won't be getting the 3.0 chip if I do...

I know I've been Captain Flip Flop Girl here, but thank you in advance to any kind soul who answers.
 
kazmac said:
LOL you guys, I appreciate the chuckle. It annoys me every Apple store in Manhattan has the low end base Mac Mini set up when I really want to test the high end especially for the integrated graphics before I buy. While I probably do need a Macbook Pro, a part of me saying no way (I just cannot get use to.)
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Well, even the 13" MBP (and the base 15") have Iris graphics. In fact, for comparison purposes, the previous (mid 2014) 13" MBP high ends uses the same processors (and therefore the same integrated graphics) as the non-base 2014 mini. The integrated graphics will handle making videos just fine, at least with iMovie. The 15" MBP, with the core i7, would smoke the mini in FinalCut Pro X.
 
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talmy said:
Well, even the 13" MBP (and the base 15") have Iris graphics. In fact, for comparison purposes, the previous (mid 2014) 13" MBP high ends uses the same processors (and therefore the same integrated graphics) as the non-base 2014 mini. The integrated graphics will handle making videos just fine, at least with iMovie. The 15" MBP, with the core i7, would smoke the mini in FinalCut Pro X.
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Thank you very much, Talmy. To my knowledge, I am not required to use Final Cut Pro, just webcam type things, podcasts and html coding, pixelmator work. Nothing too crazy. As long as the Iris Pro can handle that, great. If the 2012 minis weren't so long in the tooth I'd jump, but given my issues with my 2010 iMac and the last 3 Mac OS, I think it's better I go forward.

I know the specs in the 15 rMBP are probably above my needs, but the trackpad is a huge stumbling block for me.
 
Crosscreek said:
Although it's a personal decision between a mouse and Apples trackpad in the case of utility and gestures that can be done on it makes for a pleasurable experience.

Apples trackpad is the best of the industry.
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Thank you, Crosscreek. It's actually some wrist issues for me, but like the Apple Pencil / iPad Pro, I am not using the Apple trackpads correctly. There's also a bit of apprehension moving from an Apple desktop to a laptop too (I've never used laptops extensively), but I appreciate your response. I really do wish I could wait until May, but school is dictating a new machine before the end of January.
 
kazmac said:
Thank you, Crosscreek. It's actually some wrist issues for me, but like the Apple Pencil / iPad Pro, I am not using the Apple trackpads correctly. There's also a bit of apprehension moving from an Apple desktop to a laptop too (I've never used laptops extensively), but I appreciate your response. I really do wish I could wait until May, but school is dictating a new machine before the end of January.
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I use the desktop trackpad with the Mini and I understand wrist issues. I used to use a trackball for years when doing CAD drawing and it ruined my wrist.

It best to use whatever feels comfortable.
 
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Crosscreek said:
I use the desktop trackpad with the Mini and I understand wrist issues. I used to use a trackball for years when doing CAD drawing and it ruined my wrist.

It best to use whatever feels comfortable.
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:( I'll give the new magic trackpad 2 a whirl, it is on a lower incline. I'm glad you can use a trackpad Crosscreek.

I will be checking out my coursework closely over the next few days since the University strangely has no System requirements posted (and not much of a help desk. Gotta love the City of New York college system.)

I would love to jump over to the Mac Mini and am sorry I didn't do so with the 2012.
 
DesertSurfer said:
Why not make available, as BTO options, all of the cpu's and gpu's used in the MacBook Pro lineup?
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What, you mean all the way up to a quad-core i7 CPU, and an AMD Radeon R9 M370X GPU? Hey now, that's getting dangerously into iMac territory. The iMac gang at Apple would certainly come after the scalp of anyone who made a non-iMac desktop device that powerful. (I dunno how the Mac Pro manages to survive in their little Apple enclave, but if that device ever started to become really popular, I'm sure the iMac gang would axe it as well.) Best to just keep your head down and accept whatever scraps fall off of the iMac table...
 
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DesertSurfer said:
It seems strange to limit a desktop computer to laptop innards, but that's the way it is with the mini. Why not make available, as BTO options, all of the cpu's and gpu's used in the MacBook Pro lineup? This makes so much sense, it is almost certain that Apple will not do it. :eek:
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Fewer SKUs is better for business, probably.
 
Altis said:
My point is that isn't at all how the buying decision process works.

I'd say it starts with form factor, at the very least.
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Apple makes the process limited. I don't expect that to ever change, in fact people are saying they have too many choices already.
 
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