The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[navaira]

The customers asked and we listened: thin, small, thin. It's the smallest, thinnest and best Mac Mini we've ever made. 10x10x1 cm. Single USB-C functions as power supply and serves all other functions. Of course you can't actually use the Mini if you connect a USB drive or anything but hey, we have hubs starting at €199 and LG displays can charge it. Just don't forget to lower the resolution so you can get past 30 Hz. Headphone jack present. Intel's latest – well, latest last year but who's counting – m3 processors. Starts at €599. It's thin. Mac Mini Pro with m5 processor and up to 16 GB RAM also available, starting at €999. Also thin.

Let's watch this presentation by Jony Ive next...

 

[sleconte]

So I clicked on this article from an investor oriented web site - article is titled "Apple: Maybe It’s Time to Focus Less on the iPhone" http://www.barrons.com/articles/apple-maybe-its-time-to-focus-less-on-the-iphone-1481905331 which was published December 16th.

And I'm thinking "yeah, investors see that Apple is neglecting its desktop offerings!" But no, this was completely mistaken. Barrons does not even mention Apple computers in its article - instead focusing on the growing App store, iTunes and Apple Music.

The new Mac Mini came 2 years ago and that was that.

 

[JamesPDX]

I read that Barrons article and threw-up in my mouth a little. I'm tellin' ya': The war against personal computing is on. "Oh, it's on!" (I just hope we don't get served...)

 

[macmikerw]

So I clicked on this article from an investor oriented web site - article is titled "Apple: Maybe It’s Time to Focus Less on the iPhone" http://www.barrons.com/articles/apple-maybe-its-time-to-focus-less-on-the-iphone-1481905331 which was published December 16th.

And I'm thinking "yeah, investors see that Apple is neglecting its desktop offerings!" But no, this was completely mistaken. Barrons does not even mention Apple computers in its article - instead focusing on the growing App store, iTunes and Apple Music.

The new Mac Mini came 2 years ago and that was that.

Too busy with consumer gadgets and now an iCar?? to be bothered with making a decent computer for people with their own screens. Just look at the last offering of the mini.

 

[navaira]

I would love to hear the rationalisation behind the idea that Apple seem to be forcing about personal computing being dead and iPads about to replace everything. Because the dropping sales of tablets definitely do not suggest that at all. Siri may be amusing to some – personally I used it twice when installing Sierra for the first time, then lost interest, my husband only starts it up by accident – but iPads still have virtual, or even physical keyboards. iPad Pro with external keyboard looks to me like someone took pity on the poor people who have to tap on glass and made them a fake keyboard so they can pretend they have an actual laptop. (Is it very comfortable to use the Pencil WHILE keyboard is attached?)

If anything, I can imagine smartphones replacing everything. Bring your own keyboard, mouse/trackpad and screen, cast phone screen to large display (once CPU/GPUs become strong enough, which should really be soon, you can imagine an iPhone 9 connected to a LG 5K display), make iOS a bit less dumb. Desktops = eliminated, Mini first. Turn iPad Pro into a proper hybrid, keeping the Pencil and allowing it to be used exactly as laptops are used now, with iOS and macOS merged. Laptops = eliminated. But Apple insist on NOT making a hybrid and NOT adding file system (or, um, less space between icons on a 12"+ screen of iPad Pro). So how does this work exactly? I know "Pro" is a misleading word because you can argue that a fashion blogger's Pro tool is an iPhone she uses to take selfies, but how exactly IS iPad Pro a Pro machine in ways that a Mini or iPad Air isn't?

I am on a rMBP 2015 right now. 128 GB SSD, 128 GB USB stick, 128 GB SD card. Beautiful 13" screen. Great keyboard. How am I supposed to replace that with an iPad? (Answer is "very uncomfortably and expensively", I know.) When I am at my desk, I connect the charger and HDMI cable and basically turn the MBP into a Mac Mini. (Second USB I have is used by receiver for Microsoft Sculpt keyboard.) Not only can't I replace this with an iPad, I also can't replace it with iPhone (for clear reasons) or iMac/Mac Pro which are everything but portable. I have friends who use Windows because of price range and love clicking .exe attachments in emails. A lot of their problems would be solved by, you guessed it, a Mac Mini. They have keyboards, mice and screens already. But they would notice if they switched their €500 machine with 16 GB of RAM and an SSD to a €569 one with 4 GB and a spinner. Then they'd ask me if those virus things are really so bad.

 

[Crosscreek]

I would love to hear the rationalisation behind the idea that Apple seem to be forcing about personal computing being dead and iPads about to replace everything. Because the dropping sales of tablets definitely do not suggest that at all. Siri may be amusing to some – personally I used it twice when installing Sierra for the first time, then lost interest, my husband only starts it up by accident – but iPads still have virtual, or even physical keyboards. iPad Pro with external keyboard looks to me like someone took pity on the poor people who have to tap on glass and made them a fake keyboard so they can pretend they have an actual laptop. (Is it very comfortable to use the Pencil WHILE keyboard is attached?)

If anything, I can imagine smartphones replacing everything. Bring your own keyboard, mouse/trackpad and screen, cast phone screen to large display (once CPU/GPUs become strong enough, which should really be soon, you can imagine an iPhone 9 connected to a LG 5K display), make iOS a bit less dumb. Desktops = eliminated, Mini first. Turn iPad Pro into a proper hybrid, keeping the Pencil and allowing it to be used exactly as laptops are used now, with iOS and macOS merged. Laptops = eliminated. But Apple insist on NOT making a hybrid and NOT adding file system (or, um, less space between icons on a 12"+ screen of iPad Pro). So how does this work exactly? I know "Pro" is a misleading word because you can argue that a fashion blogger's Pro tool is an iPhone she uses to take selfies, but how exactly IS iPad Pro a Pro machine in ways that a Mini or iPad Air isn't?

I am on a rMBP 2015 right now. 128 GB SSD, 128 GB USB stick, 128 GB SD card. Beautiful 13" screen. Great keyboard. How am I supposed to replace that with an iPad? (Answer is "very uncomfortably and expensively", I know.) When I am at my desk, I connect the charger and HDMI cable and basically turn the MBP into a Mac Mini. (Second USB I have is used by receiver for Microsoft Sculpt keyboard.) Not only can't I replace this with an iPad, I also can't replace it with iPhone (for clear reasons) or iMac/Mac Pro which are everything but portable. I have friends who use Windows because of price range and love clicking .exe attachments in emails. A lot of their problems would be solved by, you guessed it, a Mac Mini. They have keyboards, mice and screens already. But they would notice if they switched their €500 machine with 16 GB of RAM and an SSD to a €569 one with 4 GB and a spinner. Then they'd ask me if those virus things are really so bad.

I have't had a virus in Widows in over 3 years now. I use Malwarebites and Windows defender.

 

[imanidiot]

When Apple kills the Mini, will this thread continue? Like, forever?

 

[jpietrzak8]

When Apple kills the Mini, will this thread continue? Like, forever?

What Apple kills, Apple could always resurrect. Hey, they did it with the Newton.

 

[mojolicious]

What Apple kills, Apple could always resurrect. Hey, they did it with the Newton.

The new QuickTake is almost certainly coming?

 

[Boyd01]

I would love to hear the rationalisation behind the idea that Apple seem to be forcing about personal computing being dead and iPads about to replace everything.

Perhaps the "Apple Credo" provides some insight?

"We redefine expectations.
First for ourselves, then for the world.
Because we’re a little crazy."

https://www.macrumors.com/2016/12/16/apple-2016-employee-gift/

 

[jpietrzak8]

The new QuickTake is almost certainly coming?

I believe it is now called the "iPhone".

 

[DesertSurfer]

Relevant to the discussion about the usefulness (or lack thereof) of the 2014 base mac mini, I see(on cpu boss) that the i5 in the soon-to-be mine 2012 Mac Mini (Ivy Bridge, 3210m) is very comparable in performance to the cpu in the 2014 base mac mini (Haswell, 4260U), so I will find out how useful the base mini would be for my use case. Of course it will also have an SSD and 16gb of ram as soon as I get my hands on it, so not comparable in that regard. I'm pretty happy with my 2011 MacBook pro (12gb, 250SSD) in clamshell mode, and this mini should be a little better with the cpu and quite a bit better with HD400 graphics instead of the HD3000 I have now (twice the vram, .5 gig vs. 1 gig). No gaming, that's all on the windows machine. For the sake of informal empiricism, maybe I'll use it for a bit with its current 8gb ram and 500gb 5400 spinner before I open up the innards.

 

[navaira]

I have't had a virus in Widows in over 3 years now. I use Malwarebites and Windows defender.

You probably also don't unclick checkboxes next to "install this useful searchbar", "our additional software will greatly improve your computer's performance" or "Do you want TROJANHACKRUSSIANIGERIAPRINCESCAM.EXE to allow to modify your hard drive"

Perhaps the "Apple Credo" provides some insight?

"We redefine expectations.

...of our shareholders...

First for ourselves, then for the world.

...first by not paying taxes, then raising prices worldwide...

Because we’re a little crazy."

...oh – nothing to add here.

 

[Partron22]

App store is the wave of the future, huh?
When will Apple get around to cleaning it up to the extent that I notice,
and when do I get advanced, Boolean, search options?

 

[justperry]

Fack, replace the a for a U, this must be the thread with the most posts ever here on MR, and I have been lurking here (since 2000) long before I registered,8665 and counting.

 

[navaira]

Look up the "Waiting for Skylake MBP" thread.

 

[imanidiot]

App store is the wave of the future, huh?
When will Apple get around to cleaning it up to the extent that I notice,
and when do I get advanced, Boolean, search options?

First things first. Emojis (emojii?) and watch bands don't design themselves, you know.

 

[justperry]

Was this a reply to me, if so link please, much appreciated, can't find the link.

 

[navaira]

Was this a reply to me, if so link please, much appreciated, can't find the link.

**************************...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/waiting-for-skylake-mbp-thread.1661246/

 

[Crosscreek]

You probably also don't unclick checkboxes next to "install this useful searchbar", "our additional software will greatly improve your computer's performance" or "Do you want TROJANHACKRUSSIANIGERIAPRINCESCAM.EXE to allow to modify your hard drive"

If you have your security set correctly you should never see those files because the filter will stop any execution.
The problem with Windows is its not idiot proof.

 

[wlossw]

2012 i7 mac mini Bought used in 2014: best idea i ever had.

 

[justperry]

**************************...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/waiting-for-skylake-mbp-thread.1661246/

I had plenty time on my hands a couple of years ago, knew all(most) of the threads here, helped a lot of people with problems here, guess my job occupies me too much lately.

Cheers
[doublepost=1482011554][/doublepost]

2012 i7 mac mini Bought used in 2014: best idea i ever had.

I have the base model, seems like even this base model is not a bad deal either compered to the latter one.

 

[Boyd01]

Relevant to the discussion about the usefulness (or lack thereof) of the 2014 base mac mini, I see(on cpu boss) that the i5 in the soon-to-be mine 2012 Mac Mini

I have both 2012 and 2014 base minis. Even though the geekbench scores are very close, the 2014 just feels slower….

 

[Crosscreek]

I have both 2012 and 2014 base minis. Even though the geekbench scores are very close, the 2014 just feels slower….

I had a 2012 I5 and it served me well for 3 years and I abused the hell out of the processor with constant Handbreak rips.
It was still going strong until I built my hack and sold it. I got as much out of it on Ebay that I paid for it new.

 

[576316]

I think this video more than anything else represents mine and many other Apple users of late.

I agree wholly. I love his comment about Apple being "a tribute to themselves." The garbage output over the past 2 years proves Apple have completely lost all sense of direction and purpose. Something big needs to happen, or is going to happen by itself if they do nothing.

Something's gotta give, and I feel there's only so long until the fireworks begin.

I suspect it begins with Jony Ive quitting (his official title has become more and more vague over the years, and he's spoken openly about being near the end of his time), and Tim Cook (keeping the company very much afloat, but desecrating brand image) being 'pushed' out shortly after.
[doublepost=1482014936][/doublepost]

No matter how much you idolise a company you cannot continue to make excuses for them ad-infinitum.

"Out of touch with their pricing." That's an important quote. Apple cannot be allowed to continue their greedy reign over the market. They cannot be allowed to continue over charging for crappy products. Anybody who buys the products and willingly opens their wallet to the ever increasing prices, are justifying Apple's insanity and only allowing them to continue doing it.

Apple have got to realise they cannot keep screwing over the consumer, cause the consumer is gonna start biting back.

The Brexit price hike is outrageous and Apple should be totally ashamed of themselves. Just as an example, I found myself out with no charge the other morning and realised I had to purchase a USB - Lightning cable from somewhere. Apple Store were going to charge £19. What gives them the right to over charge for something as mediocre as a USB cable? I walked into a different store and bought one for £3. Exactly what I needed, far simply and actually sleeker than Apple's own cable. All of Apple's accessories (and products in general) are horrendously over priced and people have got to stop letting them get away with it. They are laughably delusional.

At this point, I'm actually very interested in what Apple's key share holders and board members actually think about the current state of the company. Regardless of the numbers still being good, which is mostly just an illusion, how they actually feel about the current state of the brand and its image in the public and media eye.