The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[Count Blah]

Quad Core options and removable RAM/SSD sounds very much like the future domain of a Mac Pro - the only question is will Apple make it cheap enough that people from this forum would be interested an entry level modular Mac Pro?

This is Apple we are talking about, the answer is obviously - NO!!!

People are hoping that the mini provides what it once had - user serviceability. And that was done in the SAME form factor as the current anti-consumer case.

But Apple is only in it for the $$$ now, it's the only explanation for the downgrade in the 2014 mini. Just because they say they are now taking 'pros' into consideration, doesn't mean it extends to the mini - as the mini is not 'pro'.

You want flexibility? You want your Mac to grow with you over time? DAMN those are real 'pro' requirements, expect to pay big $$$ for those 'pro' features. /s

Expect another mini disappointment, if anything is ever even "updated" on the mini.

 

[toke lahti]

I have a feeling that the Mini will be updated shortly.

I feel a great disturbance in the Force...

 

[Miat]

I'd be just fine with the 2013 MP casing being the new "mini" even though its way bigger than current Mini's.

Much greater volume, because taller, but about the same footprint, which is what matters to me.

 

[Cape Dave]

I could ask you why you are waiting for a new mini when you can just buy a mac pro? Price, obviously.

I'm not paying over $800 Canadian, buying special tools and then spending an hour tearing the entire machine apart to install a SSD.

8 GB of RAM and SSD should be standard on the entry-level model. It's 2017.

You speak the truth. Anything less is a complete joke and insulting.

 

[mr.steevo]

"There are some customers which we chose not to serve," he added. "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that. But we can continue to deliver greater and greater value to those customers that we choose to serve. And there's a lot of them."

- Steve Jobs, 2008

 

[turbineseaplane]

"There are some customers which we chose not to serve," he added. "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that. But we can continue to deliver greater and greater value to those customers that we choose to serve. And there's a lot of them."

- Steve Jobs, 2008

Luckily a lot has changed since 2008 and an amazing headless and accessory free computer can indeed be constructed and hit the $500 price point (and higher with options).

I hope they do it!
Probably won't. Can't hurt to hope.

 

[cynics]

I could ask you why you are waiting for a new mini when you can just buy a mac pro? Price, obviously.

I'm not paying over $800 Canadian, buying special tools and then spending an hour tearing the entire machine apart to install a SSD.

8 GB of RAM and SSD should be standard on the entry-level model. It's 2017.

Luckily a lot has changed since 2008 and an amazing headless and accessory free computer can indeed be constructed and hit the $500 price point (and higher with options).

I hope they do it!
Probably won't. Can't hurt to hope.

This is what I meant with Apple not being able to make everyone happy anymore earlier.

It IS possible, at least for the hardware alone. An i3 NUC7 (bare bones) + 2x4gb RAM (for dual channel) + 250gb M.2 SSD = ~ $500 dollars. However that doesn't include an OS, requires you to finish assembly and install the OS, plastic case, eternal power brick.

There are cheaper options I think you can still get a NUC6 (skylake) new/unused. Or just go the used route.

Regardless I doubt we'll see 8gb RAM and modern SSD options for Apples 499 price point they target as the entry model. Maybe if Apple considered using SATA3 SSDs but I'm not sure how they would market that.

 

[Partron22]

However that doesn't include an OS...

It does if you go LINUX, and the GUI's on that are not at all shabby anymore, nor are the media servers.

 

[cynics]

It does if you go LINUX, and the GUI's on that are not at all shabby anymore, nor are the media servers.

True (assuming you decide you really like it but refuse to donate of course lol) but that is besides the fact when referencing Apple.

Besides a Linux HTPC leaves a bit to be desired IMO, for average users anyway. I have a routine for modifying conf.d, pulseaudio, randr, etc etc etc when installing Ubuntu for HTPC use just to put it on par with Windows and MacOS.

 

[Micky Do]

True (assuming you decide you really like it but refuse to donate of course lol) but that is besides the fact when referencing Apple.

Besides a Linux HTPC leaves a bit to be desired IMO, for average users anyway. I have a routine for modifying conf.d, pulseaudio, randr, etc etc etc when installing Ubuntu for HTPC use just to put it on par with Windows and MacOS.

Yup, and for the likes of me, among other average Joes and Jills, who just want to do stuff without the hassle of having to know much about computers and operating systems, OS X / MacOS remains the best option. Paying a little more for the hardware to run it is cheap at the price from my point of view.

Thankfully, the new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming.

In a year or two I might be looking at replacing my base model 2009 Mac Mini, with a new low order one. It will probably have an HDD, which is still most cost effective from my point of view. Fusion Drive and SSD will, of course, be available for those who are willing to cough up a little more and trade off some storage capacity for speed of access to stored data.

 

[EightyTwenty]

Yup, and for the likes of me, among other average Joes and Jills, who just want to do stuff without the hassle of having to know much about computers and operating systems, OS X / MacOS remains the best option. Paying a little more for the hardware to run it is cheap at the price from my point of view.

Thankfully, the new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming.

In a year or two I might be looking at replacing my base model 2009 Mac Mini, with a new low order one. It will probably have an HDD, which is still most cost effective from my point of view. Fusion Drive and SSD will, of course, be available for those who are willing to cough up a little more and trade off some storage capacity for speed of access to stored data.

I'm sorry but if the new mini ships with a spinner, that will be a total farce of a product.

Shipping with a 5400 spinner in late 2014 was enough of a joke.

 

[saulinpa]

I'm sorry but if the new mini ships with a spinner, that will be a total farce of a product.

Shipping with a 5400 spinner in late 2014 was enough of a joke.

Keep it in perspective. The iMac released in 2015 still ships with a 5400 rpm drive. I do think that as a premium product all Macs should have at least a fusion drive.

 

[masterbaron]

Keep it in perspective. The iMac released in 2015 still ships with a 5400 rpm drive. I do think that as a premium product all Macs should have at least a fusion drive.

A Premium Product in all cases should offer a variety of ports and some degree of backwards compatibility while providing leverage for new technology expected in the next 2-3 years placing "you" the "user' the most important component in the "sweet spot".

Period.

 

[saulinpa]

Yeah, Apple's view of a premium product is different and has nothing to do with functionality. They think that offering Space Gray makes things premium. Compatibility and ports are neglected. Look at the MacBookPro which only has Thunderbolt ports now.

That rant being done they are making a lot of money selling devices with color options.

 

[cynics]

Yeah, Apple's view of a premium product is different and has nothing to do with functionality. They think that offering Space Gray makes things premium. Compatibility and ports are neglected. Look at the MacBookPro which only has Thunderbolt ports now.

That rant being done they are making a lot of money selling devices with color options.

I wouldn't be surprised if the new Mini only had USBC thunderbolt 3 ports. Be a little bit of a nuisance but its a very powerful connection. There is definitely usefulness to be found in it especially in the professional world.

I'm more than willing to part with an extra 15 bucks for a TB3 to HDMI cable for its inclusion especially in a Mini where I don't need dongles (just buy the cables themselves) and never mess with them again.
[doublepost=1495584833][/doublepost]This thread was started before the 2014 Mini was released. Once a new one comes out I'm going to immediately revive it asking about the next Mini. Just be me @Count Blah @Cape Dave @EightyTwenty and couple others being salty about Apples lack of dedication to the Mini. Lol

 

[saulinpa]

USB-C by itself would be another disappointment. I don't want to have to buy special cables. I still use optical/TosLink and a RJ45 network still makes more sense than wireless.

I wonder if the SD card slot and IR will disappear as well.

 

[Boyd01]

I wonder if the SD card slot and IR will disappear as well.

Most likely, the entire Mini will disappear.

 

[cynics]

I'm sorry but if the new mini ships with a spinner, that will be a total farce of a product.

Shipping with a 5400 spinner in late 2014 was enough of a joke.

Well I definitely agree with you on the 5400RPM speed, even in the late 2015 21" iMac. There is a thread over in the iMac section with a user asking about why its performance is so bad. Apple didn't do the consumer or themselves a favor by including that. Something like that will make people AVOID future purchases especially people that don't know better. New mac, its slow = Macs are slow = dont buy Macs.....

However I wouldn't get your hopes up. Apple doesn't sell bare bones and they abandoned SATA with their SSDs so that only leaves a fusion or PCIe SSD. Now prices have dropped quite a bit since 2014 but I don't know if its enough for their pricing structure. While I don't know how much Apple pays for their parts but like most large corps they pay less due to bulk sales however the prices are still relative to each other. You can pick up a 5400RPM 500gb 2.5" drive for ~35 bucks (which is about as low as they can be sold due to raw material cost) and a PCIe SSD 250gb (that is on par with what Apple is currently using) for ~135 bucks (~110 bucks for a brand like Apacer). So even if they did just include it, their prices would more than likely go up anyway. Its not like they would just get rid of the HDD options and slide the SSD option into its place.

If I were you I would look at it like this (since its probably the reality of the matter anyway). If their base model used an SSD then the base model would be 100-200 dollars more expensive. So just assume that is what they did and just completely ignore the base model and purchase the SSD only model.

 

[Crosscreek]

[doublepost=1495584833][/doublepost]This thread was started before the 2014 Mini was released. Once a new one comes out I'm going to immediately revive it asking about the next Mini. Just be me @Count Blah @Cape Dave @EightyTwenty and couple others being salty about Apples lack of dedication to the Mini. Lol

I don't think you will have to worry about it.

 

[Yvan256]

Since the SD card reader always seems to crap out on Macs (mine also did), I wouldn't care much if there was one or not. What I need in a Mac mini: a couple of USB3 ports, ethernet, HDMI, 1/8" stereo headphone jack, accessible RAM slots (there could be 8GB on-board and a single empty slot though), SSD in the entry level (64GB would be enough, SATA3 would be acceptable).

 

[cynics]

USB-C by itself would be another disappointment. I don't want to have to buy special cables. I still use optical/TosLink and a RJ45 network still makes more sense than wireless.

I wonder if the SD card slot and IR will disappear as well.

You might as well assume optical will be gone! I had to rewire my entertainment system when they ditched it on the AppleTV a LONG time ago. And yes it sucked. Thankfully my TV has optical out and routes all the sound to the receiver or else I would have needed to buy a new receiver.

And the same with an SD card slot....that is in the process of disappearing I find it unlikely Apple would still include that in a new device.

IR?! As in infrared?! (Phil and I look down at you like the Neanderthal you are!!) Just kidding. That is a tough guess on that one. Be nice for a HTPC box, new Apple remote is bluetooth though (although it still has IR integrated).

Look at the right side of the current Mini. That is what all the sides will look like on the new one. lol
[doublepost=1495588530][/doublepost]

Since the SD card reader always seems to crap out on Macs (mine also did), I wouldn't care much if there was one or not. What I need in a Mac mini: a couple of USB3 ports, ethernet, HDMI, 1/8" stereo headphone jack, accessible RAM slots (there could be 8GB on-board and a single empty slot though), SSD in the entry level (64GB would be enough, SATA3 would be acceptable).

Here is my prediction. Now keep in mind I'm cynical and would rather be pleasantly surprised than massively disappointed.

Mac Mini I/O
4 USBC TB3 ports
Power cable connector
1/8" jack (only because the new MBP still has it)
MAYBE an HDMI port

Specs
Intels series of Kaby Lake dual cores or later depending on release date
Similar RAM selections at higher frequencies (to reflex the chipset) completely soldered
Similar storage selections MAYBE Fusion being in the entry model

Everything else being near identical completely none user upgradeable. And with those specific specs maybe a 50 dollar price drop across the board although unlikely.

What will be the upgrade? Faster current gen processors with better integrated graphics. 4k60hz output. Admission to Dongleville USA. Faster RAM. Thunderbolt 3 (keep in mind this leaves open the possibility for eGPUs in the future our Apple gods willing). Maybe 10 bit panel compatibility.

What do you guys think about my prediction? At least its accuracy anyway because I already know what you think about.

 

[mr.steevo]

I'm predicting a MacMini thumb drive you plug in your television. Zero ability to upgrade.

 

[saulinpa]

I'm predicting a MacMini thumb drive you plug in your television. Zero ability to upgrade.

So an Intel Compute Stick turned into a Hackintosh? It already comes with USB-C, HDMI, WiFi, and Bluetooth so Apple just needs to shrink it a bit and upgrade to Thunderbolt.
[doublepost=1495600205][/doublepost]

Mac Mini I/O
4 USBC TB3 ports
Power cable connector
1/8" jack (only because the new MBP still has it)
MAYBE an HDMI port

I'd say no power connector and instead would use the same external 87 watt USB-C power supply as a MacBook Pro. That means that it can be smaller and 87 watts is fine in keeping with a mobile processor.

 

[bopajuice]

Moment of truth for me. Picked up a new Mac mini with the 2.6, 8gb of memory and 1tb hard drive. Was very disappointed with performance. What a joke. If Apple does not release a new Mini at the next keynote I'm returning it and buying a NUC or will build my own. I have had enough.

 

[EightyTwenty]

Moment of truth for me. Picked up a new Mac mini with the 2.6, 8gb of memory and 1tb hard drive. Was very disappointed with performance. What a joke. If Apple does not release a new Mini at the next keynote I'm returning it and buying a NUC or will build my own. I have had enough.

It's the spinner, man. You don't have a spare SSD lying around by chance? You can run it externally via USB3 with an adapter that has USAP.