The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[Lesser Evets]

I don't remember the Macintosh XL costing $10k.

OK. To be fair, it was $9995.

That was the XL, not the little iMac-type Mac. The XL was a larger computer that stumbled out in 1985 and was a kinda Mac-Lisa thing.

The original Mac was $2995. And it wasn't "all that", but it was convenient and slick. That's about $6000 in modern dollars. The XL would be a $20,000 modern computer… whew… is there even a similar price on any consumer-grade computer in 2013?

 

[corvus32]

OK. To be fair, it was $9995.

That was the XL, not the little iMac-type Mac. The XL was a larger computer that stumbled out in 1985 and was a kinda Mac-Lisa thing.

The original Mac was $2995. And it wasn't "all that", but it was convenient and slick. That's about $6000 in modern dollars. The XL would be a $20,000 modern computer… whew… is there even a similar price on any consumer-grade computer in 2013?

It doesn't matter because no one bought the things.

Why would anyone even use it as a basis for comparison?

Like every computer in the 80's cost $30000 in today's money.

They have no other argument. They just want to flame.

 

[mvmanolov]

It doesn't matter because no one bought the things.

Why would anyone even use it as a basis for comparison?

Like every computer in the 80's cost $30000 in today's money.

They have no other argument. They just want to flame.

Buddy, you compared Apple's prices today to the prices in the 80's.

So you tell me why i should NOT use a 80's machine as a basis for comparison...?

 

[Lesser Evets]

It doesn't matter because no one bought the things.

Why would anyone even use it as a basis for comparison?

Like every computer in the 80's cost $30000 in today's money.

They have no other argument. They just want to flame.

Woah. Over emphasis much?

I was just stunned to look back at the prices and come forward. In 1985 bucks, a modern base mini would be about $300. That's pretty awesome when you look back at the do-nothing $300 computers of the time, like the TI-99, etc.

 

[ColdCase]

look back at the do-nothing $300 computers of the time, like the TI-99, etc.

Hey, I had a TI-99... still have them... balanced my budget and kept track of investments for several years on one... programmed a couple games the kids still talk about... 😀

 

[barkmonster]

I don't remember the Macintosh XL costing $10k. I believe your confusing it with the Apple Lisa, its predecessor which did cost $9995 and happens to be the most expensive Mac in history. Real nice choice for comparison and maybe you should ask Apple how well that sold. Anyway, please don't act like that was the only computer ever made in the 1980's. Growing up we had both a Commodore 64 and a Tandy 1000. In today's dollars with accessories, those were $1500 to $3000 computers.

btw, it was more of a figure of speech. Not sure if you've ever heard of that. Doesn't sound like it, but if you still want to continue go ahead.

The thing I'd personally like to ask Apple is this.

In the Lisa OS, they had a fully multitasking OS that to all extents and purposes, could be integrated into their Macintosh line of OSs at a later date because they already had the source code to base it on.

Why did they have to scrap everything left over from the Lisa, then wait for Steve Jobs' NeXT company to come out with an OS to merge with the existing Mac OS after buying NeXT instead of keeping some in-house beta of Lisa OS on ice until it was in a practical state to run on the CPUs of the time?

 

[aziatiklover]

It's Thursday and still nothing! OP is trollling hard! 🙄

 

[Lesser Evets]

Hey, I had a TI-99... still have them... programmed a couple games the kids still talk about... 😀

I had one too. Did the same thing. And it was horrible.

Programming those colored squares to bounce around or float through the maze was painful. I'm so glad computers went beyond the TI-99 phase.

 

[hudson1]

The thing I'd personally like to ask Apple is this.

In the Lisa OS, they had a fully multitasking OS that to all extents and purposes, could be integrated into their Macintosh line of OSs at a later date because they already had the source code to base it on.

Why did they have to scrap everything left over from the Lisa, then wait for Steve Jobs' NeXT company to come out with an OS to merge with the existing Mac OS after buying NeXT instead of keeping some in-house beta of Lisa OS on ice until it was in a practical state to run on the CPUs of the time?

Well, I doubt Apple's OS engineering team was totally ignorant of the Lisa when they spent all of that time working on the failed Copeland and Gershwin projects.

 

[corvus32]

Buddy, you compared Apple's prices today to the prices in the 80's.

So you tell me why i should NOT use a 80's machine as a basis for comparison...?

Pick whatever one you want.

Probably not the one I would have gone with, but whatever.

In 1985 bucks, a modern base mini would be about $300.

It's also made in China, so there's that.

 

[animatedude]

It's Thursday and still nothing! OP is trollling hard! 🙄

never trust an italian on anything! 😉

 

[scbond]

The availability on the online Applestore means nothing these days, when the iMac was refreshed in october all models were shipping in 24h. I don't remember the last time that we anticipated a refresh by looking at the availability.

I understand that it is a strange time for releasing an update, but it also a very strange time for releasing a completely new product like the Mac Pro isn't it?

Until monday i was thinking, like many of you, that the new mini was a 2014 thing, but trust me, a new mini is coming next week.

This is a load of rubbish! The Mac Pro isn't going to be your average Christmas present from one to another so it doesn't matter when they release it. The Mac mini is the most affordable Mac and is one of the most likely computers to be a simple Christmas gift...especially for teenagers that get spoilt by their parents.

Aside from this, just saying that you work for a reseller means nothing in the way of credibility. Apple keeps it's own employees completely in the dark so why would someone who resells Apple products like every other electronics store on the high street does know anything about it?!

 

[ioannis2005gr]

...especially for teenagers that get spoilt by their parents.

This is very correct! ...

 

[Micky Do]

Ohhh, the tension is mounting

It's Thursday and still nothing! OP is trollling hard! 🙄

The week has ended and still nothing has happened.

Get over it folks….. nice wind up OP

 

[maflynn]

I already mentioned it and was refuted a few, but Apple is mostly a consumer company and no consumer company is going to update a product with less then 3 weeks before Christmas. We're now under 2 weeks and so no updates will be forth coming.

As others stated, those who bought the mini already would return it in favor of the new machine, not really giving apple any improvement on their bottom line.

 

[philipma1957]

Also show me a mac mini knock off better then the 2012 quadcore.

It can not be mobile it needs to be small desk top gear

all smaller all weaker

http://www.newegg.com/Intel-Mini-Booksize-Barebone-PCs/BrandSubCat/ID-1157-309

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...TCH&Description=gigabyte+brix&N=-1&isNodeId=1




this is the only thing more powerful then the 2012 quad core

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173066


and you can't buy it anywhere. and while it has a better cpu it only has room for 1 hdd/ssd it also lacks thunderbolt for storage expansion. and you can't run mac os on it

 

[mvmanolov]

Also show me a mac mini knock off better then the 2012 quadcore.

It can not be mobile it needs to be small desk top gear

all smaller all weaker

http://www.newegg.com/Intel-Mini-Booksize-Barebone-PCs/BrandSubCat/ID-1157-309

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...TCH&Description=gigabyte+brix&N=-1&isNodeId=1


this is the only thing more powerful then the 2012 quad core

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173066


and you can't buy it anywhere. and while it has a better cpu it only has room for 1 hdd/ssd it also lacks thunderbolt for storage expansion. and you can't run mac os on it

these are so ugly.... what i don't understand is why it is so hard to say change another $100 on top of these already rather low prices and design a nicer housing...?

 

[Schnort]

Actually, two of those are haswell devices with considerably faster graphics, and I think all of them are about 1/3rd the physical volume of the mini.

The i5-4250 is as good or better than the current i7 mini, particularly if you're in need of something better than the HD4000 graphics.

There's also the gigabyte brix lineup, which are similar and include an i7-4500. There's supposed to be a brix-ii with iris pro on the way, but there's no firm release date.

You can get the i7-3770 zotac box on amazon, and that's definitely faster than the i7 mini since it's using the desktop part and not the mobile part.

Yes, you can't run MacOS "legally", but all of these are hackintosh targets.

That being said, the mini is one of the few apple products that make some financial sense....if you want something that small, they're very competitive.

The iMac is pretty overpriced for what you're getting, and the Mac Pro is stupidly priced for the average consumer.

 

[Cape Dave]

The Mac mini is one of the most underrated computers ever. All things considered, it really does fill a niche.

And with the mightily awaited update, it will be king of that niche once again.

For instance, that Zotac has freaking input/output all around. That would look like a spider on a desk.

Kudos to Apple for keeping all that stuff on the back.

 

[philipma1957]

Actually, two of those are haswell devices with considerably faster graphics, and I think all of them are about 1/3rd the physical volume of the mini.

The i5-4250 is as good or better than the current i7 mini, particularly if you're in need of something better than the HD4000 graphics.

There's also the gigabyte brix lineup, which are similar and include an i7-4500. There's supposed to be a brix-ii with iris pro on the way, but there's no firm release date.

You can get the i7-3770 zotac box on amazon, and that's definitely faster than the i7 mini since it's using the desktop part and not the mobile part.

Yes, you can't run MacOS "legally", but all of these are hackintosh targets.

That being said, the mini is one of the few apple products that make some financial sense....if you want something that small, they're very competitive.

The iMac is pretty overpriced for what you're getting, and the Mac Pro is stupidly priced for the average consumer.

well not to argue if your multi thread usage is small and your storage usage is small the intel nucs are okay.

 

[brand]

I don't remember the last time that we anticipated a refresh by looking at the availability.

You must not pay attention to the front page news because it seemingly almost happens
with every Apple product launch.

 

[MythicFrost]

I think we'll see a silently refreshed mini when the Mac Pro is released.

 

[mcarling]

Apple is mostly a consumer company and no consumer company is going to update a product with less then 3 weeks before Christmas. We're now under 2 weeks and so no updates will be forth coming.

I think we'll see a silently refreshed mini when the Mac Pro is released.

I'm afraid maflynn is almost certainly correct. MythicFrost's optimism is likely to be dashed. We can reasonably expect to see the new Mac mini in Q1 2014. My guess is February.

 

[SoCalReviews]

I'm afraid maflynn is almost certainly correct. MythicFrost's optimism is likely to be dashed. We can reasonably expect to see the new Mac mini in Q1 2014. My guess is February.

My guess when this discussion came up in this forum this past spring 2013 was that the next Mini would be released in late winter to early spring of 2014. A year and three months to a year and six months between refresh dates seems to fit Apple's Mini release patterns. March 2014 would be a more precise guess for the 22nm Haswell based Mini. If I had to guess about the potential 14nm Broadwell Mini release after that it would be summer 2015.

 

[Lesser Evets]

I'm afraid maflynn is almost certainly correct. ...My guess is February.

Mayflynn might guess correctly. His argument is completely wrong. He states Apple and any other consumer company won't release something so close to Christmas. But… there is a MacPro on Monday (most likely).

Then the marginalization comes, to attempt to justify and purify the argument: "WELL, they SAID that would be out sometime in December," or " WELL, that is a NON-consumer product," or "WELL, that's a special item." So the argument needs cracks in logic to be speckled and wallpapered with arbitrary statements to survive.

Anyone can wave a stick at 6am and claim it makes the sun rise. It doesn't, though. They can deride the people waving their sticks at midnight, because those sticks don't make the sun rise. The sun still doesn't rise because one guy knows the right time to wave his stick around. The difference with this prediction is that Apple doesn't run purely on time-controlled predictions.

If Apple was going to release a Haswell mini, it would have done so a while back. They either are waiting to have something released in Q1, for the investors and accounting and marketing, or it will be halted from update until the next processor generation. It could release with the Pro in the next week, as well, though chances are slim.