I wouldn’t mind it smaller as long as that didn’t start causing thermal throttling. But it’s not very big as it is, and while it might be fun to have a Raspberry Pi sized Mac, I’d be just as happy with another one the same size.
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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
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I believe the current size is perfect.
Ports can be worked around with an external hub. Not ideal, but can be done easily enough, especially in the era of high speed TB ports.
RAM is the critical one for me. A 16GB limit just doesn't cut it anymore. At some point Apple will have to bite that bullet, one way or another.
The problem for Apple, of course, is that an M1 (or M2) Mini with 32GB of RAM will be a sweet spot for many people who do not otherwise need the power of the Studio model.
RAM is the critical one for me. A 16GB limit just doesn't cut it anymore. At some point Apple will have to bite that bullet, one way or another.
The problem for Apple, of course, is that an M1 (or M2) Mini with 32GB of RAM will be a sweet spot for many people who do not otherwise need the power of the Studio model.
A base mini serves the purpose well for most people. If it didn't then they would stop selling them. Apple's take on the mini has always been to provide a higher end speced out mini. Then if you need even more RAM, ports, storage, etc. they will be more than happy to sell you a Mac Pro and now a Studio.
I don't really understand all this whining about an entry level machine not having high level specifications.
I don't really understand all this whining about an entry level machine not having high level specifications.
Only if Apple leave the basic case unchanged and drop in M2 Pro in the the future, not sure it makes much sense unless they are starting it with 16Gb and 512gb SSD to start at 1299 To replace the upper sku intel mini.
The problem is that based on the current batch of M1 there appears to be a physical limit to the RAM each "level" supports:
*Mx (base) - 16 GB RAM limit
*Mx Pro - 32 GB RAM limit
*Mx Max - 64 GB RAM limit
*Mx Ultra - 128 GB RAM limit
More over at the higher RAM values you are talking about LPDDR5 which, based on DDR5's prices, is not cheap (the Mx Pro's 32 GB notebook starts at $2,399.00).
IMHO a 16GB limit is well within reason for the average user. If you really need 64 GB you really should be looking at the Studio.
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Git thee to the Mac Studio
Me too:
The 2018 iteration was pitched toward the pro sector; over specced and over priced for the average Joe or Jill. With the advent of the M1 we could rest assured that the Mac Mini would almost certainly remain an entry to the Mac ecosystem it had been since the 2005 original..... The first computer I owned.
The 2012 series minis covered both the low end and the middle ground, with the high end going to the cheese grater Mac Pro. That made a lot of sense. Then in 2014 Apple took an axe to the middle ground and offered up only a low-end mini. That was left to wither for four (agonizing) years, then in 2018 Apple retook the middle ground at the expense of losing the low end. The M1 mini is arguably a mid-range computer at an entry price, though I’m waiting for a M1 Pro version before even thinking of replacing my 2018 mini. Although if none is forthcoming, I can (slowly) talk myself into the new middle-ground machine, the Studio Max.
I’m a “prosumer” — a developer who wants a reasonably powerful machine at home because it’s also my hobby. The M1 mini isn’t quite enough.
tldr: Apple hasn’t checked both the low-end and middle-ground boxes with the mini since 2012, and I sure wish they would.
I’m a “prosumer” — a developer who wants a reasonably powerful machine at home because it’s also my hobby. The M1 mini isn’t quite enough.
tldr: Apple hasn’t checked both the low-end and middle-ground boxes with the mini since 2012, and I sure wish they would.
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If only the M1 mini had more than two Thunderbolt ports — I might have replaced my 2018 model months ago.
Oh well, I do like space grey better than silver, and maybe I'd opt for 32GB RAM if they were available, but the "killer feature" is Thunderbolt ports. So I'm sticking with that 2018 Intel mini for now, as the Studio seems overkill for me and Apple doesn't seem to be wiling to offer a M1 Pro mini.
Oh well, I do like space grey better than silver, and maybe I'd opt for 32GB RAM if they were available, but the "killer feature" is Thunderbolt ports. So I'm sticking with that 2018 Intel mini for now, as the Studio seems overkill for me and Apple doesn't seem to be wiling to offer a M1 Pro mini.
Even 2 Thunderbolt ports and 4 additional USB ports (eg. 2 USB-C + 2 USB-A) would be a blessing.
I will pray to Tim for such a gift to our peoples tomorrow, but I fear he will not hear us.
I'm not expecting anything on the Mac mini front before November and the second anniversary of the M1 mini. Fortunately I future-proofed my 2018 Intel mini enough that I'm not in a hurry. If it blows smoke -- which I'm not anticipating -- the same model is still being made.
If your 2018 died tomorrow, you'd buy another 2018 model in 2022?
I guess if it's mission critical, you do what you have to do. However, even though the Mac mini is my primary work machine, I could make do with another machine. I'd probably repurpose my MacBook as my work machine (connected to the same big display) until the new Mac mini came out.
I probably would too. I am using Windows 10 in a 32gb VM for big GIS projects involving terabytes of data and (literally) millions of files. I took a chance that a VM could replace my old HP Windows desktop two years ago and have been really happy ever since. I really like the MacOS/Windows integration with Parallels, don't really want to go back to separate machines and want a real version of Windows that is officially supported.
So I will want to stay on Intel for awhile. Aside from that, the Studio looks very impressive for MacOS software. But why did they have to make it so ugly 🤣 ?
FWIW, there are a crazy amount of 2018 Mini's in the refurb store right now, just counted 36 of them.
Refurbished Mac - Mac mini
Save up to 15% on a refurbished Mac mini. Tested and certified by Apple including a 1-year warranty. Free delivery and returns.
www.apple.com
It reminds me of one of those quick render/mockup jokes we would have seen in the past when pining for a "more pro Mac Mini"
Like the height just got pulled "up" in the design software
I saw one in the Apple store and honestly thought it was one of the worst looking pieces of Apple hardware I can recall.
I really don't get the whole silver brushed aluminum throwback. To my eyes, the 2018 Mini is one of the more elegant Macs they have released in recent years, especially with the Space Grey keyboard (which, of course, they discontinued). I remember the first time Apple went on a brushed aluminum kick... when was that? About 20 years ago? They even started making all their software (like iTunes, Quicktime player, Final Cut Pro) look like brushed aluminum. Never really liked any of that.
It's definitely one of themInteresting.
Accidental early inventory leak?
Or simply a prank? Someone trolling?
Dunno about B&H, I've seen other stores do stuff like this before, not knowing what's actually coming.Interesting.
Accidental early inventory leak?
Or simply a prank? Someone trolling?
Hubs introduce interference and some general buginess. Some things I've observed with having 4 different docks shooting out the back of my 2018 Mini.
*My CalDigit TS3+ spins old rotational drives forever.
*Dell WD15 is the only way to get a 99% of the time non-glitchy video without using the eGPU. TS3 and onboard HDMI crash the Mini.
*When my Epson V700 scans it creates interference disconnects or tremendously slows down my Logitech mouse.
*Not all docks are created equal, my NVME USB 3.2 drive pulls too much power under full tilt for some of the ports on the TS3+.
I'd rather take more ports and a fatter chassis than all the trouble above.
The limit is really down to the number of RAM chips/bus width each unit supports. Since 12GB LPDDR4X chips exist, theoretically the M1 should be able to use 24GB if it had 2 of those.
Given that RAM chips have generally been 2^x that 12GB is a little weird.
Me too
These are supposed to be desktop machines.
I don't understand the point of making them small and port constrained...which then forces folks to have all this external, semi-reliable, stuff connected to it.