The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[tubular]

I predict three to six months of threads like this one.

Yeah, dammit.

 

[Charliebird]

Dang it!

 

[ColdCase]

If (a very big "if") there is an imminent mini refresh, we probably won't see any sign of it until tomorrow when the Apple Store is updated for nMP ordering.

Notice that the ship date is now Feb 2014... yikes

 

[brdeveloper]

The truth is, the latest Mini isn't really exciting... no discrete graphics, no SSD on base models. The MacMini should be paired in specs with retina MacBooks. The next version should come with a GT 750M, 512GB SSD and 16GB in the high-end model... THIS would make MacMini an interesting budget alternative to iMacs and the Mac Pro.

 

[Rodster]

Notice that the ship date is now Feb 2014... yikes

But we don't know if that's down to an imminent refresh or if people like myself gave up and bought one and stock is now depleted. All I know is that when Amazon has them in stock they usually don't last more than 1 hour.

 

[iydkmigthtky]

The truth is, the latest Mini isn't really exciting... no discrete graphics, no SSD on base models. The MacMini should be paired in specs with retina MacBooks. The next version should come with a GT 750M, 512GB SSD and 16GB in the high-end model... THIS would make MacMini an interesting budget alternative to iMacs and the Mac Pro.

i doubt any computer equipped with 512 GB SSD can be considered budget.
but 128 GB SSD in the base model would be sweet.

 

[ElectronGuru]

THIS would make MacMini an interesting budget alternative to iMacs and the Mac Pro.

Thats precisely the problem. Apple has always positioned the mini to minimize its undercutting of more expensive models. It's why they get updated later, for example. The mini is for 1) switchers, 2) special applications like htpc, 3) people who really don't need a laptop, and 4) people not willing to pony up. Start giving it parity and it will get to successful.

That's why an X Mac is needed. It can cost enough not to pose this risk.

 

[deconstruct60]

But we don't know if that's down to an imminent refresh or if people like myself gave up and bought one and stock is now depleted.

Because no Mini updates massive numbers of folks gave up on $500-999 priced computer and substituted a $3000 computer? Not even close to being likely.

The Mac Pro is backorder for reasons nothing particularly to do with the Mini at all.

a. There hasn't had a major update in over 3 years. If supposedly a one year update gap was pushing a 'gold rush' of Mini folks imagine what a holding pattern 3 times as long would do. (The Mac Pro 2012 was far more a placeholder update than anything substantial. One of its main purpose was to demonstrate the Mac Pro wasn't completely dead. )

Throw on top of that the fact that the Mac Pro was pulled from the EU market pragmatically completely for almost 11 months. The Mini has never suffered anything like that kind of supply gap.


b. Despite the cynical comments of "Mini Pro" the Mac Pro is in no way a "Mac Mini" in either price or performance. It is a different product that is targeted at a substantively different market.


c. Supply of Mac Pros are temporarily constrained because there is probably a huge gap between wake their factory can make and what the initial pent up demand. The capacity of the factory is configured for the whole scope of the product run, not the initial demand bubble. By July-Aug the issue is far more going to be are there enough orders to keep the factory cranked up at 80-100% levels.

All I know is that when Amazon has them in stock they usually don't last more than 1 hour.

Mini's are in stock at both Apple and Amazon. Mac Pro is still in pre-order status on Amazon; at least at amazon.com ( Apple is so far behind the supply curve for their own order there aren't any to ship of to large volume distributors. )

 

[Rodster]

The only Mac Mini being sold by Amazon is the server model. The base model and the i7 are only sold by third party vendors.

 

[brdeveloper]

i doubt any computer equipped with 512 GB SSD can be considered budget.
but 128 GB SSD in the base model would be sweet.

I said 512GB in the high end. Of course base models could come with an i5, Iris Graphics and 128GB SSD just like a base rMBP 13". A BTO MacMini could support up to 1TB SSD, a GT 750M and a quad i7. That is, it would be basically a high-end rMBP 15" without IrisPro, trackpad, keyboard, battery and retina display.

 

[bryanescuela]

Well?

It's been almost 1 month since your "premonition"... where are the new Minis?

 

[MythicFrost]

I was disappointed I didn't see the mini. I wonder when it will come then?

 

[ioannis2005gr]

I was disappointed I didn't see the mini. I wonder when it will come then?

If it comes...

 

[GabrieleR]

It's been almost 1 month since your "premonition"... where are the new Minis?

My prediction was based on the fact that in Italy there are no Mac minis to buy form wholesalers, and this usually means that new models are coming, but, like i said earlier in this thread, i was obviously wrong.

Probably Apple doesn't care that in Italy the only place to buy a mini is the online Applestore for some months till the refresh...

 

[jbarley]

Hi,

i work in an Apple Reseller and like many of you i'm waiting for the mini 2013 refresh.

From monday the two major Apple suppliers in Italy are suddenly and completely out of stock of minis. I know that this happen from time to time, but the timing is no coincidence.

Trust me, a new mini is coming next week, or at least we have solid evidence to believe it.

I'll never trust you again...

 

[Lesser Evets]

I was disappointed I didn't see the mini. I wonder when it will come then?

I'm not sure why the mini would be upgraded this year until a new set of processors are released in Q3/4. They should have upgraded them last year, but there was nothing.

The only plausible reason to release an updated mini in Q1 or Q2 is to have SOMETHING new on the market within the quarter. Chances are strong that nothing new will be released in Q1 2014. We'll see in 2.9 months.

 

[talmy]

Thats precisely the problem. Apple has always positioned the mini to minimize its undercutting of more expensive models. It's why they get updated later, for example. The mini is for 1) switchers, 2) special applications like htpc, 3) people who really don't need a laptop, and 4) people not willing to pony up. Start giving it parity and it will get to successful.

Apple has never been concerned about cannibalizing their own sales. For 1) and 2) the mini is fine (I've got three 2's that are 3 years old and see no reason to replace them!). For 3) they've got a 21" iMac that costs less than the mini + Apple keyboard, mouse, and (Thunderbolt) display. And Apple has never catered to 4).

The #1 question since the mini was released has not been "when will the new one come out" but most often "when will they discontinue it".

 

[mpantone]

My prediction was based on the fact that in Italy there are no Mac minis to buy form wholesalers, and this usually means that new models are coming, but, like i said earlier in this thread, i was obviously wrong.

Probably Apple doesn't care that in Italy the only place to buy a mini is the online Applestore for some months till the refresh...

Channel availability is not a reliable predictor of an imminent product launch, particularly when the shortage is in just one market.

After all, perhaps your customs officials or delivery vehicle drivers went on strike ("sciopero" right?).

Personally, I never believed it myself, especially because the timing of the rumor was completely wrong.

These "when is ___ coming" threads are a waste of space, just more garbage to fill up Google, Bing, Yahoo, whatever.

 

[mrsavage1]

Channel availability is not a reliable predictor of an imminent product launch, particularly when the shortage is in just one market.

After all, perhaps your customs officials or delivery vehicle drivers went on strike ("sciopero" right?).

Personally, I never believed it myself, especially because the timing of the rumor was completely wrong.

These "when is ___ coming" threads are a waste of space, just more garbage to fill up Google, Bing, Yahoo, whatever.

I actually predicted a jan date based on the "rumored" leaked geekbench scores. It seems that when a geekbench score is leaked for a non-redesign it takes around 3-4 months till it appears. But don't bet on it, its just a prediction.

 

[MythicFrost]

If it comes...

Eh I hope something comes... maybe a redesign like the MP but with consumer hardware?

I'm not sure why the mini would be upgraded this year until a new set of processors are released in Q3/4. They should have upgraded them last year, but there was nothing.

The only plausible reason to release an updated mini in Q1 or Q2 is to have SOMETHING new on the market within the quarter. Chances are strong that nothing new will be released in Q1 2014. We'll see in 2.9 months.

Mmm yeah probably won't see anything until the next gen processors.

 

[ioannis2005gr]

Eh I hope something comes... maybe a redesign like the MP but with consumer hardware?

Maybe, if we're lucky....in Q1/Q2 2014!

 

[jbarley]

The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

I'm more convinced now that it's just "breathing heavy"

 

[MrGuder]

I sure hope we don't see this thread still at the top come September.

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I am shocked that the new Mac Pro comes standard with only 256 GB of flash storage...for the price they want it should come with 512 GB flash storage as standard.

I feel this is just showing how Apple is money hungry...the price of the Mac Pro is so expensive why not make it worth the while and put in 512 as standard, after all it is a premium product.

I wonder if this is any indication of the new Mac Mini still only getting 5200 rpm and only 256 GB flash as option.

If the new Mac Mini doesn't come with 512 as an option that will be pretty bad.

 

[tymeless]

Mac Minis

The Mac mini is a work horse of a cheap computer, compared to an iMac or a laptop. Mainly because of its size and utility. I have an old core2 Server with 1 TB that is my home file server/plex video server/ Automation server. Its also running my Ubiquiti wifi Access point Controller

Then I have this one I am on right now that is the MC815XX/A i5 2.3ghz with 16gb of ram, 128gb SSD and a 1tbHybrid inside, that is my desktop Office Machine, with my 2 Thunderbolt displays, my project drive array and my media player in my Office/Media room, the HDMI is hooked up to my LED TV, and runs Plex Media player for the TV.

I have a 3rd MC936XX/A i7 Quad 2.0ghz with 16gb of ram Model that is my Music Production machine in a Sonnet XMac chassis that allows me to use PCI express cards for Audio input and output.


For work, we install Savant which uses mac mini's as the main Automation Processor, and as video overlay machines for On Screen Displays and Video Tiling. They are rock solid, I have had some that have been on and running software since the unibody mini's were announced, out of the 40 or so I know of only 3 have failed, and that was just a drive failure. (one is this one Im on now, hence the drive swap). Tough Tough Cheap machines, and they fit nicely in 19" racks with trays.

I hope they update it to a new processor, and Thunderbolt 2, mainly for 4k 60hz support and Display port MST 1.2. I would definately buy another one and replace the one I'm on now.

Also a 600 dollar box that is the size of a small Cable box, that would be capable of driving a 4kx2k UHD display off of 1 display port cable is a much needed item, right now there are no actual 4kx2k players on the market that are anywhere near that cheap.

I am having to buy a new MacPro to drive my 2 84" Planar 4k tv's in my showroom, thats a lot of computer to just sit there and play a few video loops for 8-10 hours a day on some TV's that are essentially flytraps for drooling men.

 

[Jambalaya]

@tymeless where are the monitors (on your desk ?) and tv (on wall ?) is the tv connected with a long hdmi cable, I'm having trouble visualising your setup.