When is the new Mac mini Haswell coming out?

[spatlese44]

I haven't read the other 130+ posts here, but has anyone speculated that the new Mini is going to look like a smaller version of the Mac Pro? My argument for this is that the form of the Mac Pro allows for better cooling with less noise and an idea that good should be implemented in the Mac Mini. Similarly the Airport Express followed the shape and technology of the Time Capsule.

If this is correct, the delay in the next Mac Mini could be for retooling.

 

[corvus32]

The Mac Mini I have from 2007-ish vintage is good enough for any web browsing/light office work the average user might have.

Heck, a BeagleBone Black or even an ODROID-XU would be sufficient for basic office, email, and web browsing.

While not my first choice, I have used a RPi as my primary desktop and there are times when I still use my wireless router as a makeshift Linux box. Sometimes you just have to MacGyver it you know.

 

[HurryKayne]

New redesigned Mac Mini & new thin Apple Thunderbolt Display silent debut

I can feel it coming in the air tonight.

.

Please no soldered Ram.
By the way,i need one to run while i'm away to be connected to my Air and to bridge between
my Korg and Roland-Cubase with Vst Connect Pro to the place where i'm remotely and "lighty" working,
in my case in such serious hospital situation where a real piano will never fit,so if no Mini will sort out i'll buy a Server I7 with Ivy soon.

 

[hudson1]

I haven't read the other 130+ posts here, but has anyone speculated that the new Mini is going to look like a smaller version of the Mac Pro? My argument for this is that the form of the Mac Pro allows for better cooling with less noise and an idea that good should be implemented in the Mac Mini. Similarly the Airport Express followed the shape and technology of the Time Capsule.

If this is correct, the delay in the next Mac Mini could be for retooling.

I think the idea behind the new Mac Pro is to build a quiet machine that is much smaller than the current behemoth while also moving much of the storage to peripherals (via TB2). The current mini is already small and quiet so what's to be gained? As for cooling, Apple needed some design innovation in the new Mac Pro to handle the high power usage. That need isn't there in the mini.

 

[SoCalReviews]

Please no soldered Ram.

Not a problem... How good are you at micro soldering?

I give it a 50% chance for the next round of Minis having soldered RAM which is one reason why I recently went with a new 2012 i7 Mini. When the new Mini comes out if you see a form factor change then beware. Haswell was designed for low power states to save battery life on portables. There will probably be lower operating thermals and small bump up in video performance but the bump in CPU performance will be negligible. I believe there were some small streamlining changes Intel made with Haswell relating to legacy parts of the x86 design that I am not sure I like because I want the ability to run VMs fully compatible with older MS OSs. My next Mini upgrade will probably be 14nm Broadwell based.

The Haswell Paradox...

http://www.extremetech.com/computin...cpu-in-the-world-unless-youre-a-pc-enthusiast

 

[Ice Dragon]

Yeah I was gunning for a Mac mini update at the recent keynote last month but now I'm kind of looking ahead to mid 2014.

 

[fastlanephil]

There is always the possibility that Apple won't release a new Mac Mini until late 2014. I don't see Apple releasing Thunderbolt 2 on the Mac Mini while the current late 2013 iMac is using the first generation of Thunderbolt.

Is updating the Mac Mini to Haswell and a minor GPU upgrade reason enough for Apple to offer it. The Mac Min has always been on the bottom of the Apple food chain, maybe even lower than the Apple TV now, so maybe Apple will skip Haswell and shoot for Broadwell.

If Apple does differently then disregard these comments.

 

[neilmacd]

Just to mix things up..

At 397 days since the last refresh, they've passed the average of 381 days. They're a couple of days off the 2011 launch at 400 days. 2 months off the 2012 launch at 461 days. Apple have never introduced a new mini between November and March, preferring to release in either June/July or October.

I'm not a betting man, but I'd wager we won't see a refresh this year.

Unless Apple throw a curve, and I'd probably bet on that too!

 

[mvmanolov]

Just to mix things up..

At 397 days since the last refresh, they've passed the average of 381 days. They're a couple of days off the 2011 launch at 400 days. 2 months off the 2012 launch at 461 days. Apple have never introduced a new mini between November and March, preferring to release in either June/July or October.

I'm not a betting man, but I'd wager we won't see a refresh this year.

Unless Apple through a curve, and I'd probably bet on that too!

i think i agree with you. it is looking less and less likely for a new mini.. soooo i just went and bought a 2012 i7

 

[neilmacd]

i think i agree with you. it is looking less and less likely for a new mini.. soooo i just went and bought a 2012 i7

Nice! Either way that's a great buy and a powerful little beast

I'm holding out, I'm selling my 2011 BTO 27" iMac as it's overkill for what I use it for these days. Then I'll be getting a Thunderbolt Display (when they release a new one) and a 2013/14 top spec mini. My current 2011 mini will suit me fine til then.

 

[corvus32]

I'm not a betting man, but I'd wager we won't see a refresh this year.

I'd wager we won't see a Haswell Mini.

If you think about it, there's really no need to update the Mini for every new architectural change Intel rolls out (Tick and Tock). Given the Mini is a small form factor computer, the die shrunk releases are probably more beneficial.

That said, the Mini is also the easiest way to get OS X, Xcode, the App Store, etc., into the hands of more people - or should be thought of that way. Apple could eliminate the not so predictable wait time and higher price of Intel by switching their lowest priced Mac (i5 Mini) to their own SoC. Personally, I think a $299 Mac the size of an Apple TV with an A8 chip inside would sell quite well and why not? Their money making business is ARM based anyways, but who knows.

One thing is for sure, the days of expensive high priced Macs and booming sales numbers are gone.

 

[Ice Dragon]

I don't know... an A8 seems kind of weak for my tastes. I want something with a little more horsepower. I am not saying I need a quad-core with Iris Pro but a dual-core i7 with Iris is good for me right now.

To me "Ax" is not there yet, I am still in on the core architecture and i5 or i7.

 

[neilmacd]

I don't know... an A8 seems kind of weak for my tastes. I want something with a little more horsepower. I am not saying I need a quad-core with Iris Pro but a dual-core i7 with Iris is good for me right now.

To me "Ax" is not there yet, I am still in on the core architecture and i5 or i7.

I agree it's not there yet. But, comparing clock speeds - the iPad Air A7 is running at 1.4GHz, the entry level MacBook Air - 1.3GHz. It's not too far off!

Ok, so comparing clock speeds don't mean much, but the technology itself is certainly catching up at a serious rate of knots.

An ATV 'puck' sized Mac sounds like a great entry level consumer desktop.

 

[mvmanolov]

I agree it's not there yet. But, comparing clock speeds - the iPad Air A7 is running at 1.4GHz, the entry level MacBook Air - 1.3GHz. It's not too far off!

Ok, so comparing clock speeds don't mean much, but the technology itself is certainly catching up at a serious rate of knots.

An ATV 'puck' sized Mac sounds like a great entry level consumer desktop.

coulpe that with apple tv like capabilities of the machine you are describing and, yeah, i'd have to agree. i think it would sell like crazy… soooo….
Mac mini air and mac mini pro…? who's in?

 

[Ice Dragon]

I agree it's not there yet. But, comparing clock speeds - the iPad Air A7 is running at 1.4GHz, the entry level MacBook Air - 1.3GHz. It's not too far off!

Ok, so comparing clock speeds don't mean much, but the technology itself is certainly catching up at a serious rate of knots.

An ATV 'puck' sized Mac sounds like a great entry level consumer desktop.

The Air is nice and all but I need a minimum of the Pro. The only thing that would hold me back from getting say the 15" rMBP vs. the 13" rMBP is cost for components.

I'm pretty sure there are some distinct differences between the 5000, 5100, and 5200 correct?

 

[neilmacd]

The Air is nice and all but I need a minimum of the Pro. The only thing that would hold me back from getting say the 15" rMBP vs. the 13" rMBP is cost for components.

I'm pretty sure there are some distinct differences between the 5000, 5100, and 5200 correct?

Yeah, it's not going to be a power horse that's for sure. But as an entry level it'd work fine doing the basic web/email/word processing tasks.

However, I'll contradict my earlier post, it'd be a bad idea to release a 'mini' mini! It would probably lead to the death of the current mini, or it would at least seriously cannibalise sales.

 

[hudson1]

I'd wager we won't see a Haswell Mini.

If you think about it, there's really no need to update the Mini for every new architectural change Intel rolls out (Tick and Tock). Given the Mini is a small form factor computer, the die shrunk releases are probably more beneficial.

That said, the Mini is also the easiest way to get OS X, Xcode, the App Store, etc., into the hands of more people - or should be thought of that way. Apple could eliminate the not so predictable wait time and higher price of Intel by switching their lowest priced Mac (i5 Mini) to their own SoC. Personally, I think a $299 Mac the size of an Apple TV with an A8 chip inside would sell quite well and why not? Their money making business is ARM based anyways, but who knows.

One thing is for sure, the days of expensive high priced Macs and booming sales numbers are gone.

I doubt Apple wants to or even feels they need to support OS X on two different architectures. The Mac selling point is OS X so just keep getting it out there the easiest and most universal way possible -- existing Intel architecture.

 

[corvus32]

I agree it's not there yet. But, comparing clock speeds - the iPad Air A7 is running at 1.4GHz, the entry level MacBook Air - 1.3GHz. It's not too far off!

Ok, so comparing clock speeds don't mean much, but the technology itself is certainly catching up at a serious rate of knots.

An ATV 'puck' sized Mac sounds like a great entry level consumer desktop.

The current A7 is comparable to the 2010 2.4GHz C2D Mini.

iPad Air

Mac Mini (Early 2010)

It's not hard to imagine an A8X scoring near the Core i5 SB Mini, with an A9 probably being as good or better.

So, it's doable.

I doubt Apple wants to or even feels they need to support OS X on two different architectures. The Mac selling point is OS X so just keep getting it out there the easiest and most universal way possible -- existing Intel architecture.

When Intel architecture gets to such low TDP then what's the difference. If given the choice, I would want to use my own chips.

Besides, the line is blurred now anyways. Everything from Keynote to Garageband to Airport Utility has been ported to 64-bit ARM. Three quarters of the groundwork has already been done.

I can see continuing to offer Intel on their Pro/workstation line, but most people could get by without them.

 

[breiti]

Personally, I think a $299 Mac the size of an Apple TV with an A8 chip inside would sell quite well and why not? Their money making business is ARM based anyways, but who knows.

Yeah of course you can easily swap out an x86 arch and swap ARM in.

Not gonna happen, the whole eco system (all app store apps) would need to migrate as well and than you had 2 OS X (one for ARM and one for x86).

The chance that we will see an Haswell Mac Mini is 300x greater than we will see a switch to ARM in the Mini in the next 2 years.

 

[Ice Dragon]

It's not hard to imagine an A8X scoring near the Core i5 SB Mini, with an A9 probably being as good or better.

Yeah I have the 2011 base model mini and I feel it's starting to get a tad old but while I don't definitely need a new mini this year (I did want one though), I will definitely NEED one next year I feel.

 

[hudson1]

The current A7 is comparable to the 2010 2.4GHz C2D Mini.

iPad Air

Mac Mini (Early 2010)

It's not hard to imagine an A8X scoring near the Core i5 SB Mini, with an A9 probably being as good or better.

So, it's doable.



When Intel architecture gets to such low TDP then what's the difference. If given the choice, I would want to use my own chips.

Besides, the line is blurred now anyways. Everything from Keynote to Garageband to Airport Utility has been ported to 64-bit ARM. Three quarters of the groundwork has already been done.

I can see continuing to offer Intel on their Pro/workstation line, but most people could get by without them.

Of course it's "doable" but why would they spend a bunch of resources doing it just for the sake of doing it? You talk about those ported apps but Pages, Keynote, and Numbers were all degraded to do it. Finder and all of the subsystems are far more complex than those apps.

Again... why bother doing this, especially on a computer that doesn't run on a battery?

 

[neilmacd]

Yeah of course you can easily swap out an x86 arch and swap ARM in.

Not gonna happen, the whole eco system (all app store apps) would need to migrate as well and than you had 2 OS X (one for ARM and one for x86).

The chance that we will see an Haswell Mac Mini is 300x greater than we will see a switch to ARM in the Mini in the next 2 years.

I don't think anybody is saying this is right around the corner so there's no need for the rolleyes..

Apple are heavily invested in ARM architecture, and there's rumours one of Bob Mansfield's 'Special Projects' is an ARM compatible version of OS X.

And it's not like Apple haven't switched teams in the past!

 

[SoCalReviews]

i think i agree with you. it is looking less and less likely for a new mini.. soooo i just went and bought a 2012 i7

Good decision! Welcome to the 2012 i7 Mini club. I just added a second 2012 i7 Mini recently as well. I really like the flexibility of these little desktop machines. Backwards compatibility with these Intel chip sets is better than I ever imagined it could be before I owned any OS X Mac machines. The VMs work great. I'm using Firefox with Windows 8 Pro right now in Parallels and my experience has been nothing but smooth sailing without a single glitch. I also strongly recommend upgrading to 16GB of high quality compatible RAM to experience the full power of this Mini.

We don't know what features, benefits and changes the Haswell Minis will offer if and when they finally arrive. My guess last year for the arrival of the Haswell Minis was early 2014 (late winter or early spring). I still stick with my original prediction. I hope they do update soon just to get past the anticipation but if they don't it doesn't really make much difference to me at this point in time.

 

[mvmanolov]

Good decision! Welcome to the 2012 i7 Mini club. I just added a second 2012 i7 Mini recently as well. I really like the flexibility of these little desktop machines. Backwards compatibility with these Intel chip sets is better than I ever imagined it could be before I owned any OS X Mac machines. The VMs work great. I'm using Firefox with Windows 8 Pro right now in Parallels and my experience has been nothing but smooth sailing without a single glitch. I also strongly recommend upgrading to 16GB of high quality compatible RAM to experience the full power of this Mini.

We don't know what features, benefits and changes the Haswell Minis will offer if and when they finally arrive. My guess last year for the arrival of the Haswell Minis was early 2014 (late winter or early spring). I still stick with my original prediction. I hope they do update soon just to get past the anticipation but if they don't it doesn't really make much difference to me at this point in time.

Already thought of the 16 gig. :d and a 256SSD

 

[hudson1]

Yeah of course you can easily swap out an x86 arch and swap ARM in.

Not gonna happen, the whole eco system (all app store apps) would need to migrate as well and than you had 2 OS X (one for ARM and one for x86).

The chance that we will see an Haswell Mac Mini is 300x greater than we will see a switch to ARM in the Mini in the next 2 years.

Not to mention that Boot Camp, Parallels, Fusion, and Crossover will be thrown out the Window(s) if they go to an ARM chip.