Will Apple Quietly Let the Mac Mini Go?

[eutexian]

And Minis? They're bought by Mac enthusiasts. The rest of the world doesn't even know they exist.

I really do love sweeping generalisations. I own a Mac Mini. I'm not exactly a Mac enthusiast - I was I suppose its target audience. When I bought it I was looking for a small form factor PC - tired of having large boxes with bays that I would never use. I saw the Mini in the computer shop - initially I thought it was a fancy CD drive. It was only from reading the literature left near it that the reality set in.

I bought it. December 2011.

As for the question posed. I don't really care if they stop making them. there's not a lot I can do to prevent that. I'll probably keep this particular machine until it becomes redundant - incapable of basic surfing.

When it does become redundant. I'll see what's available and what I can afford. But seeing that much older machines than mine are still giving good service to their owners - I don't think this will be any time soon.

 

[NewbieCanada]

I really do love sweeping generalisations.

Then you should love MacRumors, because that's what we deal in here.

Your personal anecdotal evidence doesn't trump my anecdotal evidence.

But there is one indisputable fact - Mini sales are a tiny part of Mac sales.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

I'd rather they didn't drop the 2.5" bays, or at least not both of them, but I'm picking they might.

I doubt that. They need the space for the server model.

 

[foidulus]

Doubtful

I doubt they will do it* because the mini helps drive a lot of iphone/ipad sales to businesses and educational institutions who use them(with OS X Server) to manage their fleets of iOS devices. That being said, I do expect time between updates to get longer and longer as lower sales volumes mean that the per-unit R&D/retooling costs for each model increase.

*That of course assumes they don't ever port their server tools to an OS that can run on "bullet proof" hardware(Solaris and Linux are the most likely candidates). However thus far they haven't been keen on doing that.

 

[seveej]

I wonder, could it be that Apple plans to just let the Mac Mini disappear quietly from the lineup? A friend who works at the Apple store says that they really don't sell very many Mini's, and that it being a low priced item also makes it a lower priority for updating.

I expect the mini will keep around another few years. I am under the impression (based on no tangible facts), that the Mini is selling predominantly over internet-channels, so while your friend's impressions may be factual, they do not show the entire picture.

P.S. Now that the optical drive is no longer, I think we can expect a form factor change. My eyesight is not the 20/20 of my hindsight, and my foresight is even worse, but my foresight shows a mac mini which looks very much like an airport express / new Time Capsule.

RGDS,

 

[eutexian]

Your personal experience doesn't trump my anecdotal nonsense.

Fixed that for you.

 

[roycemac]

I believe that I represent the desktop computing of the [near] future...a mac mini which is so small that it is out of sight and takes up minimal space, and an iPad for the HEAD.
When you are done at home or office, you simply pick up the 'HEAD' and take it with you.
As for the size of the screen, the iPad has trained us to function quite nicely with the small screen and I have no problem using my iPad Mini as the head for my mac mini. At this point I consider a full size iPad a Large Screen for my desk.

 

[SpinalTap]

After owning three Mac Mini's - and looking to buy a fourth - I wonder if a Mac Mini refresh might possibly adopt Intel's NUC form factor - which is AppleTV sized.

The latest NUC is Haswell powered and unlike previous models utilises 2.5 inch drives...

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/nuc-kit-d54250wykh.html

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/ww...s/product-briefs/nuc-kit-d54250wykh-brief.pdf

 

[maflynn]

The mini reportedly has been on the chopping block a number of times and every time they do, they pull back for some reason.

I think the mini is a great product and fits a segment, I have no idea what their sales are like but they do have a dedicated user base. I think it will be a mistake by apple to drop them from the lineup.

 

[borostef]

Fact remains that iMacs vastly outsell Minis and MacBooks vastly outsell iMacs.

Most people switching from Windows buy MacBooks. Most of the ones who don't, buy iMacs. And Minis? They're bought by Mac enthusiasts. The rest of the world doesn't even know they exist.

I'm not saying that you are wrong, but when I switched from windows to mac my only option was Mac Mini, because of the price... Where I live, the price difference between a Mini and an iMac is huge... And I don't need a laptop...
Just to demonstrate... An iMac is just under 2000 $, and a Mini is around 900 $... I already had two 23" IPS monitors, so an 21,5" iMac would be a downgrade... And don't even get me started on 27" models and their price...

 

[Micky Do]

The Mini fits my budget and requirements, and is probably all the computer many others need. I hope it is not let go, and see no reason why it should be.

 

[Che Castro]

Apple would make a killing if they made the thing plastic and with colors like the iphone 5c
Like the late 90's macs
Make it cheaper , schools and other places would buy them in bulk

 

[CausticPuppy]

why do people think Apple will discontinue Mac mini?!

The demise of the Mac Mini has been predicted for at least the past 4 years.

----------

The mini reportedly has been on the chopping block a number of times and every time they do, they pull back for some reason.

I think the mini is a great product and fits a segment, I have no idea what their sales are like but they do have a dedicated user base. I think it will be a mistake by apple to drop them from the lineup.

The Mini is the only Mac that is sold with the Server software. Actually it's also the only Mac that even makes sense to run as a server.

The new Mac Pro would be a terrible value proposition for a server given the emphasis on GPU performance, and the complete inability to rack it.

Why would Apple waste their time updating Server for Mavericks if they intended to discontinue the only model that actually makes sense as a server?

 

[Fishrrman]

[[ After owning three Mac Mini's - and looking to buy a fourth - I wonder if a Mac Mini refresh might possibly adopt Intel's NUC form factor - which is AppleTV sized. ]]

The problem with "shrinking" the Mini enclosure (to a size smaller than it now is) is that the number of ports would be reduced.

I suppose it could be made smaller, but then anyone (like myself) who needs connectibility would be forced to buy some kind of expansion chassis. This would push the cost of ownership upwards.

Another consideration is that the Mini is intended to be used as a server in business environments. This would require accessibility to the internal hard drives, for replacement when necessary. As a server, it's important that the case use standardized drive form factors and connections.

The Mini is "sized well-enough" as it is now.

If anything, what the Mini needs is a removable "top plate" -- so that users can simply unscrew a few bolts (one in each corner would do), lift off the top, and have access to the internal hard drive bays without having to pull the chassis apart...

 

[MacCruiskeen]

[
If anything, what the Mini needs is a removable "top plate" -- so that users can simply unscrew a few bolts (one in each corner would do), lift off the top, and have access to the internal hard drive bays without having to pull the chassis apart...

Which would be entirely contrary to the direction Apple is taking their hardware. I'd guess it won't be long now before no Apple product has any user-upgradeable parts.

 

[haravikk]

I saw the Mini in the computer shop - initially I thought it was a fancy CD drive. It was only from reading the literature left near it that the reality set in.

That's kind of the problem IMO; Apple hasn't really done much to advertise the Mac Mini, in fact I don't recall seeing any ads for desktops at all in some time. But I think the Mac Mini still has a lot of appeal; hopefully if they do do a redesign they'll run some ads to make more people aware of it.

 

[philipma1957]

That's kind of the problem IMO; Apple hasn't really done much to advertise the Mac Mini, in fact I don't recall seeing any ads for desktops at all in some time. But I think the Mac Mini still has a lot of appeal; hopefully if they do do a redesign they'll run some ads to make more people aware of it.

they do not need to advertise it as it sells itself.

the number 1 selling desktop on amazon is: the mac mini


I will proceed to make this statement; why would you end the number 1 seller on amazon?

answer you would not not do that.

 

[scbond]

The only way they'd drop the 'Mac mini' is if it gets renamed or dropped and replaced by something similar. The mini fills a pretty big gap for Apple.

 

[Cape Dave]

Mac mini rules all!

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Make it cheaper , schools and other places would buy them in bulk

They do this already with the edu discount.

 

[haravikk]

they do not need to advertise it as it sells itself.

I never said it wasn't popular, just that it's not as popular as it could be. Most people I know are aware of Apple laptops and iMacs, but weren't aware of Mac Minis until I pointed them out, and my friends are all generally very tech-savvy. I even had a friend state that they didn't want to switch to Mac because they already had a monitor, thinking the iMac was all there was.

So there's definitely still a gap. When you walk into an Apple Store the Mac Minis don't really stand out all that much, at least in my experience. After all, it's only the best selling single system on Amazon, which is great, but that's still a far cry from the total number of other desktops being sold; it isn't really surprising that with as much diversity as there is in the overall PC marketplace that no single system is as popular, as there are simply more choices for whatever you might want (cheaper price, better graphics etc.).

I don't believe for a second that Apple will discontinue the Mac Mini, I'm just saying there is still more that they can do with it.

 

[MattG]

Jeez I hope not, it's the perfect little media-center computer. I'm anticipating the next update so I can replace my 2010 model.

 

[tubular]

I think we'll see it first quarter of next year, but they've got to get the Mac Pro out first, and it's looking pretty touch-and-go whether they'll meet their December ship date on that one. I was hoping for a new Mac Mini this year -- I'm itching for a refresh, and to move to quad core -- but no such luck. A niche product with comparatively low margin might not be an out-of-the-ballpark smash, but a profitable line is a profitable line. That's why they still sell the iPod classic.

 

[philipma1957]

I never said it wasn't popular, just that it's not as popular as it could be. Most people I know are aware of Apple laptops and iMacs, but weren't aware of Mac Minis until I pointed them out, and my friends are all generally very tech-savvy. I even had a friend state that they didn't want to switch to Mac because they already had a monitor, thinking the iMac was all there was.

So there's definitely still a gap. When you walk into an Apple Store the Mac Minis don't really stand out all that much, at least in my experience. After all, it's only the best selling single system on Amazon, which is great, but that's still a far cry from the total number of other desktops being sold; it isn't really surprising that with as much diversity as there is in the overall PC marketplace that no single system is as popular, as there are simply more choices for whatever you might want (cheaper price, better graphics etc.).

I don't believe for a second that Apple will discontinue the Mac Mini, I'm just saying there is still more that they can do with it.

That is true you did not say it was not popular.
The net can cause misunderstanding when writing a short reply.

I think Apple would love to get rid of the mini but the sales are too strong. It is truly the best mac for HT. use.

 

[ioannis2005gr]

It is truly the best mac for HT. use.

Not only for HT use...

I want to use it as desktop computer with my own non-APPLE IPS 24'' monitor (this is a cheaper solution instead of purchasing an expensive iMac - with great performance!).