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The case for a power/pro mini

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crazzapple

Guest
Original poster
Oct 19, 2014
197
0
With advanced smartphones having overtaken personal computers worldwide, most of the entry level tasks that required a computer several years ago can now be done on a phone or tablet. This puts the entry level, low end computer in a position similar to point-and-shoot cameras: not all that useful for pros and unnecessary for most non-pros. Obviously this is just going to continue with better and better phones and tablets.

Of course I don't think apple should discontinue the lowend and mid-tier entry level minis... they will work fine for professional social media twitter and facebook users, graphic designers that don't require much power, and of course people that just want to view their porn on larger screens.

What I do think apple should do is bring back the mid-tier quad-core mini for the pros and power users that require it. Allow for enough ram for VM use (32GB) and don't seal off the computer like some expensive throwaway idevice. And no, we won't be spending 3x as much for an overpriced mac pro.

global%20smartphone%20shipments-3.png
 
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corvus32

macrumors 6502a
Sep 4, 2009
761
0
USA
Before the 27" iMac came about and took over their price points, you could buy a mid-tier G5 Power Mac or entry level Mac Pro for less than $2000. At the time, people were wowed by the huge display. Now, it's nothing special, but the continued use of laptop components looks bad at these prices. On the opposite end, the entry iMac (with lame graphics) occupies the price point of a potential quad core Mini with real desktop graphics.

So, more than ever, Macs are completely out of whack with reality. One trip to Amazon or Newegg proves that.
 
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corvus32

macrumors 6502a
Sep 4, 2009
761
0
USA
Crosscreek said:
It would be nice but Apple would rather you buy a iMac. Jony will never go for it because he wants thin an pretty. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The iMac really serves no purpose other than to artificially inflate Mac prices.

Its why a Mac Pro is now $3000, and the Mini can never be anything more than it is today.
 
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giggles

macrumors 65816
Dec 15, 2012
1,024
1,238
Soldered ram put a nail the in the coffin of having 32GB of ram on a Mini for a long time. We'll be lucky to get 16GB on Airs next year. Consider yourselves lucky to have 16GB already on 2014 Mini.

This are all things you don't go back from.
Once you use soldered ram, there's no going back.
Once you seal off the machine, there's no going back.
Don't ever expect an upgradable or particularly powerful Mini. If anything, it will become an AppleTV-sized device with 4.5W intel processors.

What the future could hold is a cheaper nMP maybe? Remember: the Air started at 1799$ with 2GB ram and 80GB hdd. 2 years later that innovation trickled down to 999$ Airs.

I want to believe in a 1499$ nMac Pro in 2016.
 
A

Altis

macrumors 68040
Sep 10, 2013
3,165
4,896
While I generally agree with OP, there is a small oversight.

The entry level Mini still runs OS X and can use peripherals. This makes it way, way more useful than a phone or tablet (until they are able to do more).

Can't even write a paper while referencing a web page without endless misery.

So while the computing power is approaching similar, they are still miles apart in terms of capabilities. I still hope that a more powerful Mini comes out next year. Until then, back to windows for me.
 
calaverasgrande

calaverasgrande

macrumors 65816
Oct 18, 2010
1,291
161
Brooklyn, New York.
giggles said:
If anything, it will become an AppleTV-sized device with 4.5W intel processors.
Click to expand...
I doubt we will see much movement on the nMP price. After all teh TBD is still $1000 years after it debuted. I can go to a store today and pick up 2 monitors of the same (or higher) resolution, with USB 3 not USB 2.

That comment on the mini is spot on. Pretty sure that will be the next rev. An even smaller, flatter hockey puck, with less ports on back pretty much ensuring you must use BT for input devices.

As far as a mid tier, non iMac? You guys are just bringing up the mythical Xmac for the thousandth time.
I'm sure someone at Apple would like to point you to the $2999 Mac Pro instead.
It does suck a lot that there is no quad core Mini. Makes no sense to me at all.
 
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jw74

macrumors member
Mar 15, 2009
54
0
giggles said:
Soldered ram put a nail the in the coffin of having 32GB of ram on a Mini for a long time. We'll be lucky to get 16GB on Airs next year. Consider yourselves lucky to have 16GB already on 2014 Mini.

This are all things you don't go back from.
Once you use soldered ram, there's no going back.
Once you seal off the machine, there's no going back.
Don't ever expect an upgradable or particularly powerful Mini.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. They brought back firewire to the Macbook after people complained(unfortunately I fell victim to this).
 
S

scottsjack

macrumors 68000
Aug 25, 2010
1,906
311
Arizona
jw74 said:
Not necessarily. They brought back firewire to the Macbook after people complained(unfortunately I fell victim to this).
Click to expand...

I remember that issue as it pushed me from a 13" to a 15" MBP. In a similar way the new lack of quad-core kept me from buying a 2014 mini. I wouldn't have been too happy but I would have spent up to $1600 for a Haswell quad-core with 16GB RAM and a Fusion Drive. Instead I bought a new 2012 2.6 for $839 plus somebody else's RAM and SSD.
 
Micky Do

Micky Do

macrumors 68020
Aug 31, 2012
2,204
3,146
a South Pacific island
crazzapple said:
Of course I don't think apple should discontinue the lowend and mid-tier entry level minis... they will work fine for professional social media twitter and facebook users, graphic designers that don't require much power, and of course people that just want to view their porn on larger screens.

What I do think apple should do is bring back the mid-tier quad-core mini for the pros and power users that require it. Allow for enough ram for VM use (32GB) and don't seal off the computer like some expensive throwaway idevice. And no, we won't be spending 3x as much for an overpriced mac pro.
Click to expand...

So, we modestly specced Mac Mini users are mere twittering consumers of porn, in your eyes.

So, to what use would you put your dream time Mac Mini Pro, costing perhaps a mere 2x as much of your (apparently) meagre means as a regular Mac Mini (rather than 3x as much for a Mac Pro)?

Producing low budget porn for the Mac Mini minions, maybe?
 
C

crazzapple

Guest
Original poster
Oct 19, 2014
197
0
Micky Do said:
So, we modestly specced Mac Mini users are mere twittering consumers of porn, in your eyes.

So, to what use would you put your dream time Mac Mini Pro, costing perhaps a mere 2x as much of your (apparently) meagre means as a regular Mac Mini (rather than 3x as much for a Mac Pro)?

Producing low budget porn for the Mac Mini minions, maybe?
Click to expand...

You just can't leave my posts alone can you? I do design and engineering work for a living, if that's what you're asking.
 
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cinealta

macrumors 6502
Dec 9, 2012
488
6
dogslobber said:
If you knew anything about Apple then you'd know cannibalization of your existing products is that which they're not afraid to do. If not then read Issacson's autobio on Jobs.
Click to expand...
I know plenty about Apple. If you don't cannibalize yourself someone else will...yada yada yada. SJ is dead. Get over it. TC is an MBA...'nuff said.
 
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