jpietrzak8
macrumors 65816
??? Ok, sure, Apple has long ago moved to Intel's motherboard chipsets. But does the chipset have any effect on the design of the computer's operating system? Some drivers may be different, but that'd be it...
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2012 Mini not supported by OS X 10.12?
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??? Ok, sure, Apple has long ago moved to Intel's motherboard chipsets. But does the chipset have any effect on the design of the computer's operating system? Some drivers may be different, but that'd be it...
oldmacs
macrumors 603
I don't think 10.12 will drop anything much. The days of massive OSX updates are over imho.
Apple considered the performance of the 2015 Retina Macbook to be good for 2015, and pretty much every post 2010 machine (Except maybe Macbook Airs) perform better than that, so I can't see much being dropped which is good.
If the (supposed) sluggish/bloated Windows can support machines way further back than Apple can, then I don't see any reason for Apple to drop support. Goes against being the 'environmentally friendly' company image they've been trying to achieve.
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Apple have never dropped systems because they have a certain port, they've dropped machines for not having certain ports. Given Apple has pretty much abandoned thunderbolt, I don't see that being a requirement, and thats the only new port that has been adopted in a widespread manner.
Apple considered the performance of the 2015 Retina Macbook to be good for 2015, and pretty much every post 2010 machine (Except maybe Macbook Airs) perform better than that, so I can't see much being dropped which is good.
If the (supposed) sluggish/bloated Windows can support machines way further back than Apple can, then I don't see any reason for Apple to drop support. Goes against being the 'environmentally friendly' company image they've been trying to achieve.
[doublepost=1464333392][/doublepost]
Apple have never dropped systems because they have a certain port, they've dropped machines for not having certain ports. Given Apple has pretty much abandoned thunderbolt, I don't see that being a requirement, and thats the only new port that has been adopted in a widespread manner.
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It is simply a logical "break". Since most of Apple's computers use integrated GPU's (Airs, Mini's, Macbooks, even MacBook Pros), and not a lot from a "power" standpoint changed from the Nvidia 9400s to the HD/HD3000 graphics using that as a justification for dropping support seems like a hard sell. Dropping Core2Duo support and the associated System chipsets with the switch to All Intel and the Core I series, seems like a much easier "sell".
At some point Apple will drop support for some Macs. We are in unprecedented waters right now for Apple in supporting OS's on devices that are up to 8 years old.
GPUs are interesting. Here's a comparison of iMac 2007 V 2009 Mini V 2012 Mini
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=572&cmp[]=2&cmp[]=1299
You might need to copy/paste the whole like as the square brackets are outfoxing my browser's link algorithm.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=572&cmp[]=2&cmp[]=1299
You might need to copy/paste the whole like as the square brackets are outfoxing my browser's link algorithm.
I prefer this view....
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=1299&cmp[]=26&cmp[]=1175
Basically shows that neither the Nvidia 9400m or the 320M even break 300. Even the HD3000 barely surpasses 300.
That's the 2009 Mini, the 2010 Mini, and the 2011 Base Mini (HD3000). So if you are using GPU power alone, then there really isn't any value to support any Mac below an HD3000.
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The only Mac without a Thunderbolt port is the Macbook, and given that Thunderbolt 3 is based around using the same connector as USB 3.1, I can see them easily adding it to the new Macbook....
oldmacs
macrumors 603
Lets be honest - has Apple really pushed the thunderbolt port? Sure all Macs have it, but its fairly dead at the moment - It did't really take off.
On the Ashtray Mac Pro, they're banking on it. SIX Tbolt ports. Either TBolt has to be adopted fast or the Ashtray has failed.
At least other companies used FireWire when it happened. Of course, they called it iLink or something not called FireWire.
ADC, while not used by anyone outside of Apple, at least had potential as the spiritual forerunner to TBolt.
jpietrzak8
macrumors 65816
They haven't touched the Ashtray Mac Pro in over three years now, nor created any siblings for it. I mean, sure, Apple can afford to create a unique one-off device and let it sit there for years and years with no updates, but I'm not sure you can say they are "banking" on anything with that version of the Pro...
JamesPDX
Suspended
There are no 2012 Mini's on the Apple Refurb site: http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_mini
Gav2k
macrumors G3
And due to the HD 4000 graphics, you'll never see me with one. Ye Olde Radeon 6630M outperforms it and I need just that much of graphics power for what I do.
My next Mac will likely be a used Pro with an updated graphics card.
JamesPDX
Suspended
I'm trying to buy 5,1 12-core from a friend-quaintance, but he's using it as a media/itunes server(!) for his house when a Mini and an extra SSD would do. I tried to explain how much $ in electricity he will pay in a year, but he seems not to get it. -He recently bought a BTO nMP 6-core. It makes my head hurt knowing that I could out his 5,1 to use as a VEP5 server for Pro Tools 12 via ethernet.
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What?
jpietrzak8
macrumors 65816
Yes, there are no 2012 Minis on the Apple refurb site. But there were 2012 Minis on the refurb site, as recently as last December, according to the Apple Store has refurbished 2012 Minis! thread.