flyinmac
macrumors 68040
Don't forget the sealed aluminum enclosure to keep you from daring to touch the beads... I'm hopeful that someone will at least put a window in so I can see the beads.
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2014 Mac Mini Teardown Highlights Increased Difficulty For User Upgradability
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Don't forget the sealed aluminum enclosure to keep you from daring to touch the beads... I'm hopeful that someone will at least put a window in so I can see the beads.
Unlike some Apple defenders, I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on 1TB SSD =)
At the time of my upgrade, 128SSD for system OS was a logical/practical choice.
Bodie CI5
macrumors 6502
Wait - you consider yourself a "techie" because you can install a stick of RAM or hook up a new HDD or SSD??
flyinmac
macrumors 68040
What confuses you? Clearly Apple says only certified Apple Service Centers are capable of doing something so trivial as installing memory.
What A Shame
...total damned shame. Apple really went backwards with this one. I'm bummed.
The 2012 market is very HOT via eBay... and refurbs are nowhere to be found. The only good news, I suppose, is that there is two years' worth of production out there, so I'm sure we can get our hands on at least one more eventually.
...total damned shame. Apple really went backwards with this one. I'm bummed.
The 2012 market is very HOT via eBay... and refurbs are nowhere to be found. The only good news, I suppose, is that there is two years' worth of production out there, so I'm sure we can get our hands on at least one more eventually.
Well, for smartphones I still prefer iOS over Android although I also have my gripes with the iPhone and the unavailability of an SD card slot.
Came from Android (V1.6 at that time) and never regretted the switch. Tried out an Xperia SP (not high-end, I know) and was not impressed at all.
For desktops, I am torn between PC (Win) and Mac as both ecosystems have their advantages and disadvantages. The Mac Mini update pushed me further away from making the switch to MacOS. 🙁
Came from Android (V1.6 at that time) and never regretted the switch. Tried out an Xperia SP (not high-end, I know) and was not impressed at all.
For desktops, I am torn between PC (Win) and Mac as both ecosystems have their advantages and disadvantages. The Mac Mini update pushed me further away from making the switch to MacOS. 🙁
Bodie CI5
macrumors 6502
It's a stupid credential to make. And to call oneself a "techie" for installing RAM???? If he had said 'because I can't install a water cooling system and OC to 4.2ghz on air', I'd agree. You're dealing with a company renowned for closed, proprietary systems becomes more closed again and you all feign surprise?? C'mon...
to be honest your small business was pretty much ruined with youtube tutorials already
Westside guy
macrumors 604
I'm happy with my late 2012 Mac Mini. It's a nice little desktop. I think I'll be holding onto it for a while.
Most every Mac I've owned, I've added more RAM to it somewhere along the line. The only exception was my second generation MacBook Air, which had soldered memory as well (that was at least defensible). Heck, even the unibody MacBook Pros have been upgradable!
I won't be buying a machine that I can't put more RAM in, simple as that.
Most every Mac I've owned, I've added more RAM to it somewhere along the line. The only exception was my second generation MacBook Air, which had soldered memory as well (that was at least defensible). Heck, even the unibody MacBook Pros have been upgradable!
I won't be buying a machine that I can't put more RAM in, simple as that.
MyopicPaideia
macrumors 68020
You're right! Thing is you wish you could rely on the Apple reps, especially from several different sources!
Illustrated teardown I noted for you:
THIS is what the $500 base model is
NOTHING but a VERY CHEAP logic brd. with perm. RAM
and a $40 hard drive (and thats consumer level cost)
oh, and a 802AC wifi card ($15)
peek inside, a LOT MORE empty space
(that you can do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL WITH).............NOTHING, not 1 thing.
CONFIRMED, permanent RAM (booooo Hissssss)
----------
CONFIRMED:::
Impossible to throw in another HD
look at THIS insane mess
"DONT TOUCH SCREWS" on the new Mini
6mm Security TORX
absurd
THIS is what the $500 base model is
NOTHING but a VERY CHEAP logic brd. with perm. RAM
and a $40 hard drive (and thats consumer level cost)
oh, and a 802AC wifi card ($15)
peek inside, a LOT MORE empty space
(that you can do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL WITH).............NOTHING, not 1 thing.
CONFIRMED, permanent RAM (booooo Hissssss)
----------
CONFIRMED:::
Impossible to throw in another HD
look at THIS insane mess
"DONT TOUCH SCREWS" on the new Mini
6mm Security TORX
absurd
The Mini isn't really for the average computer user though...
People with money to burn and who don't care about upgradability buy MacBooks or iPads.
I don't think I've ever met a Mac Mini owner who hasn't upgraded the RAM themselves.
High-end users with money to burn, buy Retina iMacs or Mac Pros.
The Mini is generally for technically minded people who either want a mac but can't afford the other options, or need a small efficient computer for a specific task, such as a server. These sort of people want to save some money and upgrade their RAM later on at a lower price or when they can afford it.
While I'm quite sure Apple don't 'really' care about the needs of their customers, this is clearly alienating a lot of their core supporters, and will reduce sales from what they otherwise would have been.
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Oh my the quad core 2012 mac mini is comparable to a mac pro.
That sounds like a big problem, it probably is a good thing apple downgraded the mac mini in stead of upgrading the mac pro.
3rd-party RAM is also MUCH cheaper than Apple RAM. I've always bought Macs with the least amount of RAM and upgraded them later myself.
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And now they do the opposite and it's going to turn a lot of people away.
Smeaton1724
macrumors 6502a
Would love to be a fly on the wall and know the logic behind this move, generally Apple are logical, this however just cuts off a path of migration from windows. PC folk will look at those RAM upgrade prices and walk away laughing.
Apple just do not realise the Mini is the iPod of it's day, it tempts someone across in to OSX then from that they may get an iMac, iPhone or iPad.
Apple just do not realise the Mini is the iPod of it's day, it tempts someone across in to OSX then from that they may get an iMac, iPhone or iPad.
Jambalaya
macrumors 6502a
87.6% of statistics are made up
Not being able to upgrade the RAM is a negative, my 2009 Mini had 2GB
and it if wasn't upgradable the machine would be unusable now whereas it's happily still in use every day running the latest software.
MyopicPaideia
macrumors 68020
There are PLENTY of Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux based laptops and desktops out there at FAR lower price points than the $499 Mac Mini that gets you an entry level ticket into OS X. And they are all upgradable. You're not getting this guys point. He makes a valid one. He's not saying that a $499 Windows PC would be better than the $499 Mac Mini, he is saying that a $299 Windows PC might be a better option for those that cannot afford or justify $500 for a machine that is meant to perform only the essential functions you are talking about - accessing the Internet, using email, online services etc.
Mac's and OS X have never been priced for entry level computing. The Mac Mini is an entry level Mac, not an entry level COMPUTER.
Why, when it's much cheaper to upgrade? Not everybody has the budget to buy new all the time but they do have the budget to add a new component.
Even if you do have the money things don't get any better. I bought a rMBP and I'm now having to replace it with another machine because I can't upgrade the RAM or the SSD. I've bought a Dell M4800. It doesn't look as cool, but the hardware is a lot more flexible. When it comes to replacing my nMP if Apple have dumbed that down even further I'll be looking at a Dell or HP workstation again because the hardware is more flexible.
Apple need to sort out their 'pro' products and create a line up for enthusiasts too. Appliances have their place, but not everyone wants them and Apple have to realise that.
You are absolutely right...and I am absolutely glad someone finaly made such a wise and forward looking comment.
After all, our resources are just as endless as the space to dump our garbage is. And on top of that, those ever shorter useability times have zero impact on enviorment...AWESOME!!!
(just to be sure: /sarcasm)
???
Their cheap (non-Pro) set contains Torx Security TR6 (and TR5)
http://www.amazon.com/iFixit-IF145-220-1-Macro-Bit-Set/dp/B00BOWQSRC
EDIT: Amazon's list seems be incorrect
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Macro-Bit-Set/IF145-220
on the other hand
http://eustore.ifixit.com/en/Tools/Drivers-Wrenches/TR6-Torx-Security-Screwdriver.html
("Commonly found securing hard drives to their brackets.")
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I'd question this statement, since 2014 mini has the same PSU as 2011 and 2012.
I realise this is off-topic, but could you please provide a link? I'm trying to get this working on mid-2011 MBP and iMac.
Back to subject: As for me, I guess I'm one of the "poorer" folks here, working as an outsourced translator (night shifts only due to time zone difference). My Mac journey began with the 2012 mini back in April 2013 (standard i7 2.3GHz MD388 fitted with an extra 256 GB SSD) which I bought second-hand for $900 plus travel expenses (250 miles there and back). The first thing I did was to add 16 GB Corsair Vengeance RAM that cost me another $150 and buy Parallels so I could run my Windows-based CAT tools. Now, the reason I decided to go through all that trouble was to have something powerful yet quiet, because after a few months of night work even the slightest hum of the fans gets on your nerves.
This mini likely was my best investment so far. It has really improved my work process, helped me to earn more money, and eventually my family went Apple completely (2011 MBP for my wife, 2011 iMac for my kids, ATV, ATC, couple of iPads and iPods… not a single iPhone though!). Most of these were bought second-hand, at half the price - which didn't make them any less than the best value for money products. And even though my mini serves me well, I was anticipating the new model in hopes of an upgrade. However, it seems that in 2014 Apple decided to choose "planned obsolesce" route with most of their products - iPad mini 3 is a joke, Mac mini 2014 is a downgrade, new Yosemite features don't work on 2011 machines for no apparent reason... So I guess I'll have to stick with the old, and possibly get another CTO i7 2012 mini as a backup before they're all sold out.
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