Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

2014 Mac Mini Teardown Highlights Increased Difficulty For User Upgradability

ItWasNotMe said:
Well, after all the reviews and tear-downs I'm hoping my ageing mini lasts until after the next generation.

You'll know the one, it will be powered by an abacus with the beads soldered in place:D
Click to expand...

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.
 
MrGuder said:
"iFix it had to make a prototype new screwdriver to open the desktop"
Wow, can you imagine how much they will charge customers for that tool?

So it's confirmed, Apple no longer wants us to be techies and do the work ourselves. They purposely redesigned the internals for one purpose and one purpose only...to prevent the user from changing ram and hardrives. They purposely mixed it up inside so it's harder to get to and the outer shell is the same.

This is so wrong on an entry level machine. So disappointed.

On a positive note, I own a late 2012 mac mini model that I put 16 GB ram and large SSD inside and I saved money. That feels good that I didn't wait for this model.
Click to expand...

Wait - you consider yourself a "techie" because you can install a stick of RAM or hook up a new HDD or SSD??
 
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.
 
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. :(

Roadstar said:
[...] If Android 5.0 fixes the issues my Nexus 5 has with Bluetooth, my wife might get my iPhone 6 much sooner than expected.
Click to expand...
 
flyinmac said:
What confuses you? Clearly Apple says only certified Apple Service Centers are capable of doing something so trivial as installing memory.
Click to expand...

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...
 
Frost7 said:
Doing this sort of thing is part of my small business. I think you need to adjust your made up statistic to be larger, because at .01% I probably wouldn't be able to afford to eat.
Click to expand...

to be honest your small business was pretty much ruined with youtube tutorials already
 
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.
 
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)

j1.jpg




peek inside, a LOT MORE empty space
(that you can do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL WITH).............NOTHING, not 1 thing.


j2.jpg



CONFIRMED, permanent RAM (booooo Hissssss)
j3.jpg


----------

CONFIRMED:::
Impossible to throw in another HD

j4.jpg




look at THIS insane mess





"DONT TOUCH SCREWS" on the new Mini

6mm Security TORX

absurd

j5.jpg
 
vagos said:
I last met a person who upgraded his computer four years ago. Upgradability on computers, removable battery on phones & memory cards on tablets are interesting perhaps to less than 1% of the market.

Some people really need to stop trying to conserve technology products for ages and get a new device when the time comes, just like the rest of us. In 2014 tech products are designed to be easy to manufacture & be thrown away when their time comes. Deal with it :cool:
Click to expand...

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.
 
Last edited:
GizmoDVD said:
Here comes the "Pro's" complaining how stupid it is that Apple soldered the RAM so the .01% of people who open up and upgrade their components can't.

How dare this $500 box not be comparable to a $2,500 Mac Pro!
Click to expand...

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.
 
GizmoDVD said:
Here comes the "Pro's" complaining how stupid it is that Apple soldered the RAM so the .01% of people who open up and upgrade their components can't.

How dare this $500 box not be comparable to a $2,500 Mac Pro!
Click to expand...

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.

----------
swingerofbirch said:
With the last version, Apple specifically advertised the "Twist Off" accessibility:

Add memory with a twist.

Mac mini comes with 4GB of fast 1600MHz DDR3 memory. And thanks to a removable bottom panel, it’s easy to add more. Just give it a twist, and you’re in. Pop your new memory into the SO-DIMM slot, and you’re out. Or you can configure your Mac mini with up to 16GB of memory from the start at the Apple Online Store.


Apple used to advertise how accessible their machines were (the G3, G4, and G5 towers in particular). It's one thing to make a machine more closed off, such as the portables, if it allows more room for a bigger battery or a thinner machine, but has anyone ever complained that a Mac mini was too big or too expandable?
Click to expand...

And now they do the opposite and it's going to turn a lot of people away.
 
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.
 
GizmoDVD said:
Here comes the "Pro's" complaining how stupid it is that Apple soldered the RAM so the .01% of people who open up and upgrade their components can't.

How dare this $500 box not be comparable to a $2,500 Mac Pro!
Click to expand...
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.
 
flyinmac said:
Alright then... Mr. Money Bags...

A poor person would obviously be better off spending $499 on a PC than on a mini... that's so obvious... Whatever.

You know what will keep Apple's "affordable machine" from reaching it's target audience? The new redesign.

How ridiculous that you would come out and claim that a $499 machine was targeted at people who have more money.

Compared to what?

I didn't realize that Apple strategically priced the $499 Mac Mini for those who make $200,000 a year. I'm sorry, I missed something in the math.
Click to expand...

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.
 
vagos said:
I last met a person who upgraded his computer four years ago. Upgradability on computers, removable battery on phones & memory cards on tablets are interesting perhaps to less than 1% of the market.

Some people really need to stop trying to conserve technology products for ages and get a new device when the time comes, just like the rest of us. In 2014 tech products are designed to be easy to manufacture & be thrown away when their time comes. Deal with it :cool:
Click to expand...

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.
 
vagos said:
In 2014 tech products are designed to be easy to manufacture & be thrown away when their time comes. Deal with it :cool:
Click to expand...
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)
 
This is the smallest Torx Security screw we've ever seen—our kits go down to T7 Security, so we asked our tool design team to get improvising.
Click to expand...

???
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.")
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
projectle said:
Of note, the new mini now uses less power than your average LED Light Bulb, and under half of the last gen when doing the same tasks. However, the old one used so little power anyways...

That isn't in any way called for by making the system less serviceable but rather 2 years of improvements from Intel for their processors, gpus and chipsets.
Click to expand...

I'd question this statement, since 2014 mini has the same PSU as 2011 and 2012.

iolinux333 said:
They recently just arbitrarily removed Handoff from mid-2011 MBA. An enterprising person in one of the subforums here figured out how to re-enable it with a 2 minute software hack. I suspect a future OS X update will do away with that hack, also known as the "evil bastard maneuver."
Click to expand...

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.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back