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2018 MacBook Air and Mac mini Hands-On: Long-Awaited Updates Don't Disappoint

coolfactor said:
The Mac mini was introduced as the "most affordable Mac ever" at $499 USD.

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2005/01/11Apple-Introduces-Mac-mini/

Now the base price is $799 USD. It may be nearly twice the price, but has over 10x the power as the original.

However, here in Canadian pricing, the base price is $999, and that's too much for a "budget" Mac. It's clear that Apple is trying to build up their prowess in the "Premium Computer" niche, and leaving the budget computers for the competition.

I was really hoping Apple would be more aggressive with the pricing, but I guess they'd need to compromise on the specs at the same time. So they went with better specs.
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Or, the lower spec'ed units didn't sell well at all. I had a Mac mini server, before they discontinued it (I missed that), instead of a Mac mini, I went with a MBP instead, that is indeed a great computer, but because of the low specs, I didn't go near the Mac mini again. The new ones, I jut might, but Macs last so long, it might be awhile before I need another one.

I do wonder about the low end. There is a theory that if you only need a low spec'ed device, go with an iPad. They really do everything you are probably doing anyway, and you save a lot, and have an easier experience.
 
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These stacked Minis look nice and the whole thing almost makes sense - if they would have Xeons with ECC memory and having Xcode/clang distributed builds back. I was hoping for a small (rumors were) "pro" machine.
 
Yr Blues said:
I wish everyone would buy a mini and let Apple know the MacBook line is unacceptable. Yikes, that mini price hike! :confused:
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Yikes that mini performance hike! The old entry level was under-powered, you could get an iPad that scorched it. The new entry level is significantly faster than the top of the line Mac mini server from 2012 (which unfortunately was the fastest Mac mini)
 
Macalope said:
I was incredibly disappointed by the Mini. I was looking for an updated, current-spec $500 or maybe $550 way to replace my 2012 Mini and let me stay in the Mac ecosystem. The old machines were supposed to be affordable ways to have a Mac. That's gone now. Most people's incomes have not risen 60% over the last 6 years to match these price increases. In fact, the middle class in the USA has probably seen real income go up only, what, 5% or something? Going up to $800 is an awful leap, at least to people who saw the Mini as I did -- and on top of that you'd have to get external storage to compensate for this ridiculous 120GB storage. So I don't think I will be replacing my old Mini with a new one, after all, which is a massive disappointment. Nor do I think I will be replacing my $600 iPad Pro with a $1000 one -- something else I'd been excited for. It's sad times. And of course the new MBA is so expensive, too. I've got a longstanding connection to the Mac platform dating back to the 80s and I'm pretty sad to have to leave it. My income level is just not what Apple is targeting anymore. It's pretty amazing to me that these tech journalists don't get what has happened here with these prices.
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While I agree that the new iPad is pricey. You can still grab a beast of an iPad in the 329 version. It doesn't have the screen that works with the Apple Pencil, but that's 160 dollars lower than what the original iPad debuted at.

The idea that Mac costs have risen compared to what they were is ludicrous.
The 13" Mac Pro starts at 1299, where in 2012 that was the price of a non retina with an actual hdd and dvd drive.
The new 13" Mac Air is about 100 below the 12" MacBook which is pretty much an inferior computer in every way.
Yes the Mac mini is pricey and that was slightly disappointing but its also SSD now with more graphical power in many ways then the 2014. So a slight price increase makes sense. However, I would likely build a computer that could run Hackintosh for that price.
 
Prices have gone insane!

The last reasonable priced Apple Products were:

2014 iPad Air 2
2016 iPhone 7
2012 MacMini
2013 iMac
2015 MacBook Pro

Since then Apple has lost it ...
 
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MauiPa said:
Yikes that mini performance hike! The old entry level was under-powered, you could get an iPad that scorched it. The new entry level is significantly faster than the top of the line Mac mini server from 2012 (which unfortunately was the fastest Mac mini)
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The concept is entry level. Entry meaning affordable.
 
coolfactor said:
The Mac mini was introduced as the "most affordable Mac ever" at $499 USD.

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2005/01/11Apple-Introduces-Mac-mini/

Now the base price is $799 USD. It may be nearly twice the price, but has over 10x the power as the original.

However, here in Canadian pricing, the base price is $999, and that's too much for a "budget" Mac. It's clear that Apple is trying to build up their prowess in the "Premium Computer" niche, and leaving the budget computers for the competition.

I was really hoping Apple would be more aggressive with the pricing, but I guess they'd need to compromise on the specs at the same time. So they went with better specs.
Click to expand...

In Germany, it’s 899€, which is 1.020USD - for a base model computer with 128GB of storage. Apple‘s pricing is expensive enough in the US but they get really out of hand everywhere else.
 
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wiesel87 said:
This is not a replacement for the old MacBook Air, it's a new 13" MacBook
The old Air had an i5-5350U 15W CPU, where as the new Air has a Core i5-8200Y 7W CPU


MacBook Air (128GB) - i5-5350U 15W CPU - 999$
MacBook (256GB) - Core m3-7Y32 7W CPU - 1299$
MacBook Air Touch (128GB) - Core i5-8200Y 7W CPU - 1199$
MacBook Pro nTB (128GB) - Core i5-7360U 15W CPU - 1299$

That means that the current MacBook Pro nTB is really the new Air if you looking only at performance (better cpu, gpu and screen). It's not worth it to buy the new Macbook Air Touch, when you get an MacBook Pro nTB for only 100$ more. The only things you will be missing is 3. gen keyboard and Touch ID.
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Well the new air is lighter, thinner and apparently has better battery life? Which might be important to some. If you're not buying in the US the price difference is bigger as well. $229 difference here in Canada. With our crazy min 12% sales tax its up to at least $250 difference which is something if you're not a power user.
 
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miniroll32 said:
The pricing suggest that they are anything but replacements. If I was a first-time Mac buyer, I'd be more than a little put out (and confused) that the 'Air' is larger and heavier than the regular MacBook, yet is priced very close to the infinitely better value MacBook Pro 13".

The fact of the matter is, they won't admit to the 12" MacBook being a complete flop - which again, will have partly been due to it's high entry price. All they had to do was introduce a tapered 13" notebook, set it sub-£1000 and you're in business.

And as for the Mac Mini... Have they forgotten already that we need to buy a mouse, keyboard and display on top of the £800?
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Most people in the market for the mac mini already have a mouse, keyboard, and display...
 
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Amused, because at the thickest end the MacBook Air's 0.61" versus the MacBook Pro's 0.59".

I'm sure the taper and weight makes a clear difference in the hands of those holding it, but it still. I really think they should've retired the "Air" name. But identity wise, people are more prone to acknowledge the "MacBook Air" since it was the most popular model. Maybe next year they'll be able to drop the "Air" portion.

I'm kinda disappointed that they didn't update the Mini's design aside color / logo. They could've at least given it chamfered edges, lol.
 
I thought this over and over.

It makes no sense to get the i3 4core Mini unless you are absolutely ok with 128 gb storage.

I am not.

So it will be the i5 6core, just cannot decide on 256 vs 512. it is just to damn pricey.

Not fair, Apple.
 
re: Mac Mini RAM


Note how the this is clear about no upgrading storage after purchase, it's only "as built".


upload_2018-10-30_11-53-22-png.799476



Now notice the omission of "not user accessible" from the RAM details:


upload_2018-10-30_11-55-18-png.799477


Also consider how that differs from the very specific language with the iMac Pro:

upload_2018-10-30_15-6-50-png.799592



"... not user accessible ...", even though we know it's not soldered, since it's clearly shown in the cutaway view, and Apple can actually upgrade it after-the-fact.
 
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I wish there was an external ssd case with the shape and color of the mini, so you could just stack it up...
[doublepost=1540929369][/doublepost]
D.T. said:
re: Mac Mini RAM


Note how the this is clear about no upgrading storage after purchase, it's only "as built".


upload_2018-10-30_11-53-22-png.799476



Now notice the omission of "not user accessible" from the RAM details:


upload_2018-10-30_11-55-18-png.799477


Also consider how that differs from the very specific language with the iMac Pro:

upload_2018-10-30_15-6-50-png.799592



"... not user accessible ...", even though we know it's not soldered, since it's clearly shown in the cutaway view, and Apple can actually upgrade it after-the-fact.
Click to expand...


Same with the CPU in a Mac Pro. Not user accessible but in fact perfectly upgradable.
 
They are pricing them self out from student market with this. The Air have been popular with many schools. With this new price the most schools for kids in age 10-18 will drop this. They will go chrome books that costs about 1/4 of the new Air.
But I dont get it, it about 100 dollar cheaper than the mac book pro. Why should I buy it?
 
Love the new Mac Mini, although the SSD and RAM upgrades are ridiculously overpriced. The MacBook Air, however, is a product that I don't understand who it's for... It's worse than a similarly-specced 13" MacBook Pro, and also costs about the same when configured to a decent spec. I just don't get it.
 
Storage may not be upgradeable because of T2 chip (same as in existing products).
 
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