5 days since the M4 Mac Mini launched. How has the power button impacted your life?

[TechnoMonk]

Don’t be too short-sighted. There are several machines with power buttons that truly impact peoples lives. Consider an oxygen machine / respirator for people with COPD or having surgery etc, Dialysis machine, just to name two.

I agree with you, though, that the power button placement on the new mini is truly a non-issue and argued over more than it should be.

I was talking about consumer devices, not medical where life doesn’t depend on it. If I was on COPD or Oxygen machine forums, everything counts when your life is on the line.

 

[Fishrrman]

Not worried about the power button if I get one.
I've decided to just turn it onto it's "side" and use it that way.
(I DO press the power on button at least once a day, sometimes several times)

I'm more concerned about fan noise from the m4pro Mini.
I'd like to see a thread with REAL-USER reports on that...

 

[mondaymorning]

I don't own a mini, but I would simply put some kind of small rubber support(something that won't move and with the right shape) below the button that would raise that corner up just a tinge, then simply press the corner down into the support, which will result in the button being pressed. And maybe put some kind of wrapper or something, either on the full topside or just that corner, so the paint won't be fading in time.

 

[Newgoblin49]

Serious reply here :

I see in the US you have your products tied to the power supply at all times.

It’s not the case in most other countries. So, I have to use the power button every day , maybe twice.

Doesn’t bother me as much , it’s just a bit annoying , having to readjust the Mac mini after turning it on every day. It’s just a slight inconvenience

 

[applepotato666]

Imo it’s a cool design decision. You almost never press these and if you do it’s not like you can’t slide your finger under it.

 

[Starfia]

Apple should really remove the "start up automatically after a power failure" option to give their valued customers more to be angry about.

 

[ILoveCalvinCool]

Who are these people who are apparently cycling the power on their Mini several times a day? Who are they and what are they doing?

 

[TechnoMonk]

It’s day 6, checking in to see if every one is surviving the power button on Mac mini. If the science shows it’s traumatic, I will petition to start a rehabilitation club.

 

[0423MAC]

It’s day 6, checking in to see if every one is surviving the power button on Mac mini. If the science shows it’s traumatic, I will petition to start a rehabilitation club.

Hanging in there. I had to shut down to remove the wattage monitor and was close to requesting a return label, but remembered that my printer is out of ink to print it out.

 

[eba]

My palms grew hair, my wife left me, and my dog has gone no contact. But, OK otherwise.

 

[haralds]

I think it's easier to use than the one on my Mac Studio.
I used it mainly for setup:
1. Turn it on.
2. Twice for TouchID
3. Reduce security policy for a KEXT.
That's been it!

 

[Davefevs]

Turned it in twice, not yet turned it off.

Had a powercut!

 

[Mac-ajs]

I have an M2 Mac Mini (so I guess I'm not allowed to vote) that is now a year old and I think I've touched my power button a grand total of 2 times. I think the M4 folks will survive.

Though I do agree it's really a dumb-AF place to put it

 

[Che Castro]

You guys are gonna need therapy over this power button “crisis”

 

[tornadowrangler]

So people complain that Apple doesn't innovate, but every time they 'think differently' people rise up in arms and complain. The power button placement is no different. Initially I thought how strange, then I got one, and realized the thing was so light that it needed to be held in place to push the button. Heck I have to use two hands to push my Mac Studio power button. Putting it on the bottom means I only have to use one hand, if one is coordinated enough. If you are open to new ideas, then 'thinking different' and putting the button on the bottom does work for a lot of cases. Obviously if you pile something on top of the MacMini that changes the equation, but most people wont do that. Apple designs for most people, not edge cases. Try it, you'll like it.

No prob, but they could have put it in the bottom without requiring you to pick it up by making the gap a little wider between the button and the surface.

 

[philipma1957]

I have yet to retire my 2018 mini. I will replace with one of these. If it is like my 2018 mini 10 times or less in a year.

 

[v0lume4]

I've been troubleshooting some really old backup drives, some of which that seem not to like this machine so much. They take a long time to mount or unmount, and sometimes don't unmount at all. When that happens I shut down the machine and unplug the drive, and then I turn the Mac back on.

Because the Mac mini sits underneath the monitor, it means raising up the monitor (which fortunately is easily height adjustable) and then lifting the Mac mini to turn it on. It's annoying, but not a huge deal in the greater scheme of things. I've done this about a half dozen times now in the last three days.

This is a really great example of a real world use case where the power button placement is not ideal.

 

[Zwhaler]

I like the power button there. Sure the back panel would have been fine but it's super easy to press where they put it. Even if I had to do it every day I would only be mildly annoyed. I probably will end up using it a few times a month maybe.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Just because it doesn't really matter doesn't mean it's not stupid.

Is it stupid that the Power button of your TV is nearly impossible to find or reach?

 

[iscand]

If somebody makes these for cheap, I'd buy one.

Have you got a 3d printer, or do you know someone who owns one? In that case, you may get it (almost) for free:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6826809

 

[zonesey]

 

[wbeasley]

Who are these people who are apparently cycling the power on their Mini several times a day? Who are they and what are they doing?

they seem to busy to post...

like to know how accurate this poll is given results show 25% are so upset they are returning the new machines... yet almost every comment is "press it once". more manufacturer outrage it would seem...

sure a side or top placement would have been better but honestly if that's all you can complain about they did a great job of the redesign.

 

[G5isAlive]

This is a really great example of a real world use case where the power button placement is not ideal.

You can find real world use cases to suggest any placement is not ideal… because so many people use them in so many ways. This is a nothing burger.

 

[wbeasley]

You can find real world use cases to suggest any placement is not ideal… because so many people use them in so many ways. This is a nothing burger.

first world problem

 

[G5isAlive]

first world problem

First world whine 😂