Apple Imagines Mac-Inside-a-Keyboard Device Evocative of 80s Home Computers

[HowardEv]

Ahh! I've got it: the "input device" won't be a keyboard or a trackpad, it will be a touchscreen! That explains the rumor of the new Mini having a clear plexiglass top.

 

[CarlJ]

Ahh! I've got it: the "input device" won't be a keyboard or a trackpad, it will be a touchscreen! That explains the rumor of the new Mini having a clear plexiglass top.

Eh touchscreens are so last year. The new Mac Mini will be entirely Siri controlled.

 

[GubbyMan]

Eh touchscreens are so last year. The new Mac Mini will be entirely Siri controlled.

Nonono. Isn’t it obvious? It’ll be a standalone touch bar with an M2 chip.

 

[Mainyehc]

Actually, no, it’s a utility patent application with 20 claims as-filed, not a design patent application.

I stand corrected, then. Interesting… How can they actually patent something for which so much prior art already exists? 🤔

 

[cmaier]

I stand corrected, then. Interesting… How can they actually patent something for which so much prior art already exists? 🤔

We don‘t know that they can. Time will tell.

 

[Boil]

With Apple killing off the 27" iMac today, I am gonna put this out there...

The Mn-series Mac mini becomes this keyboard Mac, to be released alongside an all new 24" Apple Display...!

At the same time, Apple kills off the 24" iMac...

No more All-In-Ones; just laptops, headless desktops, and displays...!

14" MacBook
14" MacBook Pro
16" MacBook Pro

keyMac mini
Mac Studio
Mac Pro

24" Apple Display
27" Studio Display
32" Pro Display XDR

 

[Boil]

Imagining a Mn-powered keyboard Mac (up to 32GB/4TB, Xcode pre-loaded) debuting with a 24" 4.5K 2520 x 4480 Portrait Display (yup, webcam on the short end), no speakers because you are a badas$$ keyboard samurai rocking out with your AirPod Max headphones...! ;^p

Tilt & Height-Adjustable Stand extra...

 

[tmoerel]

Imagining a Mn-powered keyboard Mac (up to 32GB/4TB, Xcode pre-loaded) debuting with a 24" 4.5K 2520 x 4480 Portrait Display (yup, webcam on the short end), no speakers because you are a badas$$ keyboard samurai rocking out with your AirPod Max headphones...! ;^p

Tilt & Height-Adjustable Stand extra...

Portrait Display???? Sorry your use case is way too limited. Keep dreaming!!

 

[kc9hzn]

Portrait Display???? Sorry your use case is way too limited. Keep dreaming!!

But I’d totally go for a 4:3 ratio pro display with a portrait pivot. Maybe even using folding display technology to open up to 16:9. Now THAT’s a use of folding displays that I could really get behind!

 

[Tagbert]

There's been no evidence of the A series CPUs being paired with USB-C output capabilities. As it is the A15 in the iPhone Pro has 2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores, 5 GPU cores but only a rumoured 6Gb of RAM despite up to 1Tb of SSD.

I can't see how Apple could make this work unless they think they can profit from a hobbyist Nano competitor vs much cheaper Raspberry Pi for around $400 with HDMI port and ethernet only.

This kind of spec would be great running in an AppleTV mark 7 running tvOS though.

The A12z in the iPad Pros works well with USB-C for power delivery, connecting to external drives, and mirroring the screen to a monitor. Since Apple is now putting M1s into iPads, they can even support thunderbolt

 

[Tagbert]

I would assume that it would be very entry level...less features than a mac mini

Since Apple is putting M1s into iPads, I think they would put one into a computer like this too. No need for an older chip.