Apple Says Mac Mini is 'Important' But Remains Tight-Lipped About Future Updates

[MacRumors]

Apple today introduced reshuffled Mac Pro configurations and pricing, and revealed that it's working on a "completely rethought" Mac Pro alongside an Apple-branded pro display that will launch beyond 2017. However, Apple remained tight lipped about the Mac mini, beyond noting that it's an "important" product in its lineup.

Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller via Daring Fireball:

"On that I'll say the Mac Mini is an important product in our lineup and we weren't bringing it up because it's more of a mix of consumer with some pro use. ... The Mac Mini remains a product in our lineup, but nothing more to say about it today."

Apple last updated the Mac mini in October 2014, a span of over 900 days, according to the MacRumors Buyer's Guide.

The current Mac mini models, which are designed to be connected to a display and peripherals purchased separately, range in price from $499 to $999. The base model is equipped with a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 5000.

Article Link: Apple Says Mac Mini is 'Important' But Remains Tight-Lipped About Future Updates

 

[Centris 650]

I love my Mac mini but what was great about it they destroyed. Upgrading the ram and putting in 2 HD (one SSD) was what sold me on the mini. Over 5 years running it's still a great machine.

 

[Born Again]

Phil you're so full of it.

If the mac mini is important then the apple iphone is life?

 

[NYmacAttack]

I love my Mac mini but what was great about it they destroyed. Upgrading the ram and putting in 2 HD (one SSD) was what sold me on the mini. Over 5 years running it's still a great machine.

Couldn't agree with you more, my mini has been a rock solid machine. No updates though will eventually force me to switch to something else.

 

[Appleaker]

While Mac mini isn't on the top of their priorities for the Mac, I don't think we will see it be dropped from the lineup as many people have been suggesting. I'm sure pricing, along with other reasons, makes it a very hard product to update.

 

[1050792]

This is what happened when most people started getting maxed out Mac Minis for half the price of the iMacs with the same specs/performance. Remember those Quad core I7 processor and that RAM replacement? This is why they decided to kill this line. Basically the Mac Mini is just a "toy" for people who never used a Mac and want to try it (these people get MacBooks anyway).

 

[keysofanxiety]

I love my Mac mini but what was great about it they destroyed. Upgrading the ram and putting in 2 HD (one SSD) was what sold me on the mini. Over 5 years running it's still a great machine.

I agree that it was a middle finger to solder the RAM and have an almost identical enclosure. They could have at least entertained a redesign to justify the soldered RAM -- instead it just stank of profit margins.

Generally I'm not too fussed about components being soldered, providing the tolerances and design are beneficial to the end product. For instance, the 2016 15" MBPs cooling system in such a thin enclosure. And the build quality is much more sturdy as a result. I know some may disagree but it really does slay as a product.

After all, we'll eventually be getting boards with components written on a microscopic level, so we can't always expect to upgrade hardware ourselves. But yeah, that 2014 Mac Mini 'redesign' was a real kick in the teeth.

 

[star_nerdy]

The Mac mini is laptop hardware in a small desktop form factor.

Apple hasn't improved their mac hardware in years (at least anything meaningful), so what makes you think the mini will get better hardware?

When laptops get much better everything, then you can expect the mini to get hardware improvements 6 months later.

 

[canadianreader]

I love my Mac mini but what was great about it they destroyed. Upgrading the ram and putting in 2 HD (one SSD) was what sold me on the mini. Over 5 years running it's still a great machine.

Me too I love my Mac Mini I have 2.6 Quad Core with 16GB Ram still love it the only down side is that it can't run a 4k display

 

[Boatboy24]

While Mac mini isn't on the top of their priorities for the Mac, I don't think we will see it be dropped from the lineup as many people have been suggesting. I'm sure pricing, along with other reasons, makes it a very hard product to update.

It's a $500 desktop computer with no display. Plenty of room for profit in there.

 

[bigfatipod]

I just bought myself a 2.6 quad core last week. Guess its going to be around (hopefully!) for quite some time

 

[sza]

Apple makes 70% revenue from iPhone and iStores. 3.5% from iPad, 3.5% from Mac, 1.6% from iWatch, 0.06% from iPods and the rest is cash. This is why Apple doesn't give **** to Mac if it is outdated. Developers will buy Mac for sure since they have to build apps on Mac anyway (but now you can do it on Windows), it's ok customers are not buying new Macs. As long as customers are keeping buying iPhone, it will keep Apple running good business.

Apple now is a business driven company instead of technology driven company. Even W. Buffet who seldom invests in tech companies invested in Apple recently and made huge profit from it.

 

[Crosscreek]

Server addition with upgradeable drives, Ram and Quad core

 

[iKnowMr.Jobs]

Really hope they keep the Mac Mini alive. I'd love to buy one but it's ridiculously expensive for what you get and you can't upgrade it. I'm strongly considering doing a Hackintosh build in a small case like the Mac Mini's because it's affordable, good enough performance to drive a 5K display and it gets out of the way. I'd love to buy an iMac but and SSD upgrade is expensive.

 

[TMRJIJ]

It will always be an entry level Mac in my eyes. Don't know why people in the forums keep trying to make it out as a pro workstation. The soldered RAM proved by viewpoint.

 

[Zedcars]

This is what happened when most people started getting maxed out Mac Minis for half the price of the iMacs with the same specs/performance. Remember those Quad core I7 processor and that RAM replacement? This is why they decided to kill this line. Basically the Mac Mini is just a "toy" for people who never used a Mac and want to try it (these people get MacBooks anyway).

My 2011 Mac Mini i7 Quad Core 16GB Server is anything but a "toy" as you put it. I use it to run Logic and Cubase and they are quite demanding apps.

Prior to that I had a Quad G5 tower, and a Dual G4 tower before that.

It's great to have all that power in a small form factor.

It's just a shame they killed the Quad server MM.

 

[TurboPGT!]

I love my Mac mini but what was great about it they destroyed. Upgrading the ram and putting in 2 HD (one SSD) was what sold me on the mini. Over 5 years running it's still a great machine.

If that is what's great about the Mac mini, then there is nothing great about it.

 

[adam9c1]

They will keep the Mac Mini for server app (caching)... unless they take out caching out of the server app and turn caching into a dumb appliance.

 

[truthertech]

This is what happened when most people started getting maxed out Mac Minis for half the price of the iMacs with the same specs/performance. Remember those Quad core I7 processor and that RAM replacement? This is why they decided to kill this line. Basically the Mac Mini is just a "toy" for people who never used a Mac and want to try it (these people get MacBooks anyway).

Wow. Slow down. It isn't being killed and Apple made it from the start as a device for "switchers" from the PC world

 

[fokmik]

Nothing more to say today !!!! So the mac mini is not dead. Its clear they focus for this year imac and macbooks and for next mac pro. So in 2019-2020 probably mac mini

 

[Spock]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple "upgrade" the Mac mini to a smaller form factor with just USB-C

 

[Centris 650]

If that is what's great about the Mac mini, then there is nothing great about it.

Affordable upgradabilty to prolong the life of our investment isn't great?

 

[1050792]

My 2011 Mac Mini i7 Quad Core 16GB Server is anything but a "toy" as you put it. I use it to run Logic and Cubase and they are quite demanding apps.

Prior to that I had a Quad G5 tower, and a Dual G4 tower before that.

It's great to have all that power in a small form factor.

It's just a shame they killed the Quad server MM.

That's what I said on my post. The older Mac Minis are as good if not better value of an iMac but nowadays the "new" mac Minis are toys.

 

[navaira]

Daring Fireball quotes that best selling Macs are the laptops, then iMacs, then Mac Pro at "single digit percentage". TBH that surprises me, unless he either deliberately or accidentally skipped Minis. I can't imagine less people buy Minis than trashcans.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

More good news and they should remain tight lipped about it. Why tell everyone when it should be a surprise.