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

[KAZphoto]

Still love mine. Thing is a champ and runs all day as a home/media server. I'll be waiting for the new revision in a couple years. Hopefully something will be out by then.

 

[danr_97070]

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: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

[doublepost=1491337020][/doublepost]For the price of a Mini loaded the way I want, I can have a full-sized case with a custom built Linux machine
loaded on it. I really only want a properly configured Mini as a compute box; and a Linux machine works fine for that.
Stable too... Once Apple started diddling with the configuration of the Mini, my money was re-directed into custom built systems.

 

[kazmac]

Great to hear that the Mini is still "important" - if it goes back to something like the 2012, I will happily jump.

 

[toke lahti]

I think with USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 the Mac mini could easily be the central hub of a modular computer. The Mac mini could operate on its own with no problem for an entry level Mac while third party companies could make larger docking stations that could add higher end video, extra drive bays and ports like ethernet.

Even with TB3, it will be gimped with dp1.2, unless eGPU is accepted by Apple. Which means they are ditching the paradigm "upgradeability is too complicated for consumers. Hardly no-one upgrades."

I guess MP will get modularity, but the modules will be "Apple only". So very expensive. Ie. "very pro". If they bring that to Mini, it will mean"sure you can have eGPU, it's only $999!"

I'd be of course very happy, if Apple makes a total u-turn about upgradeablity/expandability.

 

[49JC]

If the mac mini is important, Apple will give us back quad core i7s and upgradable RAM. With that said I highly doubt its going to be as important as they say.

 

[Chris Blouch]

Still love mine. Thing is a champ and runs all day as a home/media server. I'll be waiting for the new revision in a couple years. Hopefully something will be out by then.

I still have my 2009 MacMini for our home media machine. Works just fine with eyeTV and a Drobo for storage. Only snag is the kids (elementary age) would like to play some more demanding games so the video/CPU is starting to show its age. I have wireless game controllers along with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse so it's all operable from the couch. The fiber optic output goes to my home theater amp so it produces nice 5.1 surround sound for movies and the video is hooked to a projector. I'm waiting, cash in hand, for a new Kaby Lake mini. It's been tempting to go down the hackintosh route but the reason I'm in the Apple camp to begin with is I want to spend my time doing stuff. Not fiddling with drivers to make things work.

 

[phrehdd]

I still have my 2009 MacMini for our home media machine. Works just fine with eyeTV and a Drobo for storage. Only snag is the kids (elementary age) would like to play some more demanding games so the video/CPU is starting to show its age. I have wireless game controllers along with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse so it's all operable from the couch. The fiber optic output goes to my home theater amp so it produces nice 5.1 surround sound for movies and the video is hooked to a projector. I'm waiting, cash in hand, for a new Kaby Lake mini. It's been tempting to go down the hackintosh route but the reason I'm in the Apple camp to begin with is I want to spend my time doing stuff. Not fiddling with drivers to make things work.

Perhaps while waiting, you could get something more usable for the kids' games. Maybe something like NVidia Shield TV (also excellent for playing back media/movie files).

 

[smacrumon]

Phil you're so full of it.

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

Right, yeah. I agree. The marketing rubbish that comes out of Phil Schiller is so laced with false hope and insincerity it's sad, so sad.

 

[navaira]

Great to hear that the Mini is still "important" - if it goes back to something like the 2012, I will happily jump.

I would laugh so hard if Apple announced they are re-releasing the 2012 Mini and called it a groundbreaking, revolutionary update. (Which it would be.)

Also, remember the date: April 4, 2017. The day when most posts on Macrumors' front page are about Macs.

 

[Qot]

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.

I'm developing in Xcode and Unity3d for over 5 years using only Mac Mini (Late 2012 currently).

Last year I upgraded it to SSD and now it's very nimble for all my needs.

 

[smacrumon]

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 it **** 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.

How can you build iOS apps on Windows? I'm seriously keen to learn more.

 

[Acorn]

maybe they will update the mac mini once they figure out why their macbook pro's sound like rice krispies.

 

[ssgbryan]

Apple needs to stop using the word "later". It's already way past "later". That was like 2015.

It's obvious they are waiting for the A10 chip or newer to equal desktop performance of the base model Mac Mini. Forget about the i7 models. And then drop Intel x86 chipsets. Just like when the intel chipset caught up to the PowerPC chip, then they switched.

And that will be the end of Apple. ARM may catch up to the x86, but not any time soon.

 

[kazmac]

I would laugh so hard if Apple announced they are re-releasing the 2012 Mini and called it a groundbreaking, revolutionary update. (Which it would be.)

Also, remember the date: April 4, 2017. The day when most posts on Macrumors' front page are about Macs.

LOL! Yes it would be revolutionary and a must buy for me.

 

[mdgm]

I have 3 Minis and the 2009 ones are showing their age. I'd love to get a new Mini with Intel Quad-Core CPU.

An internal Blu-Ray burner would be a nice surprise, but very unlikely.

 

[nutmac]

Even with TB3, it will be gimped with dp1.2, unless eGPU is accepted by Apple. Which means they are ditching the paradigm "upgradeability is too complicated for consumers. Hardly no-one upgrades."

I think that's fine for Mac mini's intended use. I mean, TB 3 with its DP 1.2 is fine for 4K at 120 Hz and 5K at 60 Hz.

 

[Wildhope]

I hope there is a new update soon but the statement seemed more of like a no comment statement.
[doublepost=1491347850][/doublepost]

Poor Mac Mini, even MacRumors didn't consider this news important enough to make the main news page. I almost missed it.

I know how sad lol

 

[ignatius345]

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.

Same. I put an SSD into mine and used some instructions I found on this very forum to merge the HDD and SSD into a single Fusion Drive. It instantly became WAY faster, and I went on to use it for years afterward for Final Cut X, Photoshop, Illustrator, a little light gaming... and all at quite decent speeds. I finally bought a 5K iMac last year, but that 2011 Mini soldiers on on my girlfriend's desk, hooked up to a nice 1920x1200 monitor. It's up to date and still totally capable years later.

 

[maestrokev]

My 2012 Mini is a media server. I love the fact I can upgrade the RAM and HD myself. If I have to pay Apple prices to upgrade any components than I will be switching to Windows when this Mini dies.

 

[wesley96]

It's telling when a lot of people on this thread mention that they're running the 2011 or 2012 version of the Mac mini, not 2014. In people's minds, Mac mini hasn't had a proper update in 5 years. My 2012 Mac mini has been doing server duties since early 2013 and I love it. Got a custom Fusion Drive setup (2TB HDD + 0.5TB SSD), maxed out RAM (16GB), and of course, BTO Core i7 quad-core. I do wish an updated version with recent processors come out while retaining custom upgradability.

 

[John.B]

For those that don't know/weren't aware: The soldered RAM is a function of that Intel processor/chipset.

 

[consoleboi]

In other words "don't worry, we'll find a way to gauge consumers by giving sub par hardware at Apple pricing of course".

 

[fhall1]

That device is called a Apple TV.

Pretty much

 

[762999]

How can you build iOS apps on Windows? I'm seriously keen to learn more.

You can use visual studio 2017 to build cross platform apps. You either have the choice of :

- use shared code + dedicated UI code for each platform (which let you use specific API of each platform.
- use xamarin forms and build app that share 100% compatible code ( but you won't be able to call specific platform API)

For building & debugging, they still require a Mac. The visual studio IDE will connect via SSH to the Mac.

Cheers
[doublepost=1491355763][/doublepost]

It's telling when a lot of people on this thread mention that they're running the 2011 or 2012 version of the Mac mini, not 2014. In people's minds, Mac mini hasn't had a proper update in 5 years. My 2012 Mac mini has been doing server duties since early 2013 and I love it. Got a custom Fusion Drive setup (2TB HDD + 0.5TB SSD), maxed out RAM (16GB), and of course, BTO Core i7 quad-core. I do wish an updated version with recent processors come out while retaining custom upgradability.

The 2012 version was great, the only thing that shows it's age is the lame GPU.

For non-gaming or you intensive stuff this machine rocks. I told my brother to get one and we added RAM and SSD and it shines. I'm sure he would be good for another 10 years. The problem is he won't get security updates unless I wipe it with Windows later on.

 

[John.B]

For the price of a Mini loaded the way I want, I can have a full-sized case with a custom built Linux machine
loaded on it. I really only want a properly configured Mini as a compute box; and a Linux machine works fine for that.
Stable too... Once Apple started diddling with the configuration of the Mini, my money was re-directed into custom built systems.

You couldn't pay me to run desktop Linux.