If Apple wanted a machine that competed with the Raspberry Pi, all they'd need to do is add some USB ports to the AppleTV and let people jailbreak it.
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Apple to Debut Low-Cost MacBook Air With Retina Display, Revamped Pro-Focused Mac Mini in 2018
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If Apple wanted a machine that competed with the Raspberry Pi, all they'd need to do is add some USB ports to the AppleTV and let people jailbreak it.
Let me guess what the two Mini models will be: a fancy $1k+ Mac Mini plus a 0.1GHz speed bump for the base model and a $100 price increase? Maybe another gig of RAM?
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited that they are updating it. But for the love of god, it needs to be a substantial update because they'd been slacking for like three years on this.
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited that they are updating it. But for the love of god, it needs to be a substantial update because they'd been slacking for like three years on this.
I need to replace my aging 2013 rMBP 15". I had all but decided to switch to the dark side and get a Windows laptop, as the cost of a new MBP with the specs I need for work (design/video) would be $3K+.
I work between two different offices, both of which I have docking for my laptop. I never use my laptop unless docked. A powerful, expandable mac mini would keep me in the OSX game a little longer, and would be PERFECT.
I work between two different offices, both of which I have docking for my laptop. I never use my laptop unless docked. A powerful, expandable mac mini would keep me in the OSX game a little longer, and would be PERFECT.
Doesn't the imac use laptop components, though?
HAHA I was just thinking this; also totally called it (with the "pro mini")
That being said my prediction is that it will more or less be a macbook pro (in terms of "guts") in a mac-mini form factor. They will either provide the GPU that way or go the integrated graphics and eGPU (modular) approach. That's about as modular as they'll get, they don't want people building their own computers that is not the apple way.
If we're lucky we'll get USB A and HDMI and not just a bunch of USB C (maybe some TB3) ports
the 27" is currently using mostly desktop parts. Except GPU
Just to clarify:
The current CPU options for Retina iMacs are
i5-7500
i5-7600
i5-7600k
i5-7700k
I share your frustration, I guess they're not a pro device manufacturer these days? They've been using the pro moniker for as a long as I can recall now.
Smaller market, smaller profit margins?
Their one modern pro machine (in the loosest sense), the imac pro has the smallest profit margin of all Apple devices apparently.
I don't know guys but this rumor is somehow wrong. I doubt it will be similar design as MBA. Or define similar... they say it will have 13" display, similar design as MBA but less bezels. It sounds it has to be redesigned (smaller case) or it has to have larger display (14-15")...
Yet I don't know why would Apple do something like that. I still think the MB is the next MBA, so they might release bigger version of MB, but that's no Air, that's simply a Macbook.
And I doubt it will have old ports. Apple knows that machine like that (current MBA with retina display and better specs and low price) could take like 80% of 13" MBP sales.
Yet I don't know why would Apple do something like that. I still think the MB is the next MBA, so they might release bigger version of MB, but that's no Air, that's simply a Macbook.
And I doubt it will have old ports. Apple knows that machine like that (current MBA with retina display and better specs and low price) could take like 80% of 13" MBP sales.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Don't iMacs have laptop components as the price of "thinner"? I believe you might be calling for desktop components, not mobile.
Hmmm, corrected...
Honestly, I haven't checked in on Intel since I saw that announcement almost a year ago. I thought it was a done-deal.
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That's easy to say, but it still doesn't change the fact that all of those, as well as all his other trend-setting industrial designs, are his.
Agree.
Especially when there has to be separation from the current MBP13.
I would expect the performance to be close the MBP13ntb that was not updated.
I think we are in the era where an upgrade to the GPU is an eGPU.
Given the importance of the T2 chip, I think after purchase upgrades to RAM and storage are relics of the past. I fully expect any Mac Mini to be fully soldered. Maybe, just maybe, it will be possible to upgrade the RAM.
I have been wrapping my head around the fact that this means my base storage in the machine will be for system/programs and "my" data will be in something external.
The new Apple doesn't make computers, they make computing appliances with planned obsolescence as a feature. I am really not thrilled with the idea that my data, my work, my time is locked behind a T2 controlled storage platform which is vulnerable to any component failure meaning a potential loss of everything which isn't on an external backup.
Congratulations Apple, forcing me to rely upon external storage makes the internal storage offered less valuable to me. If I have to rely on external storage for recovery, I will rely on it for storage of my data as well. I won't have my data controlled by you.
only in Apple's computer land is this statement valid. The rest of the world is still using ATX form factors for computers, and standard length PCI-E cards. very very few desktop computers outside of Apple are using proprietary or external boxes. This is being done for lock-down and is not the norm
Sorry. That's too thin of a margin for ANY computer/tech-device OEM that actually DOES R&D. Apple claims about a 40% gross profit margin on average, and that feels about right. Remember, there are a BUNCH of costs that AREN'T related to ANY Product, and thus are nothing but profit-sinks.
Just like at home, where you likely say "I make decent money, why am I always so broke?" It is the "death-of-a-thousand-cuts" that seemingly conspire to dribble away your paycheck. Only with Apple, those "dribbles" are measured in thousands and millions of dollars...
And just like with your paycheck, all the board members of Apple can do sometimes is shake their collective heads and say "It doesn't take long, does it?"...
I can't believe everyone keeps falling for this when it's been going on for 10 years;
1. No updates to product for an incredibly long time (Apple milks profit from using old components, and everyone keeps buying)
2. Concern builds, then Tim says says the product is an important part of future (Whew, my product is spared being sacrificed to the Gods in the Cloud. BTW, it's "Pro" now and will cost more)
3. Praise from from everyone!
1. No updates to product for an incredibly long time (Apple milks profit from using old components, and everyone keeps buying)
2. Concern builds, then Tim says says the product is an important part of future (Whew, my product is spared being sacrificed to the Gods in the Cloud. BTW, it's "Pro" now and will cost more)
3. Praise from from everyone!
Maybe same processors and upgrade possibilities as the new MacBook Pro's but no keyboard or display. Wouldn't bring the price down that much though.
The 27" iMac uses desktop GPUs, they are down-clocked, but they are not not laptop GPUs. The 21.5" uses the lower watt parts that are in the MacBook Pro - https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/workstations-radeon-pro-500 - the chart clearly shows the 570, 575 and 580 have about 2.7x the bandwidth of the 555 and 560.
I’m really interested to know how upgradeable this new Mac Mini is likely to be.
If it really is aimed at people who use it for servers etc then by its very nature, the amount of RAM and storage that you might need could be pretty elastic over 4 years.
So I’d hope at least that the RAM and SSD can be upgraded by authorised service providers.
There should be no excuse coming up with a design where that’s not possible.
I can understand - just about - why you wouldn’t want to do this on the MBP for reasons of space and that the machine had to be as fast as possible - so you’re basically building a system on a chip to make the access to both types of memory to be super fast.
I’d imagine however, that speed won’t be a primary concern with the mini and that adaptability will be.
Finally, if Apple does solder both types of memory to the motherboard in their new headless Mac, people are going to wonder if their next headless Mac is going to be the same... And that won’t be a good look.
I’m hopeful though, that ‘less mini’ really does mean that it’ll have room for more components - and room for upgradeability.
If it really is aimed at people who use it for servers etc then by its very nature, the amount of RAM and storage that you might need could be pretty elastic over 4 years.
So I’d hope at least that the RAM and SSD can be upgraded by authorised service providers.
There should be no excuse coming up with a design where that’s not possible.
I can understand - just about - why you wouldn’t want to do this on the MBP for reasons of space and that the machine had to be as fast as possible - so you’re basically building a system on a chip to make the access to both types of memory to be super fast.
I’d imagine however, that speed won’t be a primary concern with the mini and that adaptability will be.
Finally, if Apple does solder both types of memory to the motherboard in their new headless Mac, people are going to wonder if their next headless Mac is going to be the same... And that won’t be a good look.
I’m hopeful though, that ‘less mini’ really does mean that it’ll have room for more components - and room for upgradeability.
The mac mini should enter computer history as the only computer to have been 4 years old and still sold at original price for 4 year old components, and a low end one as well. Could you imagine selling in the year 2000 a 1996 specs, at 66MHz 
USB-C galore!
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If the portable Macbook Pro has USB-C only, you can bet that the Mac Mini will be USB-C only. Maybe 1 HDMI port if you are lucky. But adding a $10 dongle for a desktop machine is not a big issue.
USB-C galore!
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If the portable Macbook Pro has USB-C only, you can bet that the Mac Mini will be USB-C only. Maybe 1 HDMI port if you are lucky. But adding a $10 dongle for a desktop machine is not a big issue.
Better dongles than non removable/replaceable components.
No. There's a vast difference between local networks and cloud networks. Consumers might not notice the differences but professionals require performance that cloud networks cannot deliver.