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Apple to Debut Low-Cost MacBook Air With Retina Display, Revamped Pro-Focused Mac Mini in 2018

oneMadRssn said:
Who cares? Annual updates aren't needed anymore. Even Intel doesn't update their chips on an annual basis anymore. As long as the updates are material, they can wait 2-4 years in between and that is fine. No need for artificial SKU adjustments just to appease MR haters.
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Ah yes. Everyone is just A-OK with the 4 yr update schedule with the Mac Mini and Macbook Air. Nothing to see here...

Seriously? Who in their right mind thinks its ok to pay for 2, 3, 4 yr old components when you're buying a new computer?
 
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picaman said:
A pro-focused Mac mini would be just perfect for me. Hopefully there is something for the lower end as well.
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Ya, why the Pro focus, I wonder? All I want is a current-generation Mac mini. I don't want to spend full price on a four to five year old computer. I don't need a screen or keyboard or mouse, just the computer!

Seems that Apple is ignoring this market, but ironically, that was the very market the mini was originally conceived for. To go in the Pro direction suggests Apple is trying to position it to maximize profits.
 
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What would be more Pro focused would be not gutting macOS Server.app - our business won't be upgrading our Mac minis from Sierra anytime soon.. i.e ever.

(totally get there are other solutions that can do the same job (web server, SMB, Profile Manager etc) - just wished it didn't have to be this way.*

* See Airport base stations, Mac Pro tower, MagSafe and so on...
 
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macduke said:
I had this crazy theory that what Apple meant by modular for the Mac Pro was starting off with a Mac Mini-like base. I wonder if this is what that is or something else entirely. Basically you would have a base "box" which is the processor, RAM, and logic board. It would have Intel integrated graphics and an small SSD blade so it could run on it's own. Then you can stack components on top of this: GPU(s), SSDs, HDDs, capture cards and similar components for both video/audio production. It could all connect with a series of Thunderbolt 4 connectors (perhaps a variant that allows the components to stack together like lego bricks. The thing I'm not sure about is how the power supply would work, such as needing a larger one with multiple GPUs. I'm also not sure about whether Thunderbolt 4 would be fast enough for professional, highest-end GPU work. Isn't it supposed to be around 100Gbps? Perhaps the reason it has taken this long is they've been working with Intel on that standard (or building their own?).

It could start with a six core processor and 256GB or maybe 512GB SSD and you built it up from there. Starting at $1499. Add on bits as you like. I'm also not sure if they would allow CPU upgrades. Surely a modular machine would have a RAM access door.
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the cpu's in an mini system may not have the lanes for that and TB4 may need pci-e 4.0 and for big pro work it may need 4 TB buses can an low end video card even drive that many links?
 
Mizouse said:
If the Mac Mini specs are similar to the 15" MacBook Pro, I'd be somewhat ok with that, except for the soldered SSD and memory.
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Sorry. RAM and SSD are commodity-components now.

You can't upgrade your TV's GPU. You can't upgrade the Power Transistors in your AV Receiver. You can't upgrade the image sensor in your Smartphone, etc.

So why do people hold on to the notion that computer memory and SSD should somehow be an exception to every other product, when it is only a very small fraction of owners that ever DO that sort of "upgrading"?
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Mac Fly (film) said:
No one needs an Apple TV sized underpowered Mac mini. One the current size or slightly larger with real internals would be a better option for Apple is it has potential to serve more users, I would think.
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Um, that's EXACTLY what I read into this announcement.
 
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ThisBougieLife said:
I still can't believe that the new MBA is going to have a retina screen and smaller bezels without also changing the keyboard and ports.
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It's been long overdue. Yet I feel the "air" is no longer it's deserving product name because it's larger (by volume & dimensions). The MacBook Air needs to be sunset ... it's replacement is the new MacBook. The Air is not targeting 'Professionals" and the niche it once served is replaced by the MacBook and MacBook Pro.
 
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PickUrPoison said:
The current mini uses 15W/28W CPUs with no dGPU. The config you’re talking about has more than 3 times the requirement for heat dissipation. That would be one very loud mini, probably on the “jet plane at takeoff” level.
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The rumor is that it will be larger. Perhaps mostly for a better cooling system.

In fact, I am fairly certain that that's why the 2014 'mini went from quad to dual core: Heat dissipation issues.
 
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macduke said:
I had this crazy theory that what Apple meant by modular for the Mac Pro was starting off with a Mac Mini-like base. I wonder if this is what that is or something else entirely. Basically you would have a base "box" which is the processor, RAM, and logic board. It would have Intel integrated graphics and an small SSD blade so it could run on it's own. Then you can stack components on top of this: GPU(s), SSDs, HDDs, capture cards and similar components for both video/audio production. It could all connect with a series of Thunderbolt 4 connectors (perhaps a variant that allows the components to stack together like lego bricks. The thing I'm not sure about is how the power supply would work, such as needing a larger one with multiple GPUs. I'm also not sure about whether Thunderbolt 4 would be fast enough for professional, highest-end GPU work. Isn't it supposed to be around 100Gbps? Perhaps the reason it has taken this long is they've been working with Intel on that standard (or building their own?).

It could start with a six core processor and 256GB or maybe 512GB SSD and you built it up from there. Starting at $1499. Add on bits as you like. I'm also not sure if they would allow CPU upgrades. Surely a modular machine would have a RAM access door.
Click to expand...

I had this exact same idea and Apple has done it in the past, the B&W G3 had a $1499 base configuration.
 
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I would love the Mac Mini to be more powerful, but I need it to be inexpensive. I spent my Mac money on iPads, iPhones and Apple Watches. It sure is a rollercoaster following this company.
 
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MacsRuleOthersDrool said:
You can't upgrade your TV's GPU. You can't upgrade the Power Transistors in your AV Receiver. You can't upgrade the image sensor in your Smartphone, etc.

So why do people hold on to the notion that computer memory and SSD should somehow be an exception to every other product, when it is only a very small fraction of owners that ever DO that sort of "upgrading"?
Click to expand...

Because, unlike the components on your phone or TV, these components on computers have traditionally been able to be replaced/upgraded by the user, and there’s no reason for Apple not to allow it on a desktop computer.
 
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macduke said:
I had this crazy theory that what Apple meant by modular for the Mac Pro was starting off with a Mac Mini-like base. I wonder if this is what that is or something else entirely. Basically you would have a base "box" which is the processor, RAM, and logic board. It would have Intel integrated graphics and an small SSD blade so it could run on it's own. Then you can stack components on top of this: GPU(s), SSDs, HDDs, capture cards and similar components for both video/audio production. It could all connect with a series of Thunderbolt 4 connectors (perhaps a variant that allows the components to stack together like lego bricks. The thing I'm not sure about is how the power supply would work, such as needing a larger one with multiple GPUs. I'm also not sure about whether Thunderbolt 4 would be fast enough for professional, highest-end GPU work. Isn't it supposed to be around 100Gbps? Perhaps the reason it has taken this long is they've been working with Intel on that standard (or building their own?).

It could start with a six core processor and 256GB or maybe 512GB SSD and you built it up from there. Starting at $1499. Add on bits as you like. I'm also not sure if they would allow CPU upgrades. Surely a modular machine would have a RAM access door.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I thought when Apple started talking "modular". Hopefully, the CPU would be one of the "modules", and you could choose a six-core i9 or a 12-18 core Xeon, with some BTO steps in-between.

I agree that the Power Supply becomes a big issue. Hopefully, Apple has something up its sleeve for that one.

But I for one would REALLY look forward to that sort of system, if done the "right" way...
 
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Rogifan said:
Also keeping around the Air moniker when they ditched it from the iPads makes zero sense, but this is Phil Schiller we’re talking about so anything is possible.
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iPad and Mac are two entirely different markets.

iPad buyers didn't care about weight or thickness as surveys indicated most tablet users operated their device at home for entertainment. No one wanted to pay $499 for an iPad Air 2 they were using at the coffee table. Apple killed it.

MacBook Air buyers want something light and cheap. The "Air" branding is still quite valuable.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
I actually think you may be onto something here. I've had the same kind of thoughts and this rumor opens the door for that to pan out a bit wider.

"Modular" (external) power supplies? Buy how much power your "stack" needs? Upgrade your power supply as you add to your stack?

I'll differ with the "connect via thunderbolt" idea. Modern Apple would almost certainly roll out a new "pro-link", "Lightning Express" or other (proprietary) way for modules to connect so that anyone wanting to build a traditional pro from modules must buy Apple modules and/or third party modules have to pay Apple licensing fees. I don't think Thunderbolt connections would be as profitable for Apple.
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ext-pci cables but with apples own pinout and not the http://www.andovercg.com/datasheets/molex-74546-0813.pdf
 
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Capeto said:
Because, unlike the components on your phone or TV, these components on computers have traditionally been able to be replaced/upgraded by the user, and there’s no reason for Apple not to allow it on a desktop computer.
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Cars for the longest time "traditionally" had "wing vents" and manual chokes. Then they didn't.
 
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