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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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I'm starting to feel like "modular Mac Pro" may end up being "Mac minis daisy-chained with Thunderbolt."
What does this mean for the 12" MacBook and the 13" non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro? If a 13" MacBook Air exists with updated specs, how do they differentiate these lines and justify their price differences. I'm hoping they have a clear story for these 3 "consumer" level notebooks, but I fear they will take the Tim Cook approach of doing what's best for supply chain management and channel sales blah blah instead of killing old lines in favor of telling buyers a clear story of what product they should be interested in. Steve was the best at that.
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A lot of us would if we could (on the hardware side), but we can't (because of macOS).
I’m skeptical of the rumor. I expect same size with 28W CPUs. I don’t think we’ll see the same processors used in the $2,399+ 15” MBP but I could very well be wrong.
But in any case those that were expecting a $499 quad-core 8GB/256GB mini are going to be sorely disappointed. They’ve convinced themselves that’s what’s coming, and the outrage will continue for years no doubt.
I'll buy the new MacBook air if it doesn't have the butterfly keyboard. Also a black or darker border around the screen would be nice.
Most won’t, requiring a modicum of courage to be mustered up to take action. Whining is loads easier, and builds forum cred. A bonus for some..
1. Other than the Mac Pro and the 'mini, name another Mac that has old components. I'll wait.
2. Name another OEM that "pro-rates" the MSRP of their products that way. I'll wait.
What difference does it make when the component was "released" if it's still appropriate for use. If Intel still makes and sells new CPUs of the same model number as they did 2-4 years ago, where those CPUs work very well for all relevant tasks, then what's the problem?
By your logic, you're paying for some 25 year old components (lithium ion battery) and some 15 year old components (LED screen) when you're buying a new computer. The computer is also loaded with 100+ year old technology - do you know how long ago the capacitor was first introduced??
Pro Mac Mini, huh. You mean the headless, midrange Mac that so many of us have wished for for so many years and have been told repeatedly by so many folks here on MacRumors that it simply wouldn't make sense? It does make sense and will always make sense. The headless midrange computer that is offered by every company on the planet except Apple. It is a glaring gap in the lineup and has been a glaring gap for ages all because Apple cannot let go of the outdated all-in-one concept. The AOI idea made sense back when computers were more complicated and users were less computer-savvy but those days are long gone. The iMac and the Mac Mini need to die and be replaced by a solid line up of headless Macs.
It doesn't matter if it has 64 cores and runs on Cold Fusion, with the excess power generated available on a connector for powering the rest of your home; twenty-eleven Haters will be on MR, Apple Insider and Slashdot complaining the SECOND it is announced...
1. MacBook Air. Old processor, old display technology.
2. They don't need to, because they don't wait four years between updates.
Would you buy a 2014 car today, even new, if the price was the same as in 2014?
I don't get it either. I thought the Mini was supposed to occupy that "least expensive Mac" slot, especially well-suited to PC switchers who already have a monitor and keyboard, etc.
I mean, if it turns out to be something of a baby Mac Pro of sorts that actually suits someone like me just fine but it sure seems weird to remove a budget desktop from the Mac lineup.
MacMini are using mobile intel chips, I am not sure why the design cannot shrink further as there is no battery built into it. Have you seen the motherboards for the MacBook and MacBook Air, its small. Have built in SSD and a vacant PCI-E slot for a 2.5” SSD user expandable, lower the cost and it will sell. This thing can possibly fit in the palm of your hand if redesigned.
Of course not, that would be silly on a Mac Mini ...
OT: Would love to see a Mini Pro with the same specs as the current 15" MBP, i.e., at least some current gen i7 @ 2.x, 32GB RAM as an option (assuming no DIY upgrades), fast SSD, 512GB, maybe a 1TB option. The big update for me (and it sounds like for a couple of folks above, VR dev work, etc.), is the GPU. Change the form factor, I mean, if they want a metal rectangular object , fine, make it bigger, vent it, just allow for some high performance components including a decent GPU (even if it's a "laptop class"), or really sort out the eGPU tech, package it with a clean, stackable housing, TB4, make it super plug-n-play, don't rely on 3rd party products (I want AC on the whole "stack").
I did a LOT of graphic design on my last one, up until a year ago when I passed it on to my wife. I'd upgraded the HDD to an SSD and honestly it was (and still is) running just fine, even for light video editing. I only moved on because I wanted a retina display which my Mini was not capable of driving, and because USB 2.0 was getting a bit clunky to use day-to-day.
I quite like the butterfly. Shrugs.
Great to hear a Mac Mini rumor and especially a “pro-focused” one (even if that means higher price tag).
This Mac Mini is the only Mac I’d consider at the moment: Quad-core, 32gb of RAM, solid GPU (or eGPU options) and SSD inside.
This Mac Mini is the only Mac I’d consider at the moment: Quad-core, 32gb of RAM, solid GPU (or eGPU options) and SSD inside.
Cut the head off an iMac and put it in a box. That would be enough of a Mac Mini for me.
But if they want to really make it nice, change to nVidia graphics, make it more user-serviceable, and I will absolutely buy one.
But if they want to really make it nice, change to nVidia graphics, make it more user-serviceable, and I will absolutely buy one.