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Apple TV sized Mac Mini?

PauloSera said:
If they could pack the current Mac mini into an Apple TV sized puck, it would already be that size. Ridiculous question.

Obviously you mean something incredibly simplistic like "the chip" without the slightest concern for thermals or I/O.
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Honestly, it isn't as silly as it sounds. The M-chip is also squeezed in the iPad Pro (and we may argue, already in the iPhone), maybe not the pro version of the chip but nevertheless, the same chip. If I remember correctly, the iPad Pro M1 was clocked/benchmarked in the same range as the (at that time) new MacBook Air M1. An Apple TV in full body aluminium for cooling would still give more cooling than the iPad because of the screen that doesn't dissipate heat but generates it.

An Apple TV sized M-device as entry level thing (Mac mini Air) could be feasible without thermal pro/max/ultra sensitivities. Honestly, if it could exist for a reasonable price, it would buy it straight away for the living room.

Ok, 32 GB RAM and 4 TB SSD would be asking a but too much. Just my take on things.
 
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cupcakes2000 said:
No alt AppStore needed, just less rules! No browser or proper integrated files is absurd.

I have a pimped out firestick and it’s bad aside the abilities enabled. I have a kodi pi and it’s great but a mess. Apple do tv right- aside the restrictions.
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Safari and Files.app can be included along with Kodi.app and emulators. I agree the restriction must go or have an option for regular and advanced mode to be toggled and the customer can choose. At present it’s not even a competitor on the software side though it does hardware very well on par if not one below a Nvidia Shield.
 
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michelg1970 said:
Honestly, it isn't as silly as it sounds. The M-chip is also squeezed in the iPad Pro (and we may argue, already in the iPhone), maybe not the pro version of the chip but nevertheless, the same chip. If I remember correctly, the iPad Pro M1 was clocked/benchmarked in the same range as the (at that time) new MacBook Air M1. An Apple TV in full body aluminium for cooling would still give more cooling than the iPad because of the screen that doesn't dissipate heat but generates it.

An Apple TV sized M-device as entry level thing (Mac mini Air) could be feasible without thermal pro/max/ultra sensitivities. Honestly, if it could exist for a reasonable price, it would buy it straight away for the living room.

Ok, 32 GB RAM and 4 TB SSD would be asking a but too much. Just my take on things.
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MacNano or MacAir. This thing will be fine with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD while the laptop and other Mac products can start at 12-16GB RAM and 512GB-1TB SSD. Price it at $399 and with sales and refurb it can easily come down to $299-350. Attach it to a monitor and you have an amazing machine that’s affordable.
 
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Seems to me that a lot of hands would just go up fast if there was a request for a show of hands for a $399 Mac mini M1 in the existing case. I think there's just too many people out there wanting cheaper Apple stuff and the smaller form factor is just a pretext for a discussion that gets regularly had in one of the most (in)famous Mac mini threads :)

I'm not saying that putting a higher performance CPU/SoC into the existing AppleTV case is impossible. I just think it's going to end up being a beefier next generation AppleTV (running tvOS, maybe with better gaming capacity) rather than something that people want to run macOS on.

If Apple are semi-serious about improving gaming on iOS then keeping pace with installed iPhone user base would have to be the target rather than the usual console strategy of offering fixed high end gear at a price that reduces over time. Their strategy - given recent releases plus continued rumours of upgrades every 2 or 3 years rather than 4-5 years suggests gradual upgrades at reasonable prices to increase the AppleTV user base.

The next best thing would be a combination NAS/Airport that is managed via an Mac/iOS app and obviously carry onboard storage.

I just don't see Apple doing anything other than putting an A-series CPU in that case.
 
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code-m said:
I would say this device needs no more than two USB-C ports, HDMI, power cable and an audio jack.
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Let's make it easy - Two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, either one of which can power it, and drop the separate power cable. Then it becomes a "chainable" device which can be powered by any number of things, including the display it is connected to, with no need for a dedicated AC power cord.

Oh, and give it a 8GB/128GB base config to keep costs down, no fan to keep the size/noise down, threaded holes for VESA mounting, and a chassis that can heatsink to the mount for better thermals if needed. 👍
 
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Juicy Box said:
I doubt this is true.

If you look at the internals of the current M1 and M2 MM, half of the case is unused.

Apple could make a smaller MM, and I am sure that they could make one as small as the Apple TV.

That said, I don't think that they should, due to reduced space for ports, and the fact that cables would be heavier than the tiny MM, constantly moving it around, potentially pulling it off of the desk.

The new ATV4K3 is too small and too light weight with just an HDMI and power cable, start adding other cables, and a redesigned MM in the shell of an ATV4K3 might have to come with its own mount to keep it from moving.
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:rolleyes: But half the OUTSIDE of the case is not unused. How do you fit an acceptable amount of desktop computer I/O on an Apple TV size puck? And for that matter, why? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
 
PauloSera said:
:rolleyes: But half the OUTSIDE of the case is not unused. How do you fit an acceptable amount of desktop computer I/O on an Apple TV size puck? And for that matter, why? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
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My raspberry Pi has 4x usb a ports, 1 x usbc port, 1x Ethernet port, 2 x mini hdmi ports and a long 40 pin connector. Oh, and a power port. And it’s the same size as an Apple TV. That’s more than enough for the potential use case of such a machine.
 
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PauloSera said:
:rolleyes: But half the OUTSIDE of the case is not unused. How do you fit an acceptable amount of desktop computer I/O on an Apple TV size puck? And for that matter, why? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
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You are forgetting that most of that used space in the M1 and M2 MM is for the power supply and cooling components.

The power supply is over-kill for the AS MM (non-Pro), as it was the same power supply for the higher-wattage Intel chips.

A "Mac Nano" wouldn't need a large power supply, or even an internal one. Apple could use a really small power supply, and/or an external like the iMac.

For cooling, a Mac Nano" could have passive cooling.

As for the ports and whether it would be a good idea, I guess you didn't read my whole post.

My post was a response to the question if it was possible for Apple to design a Mac with the size of an Apple TV, which I have no doubts that Apple could. But, I question if it would be a good idea to.
 
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PauloSera said:
:rolleyes: But half the OUTSIDE of the case is not unused. How do you fit an acceptable amount of desktop computer I/O on an Apple TV size puck? And for that matter, why? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
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I mentioned the "why" before -- to save desktop space. Maybe you have a giant desk and don't feel the need for more desk space. But my desk is kind of full, so a smaller footprint would be nice. I used to have an iMac before, so basically, the only desktop space that took was equivalent to having a monitor on my desk. I was hoping to put my Mac mini under my monitor, but turned out the base of my monitor didn't balance well on the mini. So now my desktop space has decreased by the space taken up by the mini. If the mini was the size of the Apple TV, it'd fit on top of my monitor base, leaving me with the same desktop space as I used to have with the iMac.
 
Night Spring said:
I mentioned the "why" before -- to save desktop space. Maybe you have a giant desk and don't feel the need for more desk space. But my desk is kind of full, so a smaller footprint would be nice. I used to have an iMac before, so basically, the only desktop space that took was equivalent to having a monitor on my desk. I was hoping to put my Mac mini under my monitor, but turned out the base of my monitor didn't balance well on the mini. So now my desktop space has decreased by the space taken up by the mini. If the mini was the size of the Apple TV, it'd fit on top of my monitor base, leaving me with the same desktop space as I used to have with the iMac.
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well if it is desk space then this solves for you.
 
The port space is also hampered by the curvature of the corners. Apple could drop an inch from the width and keep the exact same ports if they simply reduced the radius of the corner rounding.
 
mcnallym said:

well if it is desk space then this solves for you.
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Interesting idea, not sure how easy it would be to reach around my monitor to reach the power button and to plug cables in and out. Also, not sure if my monitor has the mounts for that -- will have to check.

Personally, I'd prefer a smaller mini than having to buy and install another accessory, and I imagine I'm not alone in feeling that way.
 
i486dx2-66 said:
* Requires a monitor with a supplementary VESA mount
* Not applicable for Apple displays

:(
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I suggest you read it FULLY.
can also mount under desk or against a wall, basically any flat surface.
doesn’t have to be mounted on the back of a monitor at all.

if desk space is the driver then this removes fully from the desktop.
 
I think we can all agree the current mini doesn't at all has to be as big as it is. Apple kept the form factor to reuse parts and save money.

They can easily scale down by a third or even half. one TB port, one HDMI, 2 USB, gigabit Ethernet. M1 chip. 8g/256g or even 128g. Halve the SSD speed. 750MB/s would still be plenty
fast. Price it at $375 with $75 educational discount. Target schools and hobbyists. Have upgraded specs for server market. Leave it open so the hackers can put Linux on it

Why would Apple do this? To do something cool? to appeal to kids and tinkerers? to bring more people into the Mac camp? To show not every single thing they do has to be relentlessly focused on maximizing shareholder return now, but consumer friendky and forward looking?

I know their cheap iPhones seem to have flopped. But iPhones are half lifestyle accessories and status symbol. This, on the other hand, will look cool/ fun / interesting compared to its bigger utilitarian brother.

We have second car and second and third TV. Why not second Mac? There are lots of tasks the base mini is overkill for. Think of all the gamers with power hog PCs who would love an always on little computer for browsing, email, basic office stuff, and file / media second. A raspberry pi on steroids ?
 
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cupcakes2000 said:
My raspberry Pi has 4x usb a ports, 1 x usbc port, 1x Ethernet port, 2 x mini hdmi ports and a long 40 pin connector. Oh, and a power port. And it’s the same size as an Apple TV. That’s more than enough for the potential use case of such a machine.
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Great. And it does not have 4 Thunderbolt ports.
 
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thebart said:
Why would Apple do this? To do something cool?
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Even beyond what you listed, there are a ton of upsides.

Reduced material usage is a huge cost saver and PR/marketing win for Apple. Smaller computers take less material to build, less material to package, cost less to ship, use less resources to manufacture, use less resources to ship, take less space in warehouses, take less space on store shelves, and create less waste at their end-of-life. It's just goodness all-around. 👍
 
thebart said:
I don't know what your point is here.
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Yes you do. The full range of I/O is not going to fit on an Apple TV. Not even half of it. /Thread

Screenshot 2023-02-20 at 12.16.46 PM.png
 
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PauloSera said:
We're talking about a Mac mini...
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Before I switched to Macs, my computers were towers that I placed on the floor. Then I got an iMac. In both cases, the only desktop space they took were space for monitor base. So the mini is the most space consuming desktop I've ever had. :D
 
i486dx2-66 said:
As an owner of a 2009 and a 2018, it's amazing how much bigger the 7.7x7.7" aluminum chassis feels than its 6.5x6.5" polycarbonate predecessor.

Sure the newer one is 0.6" shorter, but the amount of additional desk space it takes up is significant - 59.29 vs 42.25 square inches. In fact, the difference in footprint between the older and newer Mac Minis (17.04 square inches) is more than the total footprint of the Apple TV! (3.66x3.66 = 13.40 square inches)

//edit: added a photo from Macworld's review when the "new" design came outView attachment 2159912
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Part of the size difference is the internal power supply - the old mac mini also had an external power brick.
 
PauloSera said:
Great. And it does not have 4 Thunderbolt ports.
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So? Many desktop and laptops don’t feature any Thunderbolt at all. That doesn’t mean anything, unless you’re using tb stuff. That’s pretty high end, normally. Not something a general user of a mini desktop the size of an Apple TV or pi or something is necessarily looking for. Tb is about throughput for the most part. Mainly important for massive raid arrays or external gpus. Usb 3 is perfectly suitable for most things for most users who desire this type of machine.

I’m not sure how old you are but describing everything as ‘dumb’ is not particularly endearing.

Edit, anyway. Who’s to say it couldn’t have it? It’s a controller contained on an m1 soc. it’s a small port. It would probably be included.
 
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