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Apple's Mac Mini Turns 20 Today
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The M4 Mac mini is a great way to celebrate this 20th anniversary. One of the most powerful computing chips, in one of the most compact mini-PC designs. Really an achievement.
Right, Tim would never release an M4 Mac mini with 16GB of RAM for $599.
Note that $499 in 2005 equates to $800 today, at least in terms of inflation.
Perspective is a funny thing isn't it. From my perspective the old skeuomorphic style made old devices look like kids toys. I'm looking forward to what comes next, hopefully it's cool! Maybe something with a small hint of OS 9?
I never really "got" the Mini until I decided to try one. I have really enjoyed my M1 Mini for these past four-plus years. And a family member will be enjoying it soon when I upgrade to an M4 MBP or Air. Happy Birthday to a great device!
I remember setting my granny up with a Mini after I had left the country to live abroad. May she rest in peace.
Have you tried iOS 6 recently? I have an iPod touch 4 and iPhone 3GS on iOS 6 and the system hasn't aged well in my experience from a UI-standpoint. I regularly use Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar on my old PowerBook G4 as well. It works well for old games and a bit of nostalgia, but modern macOS is better is practically every way.
Scott Forstall's skeuomorphic design was based on decades of Apple's UI research dating back to the early 1980s, and first appered on Apple's Lisa and then then the very first Macintosh. Apple's skeuomorphic GUI was pioneered by Apple, and was optimized for user-friendliness. But Jony Ive got rid of all of that in order to copy Microsoft's flat design, which was pioneered by Microsoft, and first appeared on Microsoft's Zune, then Windows Phone, and then Windows 8. Prior to Tim Cook, Microsoft copied Apple. But leave it to Cook to be so clueless and tasteless that he allowed Apple to copy Microsoft!
wow, I remember it being launched, 20 years, good grief. I did think about buying one, but decided to stay with PC.
MorphOS can run on that machine, which is a Amiga like OS.
19 years it took me to get into the Mac world, I wish I have done it earlier
MorphOS can run on that machine, which is a Amiga like OS.
19 years it took me to get into the Mac world, I wish I have done it earlier
I’m so glad that the mini made a big comeback after the really awful 2014 model and the little 2018 redemption one. Currently it’s the best product in the Apple’s lineup and probably one of the best personal computers out there.
Welcome to the 21st century!
The problem with your comment above is saying Jony Ive copied Microsoft. That’s your entire argument and its bs. 🙄. Ive already said he didn’t like Skeuomorphism when the first iPhone came out. Notwithstanding, it was a design trend and not restricted to operating systems.
He says: “They (iPhone Skeuomorphism) drove me crazy. All I could see were these unresolved tangency breaks”.
Further, Apples Skeuomorphism was pioneered by Apple? I'll just let that obvious comment pass. If you’re trying to say Apple started Skeuomorphism, you’re 100 years too late.
I’m sick of people just making stuff up out of hatred for a person without any basis of fact. Back it up!
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I've had a few minis over the years. First one was in college about 17-18 years ago. A nice, compact desktop is what I needed back then. I had the first gen iPhone and wanted a Mac to go with it, the mini was all I could afford. I had my old Windows laptop from high school, it worked for me when I needed a computer in class, but I kind of wish I just waited and got a MacBook then. Instead, I believe I sold it and got the first iPad instead. Apple had me hooked already all the way back then.
Mac mini is a wonderful computer. Planning to get one later this year. Great to see that price has only increased by $100 since its launch 20 years ago.
Oh please. Everyone copies everyone. Sure, the Mac had the most refined and consistent WIMP interface of the 1980's, but even there, everyone knows the concepts originated at PARC.
Fashion is also cyclical. After going full skeuomorphic for many years, a flat / geometric style was a natural move when Apple wanted a design refresh. It was also arguably more consistent with their 2010's-era hardware designs, which strived for featureless simplicity.
At the end of the day, the UI style has endured to this day, so can't have been that bad.
It took Steve Jobs just 5mins (in the video) to introduce a new product line at a keynote, today it would take at least 30mins or more!!! - simple and to the point - this is what it does, here are the ports, BYODKM and bang the price and shipping date! Tim and team should take note.
According to a particular person, Forstall designed everything in Apple! To put it in “Silo" terms, he was Jobs self appointed shadow, even driving the exact same model car.
Cook wasn’t a fan of the power struggle Forstall was creating with Jony Ive, and then of course he was more concerned with power than doing the job he was supposed to be doing. He dropped the ball and millions suffered. Cost millions more with the clock debacle.
He was out of ideas, out of his depth, out of friends and out of Apple. 29 October 2012 was the day that Cook saved Apple.
I made the switch from years and years of iMacs to a mini in 2018, then got a M2 Pro mini in early 2023. Looking forward to staying in the mini world going forward. Maybe a new mini in 2026? We shall see.
I suspect that M4 mini is going to be a special generation for the mini and it is bringing a lot of people back to having a desktop as part of their computing solutions.
I suspect that M4 mini is going to be a special generation for the mini and it is bringing a lot of people back to having a desktop as part of their computing solutions.
Personally purchased an Intel 2014, 2028 x2 models - the first as a secondary machine for me & primary for the kids when i had a family. The kids lived it and started some great art work and homework. The room to the Mac so easily without any help nor guidance from anyone a steal difference from PCs we owned before.
I believe the 2018 i7 server model was introduced by John Ternus, the sole employee that i think came THE closest to Jobs at a keynote presentation for a product. He had his own unique flare with both the mini & iMac Pro ... he went "nutty"
I believe the 2018 i7 server model was introduced by John Ternus, the sole employee that i think came THE closest to Jobs at a keynote presentation for a product. He had his own unique flare with both the mini & iMac Pro ... he went "nutty"
You got a lot wtong there.
Product design wasnt what Forstall did.
iOS was his baby from inception to driving quality icons with a reticle, pushing developers to step up their main icon as part of their brand!
He was never out of ideas and he brought us VERY powerful ones that are staples ans still core features all Apple fans abs users use today: iphone and ios, tine machine, push notifications, microsoft exchange eas push for corporate email to be implemented in Mail for macos and ios.
Maps! Apple had to woek with a thord party for the data and vectors. The power struggle just as Jibs was severely ill a swcond time and with thr folly of directions having issues - sorry but it wasnt that major just people roasting Apple for turn directions on a bridge woth mo way to turn (come on people use common sense) and with specific struggle with a sub-ordinate who cried like a grown wining baby aka Frederighi Tim used that opportunity to demand Forstall to make a public apology something Apple has never done at the time and Forstall righfully denied.
The issue wasnt with him it was the data provided by thr third party!! The proof eas after his dismissal the entire team took a full 1yr+ to revamp Maps ultimately going to a new 3rd party and having teams drive cars or employees with backbacks all over the world for source data.
The product nor idea was NEVER the issue snd it was the right product to introduce to reduce paying Google!
Oh yeah Forstall also was key in finding and purchasing Siri ans implementing it as a core component in iOS and later iPadOS. He brought Apple its first crucial step to what it had invisioned woth The Knowledge Navigator in 1984 and he was a NeXT employee ans real engineer.
Thats what happened.
FYI Criag has had to make 2 apologies in press interviews since - 2013 Mac Pro Thermal Envelope restriction & cannot recall thr other. He shouldve with root having no password for 9 months before Big Sur so why wasnt he kicked out hmmmm!
I think it is. I'd love to see a MacBook SE, kept simple and using previous generation components for a reasonable price.