Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MaskedCarrot

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 25, 2009
464
270
Northern VA
I just had a thought here about something kind of scary.

I was looking to maybe buy a new Mac Mini i5/512/16 on Apple's website. I noticed if I just get the i5/512/8 I would have it by mid next week. I guess they have them in stock in some warehouse in the US.

Now when I check for the i5/512/16, it says quickest would be 4/7 to 4/9.

Does that mean it would be custom built in China and then shipped directly from China to me? That would explain the delay, and also I always thought Apple does that sort of thing with custom builds.

So with all the Covid-19 stuff going on, I don't think I like the idea of buying something that would be built next week in China and then mailed internationally to me. That's kind of scary to think about right now getting something directly from China with the current circumstances. I am worried there could be some contamination either on the machine itself or the packaging.

I think this is a valid concern, so please no flaming.
 

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Mar 20, 2003
12,065
6,106
Bay Area
Agree with the above, China is less of a hotspot now than the US.

In any case, I think there's vanishingly little risk that the virus would live on either the machine or the packaging for long enough to still be infectious by the time it gets to you. If you really are worried, you could use a Clorox wipe (or just a paper towel with rubbing alcohol) to clean anything you've received before you touch it.
 

kidchop3

macrumors member
Sep 18, 2017
35
12
I ordered a Mac mini i7 512G 8GB RAM on Wednesday. It’s been dispatched and is currently in Hong Kong in transit to the UK. Delivery date to is 6th April so it will take 7 days to get here.
It was built in China, but i agree with the others. There very little risk of getting the virus from China, there is more chance of getting it in transit throughout the journey. When you get it just wash your hands and wipe down the machine. You should be fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AleRod and Boyd01

Boyd01

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 21, 2012
7,947
4,879
New Jersey Pine Barrens
I agree. You can do your own search, but I've read that 72 hours is about as long as the virus can survive on surfaces. And when it arrives, you can always wipe it down. Additionally, a Mini isn't something that you handle very much in ordinary use.

However, IMO, this is still a bad time to buy a Mini unless you really need one. For me personally, I'm learning to be happy with what I have and would rather save my money for the time being.

You can see from my .signature that all my gear is getting old, but it still works and I can continue using it just like I always have. Aside from that, I wouldn't be surprised to see sales eventually, as companies may want cash more than warehouses full of inventory. From what I've read, laptops are in demand, but desktops... not so much. :)
 

Janeilfen

macrumors 6502
Feb 11, 2018
286
62
I have been looking at getting a Mac mini i5/512G/8GB ram and am in the UK. Just had an on-line chat with Apple about this virus and they say "their warehouses are in the UK and so far there is no doubt about the safety when purchasing from the Apple on-line store".This implies they have stock already in the UK. I didn't tell them what configuration I wanted. I then asked if they are sanitising their products prior to shipping. They said they were.
As a seasoned cynic, I would hope that I could be sure they are correct. They wouldn't say things just to sell stuff - would they?
It would be interesting if other potential buyers contacted Apple, to see if they get the same response.
 

Boyd01

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 21, 2012
7,947
4,879
New Jersey Pine Barrens
Of course they will tell you that it's safe, I'd tend to believe them, but how could anyone here really know? Nevertheless, just look at this logically. Do your own research from recognized sources regarding how long the virus can survive on surfaces. Buy your Mini, then when it arrives, just let the box sit there for longer than that amount of time if you are concerned.
 

iluvmacs99

macrumors 6502a
Apr 9, 2019
920
673
I just had a thought here about something kind of scary.

I was looking to maybe buy a new Mac Mini i5/512/16 on Apple's website. I noticed if I just get the i5/512/8 I would have it by mid next week. I guess they have them in stock in some warehouse in the US.

Now when I check for the i5/512/16, it says quickest would be 4/7 to 4/9.

Does that mean it would be custom built in China and then shipped directly from China to me? That would explain the delay, and also I always thought Apple does that sort of thing with custom builds.

So with all the Covid-19 stuff going on, I don't think I like the idea of buying something that would be built next week in China and then mailed internationally to me. That's kind of scary to think about right now getting something directly from China with the current circumstances. I am worried there could be some contamination either on the machine itself or the packaging.

I think this is a valid concern, so please no flaming.

Some studies out there puts Covid-19 3 days that it would survive on hard surfaces. And that's from either a person who is asymptomatic or showing some symptoms coughing and sneezing at the Mini while he/she building it for you in China. With China's draconian dictatorial regimen and factory setup, I don't think that's going to even remotely happen now. This is the reason why China contained the spread of the virus so quickly. And Asians wear masks even in factories sort of their way of protecting themselves from population and the virus, so that helps contain spread. The US and Europe are suffering now because they first denied the virus virality treating like a common cold or flu and then were very laxed in social distancing which are the reasons now for the mass infection. Having said that, most people who do get infected do get better and fully recovered. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are the examples. Sooner or later, we will all have to face this virus and develop immunity, either through contracting it or through vaccination (less lethal). Vaccination will come later. Just to give a heads up, there are no vaccine for the first SARS and MERS. The diseases went away before the vaccine got developed. I see this to be no different. The majority of cases are mild and the recovery rates are good. Even 104 year person survives this disease. Your concerns are valid, but truly if you want to have a piece of mind with your Mini is when you received it, wash your hands with soap and water for 20secs, get a pair of surgical gloves and 70% and up rubbing alcohol which you can buy from Walmart and then do a wipe on all the outer surfaces of the Mini and the power cable. After that, wash your hand again for 20secs and then you're done. You are more likely to contract Covid-19 from asymptomatic people in the mall, grocery store, your family and friends who are infected than from your new Mini. And I am speaking from a former nursing health care worker who had worked in infectious diseases and had contracted a few. Basically good hand washing and not touching your mouth, nose, eyes and your face is your best defence against this pandemic.
 

bgalakazam

macrumors regular
Jul 21, 2014
164
237
Germany
You are more likely to catch corona in the US at this point. With the long latency period who knows who has it. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Been getting post weekly in Italy and I am still fine.
 

richpjr

macrumors 68040
May 9, 2006
3,763
2,594
Buy your Mini, then when it arrives, just let the box sit there for longer than that amount of time if you are concerned.

This. If you really concerned let it sit a few days or a week to ease your mind.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.