I'm going to wait for the 2019 model in Rose Gold
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Hands-On With Apple's New 2018 Mac Mini
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What other options are out there for a similar CPU, four TB-3 40 Gb/sec ports, two USB-A 3 ports, HDMI 2,0, Bluetooth 5.0, a 10Gbit Ethernet option, all in a compact package with built-in power supply.
macOS is nice, too.
They could have made it a little thicker and included a discreet mobile gpu for the price they are asking.
Slow sales will hopefully force them to lower prices as well, but I doubt it.
Gone are the days when new Apple products used to cost the same as the previous generation or actually go down in price.
Prices have increased to ridiculous levels since Tim took over. Steve Jobs was about profit but not to the extent Apple is currently at. If you see old videos and articles he actually says the Apple stores are not about profit but to showcase the product because he knew once people got it in their hands they’d love it.
Maybe less space in the MBP, and the desire to move forward from 20 year old I/O. Not as important in a chassis that has the room.
I’ve had a 2017 MBP for a year now and haven’t lost anything. But then I “invested” in $7 USB-C cables, which work great.
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Yup.
Dunno man... Those SSDs are pretty darn fast compared to the competition so you do get some bang for your buck. Not saying they're cheap, but wouldn't call it highway robbery either
While I'm fairly hostile to Apple these days you may want to refine your "it does less," by actually saying what metric you're measuring it against. If you mean less that a comparably spec'd Windows machine... quite likely except for maybe Video Encoding (Apple's T2 chip).
If you are comparing it to the 2014 Mini... Oh it does so much more. The ThunderBolt 3 ports and the upgradeable RAM will make a major long term usage difference.
Unfortunately that's been true for a long time. You can always out Spec and out Price what Apple throws together with a Not-Apple machine.
Although as it stands the 2018 Mini is almost correct for Apple selling an Apple Approved (required for legal app development) motherboard (plus PSU and various extra bits).
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Most people, even system builders and DIYers, don’t change out their CPUs since that usually entails changing out the mobo and RAM because of advancements in I/O, chipsets, and standard memory speeds, all of which are tied to the CPU.
Speaking as a system builder myself, you’re better off just putting together or buying a new computer at that point. Because outside of the GPU, those three system components are the most expensive from a BOM standpoint.
By the time you add an eGPU and a 5K external monitor, it's significantly more expensive than the iMac, and about as upgradeable. On the other hand, the Mac Mini is more modular, because you can independently upgrade each box (computer, eGPU, monitor), and perhaps share the eGPU and the monitor with other machines. And you may not necessarily need a 5K monitor, and most people already have a 4K one. Tough decision. The iMac is such a full package and works as-is, without having to worry about compatibility. How does an eGPU perform with the Mini when it comes to FinalCut and Adobe software?
If the Mac mini costs this much then the new Mac Pro is going to be ridiculously expensive at this rate. I just built an insanely powerful PC for After Effects (9900k, 64gb RAM, M.2 SSDs) for less than £2000. From a business perspective, how can you justify paying 1/3 more for a less powerful machine?
Yeah, but you're using facts, Man... you have to channel the Ives thinnes combined with the accountability of Cook and then you'll understand how they arrived at this abomination.
I was just borrowing Apple's slogan in the early 90's. The slogan compared against PCs of the era.
Yes, there's been an Apple Tax for a long time - but it's not been as egregious as it is today in my recent memory. Apple is no longer reporting units sold, so market share doesn't matter to them anymore - it's all about profit because that's all they are reporting quarterly. They are no longer a consumer electronics company, they are a boutique brand. Perfume costs a dollar to bottle, but is sold for $200.
All this constant whining about Apple prices in every thread is getting really old and overwhelms all other, much more interesting/informative discussions. It‘s very simple: if you like the product and think it‘s worth its price, you buy it. If one of the two conditions is not met, you vote with your wallet. Because no „it should have started at xxx $“ or „for xxx $ it should at least have xyz“ or „for xxx $ I can get a much better specced abc“ will ever change anything. It is what it is and you can take it or leave it.
The truth is that only a very small percentage of buyers ever upgrade their machines. Making them easily upgradable so that the small group can upgrade adds cost that all buyers incur.
Soldering in certain components also means less chance for issues related to such removable pieces.
There are most certainly other reasons the Mac mini isn't easily user upgradable. You're incorrect in your assessment.
Every review is the same... This is the design. This is geekbench. blah blah blah. could we get some temp scores. Fan noises. Working with PS files. encoding for long duration throttle the cpu.
Becasue Steve was a visionary and a lover of computers, technology, and even though an *******, did get genuinely excited by what the engineers showed him. Cook on the other hand is an operations manager, granted a great one, but only when it comes to streamlining the work of others.
Steve cared about the design and useability and it might not seem it, but how the consumers were going to interact and feel about 'his' products (let's be honest: Steve WAS Apple, those were his products), and wanted to have some sort of semblance of sanity in the cost to price ratio. Cook cares about dreams of avarice and making sure the stockholders don't oust him.
Funny how you never see crying about the price in the Posche forums.
The folks of MacRumors will ALWAYS find something to complain and cry about. It's either too expensive, too slow, too small, too big, the wrong color, not high enough specs etc.
They expect a Mac Pro machine for $100 with full specs, removable and upgradeable everything, and even then they'd complain that it doesn't pay their mortgage and drive the kids to school for them.
Some just love to spend their time complaining about thing they can do nothing to change in life. It gives them great pleasure apparently, as that's what they'd like to dedicate a good portion to their short time on Earth doing. Seems strange but one would suspect they must love it as they do it again and again and again. I'll spend my time focused on the positive and the things I can change, but to each their own.
Also, a DIY parts bin machine, how's the service handled? Some of us professionals don't want to deal with multiple vendors, sending back components, having to coordinate with NewEgg/Frys/Microcenter and the 2nd tier manufacturer warranty.
Which is getting worse with each release! They got rid of Cover Flow, for no earthly reason (BTW, it was Steves favourite feature), amongst a barrage of other stupid decisions: you can read all about them on the MacRumors forums).
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The F you don't! First of all it's spelled 'Porsche'. Secondly, people complain about the increasing options list (book really) Porsche uses all of the time. And you should go on Lambo and Ferrari forums and see owners complain about EVERYTHING, from service costs, replacement parts costs, transportation costs, etc...
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Have you stopped to think as to why there is far more complaining than there has ever been at Apple.
No two computers are alike. When you list all the Mac Mini specs it almost automatically means that there is no other computer like this. However, no two users are alike either and there are very few users out there who need exactly the options as you described them. Most users can live with a bigger case. Bigger case may provide for better internal upgradeability thus eliminating the need for so many TB-3 ports. One can get a PC with bigger (and cheaper) SSD and discrete graphics. Built-in power supply has its pros and cons. Possibilities are endless. It is very likely that when someone comes up with the list of requirements for his/her computer there will be a better and cheaper option out there than Mac Mini that meets the requirements.
I have no issues with macOS. It keeps all of my data in sync between various computers, phones, iPads, etc. Effortlessly and without even thinking about it.
Also, frequent updates, and outstanding apps. And Apple Music, AirPlay, AirDrop, etc, etc.
For me that’s not negotiable.
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Yup. I was speaking for myself, as others here have as well. And for me, the Mini is the perfect device, with size being very important for my uses. I won’t pretend to speak for “most users.”
Ditto for macOS. Without macOS it’s a non-starter.
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