I don't see this anymore. Personally I think Windows 10 is just as good as MacOS these days and has far better and varied third party software options.
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Hands-On With Apple's New 2018 Mac Mini
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I don't see this anymore. Personally I think Windows 10 is just as good as MacOS these days and has far better and varied third party software options.
"The components are more powerful"... No kidding? 4 years later and at almost 2x the price.
I'd probably own one of these already if the SSD prices weren't so horrendous, and if they were replaceable/upgradable.
My 17" 2010 Macbook Pro went from it's original 500GB platter drive + DVD to its current 2TB+1TB SSDs and so has grown as I've needed it too. This MM is still a vaguely sensible option by comparison to the latest MBP as if I have to have a load of external storage with that (if I don't want to have to remortgage my house), then it may as well be a desktop.
But really I'd rather pay the extra for a reasonable priced laptop instead of a desktop that I can expand the internal storage as the amount of stuff I have grows. Hence it's still my good old MBP for now.
My 17" 2010 Macbook Pro went from it's original 500GB platter drive + DVD to its current 2TB+1TB SSDs and so has grown as I've needed it too. This MM is still a vaguely sensible option by comparison to the latest MBP as if I have to have a load of external storage with that (if I don't want to have to remortgage my house), then it may as well be a desktop.
But really I'd rather pay the extra for a reasonable priced laptop instead of a desktop that I can expand the internal storage as the amount of stuff I have grows. Hence it's still my good old MBP for now.
Spot on, everyone saying "oh but you can plug in an eGPU". You are spending up to a minimum of $800 on a computer you shouldn't need to plug anything in to do basic stuff. It's a 2 year old on-board chip, let alone being any good.
This is not Intel's fault despite what most would like to claim. There is room for a basic dedicated GPU, hell make it a little bigger and fit something worthy of people spending that amount of money on it.
That’s fair enough. I didn’t say it was worth it for everyone. If you like Windows 10 as much or more than MacOS then good luck to you, and you have lots of options.
Well, after 4 years with no update, this trillion dollar company certainly had time to come up with a slightly different design (dare i say slightly thicker? Oh heresy!!!) then they could have offered an option for a dedicated video card - that they could overcharge for, but that I would certainly buy.
And. before you say like so many others ‘get an egpu’, those are clunky, dont work with all software, and dont work at all in bootcamp, so those arent appealing to me.
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Depends on what you want to do. I suggest you explore the use of VNC (https://www.realvnc.com/en/). Run VNC server on the MacMini and VNC viewer on your Surface (don't know much about Surface so can't advise). Then you can connect into the Mini via any network connection (LAN, WiFi) and see/control the Mini from your Surface. I do this the other way round by running Win7 on my headless Mini (in VMWare) and run it using my MacBook Pro.
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No worse than keeping the 5400rpm drive in the old Mini.
So, after an uncountable number of years as a Mac enthusiast and an apple fanboy, this is the final nail in the coffin. I was hoping for a decent, low cost, Mac-mini with some upgrade options that would mean I could use it to replace the dual-core MacBook that I've been using as a dual desktop/portable machine for the last 18 months with my own dual 4k/HD screens. I would have kept the MacBook for the rare times I actually needed to be mobile.
Instead, what Apple has delivered is a stale design, overpriced, machine with underpowered graphics and few upgrade options (all of which are themselves ridiculously expensive).
This year I bought my first Windows device in 20 years (Dell XPS15); sadly it seems this is now the start of my overall migration away from Apple. I have already dumped my Apple Watch (overpriced health tracker), iMac (overpriced desktop with no upgradeability), and my Apple TV wil be next (overpriced streaming box). I'll miss the integration, but it won't kill me. I expect I'll hang on to my iPhone until the contract runs out.
Sad to say goodbye to Apple from a technology perspective, but I refuse to pay the ridiculously inflated prices any more for next-to-no added value.
Instead, what Apple has delivered is a stale design, overpriced, machine with underpowered graphics and few upgrade options (all of which are themselves ridiculously expensive).
This year I bought my first Windows device in 20 years (Dell XPS15); sadly it seems this is now the start of my overall migration away from Apple. I have already dumped my Apple Watch (overpriced health tracker), iMac (overpriced desktop with no upgradeability), and my Apple TV wil be next (overpriced streaming box). I'll miss the integration, but it won't kill me. I expect I'll hang on to my iPhone until the contract runs out.
Sad to say goodbye to Apple from a technology perspective, but I refuse to pay the ridiculously inflated prices any more for next-to-no added value.
At the entry level pricing it is just a ****** computer targeted at consumers that would probably find better value in the iPad Pro.
At the high end pricing it is just a ****** overpriced computer professionals don't want because a real professional cares about what is inside a box and not the logo on the box.
Not sure what was the point of this update other then more general confusion coming from Apple not really understanding what consumers want anymore and an overt attempt to extort their fanboys for more greedy profit margins.
At the high end pricing it is just a ****** overpriced computer professionals don't want because a real professional cares about what is inside a box and not the logo on the box.
Not sure what was the point of this update other then more general confusion coming from Apple not really understanding what consumers want anymore and an overt attempt to extort their fanboys for more greedy profit margins.
Was the 5400rpm soldered? At least you could swap it for an affordable Samsung EVO SSD. The 128GB soldered SSD is a felony.
It would be the right machine for me in combination with an eGPU. Instead I bought a MacBook Pro years ago but most of the time I just use it as desktop computer with external 4K monitor and keyboard/trackpad. The current MacPro is not an option and we'll have to see what the upcoming MacPro has to offer for what price.
Last year I wanted to setup a new small home server. First considered a Mini for that but was not wiling to pay a penny for the old model. The new model is too expensive for that now.
... no.. the reason the SSD is not user upgrade able is because of the T2 chip being the storage controller and security device for encryption. there is no way to allow that level of performance (its faster than any m.2 drive out there that i can find..) but more importantly the level of encryption and security the t2 integration provides is better than anything else out there.. You cant allow a user (or malicious actor) to swap out parts and provide hardware level encryption.
Again, if it was a case of "greed" vs. design goals, then Apple would've offered a mediocre dGPU and charged +$600 for it (i.e., in what pure business case does a company not engineer a conspicuous, high profit option?) Apple didn't even directly tap into the eGPU market - again - they left that to the aftermarket, wouldn't greed drive them to make their own, non-upgradable, aesthetically matching eGPU for $999?
The general _design_ targets weren't a matter of greed, but sure, there's probably some capacity where they skimped a touch ...
Just wanted to comment on the LG Ultrafine, since the above photo was used in the article. Nice image for sure, but I found it to be incredibly flimsy and cheap-feeling while I was checking out the Mac mini at the Apple Store last week.
Now, maybe it was just because it was a floor model, so who knows how many people have touched and adjusted the thing. Does anyone here actually have one and like it?
Apple really needs to come out with their own branded display again. Thin, and aluminum-clad.
I am glad they don't have a dGPU. Would have pushed up the prices (as would require an extra SKU with a different motherboard). The current iGPU is fine for some light gaming and even editing HD movies in Final Cut.
Professional speaking here: very interested in this machine with an i7 config, same for two of my friends/peers, also for professional use. YMMV
I just ended up building my own computer. It's so weird - I've been using Macs for over 20 years but this update made me want to rethink a few things. I'll keep my current Mac Mini as my primary, but it's nice to have a computer that screams for literally a fraction of the cost of this one.
Very, very expensive what it is - which is a middling CPU with an incredibly low end, barely functional GPU. Apple are notorious for putting weak GPUs into Macs, but this is really taking the mick. This is brutally low end laptop territory, it has no business being in a desktop.
For the price of a Mac Mini, you could get a LOT of Windows PC. Something which would eviscerate it in CPU, and especially GPU perf. Why didn't they at least put a 1070 in there?
For the price of a Mac Mini, you could get a LOT of Windows PC. Something which would eviscerate it in CPU, and especially GPU perf. Why didn't they at least put a 1070 in there?
You can use Microsoft Remote Desktop to remotely access the mac Mini. Or you connect your mac Mini to a small monitor and wireless keyboard.
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
What, because it's based on PCIe Gen 3?
Dude... Apple wants $400 for a 512GB PCIe based soldered SSD. Outside of Apple, even if you wanted to go REALLY extravagant with let's say a Samsung 970 EVO 500GB (PCIe Gen 3, NVMe 1.3, M.2 stick), that's still only $117.99. Jesus.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147690
I'll reiterate what I said before, NAND is dirt cheap. PCIe based SSDs are nothing new, either.
I can't stress this enough, Apple really is hosing its customers when it comes to storage prices.
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Professional speaking here: very interested in this machine with an i7 config, same for two of my friends/peers, also for professional use. YMMV
I cannot fathom why anyone would buy a Mac for pro use. They are so under powered it's truly comical. I wouldn't touch any pro PC with less than a 1080Ti these days, and realistically I'd want to be in 2080 territory with 10gb+ of VRAM and 64gb of system RAM.
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Given that NVidia have been making mobile 1080s for well over a year with near desktop performance, Apple have no excuse.
GPU power matters. It matters a LOT. Nobody should be working with anything under 10tFlop of GPU in a pro capacity anymore.