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High-End Mac Mini Said to Feature Thinner Design With 'Plexiglass' Top, Magnetic Power Port

Lemon Olive said:
It is a great display, which is not affordable at all by 99% of the people looking to buy a Mac mini and a display from Apple. What's ridiculous about it is that it is the only display offered by Apple, at all.
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I guess the larger iMac will be for those people then, if the outward appearance of third-party monitors is a deal-breaker for them and they can't justify the cost of the Pro Display XDR. Seems to me that the demand for a similar but cheaper display than the Pro Display XDR must not be all that great, otherwise display manufacturers would be rushing to fill that demand. I don't think they're passing up all that profit just to irritate you and others ;)

I simply disagree that the LG I mentioned (and others underneath that) aren't viable options for a consumer-level computer.
 
I was thinking about the server farm and I think the new magnetic port would be perfect because you have power and network all centralized through one reliable and strong magnetic connection. Basically there is no wiring you just click in and out units as needed. That seems like it would work well from both reliability and ease of use perspective.
 
Karnicopia said:
I was thinking about the server farm and I think the new magnetic port would be perfect because you have power and network all centralized through one reliable and strong magnetic connection. Basically there is no wiring you just click in and out units as needed. That seems like it would work well from both reliability and ease of use perspective.
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A problem may occur if the power supply has to be changed, and the MAC address changes with it. Depending on the network security configuration, that power supply change is no longer simple. Especially if compliance for change windows is mandated.
 
NYC Russ said:
A problem may occur if the power supply has to be changed, and the MAC address changes with it. Depending on the network security configuration, that power supply change is no longer simple. Especially if compliance for change windows is mandated.
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The iMac teardown showed the ethernet controller is actually on the mainboard, so the power adapter is just like a specialised patch cord really
 
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usagora said:
I simply disagree that the LG I mentioned (and others underneath that) aren't viable options for a consumer-level computer.
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If you want "apple level" PPI (i.e. retina), there are exactly two options: the 32" Pro Display, or the 27" 5K Ultrafine.

If you're willing to accept "near apple level" PPI, there is one additional option, the 24" 4K Ultrafine.

The Ultrafines are "options" but they're not particularly great options - they're priced like Apple displays, but my understanding is they're not really at the same level of fit and finish as an Apple display. Too much plastic, for one thing.

I actually quite like my Dell's (also 4K, 24") and would recommend a new Dell if it was ~180+ PPI, but sadly that just doesn't really exist except for the crazy 8K monster which doesn't really work properly with macOS.
 
usagora said:
Do you REALLY think a magnetic power cable is going to be some widespread problem for users? I think not. Another mountain out of a molehill. People who own higher-end machines tend to handle them carefully.
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On its own? No. And let's remember that it is only a dubious rumour that says it is coming to the Mac Mini.

(And it's not the magnetic bit that's the real problem, although that replaces a cheap, standard IEC connector with an expensive proprietary one - it's the management issues of having a cable with a girt great brick halfway down it)

But it is a worrying sign (even just looking at the iMac and ignoring the sketchy Mac Mini rumour) that Apple are still obsessed with form-over-function and proprietary connectors and are going to spend the "power windfall" of Apple Silicon making things even smaller rather than packing more in, so the question is, what's the next thing they are going to cut?

xmlninja said:
Why can't this sh*t be powered with Macbook Pro 96w charger. Less bricks to produce.
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The 24" iMac presumably needs more than 96W since it comes with a newly-designed 143W brick. Probably for the screen.

Any forthcoming M1X/M2 Mac Mini could probably run off 96W via a Thunderbolt port, since it doesn't have a screen, but if you think about it, a Mini can't run at all without being plugged in (unlike a Macbook which can run for hours off battery) so that would mean permanently losing one of only maybe 4 TB/USB-C/Display connections just for power. It would be a nice option if you wanted to power it from a TB3 dock or display (...and a better reason for making the PSU external than making the thing a few mm thinner) but not having a dedicated power input at all would be dumb. It's only marginally less dumb on a laptop, and there are more reliable rumours & leaked specs that Magsafe is coming back to MacBooks as well.

(...and it's pretty obvious that the iMac magnetic connector is too big for a laptop and too strong to break away if the cable is pulled, so it probably won't be the same connector on the MacBooks).
 
What's a realistic timeline for release though. If they announce at WWDC on June 7 - do we see it shortly thereafter? Or are will still looking at a late fall ship date?
 
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gusping said:
Me too actually, vs my old ways which were somewhat excessive. I am still using my iPhone X, Series 4 watch and 2018 iPad and Mac.
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lol. Newest Mac is 2016 model for me. I have the 11 Pro but don't see myself upgrading till the 14.
 
Stephen.R said:
If you want "apple level" PPI (i.e. retina), there are exactly two options: the 32" Pro Display, or the 27" 5K Ultrafine.

If you're willing to accept "near apple level" PPI, there is one additional option, the 24" 4K Ultrafine.

The Ultrafines are "options" but they're not particularly great options - they're priced like Apple displays, but my understanding is they're not really at the same level of fit and finish as an Apple display. Too much plastic, for one thing.

I actually quite like my Dell's (also 4K, 24") and would recommend a new Dell if it was ~180+ PPI, but sadly that just doesn't really exist except for the crazy 8K monster which doesn't really work properly with macOS.
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I understand everything you're saying, but we have to keep in mind the Mac Mini is a consumer product, not a pro product. I guess if someone really wants that pro Apple display with their Mac Mini, they can justify it by thinking of all the thousands they saved by going with a Mac Mini instead of a Mac Pro ;)

Seeing as the standard Pro Display XDR is $5000 (without a stand), I can't imagine even IF Apple made, say a 27" version, that it would be THAT much cheaper. It would still be a very large amount of money for the average consumer (the type that would be buying a Mac Mini)
 
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SuperMatt said:
A Mac Pro is a huge box that sits on the floor, and you need a cable that goes to the monitor, then the monitor also needs a power cable.. that’s at the least, assuming wireless input devices. A small power adapter that sits on the floor connected to an iMac seems like it would be far more tidy. Of course, if you need a lot of “extras” that can go inside the Mac Pro case, then it could end up being more tidy than plugging a bunch of external devices.
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Exactly that. Having loads of USB devices trailing all over the place did nothing but annoy me.
I get that a small box needs the externals. I just preferred to spend the money on one tidy box, unfortunately the world moved away from PCI cards for consumer items.
 
MacBH928 said:
so, whats the advantage of an iMac over Mac Mini then?
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Also, iMac has a 41W audio amplifier and advanced speakers and microphones. You pay for those even if you use it with an audio interface and external speakers, like audio professionals do. Hopefully the Mini is cheaper because of that.
 
theluggage said:
On its own? No. And let's remember that it is only a dubious rumour that says it is coming to the Mac Mini.

(And it's not the magnetic bit that's the real problem, although that replaces a cheap, standard IEC connector with an expensive proprietary one - it's the management issues of having a cable with a girt great brick halfway down it)

But it is a worrying sign (even just looking at the iMac and ignoring the sketchy Mac Mini rumour) that Apple are still obsessed with form-over-function and proprietary connectors and are going to spend the "power windfall" of Apple Silicon making things even smaller rather than packing more in, so the question is, what's the next thing they are going to cut?
Click to expand...

Well it's already on the iMac, so the same "complaint" would apply there. I simply fail to see why people are complaining about the AC adapter being external to the machine. It's very easy to mount that out of sight. I have multiple devices I use with my iMac that have power bricks, and they're all "out of sight / out of mind." I couldn't care less about the proprietary nature of the connectors. It's rare that the power cord would go bad and need to be replaced. I fail to see any justification for "worry" in these petty things.
 
H2SO4 said:
lol. Newest Mac is 2016 model for me. I have the 11 Pro but don't see myself upgrading till the 14.
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I just want the stupid fan noise gone in my mini. It’s ridiculous. Plus i need a bigger SSD anyway. I’m a pretty light Mac user now i have a monster PC, so i’ll buy the lowest M1X model i think.
 
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usagora said:
I understand everything you're saying, but we have to keep in mind the Mac Mini is a consumer product, not a pro product. I guess if someone really wants that pro Apple display with their Mac Mini, they can justify it by thinking of all the thousands they saved by going with a Mac Mini instead of a Mac Pro ;)

Seeing as the standard Pro Display XDR is $5000 (without a stand), I can't imagine even IF Apple made, say a 27" version, that it would be THAT much cheaper. It would still be a very large amount of money for the average consumer (the type that would be buying a Mac Mini)
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The desire for a “good” (as opposed to best) Apple display isn’t limited to Mac mini users, and I’d argue that Apple very much did target the 2018 mini at some professional markets.
 
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Not sure if this was brought up in earlier threads...

Is it possible the external power brick means that the iMac and the Mini use the same power supply? Could that mean the ethernet is moved to the power brick for the Mini also?

I can see distinct advantages for the user AND Apple if this is the case.
 
usagora said:
That's what I meant, but poor word-choice on my part in retrospect.
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My parents still use a 20” studio display lcd from ~2003.

Cheap (quality not price) plastic construction is probably one of the biggest issues with the LGs but I’d be surprised if it’s the only issue.
 
Stephen.R said:
Cheap (quality not price) plastic construction is probably one of the biggest issues with the LGs but I’d be surprised if it’s the only issue.
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Doesn't LG manufacture the panel for the Pro Display XDR? LOL!

Also, plastic construction shouldn't affect function whatsoever. Been using plastic monitors for ages with no issue.
 
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