I have an app from the Microsoft Store which works just fine running under Parallels on a Studio with Windows 11 ARM (development) version.
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How long will a 2018 mac mini last?
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I have an app from the Microsoft Store which works just fine running under Parallels on a Studio with Windows 11 ARM (development) version.
Got my 2018 Mini about 4-5 months before the M1s came out and I'm in no rush to upgrade. I've got the i7 w/16GB and a 500GB drive (I store everything elsewhere). Runs Cubase Pro, Ableton Live, whatever else I need it to just fine. The graphics do suck but eGPU with the Radeon RX570 out of my 2010 Mac Pro fixed that right up. Was tempted initially to trade it in, but even after the Studios dropped, I'm fine waiting until this whole ARM situation is smoothed out. I haven't gotten close to running into any trouble with any of my audio stuff yet.
You can easily use it effectively for 3 to 5 years or more! It actually also depends on how roughly/frequently you are using it!
If you are referring to the 2018 Mini, then I suggest you watch the iFixit YT video. They are somewhat tricky and you need to be careful or you can break things inside. The previous Mini’s were a lot easier. I upgraded the RAM in my 2018 Mini but I watched the iFixit video and took my time. Basically you have to remove the motherboard from the Mini which then allows access to the RAM modules.
The M1 Mini’s have soldered RAM so upgrades are not possible.
I have to say I'm still using my Mac Mini 2012 late model, its updated to whatever its compatible with, but it still gets safari updates from time to time.
I use the safari, edge, Facetime, Microsoft teams and express VPN all work fine
i know i should update but I have an ipad and iphone
I use the safari, edge, Facetime, Microsoft teams and express VPN all work fine
i know i should update but I have an ipad and iphone
Yeah, I have seen many posts to that effect. But I use a professional GIS app heavily in a 32gb virtual machine, have been processing terabytes of data weekly which creates (literally) millions of files. This works really well in Parallels on my 2018 Mini, it is faster than my old HP desktop Windows machine. Not interested in trying this in an unsupported ARM version.
Negatory. Nothing since 12.1.2 (2019). I expect I will start to experience browser compatibility issues shortly.
That's my understanding also, but hey I'm grasping at straws hereDevice Supports Updates are, as far as I know, updates to communicate (sync/restore) newer iOS/iPadOS updates. In other words: They don't support the old Mac mini but newer iOS devices.
You could say they're less testament to longevity of support for older devices - but more to encourage sales of newer (mobile) devices
I did the same thing! I splurged on the largest amount of RAM/etc at the time, but the SSD was by far the biggest upgrade that I did to it. I think that's why it's still usable to this day. It's even able to Direct Play my Plex requirements, such as 4K/100mb/s content that I have.
Any chance you rent out that Thailand condo? I'm due a holiday
That was the 2011 model I added the SSD and Ram, much easier to work on. The 2018 is very difficult to Add / Change Ram, my friend attempted it and damaged a connector, luckily here in Thailand we found an electronic specialist that had a microscope and all the micro solder tools and he was able to repair the connector.
It could last for several more years, or it could die before you read this post.
Basically, this is the age when backups become critically important (although they are critically important on a new machine as well). If you haven't planned for the possibility that a 10-year-old computer will stop working...
Here is what I have on my current Late 2012 model 16GB Ram
I use Time machine, but I also have everything in Icloud and MS One drive so if it dies then nothing is really lost
we had a Safari 15.5 and Catalina security update 10.15.7 in May 2022
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Yep. All my documents saved and accessed from my iCloud drive, besides my Mini 2011, and 2018 I also have full functionality with my 2018 iPad Pro.
Safe bet that it'll only have one more new macOS update after Ventura. They're starting to aggressively cut off Intel Macs so I don't expect a long support window for this one.
I want a new machine, but cant really justify buying one just for the sake of it, i have ipad Pro M1 and iphone and both are acceptable, my company uses Windows. it so easy hopping from one device or machine to another now, maybe once it finally dies I'll get a new Mini
I think at least 8 years, Apple's current policy is to phase out models through the "mandatory" OS exclusion program, generally speaking, at least five to six years will enter the cycle, two to three years may appear in the "do not support new OS" list, so I reasonably guess that the normal use of at least 8 years is no problem.
Of course, there are many ways to extend the service life, but for now, we don't need to consider them.
Of course, there are many ways to extend the service life, but for now, we don't need to consider them.
Note that iCloud and iCloud drive are not backup services. iCloud is a sync service. For a 3-2-1 backup strategy you can use only 1 (at most) TM backup. Cloud backups require a true Cloud backup service such as Backblaze, Crashplan or maybe Carbonite.
If you have data, such as pictures, which you want to preserve you need to back them up as above. See the posts where people have lost all of their data - usually pictures.
The following is obviously marketing but the points made are accurate.
Don’t Get Trapped in iCloud
iCloud doesn't offer you the security of a true backup. Understand the difference to protect your important files.
www.backblaze.com
That is a good point. I have Backblaze for three computers (along with Time Machine and Carbon Copy). However, people also need to realize the limits of Backblaze. It only backs up your user data - documents, photos, movies, etc. It does not backup your whole disk. There is no backup of your software, for example. So, if you use them for recovery, you would also have to re-install all your software separately. This might be a problem if you have old apps that are no longer available for download.
Note that iCloud and iCloud drive are not backup services. iCloud is a sync service. For a 3-2-1 backup strategy you can use only 1 (at most) TM backup. Cloud backups require a true Cloud backup service such as Backblaze, Crashplan or maybe Carbonite.
If you have data, such as pictures, which you want to preserve you need to back them up as above. See the posts where people have lost all of their data - usually pictures.
The following is obviously marketing but the points made are accurate.
Don’t Get Trapped in iCloud
iCloud doesn't offer you the security of a true backup. Understand the difference to protect your important files.
It's fine to maintain a classic 3-2-1 backup scheme - it was a concept developed well before synced data was widely used, and is still based on the assumption that each PC is a free-standing system. As such, you can't depend on anyone else to safeguard the data.
Now, anyone who worked in the classic, pre-internet networked environment is accustomed to using file servers. You remember, in the days of Novell Netware those machines in a room down the hall. The individual users were not required to backup their server contents - that was the job of the people managing the server. It was not at all uncommon for the IT department attitude to be that so long as all company data resides on the server, backups of the individual clients were not required.
While it's true that iCloud synchronizes data, it is not a pipeline-style sync wherein the data passes through the server and resides only on the synched machines. iCloud (like any IMAP mail server, file servers like DropBox, Google Photos/Docs, etc.) is a client-server system wherein the server provides the "master" data storage and the clients synchronize to the server.
Now, Apple will be the first to say that "iCloud is not a backup" (ignoring the fact that iOS/iPadOS device backup is one feature of iCloud). That (along with the T&C) helps absolve Apple of responsibility for data loss. However, those server systems are certainly more reliable than the client systems that connect to those servers.
The weakness of any client-server system (whether connected by a local Ethernet network or over the web), is the reliability of syncing and data communications. If the data never leaves the client system/never arrives at the server, then the server is useless.
As it happens, iOS/iPadOS backup helps cover for that - whether backing up an iPhone the old-fashioned way by connecting to a local computer, or the (hardly newfangled) method of backing up automatically via iCloud, the backup set includes all data that has not yet been synced to iCloud (along with any data that does not normally sync). Those backups exclude cloud-based data (iCloud-synced data, IMAP mail, etc.) and resources readily downloadable in other ways, including the OS, apps obtained from App Store, and media downloads obtained from iTunes. This keeps the backup set size/bandwidth demands down to something manageable (imagine backing up a 256 GB iPhone to a 256 GB MBA if that wasn't done). Restoring from an iOS/iPadOS backup is a reconstruction process - synced data re-syncs, apps and music re-download, etc.
It's completely true that server-resident data is not a backup. Backup implies that it is a safety copy, while the master data resides elsewhere. In a client-server system, the server-based data is the master, so by definition, it can't be a safety copy. However, the synced data that reside on the client systems is neither master nor backup - it's locally-cached data intended to improve system performance and allow data access when there is no network connection.
We can make any semantic distinctions we wish, but the basic reality is this: Far, far more people have been saved from the loss of their personal device (and the data on that device) by iCloud than have ever lost data because they used iCloud. That seems to define "backup" pretty well to me.
I bought my wife a base model 2018 Mac mini when they launched and she's still using it. I offer her an upgrade every year and she declines so I assume that she's happy with it. It's getting Ventura but I suspect that the 2018 could be dropped from OS updates in 2023.
I have a friend with a 2018 mini with the i5 and he upgraded it himself to 32 GB of RAM. It works fine for him but he's annoyed at how hot it gets and the fan noise. He also has a 2017 iMac 27 I think that he likes that for some things but it's in a different room in his house.
I have a friend with a 2018 mini with the i5 and he upgraded it himself to 32 GB of RAM. It works fine for him but he's annoyed at how hot it gets and the fan noise. He also has a 2017 iMac 27 I think that he likes that for some things but it's in a different room in his house.
The answer might depend on how it has been used. We have and are using 2012, 2014 and 2018 mini's as servers (SSDs throughout) and they are on and working 24/7. I would say five to seven years is about right in that situation. However if its been mainly off in someones home office then the motherboard is likely less prone to wear and tear / failure.
Having said that if you can get an M1 mini with 16GB of ram that would be the most future proof option.
Having said that if you can get an M1 mini with 16GB of ram that would be the most future proof option.