If a new mini is released, who is left to buy one?

[saulinpa]

Over the last couple years I have found replacements for my minis - Intel NUC, Apple TV, nMP. So other than nostalgia, loyalty, or curiosity I don't see a reason to get a new mini if/when one comes out.

Many others have also moved on so I wonder what Apple could provide in a new mini that would bring back customers. An up-to-date machine will make most here happy but won't bring back the lost base. Apple would need something special and without that they might as well give up.

 

[KrisLord]

I’m always surprised Apple hasn’t updated the mini before now.

The mini always did 2 things, providing an entry route into Mac computing with the possibility to upsell you to a MacBook Pro or iMac next time, and for those who don’t want an all in one desktop.

I think the idea of a desktop PC that isn’t an iMac still interests a lot of people. The 27” is expensive and the 21” too small a screen.

A £600-£800 Mini with decent internals is preferable to an iMac for me.

 

[LorenK]

The GPU in my 2010 mini just died and I've been looking at prices for 2014's, but I can't see paying $400 for a four year old machine. It has been a workhorse and if they keep a similar price range, I will happily buy a new mini, but I will not buy a new mini that has a four year old system design. HEAR THAT APPLE?

 

[QuietGamer]

I was until the Mohave screen gate issue has ruined non retina screen resolutions. Just to confirm the issue I went to a local Apple store to look at a 1080p monitor iMac running OSX 14 before upgrading the Mini to OSX 14. It was horrible. Not sure what my upgrade path is now?

I may pick up a USB drive and make a CC clone of HS and upgrade the Mini to OSX 14 just to confirm MY setup suffers this issue and go from there depending on results.

Didn't see this issue coming from left field for sure. Disappointed to say the least! Funny thing is its a software issue and not hardware !! AAUUUGGGGG

 

[RyanXM]

I will buy one to take apart and see what has changed internally and how easy it is to upgrade. I will be getting a 2014 after the 2018 is released (if they do so) as I need to be able to run High Sierra and the 2018 will more than likely be locked into Mojave and beyond.

 

[tubular]

I’m a developer. I’d like a headless Mac that isn’t dumb but doesn’t cost US$3000.

 

[sublunar]

I'm fairly sure Mac Mini Colo and similar boutique data centres will buy them.

 

[Scarpad]

Me My 2011 iMac i use for Plex is on its last legs

 

[Ursadorable]

I'm ready to buy one.. assuming it has a reasonably fast quad core processor in it. I don't want an all in one computing 'appliance' iMac.

 

[Fishrrman]

If a new Mini gets released, and IF it is as "well-done" in 2018 as was the late-2012 i7 2.6ghz (I have one), I'll buy one. And I won't mind "paying more" IF they do it right.

But probably not until next year, until after the 2019 iMacs are announced.
I'll be needing one of "the last Macs to run in 32 bits", so I can keep using all my older software.

That could be a late-2018 Mini.
Or it could be a mid-2019 iMac.

If Apple does a good job on a "new Mini", I would tend to favor that over an iMac, because I like the concept of "keeping the display separated" from the CPU/power supply/inputs, etc.

But if they gimp out on the new Mini, I'll have no qualms replacing my 2012 Mini with an iMac next year. I helped a friend get set up with a 2017 iMac 27" a few months back, and it's a dandy computer...

 

[MultiFinder17]

I love the mini for what it is; a small, multi-use little Mac that can be shoved anywhere to do pretty much everything. I've used my minis in the past as TV set top boxes, I use one as a server, I use one as a projector slave in my classroom, pretty much anywhere that I need a quiet little Mac to sit there and do its thing. It's nice having a full-featured computer for that. If they keep up with that ideal, I'll likely be in the market for another one soon enough!

 

[eutexian]

As and when my mid 2011 dies... Yes, of course. If at that time there is a suitable (upgradable) mini ready to buy. If not... Then I will look at the options other than a PC.

 

[tubular]

I'm running a really great 2012-era quad core I bought in the last months you could get one. If Apple emits another solderblock, then part of the argument for upgrading goes away. So the options then are

• get one despite the solder
• wait until we know what the Mac Pro is, and make a decision based on that
• be more conscious about splitting tasks up, so that the heavy lifting is done by my tower running Ubuntu and the Mac is saved for lighter-weight stuff, and give up any dreams of a desktop Mac as good as the one I have now

 

[kevink2]

I would prefer a new Mini for my usage. It could share my 27" 4K monitor with what is currently a Windows computer (and was a Hackintosh for 2 years before I got tired of fighting things like USB3 support breaking).

My normal usage is my MBP 2015 model, but I want a replacement desktop that can hold my music/picture collection. The MBP has too little storage available.

I'm leaning now toward a new Mini, if it is released, or the 21" iMac retina model if it is upgraded.

I was spoiled by the Mac Pro 2008 model that i used for 8 years before OS support ended for that. It could hold a lot of hard drives and RAM.

 

[BornAgainMac]

If I could get iMac or iMac Pro specs in a Mini, I would never purchase an iMac again and go with the Mini.

 

[mcnallym]

I basically need a 24/7 machine to run iTunes and Elgato. Preferably with HDMI port. Currently using a 2009 mini for that and do the video editing on my Mac Pro. Don't need a high end machine

 

[spacebro]

I got into apple stuff with a Mac mini in 2011. It was soon replaced by a MacBook Pro. I used the mini as a living room tv controller and wanted to keep doing that until last year I could not keep waiting for 4K support. I’ll need another Mac mini when I want to abandon macOS and just have a way of working on iOS apps. Maybe they are not releasing Mac mini’s because it will give people like me who need to work on iOS apps sometimes an avenue out of the macOS ecosystem. Right now the Xcode experience is excruciatingly slow unless you pay $2000+ for an appropriate MacBook Pro.

 

[whitedragon101]

I have been arguing for a new mac mini for ages. A mac mini pro was beyond what I dared to hope for. I will probably break a finger throwing my wallet at the screen during the announcement.

I just want a developer machine with decent power that can run a 4k screen or 2. I don't want to pay for the extra screen in an iMac, I don't need and can't afford an iMac Pro or likely monstrously expensive Mac pro, I don't need a laptop as I have an iPad Pro so paying £3000 for a 15inch Macbook Pro seems over the top too.
Just pack in a the power of a 15" macbook pro into a moderate sized box and charge me 1/2 the price please.

 

[sublunar]

I have been arguing for a new mac mini for ages. A mac mini pro was beyond what I dared to hope for. I will probably break a finger throwing my wallet at the screen during the announcement.

I just want a developer machine with decent power that can run a 4k screen or 2. I don't want to pay for the extra screen in an iMac, I don't need and can't afford an iMac Pro or likely monstrously expensive Mac pro, I don't need a laptop as I have an iPad Pro so paying £3000 for a 15inch Macbook Pro seems over the top too.
Just pack in a the power of a 15" macbook pro into a moderate sized box and charge me 1/2 the price please.

I didn't think the screen, Touch Bar and keyboard made up half the price of a MacBook Pro

 

[whitedragon101]

I didn't think the screen, Touch Bar and keyboard made up half the price of a MacBook Pro

I did say please

 

[saulinpa]

So from the comments the Mac faithful will probably buy a new mini. Is that enough? I would think Apple needs new Mac users come to the mini to make it worthwhile. They definitely don't want to lose other Mac sales to the mini.

 

[whitedragon101]

So from the comments the Mac faithful will probably buy a new mini. Is that enough? I would think Apple needs new Mac users come to the mini to make it worthwhile. They definitely don't want to lose other Mac sales to the mini.

Its not about sales numbers its about clapping. The more people clap the more likely a new Apple product is to come to life. Although that might be fairies, but until we are sure I think clapping is not a bad option.

 

[chooyoshi]

I will get one to replace the 64gb 2012 MacBook air that has been in charge of my video editing needs. Have the rest of accessories ready, and willing and able to buy anytime... But if nothing comes out by November, should I just spend on a MacBook pro with the dongles (keyboard is absymal) or get the 21 inch iMac?

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

I'm running a Mid-2011 iMac and when that dies, my ultimate Mac would be a Mini with a decent 4K large-screen monitor.
I have a home office set up that also doubles as a second living room and the Mini would double as a home computer and media centre for me.
It really would be the perfect format.

if it fails to materialise, I'll go a 27" iMac, but that's not ideally what I am after.

 

[alien3dx]

I’m a developer. I’d like a headless Mac that isn’t dumb but doesn’t cost US$3000.

US$1000 also hard to explain why i need to bought it.. It maybe cheap for some people.
99 Dollar every year is absurb to.. Just paid upon upload much easier . E.g 5 dollar per application.
** a lot of people paid 99 dollar and not publish a thing (Reddit comment)