Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

If the Mac mini is discontinued tomorrow, what would you do?

  • Buy a MacBook Air

    Votes: 3 3.9%
  • Wait for an updated MacBook Air or its replacement

    Votes: 4 5.2%
  • Buy a MacBook

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Buy a MacBook Pro

    Votes: 5 6.5%
  • Buy an iMac

    Votes: 22 28.6%
  • Buy a Mac Pro

    Votes: 2 2.6%
  • Wait for an updated Mac Pro

    Votes: 6 7.8%
  • Switch to Microsoft Windows

    Votes: 14 18.2%
  • Switch to Linux

    Votes: 13 16.9%
  • Switch to BSD

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Hackintosh

    Votes: 8 10.4%

  • Total voters
    77

Yvan256

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 5, 2004
5,141
1,143
Canada
If the Mac mini is discontinued tomorrow, what would you do... when the time came to change your current Mac mini?

(I can't edit the question above anymore)
 
Last edited:
Being that I have over 200 2012s in stock, all the 2.6Ghz Quad-Core models, I think I'll be ok. Two advantages to the 2014: Wireless AC and PCIe (although only 700MB/s) SSD. One disadvantage: only dual core (with HyperThreading on the i7).
 
Butterfly switch MacBook Pros are too risky long term because of the keyboard issues etc.
Macbook Air is a zombie product
Modular Mac Pro - nothing known about starting price
Current 2013 Mac Pro - Poor value for money and to be superseded
iMac - screens continue to be a quality issue but at least they are updated annually - and the iMac Pro shows you where the regular iMac could be going.

You needed to mention buying a used 2015 Mac of some description ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: George Dawes
MBP for me but I’ll use it in clamshell mode anyways with an eGPU and normal keyboard and mouse
 
When it comes time to replace my Mac mini 2012 currently being used as a HTPC, and Apple still hasn't updated the Mac mini, I will be getting a Linux box and/or Apple TV. I don't want Windows, and I don't want to pay for an iMac's built-in screen when I don't need one.
 
Windows/Linux. (which should be a choice in poll)
I'm already transitioning. Still too much essential Mac stuff to abandon, but I really don't like the way Apple's walled garden is going up. Couple, four years, I should be out of Mac insanity entirely.
 
If there is no equivalent to the Mini then I am looking at Linux.

Increasing lack of the DIY option for repair and upgrades (especially individual components – drives, RAM, etc) is also becoming a major downside for me with Apple hardware.
 
Last edited:
Linux on a NUC for me, PopOS is really nice, I'm trialing it in virtualbox on my mac mini. Preparing to move off the apple platform piece by piece due to lack of suitable hardware/no refreshes.

Looking forward to being able to upgrade Ram and HDD etc easily again!

Will stick with my 2012 until apple drops support then go for the system76 meerkat or a hades canyon NUC.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim L
Apples current hardware range outside ios really is pretty terrible. Lots of models that overlap and lots of ridiculously outdated stuff , the Mac Pro and mini are pathetic and should have been deleted and replaced ages ago

I guess all the engineers are off doing important stuff like designing door handles for the spaceship or working on that car ...

Apples priorities sure are messed up these days
 
I use Mail, Calendar, Notes, iMessage and Contacs. Hence I’ll have to stick to macOS and consequently go with the Hackintosh alternative.
 
I use Mail, Calendar, Notes, iMessage and Contacs. Hence I’ll have to stick to macOS and consequently go with the Hackintosh alternative.

All of those are easy as pie to replace on linux or windows except iMessage and even that isn't much of a big deal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: George Dawes
Being that I have over 200 2012s in stock, all the 2.6Ghz Quad-Core models, I think I'll be ok. Two advantages to the 2014: Wireless AC and PCIe (although only 700MB/s) SSD. One disadvantage: only dual core (with HyperThreading on the i7).

Hmmm....

200 quad cores would make an interesting cluster.
 
All of those are easy as pie to replace on linux or windows except iMessage and even that isn't much of a big deal.
I disagree. I use Linux on my developer platform and although Thunderbolt is not a bad mail program in itself, not as savvy as the Mail when it comes to smart mailboxes and filters. As for the Apple Notes, I don’t know how one can use the Apple notes in Linux and keep in sync with the other IOS devices.

So far, I don’t know how to connect my Linux, or Windows machines to Apple server’s CalDAV and CardDAV accounts or how to add a macOS server account to those platforms.

What you are suggesting is to completely get out of the Apple ecosystem and use alternatives like Google services. Seems easier to me to build a hackintosh rather than doing that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Yvan256
None of the above.

I have a 2012 Mini, (booted from a USB3 external SSD).
If the "Mac Mini was discontinued tomorrow", I'd not buy any of the listed computers.

I'd just keep right on using the Mini that I have now. It still runs great and I can see getting at least 2 more years from it. Possibly even more.

I do believe that the Mini "has had its run", and from the looks of things we're not going to see another.
I expect the Mini to "go the way of the Airport" -- that is, before too long we're going to see an announcement from Apple that the Mini is being discontinued after all existing stock is sold out.

And then... it will be gone.
 
Being that I have over 200 2012s in stock, all the 2.6Ghz Quad-Core models, I think I'll be ok. Two advantages to the 2014: Wireless AC and PCIe (although only 700MB/s) SSD. One disadvantage: only dual core (with HyperThreading on the i7).

JFYI: The i5 has also HT. ;)
 
Tough question.. I fully expect to get a couple of more years out of my 2012 Mini i7 with a 1TB Samsung 850 SSD.
but.. would love to go to a 4K monitor for photography so just messing around with options over the next year or so..
  • Mid level iMac 21.5 with 512GB SSD and get an external USB3/C case for my 1TB Samsung
  • 13" MacBook Pro as above + external SSD as above
  • The Alienware Alpha is looking pretty good also and it would be the cheapest option. But ingrained in Notes,Contacts, calendar so not sure of the alternatives.

Will always have a Macbook as a second computer...
If they do a Space Grey iMac 21.5, I'm in! :)
 
Have you seen the 1998 iMacs? ;)

Oh I was there in a big way. :) My daughter had a red one, but when she went off to college I got her the one she really wanted, a purple iMac DV. I bought them at work in all different colors.

Sad comment on the state of the mini when the only thing that prevents him from switching to an iMac is the color. :p
 
  • Like
Reactions: George Dawes
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.