Imagined Mac Mini Redesign Argues Apple Should Borrow From Mac Studio

[GraXXoR]

Now if the Mac mini had slots for a couple of M2 interface NVRM SSDs internally, it would finally fill out the case a bit more.
absolutely no need whatsoever to emplumpen it.

But yes, front slots for a few things would not be unwelcome.

 

[4wheelcycle]

I agree with an earlier poster who said why re-design the low-priced Mac mini to be more expensive? My vote would be to let the Mac mini follow the chip, unified memory, and storage options on the 13" MacBook Air. The suggested, shorter, design for the Mac mini could be adopted for the Mac Studio, letting the Studio follow the MacBook Pro's options. With that approach, Apple could still offer a highest-end Mac Pro tower to go with their highest-end Pro display.

 

[George Dawes]

I like the mini , it's unobtrusive and quite attractive in it's simplicity unlike the studio which is quite frankly hideous

You can tell which one was designed under Steve and Jony's tenure that's for sure ...

 

[crsh1976]

Well that’s easy - they let them run to almost 110 degrees! Haha.

But it works, so where's the issue exactly?

I'm still on a M1 Max MBP (whose fan I have yet to hear), but a coworker of mine got her M2 Max MBP last week and in terms of heat and cooling noise/activity, there's no difference.

 

[hoorayforhollywood]

Surely this all depends on the Mac Pro? If that makes the Studio irrelevant (RIP - great computer) then obviously this will become the next-gen mini.

 

[keithw]

An M1 Mac Studio Ultra starts at $3999. Unless the new Mac Pro starts at a similar price, it's not what most people are going to want. If you can't expand the RAM and can't use a discrete GPU, why would anybody want to spend more money on a Mac Pro than they would with a Mac Studio?

 

[Pianoplayah]

Yes, let’s invest a ton of R&D into apples best value product that we just reduced the price on.

 

[R2DHue]

Mac mini, Mac mini Pro, Mac mini Ultra?

“Mac nano,” “Mac nano Pro” (“mini” connotes sub-par, less-powerful or a “sub” desktop — which it is not. The first, 2005 version definitely was — it used laptop components without the portability [specifically the components of the MacBook Air] but not now.)

 

[HVDynamo]

Agreed. I feel like Apple Mac Pro Trash Can design was much better.

Yeah, I always liked the design of the trash can Mac Pro. I just wouldn't have called it a Mac Pro. If they had 3 tiers (Mac Mini, Mac, and Mac Pro) This would have been perfect at the mid level (Mac) machine size.

 

[golfstud]

"Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently suggested that Apple has no plans to update the Mac Studio with the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips in the near future. The main reason for the decision seems to be the change in direction of the Apple silicon Mac Pro, which will now have the M2 Ultra chip as a top-tier option and offer limited modularity. Apple may leave the Mac Studio without a hardware refresh for some time and could even discontinue the product line,"

So, because the Mac Pro is failing to hit its performance targets, Apple should limit or eliminate the Mac Studio? That seems like an act of timidity. Have Apple painted themselves into another corner?

I hope Gurman is wrong on this. I don't think Apple has painted themselves into a corner. I do think global production out of TSMC and others has slowed development and production of latest chips. With the addition of the MacStudio the desktop line up is very complete IMHO. Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro. I don't think the Mini needs a redesign. What Apple should do is this. Put M2 Max and Ultras in the Studio(update) then have the Pro be only Ultras with a few more features in GPU. The Pro doesn't need to be MUCH faster than the high end studio, just form factor and expansion capabilities that the mini and studio don't have. The rumor that the Pro won't have the ability to add memory is not good. IMHO. Now if Apple has the M3 ready in back pocket then that is a whole other story, but I doubt that right now. Finally Apple REALLY needs to fix the HORRIBLE upgrade pricing for memory and storage on BTO options.

 

[R2DHue]

Why does the Mac mini need an updated e design? It does everything as it was intended in the design it has. Change for change sake is silly at this price point and typical use cases.

Yeah, but you gotta admit, it’s not how Apple do. I know Jony Ive is gone, but that’s no reason to throw ID in the trash.

 

[ScholarsInk]

Given the massive savings in space from apple Silicon I would have thought Apple could move to power the Mini via USB-C (enabling the removal of the internal PSU) and the Mini could fit into an Apple TV-size box! Might be a tight squeeze for the ports on the M2 Pro version, but should be ok for the M2 version (especially if USB-PD allowed to to be powered by the monitor)

Remember when the Apple TV was a Mac?

 

[GuilleA]

The entire Mac lineup is a mess.

 

[_Spinn_]

Looks cool but will never happen.