32GB of RAM, etc. Intel sets the bar even higher for Apple now.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017...ew-chips-an-updated-design-and-thunderbolt-3/
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017...ew-chips-an-updated-design-and-thunderbolt-3/
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Intel’s new mini PCs
- Thread starter dogslobber
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I'm not even sure Apple has a bar for Macs, to be honest.
I'm fairly certain that Apple's current bar is set in terms of profit, not functionality. Whereas Jobs was looking for products that could perform a certain task in a certain manner, current management simply wants to maximize the revenue received from each sale.
So, they will continue to produce devices with a minimal level of functionality until people simply stop buying them. It is only at that point where they will choose to upgrade (or, I guess, drop) those products...
Oh they most certainly do have a bar for Macs. It's a limbo bar.
Mac used to have a bar...well a "Genius Bar" but it went like everything else Apple they made it "Thin" on help.
I looked at the link and the first thing that I thought was interesting was the number of ports, a thoughtful array of very useful ports on these small computers. While I may not be a fan of the on board graphics (Iris), it still remains a decent option for most people and certainly has matured to handle (upper Iris models) some UHD options.
A few years back, there was a company that sold these USB thumbdrive "dongles" that made it easy to install OSX on PC's. I sure wish they were around now as these NUCs seem to be a sweet spot for some of us who are either ex Mac Mini fans or simply wanted a headless "Mac" that didn't ring of Apple's deafness known as "THIN-itus."
I looked at the link and the first thing that I thought was interesting was the number of ports, a thoughtful array of very useful ports on these small computers. While I may not be a fan of the on board graphics (Iris), it still remains a decent option for most people and certainly has matured to handle (upper Iris models) some UHD options.
A few years back, there was a company that sold these USB thumbdrive "dongles" that made it easy to install OSX on PC's. I sure wish they were around now as these NUCs seem to be a sweet spot for some of us who are either ex Mac Mini fans or simply wanted a headless "Mac" that didn't ring of Apple's deafness known as "THIN-itus."
Thunderbolt 3 on those can use any number of graphic enclosures that are getting cheaper and cheaper.
Interesting machines, but rather homely.
Apple was drunk, and left the bar. They were last seen contemplating jumping from the GG Bridge.
Apple was drunk, and left the bar. They were last seen contemplating jumping from the GG Bridge.
Well ...
As mentioned but not made explicit, there is no Kaby Lake Skull Canyon which those of us with a 2012 quad-core are interested in. The introduction of the new NUC's was prompted by the official launching of new Kaby Lake processors. Also, while Intel launched "HQ" processors (mobile quad-core), there were no Iris Pro processors included. So maybe a new Skull Canyon will appear when such a processor is launched?
As for me, I'd rather wait until Intel addresses the shortcoming mentioned regarding much of the IO (except memory and video) going through a PCH controller vs. directly through the CPU as mentioned in:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10343/the-intel-skull-canyon-nuc6i7kyk-minipc-review
Unlike Apple, I'm have a reasonable level of confidence that Intel will introduce a new Skull Canyon this year.
As mentioned but not made explicit, there is no Kaby Lake Skull Canyon which those of us with a 2012 quad-core are interested in. The introduction of the new NUC's was prompted by the official launching of new Kaby Lake processors. Also, while Intel launched "HQ" processors (mobile quad-core), there were no Iris Pro processors included. So maybe a new Skull Canyon will appear when such a processor is launched?
As for me, I'd rather wait until Intel addresses the shortcoming mentioned regarding much of the IO (except memory and video) going through a PCH controller vs. directly through the CPU as mentioned in:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10343/the-intel-skull-canyon-nuc6i7kyk-minipc-review
Unlike Apple, I'm have a reasonable level of confidence that Intel will introduce a new Skull Canyon this year.
Hmm. My understanding is that the current Skull Canyon NUC is designed to show off the power of Intel's H-series (45 watt) mobile CPUs. While there are a full set of Skylake H-series chips, I'm not sure that there are any Kaby Lake H CPUs. Maybe when Coffee Lake becomes available?
At yesterdays launch, there were 7 Kaby Lake "H" processors - 5 "HQ", an "HK" and an "H". 3 of the HQ's were quad-core hyper-threading. I presume these new "H" processors are the ones used in the new Intel NUC's but I haven't found tech specs for them.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10959...neration-kaby-lake-i7-7700k-i5-7600k-i3-7350k
I'm wondering if Apple will skip Kabyle lake for the next Mini and go for the AMD chip. Maybe Apple will put the 8 core Zen in the next Mini? That would be very interesting!
While I wouldn't mind a switch to AMD, I would be wiling to bet they will update it to have similar specs as the low-end 13" MacBook Pro, at best.
It has legacy USB, USB C, hdmi....so it can be done. You know....put USB C out there but realize 99.99999999% of the computer world uses those old fangled ways of doing things. legacy USB and USB c can live in harmony. So can HDMI.
The 8-core "Ryzen" that AMD's showing off at CES is a desktop 95W TDP CPU vs. the 45W mobile CPU used in the 2012 Mini and the Intel quad-core NUC's. I think that's very unlikely to be put in the current concept of the Mini. Switching over to AMD using other Zen variations (yet to come) would be possible but would require more engineering staff, I would think, and Apple doesn't seem all that willing to do that for their desktops.
i7-7920HQ 3.1 GHz base
i7-7820HQ 2.9 GHz
i7-7820HK 2.9 GHz
i7-7700HQ 2.8 GHz
i5-7440HQ 2.8 GHz
i5-7300HQ 2.5 GHz
i3-7100H 3.0 GHz
All have HD630 graphics. The HK is unlocked. The i7's are quad core with hyperthreading. The i5's are quad core. The i3 is undoubtedly a quad core with two cores disabled, but at least the remaining cores are hyperthreaded.
The i7 HQ's are what we'd find in a hypothetical 2017 MBP15.
I have my doubts that Apple will be bothered with the Mini. They will update the iMac sometime next year but the iPhone is the most important money maker.
Apple is very anemic compared the computer industry in general. Gaming is now the biggest computer driver right now that Apple does not even participate in except for mobiles and IOS.
The iPad is still their chosen PC replacement.
I'm talking in general Apples aproach within the computer industry and yes the Scull Canyon NUC is marketed as a gaming computer. Further more since the NUC does have TB3 compatible with external GPU enclosures it can easily become a moderate gaming computer.
I want to build a mini ITX hackintosh which seems like a much smarter idea atm than buying a NUC or mac mini