SirAnthonyHopkins
macrumors 6502a
It's people wanting more for less. Give me a pro-capable machine for £600, Apple!
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Is it time for a redesigned Mac Mini?
- Thread starter Rickroller
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StellarVixen
macrumors 68040
It's not the obsession. And it more sounds like you are being upset that some people are trying to achieve solid performance and utility without breaking the bank.
Upset?? I couldnt care less frankly.
Surely the mac mini... the M2 mac mini... is the very definition of "solid performance and utility without breaking the bank"...
(at least relatively speaking for Apple computers).
Im fascinated at how the M2 mac mini cant be seen as solid performance......
... and as I said before the Studio is the "pro" level version of the mini. Don't expect the mini to be the studio as they are aimed at entirely different users.
It's not broken so don't try to fix it. The M2 Pro sorted out all of my issues because two USB-C ports aren't enough for me. With four, it's job done. I have a cheap dongle which I'm happy to use as an SD card reader (also has mini SD, extra HDMI etc) so the 'missing' front facing ports aren't an issue either, unless we're talking pure ergonomics. It's a chunk of metal and plastic that sits on, or under, your desk. May it remain a cheap way of getting into the Mac world. It's bad enough that the Pro starts at the price it does - the masters of upselling strike again in having the cost of meaningful upgrades added to the base M2 being so close to the price of the Pro, it would be silly to not consider going for the more expensive model.
thebart
macrumors 6502a
Is there any data for what % of minis are sold to server farms? Were Intel minis used?
IngerMan
macrumors 68020
You made the front page Rickroller, you are famous now 😉 Congratulations 🎉
www.macrumors.com
Imagined Mac Mini Redesign Argues Apple Should Borrow From Mac Studio
With the Mac mini's current design dating back over a decade, one MacRumors forums user has imagined what a redesign could look like if Apple were to take hints from the Mac Studio. The idea mainly comes from MacRumors forums user "Rickroller," who shared basic images of the concept earlier today.
www.macrumors.com
wot…?!?You made the front page Rickroller, you are famous now 😉 Congratulations 🎉
Imagined Mac Mini Redesign Argues Apple Should Borrow From Mac Studio
With the Mac mini's current design dating back over a decade, one MacRumors forums user has imagined what a redesign could look like if Apple were to take hints from the Mac Studio. The idea mainly comes from MacRumors forums user "Rickroller," who shared basic images of the concept earlier today.
Maybe I’m not a crackpot after all! 🤔
I don’t think I’ve ever seen this data…
I keep hearing that Apple can’t change the design because of this reason, but I can believe Apple would allow themselves to be locked into something because a third party needs them to stay stagnant. If these server farm guys who profit from this setup want to keep this particular form factor for eternity, let them pay for it…
Adding on to what you said, I think Apple would love to see some bigger growth numbers and I think a refresh design couldn’t hurt that cause.
I also tend to think that the best way to get Apple silicon software support the boost it needs, is to show big user numbers. It’s the reason they tend to tout their iOS numbers so much. Will be a few game studios and publishers looking at those numbers as well.
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nickf
macrumors regular
There's no need for the SD card slot. It'll just collect dust. What is this, 2008?
VaruLV
macrumors 6502a
Yeah, thats why they have included it into their Pro Mac devices - Studio, 14 and 16.
SirAnthonyHopkins
macrumors 6502a
Because a built-in SD card slot is a pro feature in 2023. It's a niche requirement that serves a reasonably uncommon use-case. It makes absolute sense that the consumer devices, the MacBook Airs and the Mac mini, don't have them, but that the pro devices do.
VaruLV
macrumors 6502a
Because SD reader or microSD reader should not be pro feature.
But if it is, then why not including one in Mac Mini Pro version, there is no valid reason aside from Apple not willing to lose Mac Studio sales or spend couple of $ more to include one in Mini and lose those few bucks in profit margins.
But if it is, then why not including one in Mac Mini Pro version, there is no valid reason aside from Apple not willing to lose Mac Studio sales or spend couple of $ more to include one in Mini and lose those few bucks in profit margins.
but, fundamentally why does there need to be a mac mini "pro" version....
...when there is the Mac studio?
We dont ask for a MacBook air "pro version" when there are MacBook pros?!
SD car readers are strange beasts. Nobody is missing out whatever machine they own... just get a hub or dongle and job done.
One way in which I prefer the Mini’s design over the Studio is that you can actually open up the Mini quite easily to get access to the fan if you need to clean it. You can technically do that with the Studio too, but it’s much more complicated.
I think the “Pro“ discourse kind of glosses over how Pro is basically just a name for “Mac, but better than base.” What qualifies as a “professional” user and defines their needs is highly variable anyways. There are tons of “pros” out there making money on aging Macs. There’s a video over in the iMac board about how the director of visual development at Marvel Studios uses a 2013 iMac. I think people imagine that there is this massive class of users who need the most capable machines with the most ports ever when thats not really the case. People who want that have the Studio and a wide range of Windows options. The current Mini M2 Pro is more than enough for most higher demanding users who still want a Mini.
I think the “Pro“ discourse kind of glosses over how Pro is basically just a name for “Mac, but better than base.” What qualifies as a “professional” user and defines their needs is highly variable anyways. There are tons of “pros” out there making money on aging Macs. There’s a video over in the iMac board about how the director of visual development at Marvel Studios uses a 2013 iMac. I think people imagine that there is this massive class of users who need the most capable machines with the most ports ever when thats not really the case. People who want that have the Studio and a wide range of Windows options. The current Mini M2 Pro is more than enough for most higher demanding users who still want a Mini.
Mac Fly (film)
macrumors 68040
You solved it. Kill the Studio.
VaruLV
macrumors 6502a
How about removing all ports and keeping only thunderbolt ports?
Oh, wait...
Fundamentally why iPad if there's an iPhone.
Why more than one MacBook model when people can get by with either of them.
And why multiple configurations of Macs at all, just let them have one configuration and call it a day, Apple knows best.
I think they intend to. The Studio was just meant as a stopgap while they figure out what to do with an AS Mac Pro. With that on the horizon + the added Mac Mini M2 Pro, there's really no point to the Studio.
Macstadium have a rack design that can hold 460 mini’s. That is ONE Rack, and they have 4 Datacentres.
They merged with Mac mini colo who also host mini’s.
how many mini’s in comparison are the people in this thread going to buy.
Apple have not changed the basic external chassis since the 2010, and now is 2023 so 13 years not changed the basic shape, they obviously don’t see the need.
I/O panel changed and removed the DVD slot, but you can take a rack full of 2010 mini and replace them with 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023.
Apple have a proven chassis that they can minimally tweak as needed but keeping external shape the same keeping costs down for Apple, as opposed to Apple spending money developing a new chassis/tooling for chassis.
and we all know how Apple love not spending extra money.
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If Apple were to do everything with the mini/studio suggested in the forum then would have
1.) Mac mini in an Apple TV sized chassis, possibly using binned SoC that had faulty cores so could still be used.
2.) Mac mini in current chassis for the colo hosters and people who have existing solutions based on chassis size/shape from likes of netstor or sonnettech.
3.) Mac mini chassis redesigned in studio style and a larger 225w psu so can support a Max processor as well as a Pro as opposed to the 2 PSU using now for m2 and m2 pro.
4.) studio with a Dual Pro Ultra a completely new SoC.
5.) studio with existing Ultra (dual max)
somehow don’t see Apple going for that with them liking to keep relatively simple numbers of models.
1.) Mac mini in an Apple TV sized chassis, possibly using binned SoC that had faulty cores so could still be used.
2.) Mac mini in current chassis for the colo hosters and people who have existing solutions based on chassis size/shape from likes of netstor or sonnettech.
3.) Mac mini chassis redesigned in studio style and a larger 225w psu so can support a Max processor as well as a Pro as opposed to the 2 PSU using now for m2 and m2 pro.
4.) studio with a Dual Pro Ultra a completely new SoC.
5.) studio with existing Ultra (dual max)
somehow don’t see Apple going for that with them liking to keep relatively simple numbers of models.
I am ok with that... Once the M series Mac Pro comes out, the Mac Studio will become redundant like the iMac Pro did.
Mac Fly (film)
macrumors 68040
You've jinxed it. The Studio will stick around for another five years now.
The base Mac Pro costs 6,000 USD. Apple almost never reduces their prices so we can assume that the M series Pro will cost the same.
I think there's definitely room for something between the $1,300 Mac Mini M2 Pro and a $6,000 chunky tower computer. That something being the Studio. I like the basic idea of having the same power as a MacBook Pro but in a desktop form factor.
Granted, I don't know how many Studios they sell, so who knows. I just personally hope it continues on (frankly if it was a one or another choice, I'd prefer them to keep the Studio and kill the Pro). Though I wish it was easier to clean.
Apple admitted massive blunders with the Mac Pro over the years, so hopefully they go back to the old price segments. In 2012, the Mac Pro was $2499 while the 27" iMac was $1799. Pricing an Apple-silicon Mac Pro to the stratosphere again will ensure another flop.