Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The mac mini is connected to electricity at all times, so why choose the crappy "U" processors? they are bad in performance and their main goal is to save energy, but who cares when dealing with desktop computers?

They use the U processors for thermal reasons because of the size of the Mac mini.

It's Apple. how thin something is is more important than how usable it is.
 
I use some software that converts certain video formats. When I used a dual core processor Mac, it would take 12-16hrs to convert. On my quad core Mini, it took about 30 minutes. You have no idea what others are using their Minis for. People buy the quad core because they know it will speed up the things they need to do.

Thank You!
 
"That kind of Mac Mini, or any product really, has ever existed in Apple's lineup."

What are you talking about 'westrock2000'? It exists - I own the product. It is called the 2012 quad core i7 Mac Mini!!!! I run advanced architectural 3D software on it, run the entire Adobe suite at the same time and use 4 cores every day for architectural renderings. It cost me $1300. Now it now longer exists with this update. Now I have to buy an iMac or spend $3000 for a Mac Pro.

See my above post as to why both those options are not viable.

Sorry, I was going by "We need a quad core i7 machine with decent graphics (Iris Pro or discrete graphics at a minimum) for an affordable price" and was basing that off the graphics request. Of which there has never been a Mini with anything above moderate graphics capability. Even the original Mini G4 that was touted for having discreet graphics was still just marginally good at the time.

To get Iris Pro (which is nice) or a discreet that is really a noticeable upgrade from Intel HD graphics you do have to move up the product line.
 
Well surprisingly some resellers here are knocking £300 off the retail price and VAT at 20% knocks off another £450 or so. That's $1200 already for business users. I reckon the Mac Pro just isn't shifting and further cuts will come. I can also get a union discount of 8% but only if I buy from Apple.

I don't think we are going to see that in the US unless it's used.
 
Apple doesn't want people buying beefed up quad core mini for heavy work and want you to buy an iMac or Mac Pro.

They should've put fusion drives in all models and upped the RAM at least to compensate.
 
I'm basically to the point of stopping recommending Macs as "intro/user-friendly" machines to technophobic family and friends. Even the build quality/durability is starting to drop off sharply. Apple can have fun with their "appliance" PCs while the market lasts for them.

.

Kind of sounds like you have lost touch with what an intro/user-friendly machine is. The entry model now at $499 is perfect for that person.
 
They use the U processors for thermal reasons because of the size of the Mac mini.

It's Apple. how thin something is is more important than how usable it is.

It's Halloween so don't forget to see the classic Stephen King movie, THINNER!

Trust me, it's NOT always better. :D

OH, and don't forget to hide behind the chain saws too. That always works in every horror movie.

Signed,
Geico
 
soldered on ram
slower multi-core
dual-core only
server option removed (no 2tb)

does anyone else think that Apple was supposed to release a redesigned Mac Mini but because broadwell got delayed and Apple ended up just releasing a revised edition at the very last minute?

You mean after 2 years they suddenly felt the need to hurry?

*looks at Mac Pro*

Glassed Silver:mac
 
OMG how many times do we need to say that the iMac is not a viable replacement. We bought the 6 core for faster multi-core render times, which is essential for our business. We aren't idiots.

Do you work for Apple? Because that is exactly what Apple wants: "oh look why not just buy an iMac? I know you already own your own screens and like a different screen size than we offer. I know you don't like our glossy, reflective screen, soldered in RAM, completely non-portable computer like the iMac....but you HAVE to buy it now since we killed the product that worked best for you so we could make more money. Or how about $3000 for a Mac Pro...sure it is triple what you paid for your last Mac Mini with almost the same performance, but you have no choice now right!!!"

"Be sure to take a look at the new iPad on your way out of the store - it is thinner than a pencil!"
 
Maybe this is why they cancelled the server option. But now what? We have been using several mac servers in our company. Should we buy iMacs as servers now? LOL. Or simply switch over to Windows or Linux in the future?

I think you can run it in ESX(i) with a "patch".
I can't see our vSphere-Admins at work running that script on one of our servers, though. Rather, hell would freeze over....
 
The mac mini is connected to electricity at all times, so why choose the crappy "U" processors? they are bad in performance and their main goal is to save energy, but who cares when dealing with desktop computers?.

Because it's conneted to electricity at all times... It saves energy. Not battery power but, over time, kilowatts. Not that I'm defending this decision by apple...
 
lmao who cares about the 499 price point if performance is going to be almost halved from a 2 year old previous generation. Apple did to the mac mini as EA did to all of its video games

Excuse me? Was the quad core i7 $499? Get a grip. Is it news that two newer cores were slower than four older ones?

I agree that this update sucks, but at least compare the same models. The newer entry level has better performance than the old entry level. But the maxed out new one gets beat by the maxed out old one in raw power, because it has twice the cores.

However, for the average consumer, the new one will be quicker based soley on PCIe storage, much better integrated graphics, and a smaller nm architecture.
 
I can see the logic, don't like it but I can see it:

1. Mini = Mum/Dads on a budget, school and homework related tasks
2. iMac = Prosumer, Mums/Dads with money, teenage or young adults uni/highschool, work at home type clients
3. MacPro = Professionals need only apply who can make use of the GPUs more than anything (if you don't price check a Lenovo or Dell and see how much more you get for the same money of course)
 
Because it's conneted to electricity at all times... It saves energy. Not battery power but, over time, kilowatts. Not that I'm defending this decision by apple...

I think it has more to do with the heat generated by a desktop class CPU in such a small case. Every micro PC uses an Ultrabook processor, because there just isn't enough room for a good thermal solution.
 
I'd imagine if they were to upgrade to quad core across the line (in a future revision) they could essily use this as an opportunity to advertise "2x faster CPU than the last model".

:apple:
 
I was under the impression that only some models had quad core, so i guess it depends on the model you are comparing it to.
 
Apple doesn't want people buying beefed up quad core mini for heavy work and want you to buy an iMac or Mac Pro.

They should've put fusion drives in all models and upped the RAM at least to compensate.

And if you don't want to buy a useless screen, or spend 3-4 times than you used to, you are being shown the door by apple.

People who have gravitated to macs usually do so because they are escaping windows. Now we have no recourse but to go back*, simple apple does not care for us as customers anymore.


*=could have said Linux, but software and hardware support is very spotty for normal use.
 
They use the U processors for thermal reasons because of the size of the Mac mini.

It's Apple. how thin something is is more important than how usable it is.

Not actually true. They used a 35watt processor and 45watt processor for the 2012 version, and the cases are basically identical between 2012 and 2014.
 
3. MacPro = Professionals need only apply who can make use of the GPUs more than anything (if you don't price check a Lenovo or Dell and see how much more you get for the same money of course)

Weirdly enough, when you consider the hardware inside the thing, the MP is a good deal cheaper than a PC counterpart with the same specs.

Yeah, you can get a cheaper workstation PC, but you can't get one cheaper with that same hardware.
 
It's not greed. They gave up five sales to you alone, and they could have charged a lot more for them. There must be another reason they chose not not make you happy.

I'm thinking they just don't like you.

They lost three from me too. Relatives are up for new computers. I'm not going to suggest any Apple products. They don't "just work" anymore, and they keep crippling things. Forget it.
 
Excuse me? Was the quad core i7 $499? Get a grip. Is it news that two newer cores were slower than four older ones?

I agree that this update sucks, but at least compare the same models. The newer entry level has better performance than the old entry level. But the maxed out new one gets beat by the maxed out old one in raw power, because it has twice the cores.

However, for the average consumer, the new one will be quicker based soley on PCIe storage, much better integrated graphics, and a smaller nm architecture.
The $499 ones comes without taking advantage of the PCIe storage - so no benefit.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.