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M4 Mac Mini to Become Apple's Smallest Ever Computer With Complete Redesign
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This is my fear too. They'll hobble it with fewer ports and iffy thermals to push the "pros" to the studio, pros being people who were just fine with the mini before, including me.I suspect the whole point of the redesign might be to deter people from buying it, forcing them towards a Studio, or a MacBook. I fear they feel it wasn't sufficiently gimped in its current form.
That's your response? My 2012 model has it and you're completely missing the point about a trend towards a version no one asked for or wants. Small is for laptops.
It's clear the Mini was hurting vastly more profitable Studio sales in their eyes, but that's because they don't know how to make a actual desktop computer like the old PowerMac series, one of the best cases ever designed.
The Mac Pro is another abomination with nearly useless expansion slots in an insanely overpriced POS.
All that progress towards external graphics cards, game compatibility and useful features was tossed into the fire by greed monger Tim.
super thin & vertical with a thick base with ports. Maybe the ports are on an optional stand.
Airport extreme shape? Granted that's not really any smaller than a mini.
No ports but attaches to new Studio Display via magnets and proprietary connection for those who need usbc ports.
Flat with a built in iphone stand. usbc ports only. Ethernet/HDMI hub sold separately.
Flat and doubles as a trackpad. 1 usbc port. New hub.
Mini imac design with no screen. iPad and iPhone can be magnetically attached to the front of it.
If it's just an aluminum big brother to the ATV or little brother to the Mini then it would be a bit of a downer.
Airport extreme shape? Granted that's not really any smaller than a mini.
No ports but attaches to new Studio Display via magnets and proprietary connection for those who need usbc ports.
Flat with a built in iphone stand. usbc ports only. Ethernet/HDMI hub sold separately.
Flat and doubles as a trackpad. 1 usbc port. New hub.
Mini imac design with no screen. iPad and iPhone can be magnetically attached to the front of it.
If it's just an aluminum big brother to the ATV or little brother to the Mini then it would be a bit of a downer.
Yep. Does anyone not think consumers are going to get shortchanged for whatever hobbled mini-mini they give us?
The school next to my home switched from iMacs to MacMinis this year... next time they buy new hardware it probably won't be Apple at this rate.
Weird. I'm using two on my iMac and they still seem to be right where I put them. I'll try to not look away though. Seriously, though, you can just buy new cables, if you're bothered by adapters.
Not my experience. The ones I'm using cost me very little and seem to work just fine.
The school where I handle support moved to minis in 2 labs from iMacs. Not because of price but because Apple stopped making 27” iMacs. We didn’t go with Apple’s monitors though. The cost would have been ridiculous with a pure Apple solution.
I'm old enough to remember dial phones, no internet etc. but I don't weaponise that because its not productive.
World is much better because of the iPhone etc. Just because social media is making a mess doesn't mean that we will go pitchforks on the messenger. iPhone is a tool for a tons of things and so is internet etc. As was mentioned by some, the time we live now is the best time we've ever had.
You like simple life perhaps or old stuff? Sure, go ahead and enjoy it - no one is taking that away from you. You will just have to use a dongle or adapter. But please, don't hinder progress for better tech just because YOU want to be stuck in the past.
In the last 50 years tech/medicine/science etc. advanced so drastically precisely because someone wanted to improve things and wasn't happy with the current state of things.
Also, you can still use your MP3 songs etc. Tons of alternatives to choose from.
You might be same age as me or older - either way - please don't be the angry old man that is unable to adapt to newer generations. Things evolve and so should you. I try to keep up as much as I can because I don't want to get disconnected with my grandkids just like my grandpa was disconnected with me. It takes an effort but its so worth it.
Or be that guy that complains about everything new because the 'old way' was better. Choice is yours.
World is much better because of the iPhone etc. Just because social media is making a mess doesn't mean that we will go pitchforks on the messenger. iPhone is a tool for a tons of things and so is internet etc. As was mentioned by some, the time we live now is the best time we've ever had.
You like simple life perhaps or old stuff? Sure, go ahead and enjoy it - no one is taking that away from you. You will just have to use a dongle or adapter. But please, don't hinder progress for better tech just because YOU want to be stuck in the past.
In the last 50 years tech/medicine/science etc. advanced so drastically precisely because someone wanted to improve things and wasn't happy with the current state of things.
Also, you can still use your MP3 songs etc. Tons of alternatives to choose from.
You might be same age as me or older - either way - please don't be the angry old man that is unable to adapt to newer generations. Things evolve and so should you. I try to keep up as much as I can because I don't want to get disconnected with my grandkids just like my grandpa was disconnected with me. It takes an effort but its so worth it.
Or be that guy that complains about everything new because the 'old way' was better. Choice is yours.
Whatever the redesign is, we'll certainly see it in a price increase for the base model
Just because something is new does not automatically make it better.
I am already disconnected. At a recent family event, the phrase, "I don't have to show you any stinking badges," was claimed by almost everyone but me as from Blazing Saddles. It is not, but a classic B&W movie called The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. I'm not shut out from technology but am with the younger ones. You can't make me conform.
I take pride in coming from an analog audio/video world. You can take it away, sometimes making things worse, but I won't forget. There are 78 RPM records out there that could put an MP3 or AAC to shame.
The first thing I did with my iMac G3 Blueberry was to get an adapter for the mouse so it felt more like a mouse and an external 3.5 floppy. Remember the 2nd Gen iMac only had a CD ROM reader.
I did a fresh install of Windows 10 and don't have any music on the computer. Without iTunes I'm lost on how to get it there and find a transcode program. I own a number of songs/albums from Apple. I prefer listening to music at night with headphones. I have an old program to convert MP3s to mono, but have to get there from AAC to MP3.
I listen with one ear to keep aware of the boogie man. <grin>
My old iMac 1st Gen Aluminum (2007) is my last time with Mac OS.
I LOVED Leopard and the Alex voice.
My PC goes EOL in October of 2025 and it will be 10 years old. Cannot go to Windows 11 the Microsoft way and I'm not willing to hack. I could be interested in the mini by then. Nothing else compares, right? I'd be starting all over with Mac OS. Yeah, I did experience the flat look and don't like it.
A lot of tech is beyond me and that's okay. I know how to slip-cue a record and edit reel to reel tape with a razor blade.
I was in radio when records and tape were king. CDs were brand-spankin' new.
Can edit music with Audacity and remember using Garage Band, the 2008 version.
I take pride in coming from an analog audio/video world. You can take it away, sometimes making things worse, but I won't forget. There are 78 RPM records out there that could put an MP3 or AAC to shame.
The first thing I did with my iMac G3 Blueberry was to get an adapter for the mouse so it felt more like a mouse and an external 3.5 floppy. Remember the 2nd Gen iMac only had a CD ROM reader.
I did a fresh install of Windows 10 and don't have any music on the computer. Without iTunes I'm lost on how to get it there and find a transcode program. I own a number of songs/albums from Apple. I prefer listening to music at night with headphones. I have an old program to convert MP3s to mono, but have to get there from AAC to MP3.
I listen with one ear to keep aware of the boogie man. <grin>
My old iMac 1st Gen Aluminum (2007) is my last time with Mac OS.
I LOVED Leopard and the Alex voice.
My PC goes EOL in October of 2025 and it will be 10 years old. Cannot go to Windows 11 the Microsoft way and I'm not willing to hack. I could be interested in the mini by then. Nothing else compares, right? I'd be starting all over with Mac OS. Yeah, I did experience the flat look and don't like it.
A lot of tech is beyond me and that's okay. I know how to slip-cue a record and edit reel to reel tape with a razor blade.
I was in radio when records and tape were king. CDs were brand-spankin' new.
Can edit music with Audacity and remember using Garage Band, the 2008 version.
that is correct but if one does things well then it usually is better. Otherwise what would be the point to change something if not to make it better.
Looking at the history I can safely say that majority of things do get better. Not all but most.
Future is exciting
So small you can use a VESA mount to mount it to the back of your overpriced Apple Studio Display. Oh wait, Apple does not support industry standard VESA mounts. You have to spend $1600 for an Apple VESA mount. Not sure what is worse, the wheels for the cheese grater Mac Pro or the VESA mount
Dude, the VESA mount is free. The $1600 is for the screen. The VESA doesn't change the price!
So small you can use a VESA mount to mount it to the back of your overpriced Apple Studio Display. Oh wait, Apple does not support industry standard VESA mounts. You have to spend $1600 for an Apple VESA mount. Not sure what is worse, the wheels for the cheese grater Mac Pro or the VESA mount
And yet, their smallest laptops (the Air) and desktops (the Mini) are their least expensive.
Seems like you are unhappy about changes that happened in 2020 or earlier. Don’t really see your point TODAY about changes in a new Mac as compared to 2012 Mac mini and Power Mac series. That ship has already sailed. While I can understand your issues, it is the same issue that are a decade old. You could have posted the same complaints many years ago.
With the whole SD card in a mini discussion, was you seem to unhappy that Apple didn’t reverse design decisions that have been made years ago on previous models. And while I can be empathetic your feelings about those previous design choices. Expecting today’s Apple to reverse design choices made years ago does not seem rational.
If you were trying to illustrate that Apple is continuing along a business path that is against what is optimal for consumers. I find that message was lost in how you expressed minor issue with a perceived new design as compared to a current model, when the issues are actually with respect to on going concerns (e.g., user accessible RAM/SSD, lack of external GPU, outrageous upgrade costs, etc.) that are neither new or unique to this specific update.
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Why? The footprint was just fine and if need be, go back to the previous footprint that was smaller. Too small and compromises are made and the most obvious ones being port numbers and arrangements(location). I am sure some will disagree with me but I can say it is tiresome to see these changes that shed no real improvements unless such a unit replaces the ATV and serves as a center for all things computer and multi-media. Oh wait, a Mini today can do that.
It depends what Apple does but if they manage to do what is needed then yeah it is.
We shall see soon enough.
We shall see soon enough.
I agree with you about the overarching issues but disagree that Apple's earlier design decisions are irreversible and everyone should give up advocating. A few Apple reversals from memory:
-Mac 7,1 chassis after Mac 6,1 (6 years later)
-MacBook Pro 2021 jetisoned Touch Bar for function keys as well as restoring HDMI and MagSafe after 5 years
-Scissor-switch keyboard after multiple attempts at butterfly keyboard