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A Mini built into a keyboard idea reminds me of the old Commodore or Texas Instruments TI99 computers we had back in the 80's. Raspberry Pi needs to update their keyboard case so that it works with the PI 5.

I will wait to see what the new Mini is like before deciding what direction to go when replacing my 2018 Mini.
 
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Just build it into a keyboard ! The new MacKey
What's old is new, right? Apple just copies everyone else. No originality or innovation anymore!


1920px-Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg
 
If you are getting multiple Mac mini, the addition of an update rack kit is probably not a big deal. But there’s probably a few caveats with that:
1) Horizontal installation fits in a 1U space, if the height grows too much. This could be an issue.
2) size and I/O of an external power Brick could be a concern.
3) Elimination of a physical GB ethernet port could be an issue
I agree with the first and third points, though I always imagined them to be mounted vertically in practice. But as far as the second goes, if it's got an external brick that means the actual connector is going to supplying DC, and the data center people ought to be able to buy rack DC power supplies that are more efficient, feeding a lot of units at once, and also be easier to cool.
 
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I agree with the first and third points, though I always imagined them to be mounted vertically in practice. But as far as the second goes, if it's got an external brick that means the actual connector is going to supplying DC, and the data center people ought to be able to buy rack DC power supplies that are more efficient, feeding a lot of units at once, and also be easier to cool.

Ethernet probably isn't that big a deal either. If power is supplied with USB-PD, then you might as well deliver 1GigE through that cord, if not 2.5GigE or 10GigE.
 
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Ethernet probably isn't that big a deal either. If power is supplied with USB-PD, then you might as well deliver 1GigE through that cord, if not 2.5GigE or 10GigE.
I suspect for someone that's expected to network together hundreds of devices they'd much rather use Ethernet than USB to connect them- tracing lines with cables that are easy to disconnect is a pain, USB cables and connectors can't be repaired on the fly, and they're more expensive.
 
Can‘t the people who have been asking for a 27’ iMac just buy this thing with a paired studio display? It’s the same thing
It's not the same thing. Two power cables plus an HDMI cable between the two components all cluttering up my desk.
Though I suppose a smaller Mac Mini would be easier to duct tape to the back of the studio display.
 
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It's not the same thing. Two power cables plus an HDMI cable between the two components all cluttering up my desk.
Though I suppose a smaller Mac Mini would be easier to duct tape to the back of the studio display.
Plus a Studio Display already costs the same as an iMac. There's lots of space inside it to have put the brains of an iMac in there too... it looks as if it was actually designed to be an iMac when you look at a teardown, even.
 


Apple is planning to debut completely redesigned Mac mini models with the M4 and M4 Pro chips later this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

M4-Mac-mini-Black-Ortho-Cooler.jpg

The new Mac mini will be the first major design change to the machine since 2010, making it Apple's smallest ever desktop computer. The new Mac mini will apparently approach the size of an Apple TV, but it may be slightly taller than the current model, which is 1.4 inches high. It will continue to feature an aluminum shell. Individuals working on the new device apparently say that it is "essentially an iPad Pro in a small box."

Apple is said to have tested Mac mini models with at least three USB-C ports on the back, as well as an area for the power cable and an HDMI port. There will continue to be two versions of the Mac mini: one with the standard M4 chip, similar to the iPad Pro, and one with an M4 Pro chip. The base model is set to begin shipping from suppliers this month ahead of release later in the year, while the high-end model will not be ready until October.

The M4 generation of Apple silicon will purportedly be the first time that Apple has used the same chip generation across all of its Macs, with refreshes to add the M4 chip to the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro planned to take place over the next year.

Article Link: M4 Mac Mini to Become Apple's Smallest Ever Computer With Complete Redesign
Sounds good to me. I use the Mac mini as my dedicated streaming pc. The power and encoding capabilities assure a smooth stream. It also takes up little to no space on my desktop. If it shrinks more and keeps 4 usb, preferably usbc I’m on cloud nine. I also use it for editong video and photos. I would still buy the base model if the rumors are true about the 12gb of ram being base amount. Putting money to the side for a computer I really wasn’t expecting to buy.
 
A quick search on Amazon brought up quite a few VESA mounts for mounting the current sized Mini to the back of monitors.
Work fairly well the current [vertically mounted] iMac mini, being a square flat pancake shape is very compatible with a VESA mounted to the screen and other mini surface VESA mounted to a compatible stand. The common complaint (that I believe is irrelevant) is that it is “not as pretty as an iMac”

Not sure if the new smaller mini would be any different
 
Work fairly well the current [vertically mounted] iMac mini, being a square flat pancake shape is very compatible with a VESA mounted to the screen and other mini surface VESA mounted to a compatible stand. The common complaint (that I believe is irrelevant) is that it is “not as pretty as an iMac”

Not sure if the new smaller mini would be any different
Well, Apple could make it even thinner than the current one while retaining the same footprint which would help the makers of the accessories.
 
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Half the size - double the price!

We think you’re going to love it!

If the upcoming Mac mini will be Apple's smallest computer ever, then it should also be Apple's lowest priced computer ever. When Steve Jobs released the very first Mac mini in 2005, it was Apple's smallest and lowest priced computer ever.

Knowing how much of an anti-consumer corporate scumbag that useless MBA degree holder Tim Cook is, it wouldn't be surprising if Cook raises the price of the upcoming Mac mini. He has already raised prices on previous releases of the Mac mini.

Jobs intended the Mac mini to be an option for lower-income people who couldn't afford Apple's other computers. That's what "BYODKM" was about. Cook's actions are hostile to lower-income people since they've violated the whole point of BYODKM.
 
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What's old is new, right? Apple just copies everyone else. No originality or innovation anymore!


1920px-Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg
I had forgotten what this looked like. This was our second computer after a Timex Sinclair. I remember the hours I spent copying game code out of Compute magazine, and then waiting for the next issue to point out the printing errors! The Commodore 64 is what got me hooked on computers and programming. Thanks for the memories!
 
Making the mini directly VESA mountable - so it could go on the back of monitors or TVs - would be a good option.
Think I'd prefer a Magsafe mount - like iPhones.

(Though not suggesting any form of power delivery - just physical location.)
 
Maybe they could build it inside a monitor! Imagine that!!!!!

Dumb, we want to be able to use it with any monitor, update them independently.

Probably with a power brick twice the size of the new Mac Mini...

No, it would be smaller brick than the MacBook Pro, since it doesn't also power MBP display. Or it could be powered from a plug-in monitor, so no brick needed at all.
 
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