Mac Mini 2014 is still good but I understand why apple don't want more $$$

[Earth Mac]

I've often wondered why there was no Mac Mini 2016 or Mac Mini 2018.

I've been quite happy with the Mac Mini 2014 although it was a premium price to pay for the top end model with old generation hardware. Probably the only issue with it is the inability to do anything with the graphics card, it would be great if at least that was upgradable - as the purpose for the Mac Mini is be be connected to a giant screen.

In any event I was surprised to find this statistic on Steam about the Mac Mini. At any given time there are 16 million users online - of those 16 Million only approximately 10,700 of those users are on Mac Mini - thats just 0.06% - or approximately 21 Million dollars worth of sales.

So I can see from that point of view, why there is no traction on making a new model - there is no critical mass there, undeniably Apple themselves would have a much more accurate breakdown of the numbers.

But it is a shame that when it comes time to replace the Mac Mini it will most likely be swapped out with a MacBook Pro. Its a good little form factor, it is a shame that there is no direct replacement with MacOS.

The thing that does leave me puzzled is, if Apple has such enormous quantities of revenue and profit, and only a handful of products in the lineup, and presumably a small workforce in terms of ratio of headcount to profit - where does all the money go on their R&D?

 

[bopajuice]

Steam was only referring to one type of use to come up with these numbers. Did this information you found include Mini users who use their mini for other purposes other than web browsing? I assume when they said "online" they were talking about web browsing, messaging, etc?

I personally use mine as a server, and is a central part of my home network. My point is there are lots of uses for the Mini besides web browsing.

Steams comparison seems a bit unfair to me. That would almost be like saying a very small percentage of iPhone users use their phones to compose Word documents or create spreadsheets when compared to laptop or desktop users.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Steam is really the last metric I would use to measure Mac Mini adoption, a machine whos last option, is to be a gaming machine, and therefore not in any way bought as one.

 

[Rye2d2]

The MacMini is not a gaming machine. Maybe if it were updated with on of those new AMD Vega integrated graphics chips it would be reasonable to play some low end games.. But even then, wouldn't leave Steam running...

 

[redheeler]

In any event I was surprised to find this statistic on Steam about the Mac Mini. At any given time there are 16 million users online - of those 16 Million only approximately 10,700 of those users are on Mac Mini - thats just 0.06% - or approximately 21 Million dollars worth of sales.

I'm surprised it's that high. An integrated GPU from 2014 would not be adept at gaming in 2018.

 

[Tinmania]

I'm surprised it's that high. An integrated GPU from 2014 would not be adept at gaming in 2018.

I'll go a step further and say the mini was not adept at gaming even in 2014.



Mike

 

[redheeler]

Mac Mini 2014 is still good

Actually, it never was when you compare it to the older 2012 models. Upgradable RAM and quad-core processors were both removed, meant it cost hundreds more to get the same 16 GB RAM and worse multi-core performance with the same slow 5400 RPM HDD.

I wouldn't have bought one new in 2014 (instead got a base-model 2012 when they went on clearance, now using it as a HTPC), and I wouldn't buy one new now.

I'll go a step further and say the mini was not adept at gaming even in 2014.

Agreed.

 

[now i see it]

Tim Cook has a solution for you: iPad

 

[opeter]

If you play low demanding game, yes, it is good.