128GB non-expandable storage on a damned desktop computer. Are you serious Apple? Total deal breaker.
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Mac mini 2018 Reviews Roundup: Long-Awaited Update Should Impress Fans and Pro Users, But Upgrade Options Can Get Pricey
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Unless I'm mistaken, if you look at this Macworld review - towards the end of the video 8 minutes in, it looks like the RAM isn't easily replaceable as the previous models without taking the CPU fan out. That sucks.
https://www.macworld.com/article/3318501/macs/799-mac-mini-review.html#tk.rss_all
https://www.macworld.com/article/3318501/macs/799-mac-mini-review.html#tk.rss_all
Thats Apple for you. Solder the damn things in and force people to use a crystal ball to see what specs you think you will need for the next 2-4 years of pro software updates. I simply believe it is shocking that the SSD is soldered in.
Seeing as this is a review highlight post, I expected a ringing endorsement of this device, but just wasn't getting that feeling.
I was waiting for a mac mini to replace my iMac, but they weren't coming so went down a different path.
Outstanding, for both my professional and personal use, this will definitely be my next machine - if I can sell my '15 MBP ASAP, that will be sooner than later 
I for one was happy I wasn't burdened by a GPU (cost and/or heat) that I knew I'd want to replace anyway (see post #8) - which, BTW, this looks like an incredibly effective eGPU option:
https://www.sonnetstore.com/collect...ystems/products/egfx-breakawaybox-radeonrx580
$429 for the box + Radeon 580, and it's a standalone card, so can be swapped (for another +$100 you can get the box with a stouter PS for more "future proofing").
I'm definitely doing max CPU, min RAM, the latter I'll score a Crucial 32GB upgrade for ~$270 and DIY it
I for one was happy I wasn't burdened by a GPU (cost and/or heat) that I knew I'd want to replace anyway (see post #8) - which, BTW, this looks like an incredibly effective eGPU option:
https://www.sonnetstore.com/collect...ystems/products/egfx-breakawaybox-radeonrx580
$429 for the box + Radeon 580, and it's a standalone card, so can be swapped (for another +$100 you can get the box with a stouter PS for more "future proofing").
I'm definitely doing max CPU, min RAM, the latter I'll score a Crucial 32GB upgrade for ~$270 and DIY it
Until confirmed either way by ifixit, I fully expect storage to be soldered onto the logic board.
That's always been Apple. Steve Jobs did not want people opening up Macs. He viewed computers as appliances. How many people open up their microwave to upgrade parts? I'm not one to trot out "Steve Jobs..." but the Mac Mini's limited upgradability by users is in line with Apple's design philosophy for 40 years (minus some of the years post- and pre-Steve Jobs).
There's something suspicious with the development of the new Mini: More than a year ago, they said "they were working in it", and that it "wouldn't be so mini anymore"... but more than a year later, we see the same exterior design, with compact internals whose design is a matter of a few months... and it's as mini as always (except for the fact that modern Intel chips are 6 core, and that it's easy to put 64GB in a compact motherboard... but I wouldn't say "it's not as mini as before").
Do they want us to believe that it took several years to design this update? It's like they are designing iPads, iPhones, and iWhatevers all the time, and then in the last month they design a Mac update just to make everybody calm down.
Do they want us to believe that it took several years to design this update? It's like they are designing iPads, iPhones, and iWhatevers all the time, and then in the last month they design a Mac update just to make everybody calm down.
Why take thermal headroom away from the processor and put another hot thing in a tiny box, when an egpu does a better job?
That market barely exists anymore, i.e., "casual users / switchers" who would consider a desktop, where you also have to supply your own display/keyboard/[mouse|TP]. I think the Mini appeals to a very specific - rather small (the users who don't go mobile device, laptop, or AOI) - user base, and those users have shifted into wanting more, not less in terms of capability - and for more "hobby" type uses, tinkering with home automation for example, that's the realm of super cheap DIY, free OS options, no major concern about support, buy a little NUC device, drop on Linux, have fun
FWIW, all my developer friends (again, a small part of the market) are super stoked about this machine, myself and at least two others are just about ready to buy.
Hey Apple, wondering why Mac sales have been flat? You can start at the 300% markup for flash memory upgrades. $1400 to go from 256GB to 2TB? You can easily have a 2TB NVME chip below $500 at wholesale, yet you're charging 3X that!? Thankfully the memory is still upgradeable.
At some point, even the most affluent customers that are plugged into your ecosystem see this practice as gouging and draw the line.
At some point, even the most affluent customers that are plugged into your ecosystem see this practice as gouging and draw the line.
$800 for an upgrade to 1TB storage, when I can buy an SSD for $150. Wow. That's impressive markup, even for apple. And the tax to upgrade from the silly base RAM is $200 instead of $100. It's not like a laptop where they could argue they need custom storage for the form factor. So to replace my 5yo iMac it would cost almost $2K. This really is an effort in seeing exactly how much people are willing to pay for Apple.
Go with the i5 because (unlike the i7) it doesn't have hyper-threading, which is a huge security risk.
Yes, very likely.
You may not understand that product development and design engineering are about managing a large set of conflicting technical, physical, and market compromises. In my view Apple hit the sweet spot for a very flexible and versatile compact computer that offers outstanding value.
I'm looking forward to purchasing one.
That’s really the dealbreaker for me, along with the ridiculous cost of the SSD upgrades. So we’re supposed to use all those ports to connect external SSDs from Amazon for half the price and whatever overpriced eGPU is compatible? Then have a desk strewn with cables, dongles, peripherals, etc? That seems completely counterintuitive to Apple’s sleek design principle.
Or I could just keep my current PC that houses all this stuff discreetly in one box that fits nicely under my desk. For half the price.
I would love to get oen of these to replace my ageing 2009 Mac Pro but I have to agree with the comments about the insane upgrade costs for storage. It's like the iPhones when they offer the base configuration with very low storage to "force" you to buy the middle configuration which is always stupidly expensive. Apple's upgrade prices have always been over the top but inthe past this was more of a laziness tax as parts were user upgradable if you wanted to - or you could pay Apple to do it for you. The switch to soldered, non-servicable parts should actually make the upgrades cheaper, not more expensive.
Unless you care only about gross margins of course.................
Of course I can ignore the 128GB internal ssd and use an external 2TB drive for very little slowdown in the real world but come on Apple, meet the users half-way and stop price-gouging.
Unless you care only about gross margins of course.................
Of course I can ignore the 128GB internal ssd and use an external 2TB drive for very little slowdown in the real world but come on Apple, meet the users half-way and stop price-gouging.
I feel like I’m the only one happy with the new Mac mini. Sure it could come with 256GB storage for that price, same with the new iPad Pro (or at least 128GB instead of 64GB). And with G instead of B processors for better integrated graphics, but with 4 TB3 ports, you can easily fix that.
I just hope memory swaps are easy - I’m not paying apple tax to get to 32GB.
I just hope memory swaps are easy - I’m not paying apple tax to get to 32GB.
While ignoring the four Thunderbolt 3 40 Gbit/sec ports, two USB-A legacy ports, ability to drive two displays in several configurations, optional 10 Gbit/sec ethernet, HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth 5.0, excellent performance, and built-in high capacity power supply. All in a very compact package offering various CTO options depending on need.
Casual users don’t buy this product and never really have. Those type of costumers use a mobile device as their primary computer
You certainly can. Or...you can step up and configure the Mini with a larger and much faster internal SSD by simply paying for it. Apple gives you the choice.
"Or I could just keep my current PC that houses all this stuff discreetly in one box that fits nicely under my desk. For half the price"
Sounds like that's the way you should go. Easy.
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Why not offer a 0/0 Mac Mini at $499 and let the users byo ram/storage?
Totally overpriced for something that will thermal throttle and only has an intergrated GPU. I got an i9 9900k, 64gb RAM 2 SSDs, a 1080ti in a custom rig all for £1800