Mac Mini End Of Life?

[Clive At Five]

You forgot the casing and the power supply.
And the special sized (small) motherboards come at a large premium;
mini-ITX board (17x17cm) here cost about €200-250! ($300-350), deff not the standard micro-ATX (24.4x24.4cm)
you mention.

That is nonsense. Apple custom designs and outsources the production for their own logic boards on every computer they manufacture anyway so there is no true retail market value of such a board. Besides, of all the mini ITX boards on NewEgg, the most expensive one was still Under $200. So there's amlost no way a home-built board by Apple would cost more than $100, since it only has to support a limited hardware set, unlike most boards out on the market.

Casing costs pittance to produce. It's thin aluminium mounted inside plastic, mounted in an aluminium sleeve. I guarantee you it costs no more than $10 to produce the case.

The thing I want to know is why all you pundits are so willing to stick up for Apple's shortcommings! Should we not want Apple to strive for more? If there are so many of you out there who keep defending the Mini saying, "oh it's good enough" Apple will hear you and do as it has done... neglected it until its statistics are laughable (and they are). Come on. Tell me that an 80GB HDD and combo drive isn't laugable. I wouldn't pay $300 for a computer like that, let alone twice that, and you shouldn't either. Stand up against Apple for once and tell them that you want to see a powerful yet compact MacMini like they used to deliver, not an OBVIOUS bottom-of-the-rung stock-room clearing over-priced joke.

-Clive

 

[groovebuster]

Say you loved Mercedes cars, but you needed a truck. For me to tell you to go buy a Toyota would be a huge insult.

I love analogies, since most people tend to use car analogies for everything even if they are completely unsuitable... Entertaining though.

Now this is a 'real' truck... and it is a mercedes! Just because they are not sold in the US does not mean they do not exist...

groovebuster

 

[saltyzoo]

I love analogies, since most people tend to use car analogies for everything even if they are completely unsuitable... Entertaining though.

Now this is a 'real' truck... and it is a mercedes! Just because they are not sold in the US does not mean they do not exist...

groovebuster

Analogies by definition do not have to be 100% accurate. They simply have to convey the concept in a meaningful way.

 

[groovebuster]

Analogies by definition do not have to be 100% accurate. They simply have to convey the concept in a meaningful way.

Tell me something new. Exactly that's why people should refrain from car analogies. In most cases they are not meaningful at all...

groovebuster

 

[saltyzoo]

Tell me something new. Exactly that's why people should refrain from car analogies. In most cases they are not meaningful at all...

groovebuster

Perhaps you should re-read it. It has excellent meaning to me. Just because you don't agree with the premise the poster is making doesn't make it a bad analogy.

 

[groovebuster]

Perhaps you should re-read it. It has excellent meaning to me. Just because you don't agree with the premise the poster is making doesn't make it a bad analogy.

You are just confirming what I said. An analogy is not picked well, when the premise is so easily debatable like in this case.

I can claim just the same... Just because you agree with the premise it doesn't make it a good analogy.

What is the point of this discussion now? It's my opinion. Period. You have yours. So what?

Just forget it.

groovebuster

 

[saltyzoo]

You are just confirming what I said. An analogy is not picked well, when the premise is so easily debatable like in this case.

I can claim just the same... Just because you agree with the premise it doesn't make it a good analogy.

What is the point of this discussion now? It's my opinion. Period. You have yours. So what?

Just forget it.

groovebuster

I could "easily debate" any analogy anyone ever put forth because, by definition, an analogy is a comparison of two unlike things. That doesn't mean that all analogies are bad.

The point is that there are cases where suggesting a non Apple computer is appropriate. His analogy relates to that perfectly, therefore it is a good analogy.

 

[takao]

actually mercedes is one of the market leaders for trucks

and the mini with the combo drive and 80 GB harddisk is a farce just like the e-mac with 128mb ram and OS X was a farce throughout 2004

 

[Clive At Five]

Now this is a 'real' truck... and it is a mercedes! Just because they are not sold in the US does not mean they do not exist...

Wow, that is the most ridiculous-looking "truck" I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing that with me.

An analogy is not picked well [blah] [blah] [blah]...

I could "easily debate" any analogy [blah] [blah] [blah]...

Instead of debating analogies, how about we debate the subject of the "terrible" analogy. The comment was in reference to the suggestion that since I want an upgradeable consumer/prosumer-level Mac (xMac) I should just "go buy a PC box."

That was something that I found to be an ignorant response as it is NOT a resolution to the problem. I NEED OS X. I NEED GarageBand. But those things are Mac-specific. When I can't find a hardware profile that I NEED, what do I do? Sufficing for a MacMini or iMac will simply not meet my needs while springing for a MacPro would be overkill in every sense of the word. Apple offers NO middle-performance computers. Only mobile-grade performance and server-grade performance.

That is plain ridiculous to me.

Let's discuss THIS. Not mundane analogies.

-Clive

 

[takao]

Wow, that is the most ridiculous-looking "truck" I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing that with me.

and the UNIMOG series is single handed unrivaled market leader in it's niche

wishing that apple becomes the mercedes of the PC world would be nice but i guess that would mean too much niches to fill looking at the MB line up

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content.../trucks/home/products/new_trucks.html#mainnav

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content...home/products/nya_transportbilar.html#mainnav

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content...g/home/system_unimog/model_range.html#mainnav

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content...pc/buses/home/products/new_buses.html#mainnav

or of courses special vehicles
http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content...ahrzeuge0/home/products/branch-solutions.html

 

[Clive At Five]

and the UNIMOG series is single handed unrivaled market leader in it's niche

Those aren't commercial trucks, which is what I was referring to. Bad example anyway. How about DMC? You wanted a Delorian - Truck Hybrid for your time-traveling, freight-hauling adventures?

wishing that apple becomes the mercedes of the PC world would be nice but i guess that would mean too much niches to fill looking at the MB line up

I'm not suggesting that Apple fills every nook and cranny with a computer. It actually seems as though their MacBook lineup is pretty complete, except for a gap, again, between the MBP and MB. There really isn't such a thing as a server-class laptop, and the MBP is (typically but not currently) comparable to top-of-the-line PCs. Once the Penryn models are out, they will once again be seated at the top of the hill.

As for desktops, however, Apple is omitting a whole CLASS of processors. This isn't a tiny nook either. It's the single most "popular" desktop market segment, period: The desktop CPU-powered, upgradeable, Mid Tower.

-Clive

 

[marshallld]

Actually I think UNIMOG's are commercial off road trucks and there really are very few vehicles as capable in that role outside military vehicles that are not over road friendly.

The only use for a mini with a 80GB HD is as a server with external HD's. I will always wonder why the choice was made to go for saving an inch, or less if internals were rearranged, in case height going with a 2.5" HD instead of the cheaper, faster and larger 3.5 HD.

 

[groovebuster]

Actually I think UNIMOG's are commercial off road trucks and there really are very few vehicles as capable in that role outside military vehicles that are not over road friendly.

It is right what you are thinking... The picture I send was just a high end version for private customers (or also some businesses), tunes and customized by Brabus for Mercedes.

The point of the UNIMOGs is not to be pretty. Everything in their design is form follows function.

If you really need a vehicle with unrivaled off-road capabilities, an UNIMOG is what you are looking for. They are used for many different tasks here in Europe...

UNIMOG @ Wikipedia

groovebuster

 

[Clive At Five]

UNIMOG, UNIMOG, UNIMOG, UNIMOG...

Can we talk about MacMinis (and its potential successors) please?

Thanks,

-Clive

 

[groovebuster]

 

[iamamthelawl]

Clive at five, I agree 110 % with you about the mini and expecting apple to do more.
If you simply accept the ok and not great ,the company will continue to pump out the ok (I own an iMac and I am typing on it, so don't take it that I am say macs are bad at all I am saying the mini ).

I don't get the people who for some reason think improvements are a bad thing, that a graphics card can some how hurt the mini , when in fact it allows it to play games,be better for graphics processing, and can even have a tv tuner. And if you don't like games or graphics then that doesn't mean everyone thinks the same way. Personally if apple put an 800 dollars mid tower with 1 gig of ram, leopard, 250 gig hard drive, low end nvidia card, and the ability to expand it to a degree, I would instantly buy it.

 

[srf4real]

Ha ha I bought my mini at best buy.. and as I was going through the security checkpoint after checking out, the big scary security oof goes, " where is the computer that's on this reciept? " ha ha ha ah. I'm like, it's in this box here I'm holding in the palm of my hand.

 

[maccompaq]

Ha ha I bought my mini at best buy.. and as I was going through the security checkpoint after checking out, the big scary security oof goes, " where is the computer that's on this reciept? " ha ha ha ah. I'm like, it's in this box here I'm holding in the palm of my hand.

That is too funny.

 

[theophilus]

Apple Store refurbished mac minis

Hi.

I have seen refurbished mac minis at the Apple store a couple of times in the last week. Today, I saw the 1.83 GHz core 2 duo (same as the new one) for $499. They had the 2.0 core 2 duo (same as the new one) for $679.

I don't remember seeing refurbed minis before - and I had to wonder if they are trying to clear out any inventory before they upgrade. I am tempted to get a 1.83 GHz - my needs aren't really that great. But I keep getting held back by the graphics card. I have this feeling that as soon as I buy one, they will upgrade to the x3100. I know that isn't exactly a great card either, but it is an improvement that will add at least a decent amount of useful life to the machine.

I probably am the type of customer that Apple doesn't care about a whole lot, and that's ok. I'm not a big spender, and I don't have a need for high end hardware. But I have had macs ever since my Mac SE (1988) way back in the day - and I have given them lots of good "word of mouth" publicity for the last 20 years or so. I will almost certainly upgrade my computer within the next year. I would like to get a new one, but I will probably end up buying used if I don't think that the offerings from Apple fit my needs at a decent price. A slight upgrade to the graphics card - and maybe an increase in the max RAM on the mini would be fine. I also would love to see a superdrive in all the models, but I know that they need to differentiate between the price points. I'm trying to be realistic, so I think I'd be ok with just the graphics and the RAM, but we'll see...

 

[n1ght]

Hi.
A slight upgrade to the graphics card - and maybe an increase in the max RAM on the mini would be fine. I also would love to see a superdrive in all the models, but I know that they need to differentiate between the price points. I'm trying to be realistic, so I think I'd be ok with just the graphics and the RAM, but we'll see...

Wishes:
2.0/2.2GHz
4GB RAM limit
X3100
802.11n
1GB RAM standard as 1DIMM (not 2x512MB) / 2GB on 2.2GHz model
Standard SuperDrive

More likely:
2.0/2.2GHz
4GB RAM limit
X3100
802.11n

Also, the Mini may have a tiny hard drive and ancient combo drive, but it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at a low price.

 

[theophilus]

good guess

N1ght,

Good guess. I agree with you both your wishes and your more realistic projection. I don't write much on the forums, but I read them a lot, and I think your specs sound pretty reasonable. I would almost certainly get a new mini even if they just make the modest improvements. (I would just have to decide whether to get the superdrive model or the combo drive).

I have thought about an iMac also. I love the design, but I also don't like the fact that I have more possibilities for a failed system. Separate components have some advantages for that reason. That fact, in addition to the higher price of the iMac, is what keeps me looking at the mini.

We'll see what happens!

 

[a104375]

i really hope they dont discontinue it because they get a lot of there customers from switchers and they done want to get a real expensive computer

 

[Clive At Five]

Wishes:
2.0/2.2GHz
4GB RAM limit
X3100
802.11n
1GB RAM standard as 1DIMM (not 2x512MB) / 2GB on 2.2GHz model
Standard SuperDrive

I think this sounds reasonable. 1GB of RAM (even as a SO-DIMM) is so cheap these days... and I simply cannot imagine a computer (especially a desktop) that isn't capable of burning DVDs.

I will personally be awestruck if Apple does not include these two things. It will confirm in my mind that Apple isn't out to make quality computers, but to rip off customers. There is absolutely no reason in the year 2008, a computer (even an "entry-level") should not be capable burning DVDs. Even $300 Circuit City PCs have DVD burners. Why shouldn't a $600 mac? If

 

[gregorsamsa]

As this thread quite rightly refuses to die, I'm becoming ever more tempted to email a link to Steve Jobs. Maybe I will when it passes a 1,000 replies.

So should Mr Jobs or any higher-ranking member of Apple's board ever chance to read this: Please allow us a BTO option 8600M card for your otherwise excellent Mini. I & many others would definitely buy such a Mini. I probably would on the day it's released!

 

[carlgo]

The Mini may survive because of the MBA. I think it should.

The MBA is widely thought of as a second computer, that many people will need another more powerful desktop back home or in the office.

Well, if this is true many would-be NBA owners will also have to think about getting a second computer system. I think most people would want something with a big display.

Right now, the choices are three. The first is a more powerful laptop, maybe a MBP with a separate display. Hmm, pretty expensive, three screens total. I think most of us would skip the MBA as it would be pretty redundant.

The high-end choice is of course the Pro and rightly so. If you need it, you buy it. It is just too much for most of our needs.

This leaves the Mini. If one could get a reasonably powerful Mini/cube sort of machine and a nice big display for an affordable price it would also make it more possible to justify the addition of the MBA. There could be some sort of symbiotic design so that the Mini and MBA would work especially well with each other, Time Machine, other portable devices and so on. Maybe even a system price. Ok, I know...