If they are seriously thinking I would buy an expensive laptop as opposed to a cheap mini desktop solution just to get better graphics, they would be dumber than any company I've ever dealt with - that's just rediculous. If the mini isn't updated, I will be building a small low wattage solution myself that will run linux and windows (just for SCII really).
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Mac Mini End Of Life?
- Thread starter Dont Hurt Me
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If they are seriously thinking I would buy an expensive laptop as opposed to a cheap mini desktop solution just to get better graphics, they would be dumber than any company I've ever dealt with - that's just rediculous. If the mini isn't updated, I will be building a small low wattage solution myself that will run linux and windows (just for SCII really).
Yes, perhaps you will. Others not so willing to leave the Mac OS will bite the bullet and spend what it takes to get what they want in a Mac.
I wish Apple offered a more capable affordable headless Mac. Unfortunately, Apple is all about all-in-ones. I don't understand the wisdom of this, but I think it's an image thing. One would think, if Apple could make a nice headless Mac that's just as profitable as the iMac, they would sell one. (Perhaps then the Mac Pro would no longer sell.)
That's not too much to ask... That's all I need... and this little umbrella...
Maybe a few. I've been using computers for 20 years and wouldn't have the slightest idea how to create a "hackintosh" nor would I want to. Sounds like a cobbled together piece of junk to me, although I'm sure it can be made to work. Might as well run Windows, if I was willing to do that.
i doubt it's many. i've been building pcs since the beginning of time (it sure feels like it at least) and one of the reasons i left windows behind was having to build my own machines to really get what i wanted out of a computer. i was never happy with a store bought system, but after awhile i didn't feel like tinkering with mine all the time either.
add on top of that having to deal with a hacked os and hacked updates, and it's just more work than it's worth.
My cobbled together pieces of junk are put together exactly the way I want them, exactly as loose or tight as I choose.
I will more likely put Linux on it but because we're still a minority in the PC world it has been handy to have something running Windows.
Now even a Mini can run it, but just the same I prefer not to contaminate the single HDD in the machine with a Windows partition.
You're right about that, The percentage of builders within the wider group of users is minuscule.
I have fun doing builds and teardowns. Just Sunday night cleaning the cat hair and dust out of the VAC of a friend's Toshiba laptop I dropped a screw inside and had to pull the board to find it. And was only mildly pissed about it.
OS hacks can be troublesome, but what the heck. Even Linux sometimes needs to be toyed with to get all of the hardware to work; but it's almost routine as you know.
That being said, a new Mini is still an option for me sometime soon, as is a Mac Book and iMac. Depends on what shakes out of Cupertino in the next while.
Yeah, me too. I have this hopeful feeling that Apple has something up their sleeve, out of left field, the usual cliches.
More like "well, I guess I'll stick with windows." <- this isn't me, but I know people going through this right now.
I do not consider my Hackintosh to be a pile of junk. I built it using high quality parts, much attention to detail, and it performs flawlessly and is very quiet. The beauty of this machine is that I will never have to argue with a retailer if it ever has problems. And I did not have to buy a 3 year warranty. Another thing, I will never have to worry about heat buildup inside this machine since I put it in a large tower with adequate cooling. And on top of all that, it was a satisfying experience to build it, tweek it and to watch it run. I can modify it and improve it to my heart's content, anytime.
If Apple had a mid tower, I would have bought it instead of making my own, but I enjoyed the experience.
Well, I've been working on them for more than 30 years (including 14 Macs, starting with a Centris 610 in 1992) and I built my first (and only) hackintosh four months ago. It's the best computer I've every owned. See this thread for the details. The lack of an updated Mini and headless iMac is what's driving the hacintosh community.
It scores over 6000 on Geekbench and is quieter than my Mini/Mini Stack combo. That puts it above the $2300 quad-core Mac Pro - and only for $1000 (with far more storage capacity than the MP).
There are more than 238,000 members at insanelymac, the principal hackintosh site - that implies there's a substantial number of us out there.
It was easy to build and install OS X on my Hac Pro. The only hardware issues I have is a lack of Bluetooth and fully-functional wi-fi, both of which are usable if you buy third-party units. Plus, I have eSATA, which is only optional on MP.
Hasn't been an issue for me so far.
This is it. It's actually fun to build your own, and you can ensure that every component is what you wish.
And being your own tech support means that nothing can go wrong that you can't fix yourself, assuming adequate backups, etc. That's even the case (no pun intended) with my G4 PM.
Even if, or more likely when I bought a hypothetical Mac 'Mini tower' I still might put my own box together sometime.
I'd really like to see a more powerful headless consumer Mac, even if it is an updated Mini.
I think what Cave Man said in an earlier post, that "... many are saying "I think I'll build a hackintosh'", is a true statement. The immediate availability of an upgraded mini is frustrating some people, and quite likely some of those folks are considering building a Hackintosh.
But anyway -- regarding the easiness of building a Hackintosh: Doing so is not all that difficult provided the person has some basic hardware building skills and knowledge about the process, along with the ability to find information on the subject (and filter out the out of date and basically "bad advice") ... or... has a desire to learn the skills and acquire the knowledge and is willing to spend a little time learning about the subject.
As some have pointed out: Hackintoshs can achieve high benchmarks and function very well. But not everyone has the skills/knowledge and many won't be able or willing to acquire them, and thus the pursuit could end up being a frustrating experience. Others type of folks wouldn't even consider doing so. And other folks may have completely different feelings about the subject.
It boils down to a personal choice combined with one's ability/knowledge, etc. And so far at least, Apple hasn't broken down anyone's door to seize their Hackintosh. I seriously doubt Apple would consider taking action against the end user, but Apple's reaction to Psystar's commercial product is an entirely different sort of story -- one that goes far beyond the EULA issue and into the areas of trademark and copyright protection. (But that debate rages on in other threads...)
And so in regards to the mini: I think what some people are basically suggesting is that if Apple would (at least) update the mini that the frustration level would go down a good bit, and some would add that a "headless Mac" (using desktop components) would be an even more welcome solution for many people.
And Time. All that research, part buying, part returning 'cause its the wrong part, etc etc all take time. I've put together a few PCs in the past when it was the best/only way to get OS/2 to work. I had fun. I have better things to do with my time now (and I don't mean its a waste of time! - just that now I don't have as much free time as I used to.)
I think the actual number of "builders" of hackintoshes is rather small. I think of that group, the majority will within 5 years go out and buy an Apple made system, when they are facing another round of part researching, part sourcing, etc. Just my opinion. Psystar made hackintoshes too easy, so Apple had to get involved.
I'm sure Apple has a very good feel for how many homemade hackintoshes are out there. The fact that they don't do anything about it means they aren't worried.
I think the actual number of "builders" of hackintoshes is rather small. I think of that group, the majority will within 5 years go out and buy an Apple made system, when they are facing another round of part researching, part sourcing, etc. Just my opinion. Psystar made hackintoshes too easy, so Apple had to get involved.
I'm sure Apple has a very good feel for how many homemade hackintoshes are out there. The fact that they don't do anything about it means they aren't worried.
I had a good experience with my computer project. Everything was ordered from New Egg, and everything worked the first time. To me, it was a fun project. I waited a long time for an Intel mid tower and finally built my own. Never will I have to deal with tech support or buy extended warranties. I have spent thousands of dollars buying Mac desktops(towers), laptops, Apple monitors and printers in the past.
I don't see apple forcing ppl to buy a BR-drive to burn dvds, holding off on BR players too much longer, holding off on BR recorders for too long after that or letting the technology take too long to trickle down as far as the mac mini/macbook after such a long wait adopting it anywhere across the product line.
So, you can expect the Combo drive to disappear from the line-up pretty soon, if not when the Super-Duper-Drive appears (BR playback), than when the Ultra-Drive appears (BR recording), because apple wouldn't want to have 3, much less 4 different drives, each with their own stupid nicknames, in its line-up for very long.
Apple has a knack for having baseline models that could almost seem reasonably priced if it weren't for some key features being held back for a premium and the combo drive is one of the worst examples. Apple clearly gets superdrives for well under $20 wholesale and charges us $99 for them. But there is no way Apple will convince ppl that $599 for a mac mini, plus $99 for the superdrive, $299 for the super-duper-drive and $499 for the ultradrive, represents fair value, especially not in a year or so's time.
I don't think that Apple will introduce BR soon. Since the BR market is still unprofitable with very low popularity, I think it will wait until next year or maybe in 2 years.
I agree with you 100%. The demand for BR is very small with the general public. Probably more interest is expressed by those who lurk here. Myself, I will never use BR since I do not rent or buy movies. Nor would I use BR for backups.
I agree with what several posters have pointed out: until Final Cut Studio supports BR authoring, it won't happen on a Mac.
Back on topic: I really think the Mac Mini has a lot of potential: portable, affordable power. I could even see the potential for a Mac Mini as powerful as the MacBook Pro, but far more affordable. I honestly don't see that affecting sales of any other product: It doesn't replace the portability of the notebook line, and it doesn't knock out the desktop line.
I could build a 2,83 Quad Hack (Q9550), with 8GB RAM and 512 MB Video card for about 1000 $ and my negotiation options with HW suppliers are very limited comparing to Apple. So if Apple would sell a headless computer with roughly speaking the same specs for lets say 1399 $ they make about 50% gross margin on it. So the question is: is it such a low margin? If you ask me, I would say screw any company which is not interested in bussiness with 50% gross margin.
Transition to Intel was a big success (Apple statement) but it also open for the customers possibility to be more "inn" like in the days of PowerPC.
I'm more and more in need of an iMac or Mac Mini, because I use my MacBook so much in work and at home, so i'm holding on for a MacMini update to save a few pounds..
If they don't update it soon, I'm seriously considering going through the trouble of building a MacHack just to save those pennies compared to the iMac.. It'll all depend on the coming UK back to school promotion I think..
Just wish it was updated already!!
If they don't update it soon, I'm seriously considering going through the trouble of building a MacHack just to save those pennies compared to the iMac.. It'll all depend on the coming UK back to school promotion I think..
Just wish it was updated already!!
Yes, almost anyone with some skills, or desire to learn, could build a nice socket 775 system on the cheap. And Apple could do the same, likely at a good profit, but they'd have to support it. And support costs money. Anything less than a Mac Pro that Apple currently sells isn't very upgradeable. While that's a downer for the end user for Apple it means less problems with support problems like when Little Johnnie is trying to install a video card he just picked up at Wal-Mart.
Apple isn't exactly a small company, but the (Mac) hardware they support is tiny compared to Microsoft's support of x86 systems in regards to end user support, certification of hardware, and all the processes needed to support a za-zillion possible x86 hardware configurations, etc. Apple on the other hand is a rather lean company that focuses on a rather small hardware line compared to the great variety of hardware offered by a company like Dell.
Normally an army wouldn't advance beyond the reach of their supply lines, and it's usually smart to do the same when trying to advance one's company into previously uncharted territory. I can't see Apple jumping into that market just because "they could"... It'd be nice if they did (offer generic desktop systems), but I can't see it happening anytime soon. The huge support system it would require would have the potential to eat up any and all profit from such a venture (if they rushed blindly into this sort of thing).
Meanwhile, almost anyone with some skills, or a willingness to learn those skills...
It also adds confusion into Apple's product line.
Right now it's easy for Apple to sell someone a Mac. You just need to ask two questions:
- What do you want it to do?
- How much are you ready to spend?
The Mac Mini has almost no overlap with the iMac which has almost no overlap with the Mac Pro. A Mac MiniTower would overlap with all three models (though admittedly more the iMac and Mac Pro). Each occupies their own market niche and makes it easy to compare and contrast them.
I also believe people are applying their Wintel preconceptions to Apple and assume Apple's mini-tower will be just like a Wintel mini-tower. That it will use desktop-class components so it will be cheap, that it will accept any piece of hardware (video card, controller card, etc.) without any issues and will support easy upgrades of every component without any issues.
And Apple just doesn't appear to work that way.
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