Mac Pro is way over priced and not many average users will buy it, and I do see Apple building more on the portable line, but they would lose a bit of market share getting rid of the Mini.
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Mac Mini end of line, discontinue, no market....
- Thread starter santosmarco
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Mac Pro is way over priced and not many average users will buy it, and I do see Apple building more on the portable line, but they would lose a bit of market share getting rid of the Mini.
I can't see them killing it, it just wouldn't make sense. While Apple doesn't seek out the lower priced market, I'm sure they understand the importance of offering something in the category.
PC switchers like it because they can continue to use their existing monitor. It's also become very popular as a media center.
Besides that, it's a good computer. It gets a lot of flack for it's specs, but I use one hooked up to two 22" 1080p monitors as both a workstation and media server for the house and my MBP. It's been a workhorse, and doesn't complain, ever.
Low specs or not, it's competition is the $400 PC at Wal-Mart or Best Buy. If someone has thought about switching, but has budget issues this is the Mac for them. It's also a good way to get people into an Apple store in order to upsell them into something else. There is a lot of value in the Mac Mini for Apple.
Apple can also turn quite a profit from the Mini. I have a hard time believing that an $1199 iMac which includes all the tech-guts, bigger HDD's, more RAM, high end monitor, keyboard and trackpad/mouse turns out a higher margin than the mini at $699. Consider as well that most people will buy an Apple keyboard and mouse which brings it to around $800.
Apple might at some point to a total redesign or rebranding of the Mini, but they would be stupid to discontinue it.
PC switchers like it because they can continue to use their existing monitor. It's also become very popular as a media center.
Besides that, it's a good computer. It gets a lot of flack for it's specs, but I use one hooked up to two 22" 1080p monitors as both a workstation and media server for the house and my MBP. It's been a workhorse, and doesn't complain, ever.
Low specs or not, it's competition is the $400 PC at Wal-Mart or Best Buy. If someone has thought about switching, but has budget issues this is the Mac for them. It's also a good way to get people into an Apple store in order to upsell them into something else. There is a lot of value in the Mac Mini for Apple.
Apple can also turn quite a profit from the Mini. I have a hard time believing that an $1199 iMac which includes all the tech-guts, bigger HDD's, more RAM, high end monitor, keyboard and trackpad/mouse turns out a higher margin than the mini at $699. Consider as well that most people will buy an Apple keyboard and mouse which brings it to around $800.
Apple might at some point to a total redesign or rebranding of the Mini, but they would be stupid to discontinue it.
By all accounts from inside Apple, their Mac mini Server SKUs have sold well beyond their expectations. They know there's a market there.
The potential upgrades for the next generation Mac minis will make them far, far more compelling. All they have to do is more or less match what they put into the lower-end MacBook Pros earlier this year, e.g. Core i5 processors and ThunderBolt ports. ThunderBolt in particular will make the Mac minis incredibly expandable machines in the long run. My next generation of file / media servers for most of my clients will probably be 2011 Mac minis connected to fast external Thunderbolt RAIDs.
The potential upgrades for the next generation Mac minis will make them far, far more compelling. All they have to do is more or less match what they put into the lower-end MacBook Pros earlier this year, e.g. Core i5 processors and ThunderBolt ports. ThunderBolt in particular will make the Mac minis incredibly expandable machines in the long run. My next generation of file / media servers for most of my clients will probably be 2011 Mac minis connected to fast external Thunderbolt RAIDs.
I agree on the size. I "got my feet wet" (after 20 odd years) with a Mac Mini G4 and bought yesterday a new Mac Mini unibody. I thought not having a seperate power supply ("brick") would have been neat but the unit is visually so much more visible, the "cuteness" has gone. I think it is running warmer too and am glad I did not wait: likely it will have a CPU that generates more heat and with that comes fan more often on / higher speed which means noisier. (main reason for me to get it was the ability to have a large matt screen)
Perhaps nothing has been released because they have run into heat problems? ((that would be my bet)
Am I the only one that remembers this same scenario just before the 2009 Mini Update with the 9400m?
The Mac Mini had remained unchanged for years Aug ('07 - Mar '09) and everyone was wondering if the Mini was EOL. Just when everyone thought it was for sure going to be discontinued, Apple updated it with the 9400m graphics card. (Remember, it didn't get the X3100, and was still running on the lackluster GMA 950)
Anyway, the point I am always trying to reiterate to people, and the point that is being echoed in this topic is that the Mini is not going to be discontinued due to the fact that it is the only sub $1000 new Mac. (And no, the $999 MacBook does not count, there are taxes
)
All I can say is wait and see, you might be surprised.
The Mac Mini had remained unchanged for years Aug ('07 - Mar '09) and everyone was wondering if the Mini was EOL. Just when everyone thought it was for sure going to be discontinued, Apple updated it with the 9400m graphics card. (Remember, it didn't get the X3100, and was still running on the lackluster GMA 950)
Anyway, the point I am always trying to reiterate to people, and the point that is being echoed in this topic is that the Mini is not going to be discontinued due to the fact that it is the only sub $1000 new Mac. (And no, the $999 MacBook does not count, there are taxes
) All I can say is wait and see, you might be surprised.
Please don't discontinue
I've been a Mac Mini fan and user since they first appeared, my top of the line G4 1.42Ghz with maxed out RAM lasted me more than 5 years and formed the basis of my home theatre - all my TV viewing was downloaded from this machine.
I switched to the new footprint 2.4Ghz MM maxed out to 8G of RAM and connected to a 2T external in early February - compared to my iMac i7's its a slug, however, for what I actually use it for its brilliant - this being using Transmission, unerring and playing HD content - it has no issues whatsoever in supporting a 42in LCD and playing MKV files in excess of 10G in VLC.
Verdict, an excellent machine - will I upgrade if they bump up the specs to a minimum i3 chipset, dedicated graphics chip and TB.
So, as a user, I hope Apple will not discontinue, a market exists and many do not like bing tied to the Apple Store, i.e., Apple TV.
I've been a Mac Mini fan and user since they first appeared, my top of the line G4 1.42Ghz with maxed out RAM lasted me more than 5 years and formed the basis of my home theatre - all my TV viewing was downloaded from this machine.
I switched to the new footprint 2.4Ghz MM maxed out to 8G of RAM and connected to a 2T external in early February - compared to my iMac i7's its a slug, however, for what I actually use it for its brilliant - this being using Transmission, unerring and playing HD content - it has no issues whatsoever in supporting a 42in LCD and playing MKV files in excess of 10G in VLC.
Verdict, an excellent machine - will I upgrade if they bump up the specs to a minimum i3 chipset, dedicated graphics chip and TB.
So, as a user, I hope Apple will not discontinue, a market exists and many do not like bing tied to the Apple Store, i.e., Apple TV.
Some light at end of tunnel!
http://9to5mac.com/2011/07/13/new-macbooks-and-mac-minis-imminent/#more-82943
http://9to5mac.com/2011/07/13/new-macbooks-and-mac-minis-imminent/#more-82943
I think we will see a mac mini refresh shortly based on what the forums are saying. I had the original mini and now have a 2010 mini server and it is a great little machine. I'm running SL client on my mini server and look forward to upgrading to Lion.
I'm running SL client on my mini server and look forward to upgrading to Lion.The missing element from the mini is a GPU. The original two PPC generations had a dedicated graphics processor and memory, thats why they sold so great and retained high value for so long. Since the intel switch graphics power went into the basement.