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Mac mini mid2011 obsolescence
- Thread starter vasim
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According to Apple's definition, Vintage is between 5-7 years. Obsolete after that.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624
Thats good news. I thought selling it but the mac mini 2014 is not offering many more because mine is upgraded with ssd and 8 gb ram. My real problem is not the macos but the xcode updates because i am an ios developer.
I think it will offer me two to three years more of this type of upgrades
Yeah, for sure! Having an SSD and 8GB of RAM already makes that machine pretty speedy, no need for a new one unless you needed more graphics horsepower.
It's important to remember that the graphics system is where Apple tends to discontinue support first.
In upgradable systems, we've gotten around that by upgrading the video card.
If Apple discontinues support for the mini's graphics, then it will require finding a way to replace the missing drivers / support.
Naturally, this assumes that Apple doesn't bloat the graphical interface to a point that the old mini's integrated gpu can't keep up.
For determining an estimated useful lifespan, I would see which CPU and Integrated GPU you have. Then see when that mix was most recently used in any Mac (Mini or iMac or MacBook, etc).
Base your estimate on when the more recent machines that used that mix of CPU and GPU were discontinued.
These things don't last forever anyway. Components fail. My old 2008 mini croaked after a slow creaky death. Plan on replacing one every 7 years. Apple obsoletes everything after 7 years because that's when the components can start having problems. Right when you need them, no parts available.
I know that. I don't expect to last forever. As you said, 7 years after discontinuation is a very good life span. Counting your words, this mac will last till 2019 (if i am correct), and without the last software support till 2021 (thiniking that the most recent xcode environment is supported for two versions back) .
This is an estimation , all things change...
The graphics are not supported already because the lackluster Metal API doesn't work on those 2011 minis. Even the one with the Radeon chip isn't immune to it.
On the bright side, Windows 10 runs better than the macOS on those minis anyway, so we can always jump to Windows.
Yes, Windows 10 does support machines very well.
I've got Windows 10 on my 2006 Mac Pro. Works great. Fully supported.
Apple is more about moving on and selling new machines. Microsoft supports technology longer, and gives you a greater lifespan.
From that perspective, I would say Microsoft does more to minimize ewaste than Apple.
I've got some 13+ year old machines that can still run Windows 10 quite well.
Apple has a history of dropping support (and blocking installation) of OS X on machines that can still run the newer versions quite well if you can edit the installer to remove the roadblocks Apple inserted.
If it will be a reason to discontinue the mac mini 2011 it will be this reason.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205073
I have no need to run windows because I own windows pcs too.
Also as an owner of a macbook air 2016 I dont really care if i get the latest software update but as I see it is not worth to buy the latest mac mini because it is old too, and I hope that mac mini will get the next os at least, because I like this machine...
I'm still using a 2005 Mini with an ext TB Firewire drive to stream music. With OSX "ThunderLizard" (10.5.11). I can still run System 9 Apps in emulation. Should that system fail, I've got a functional ~2001? slot loading iMac (the bulbous ones) waiting behind the basement steps to take over.
Unless you drop the things, or get unlucky, Macs can last and be useful for a decade or more.
I am sorry to hear that your machine stops functioning the exact moment that the next OS is relased.
The question is (I have read many topics) is it worth to sell this (my mac mini 2011 (2.3ghz) is upgraded with an 128GB SSD and 8GB Ram) and replace it with a mac mini 2014 (unfortunately I can afford only the basic model, and upgrade it with an SSD - the RAM is not upgrading)?
As I told, I need this machine to write code on XCode, browsing, email, office, and a little bit Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Fireworks.
I am affraid of stop upgrading the OS and then not having XCode updates.
As I told, I need this machine to write code on XCode, browsing, email, office, and a little bit Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Fireworks.
I am affraid of stop upgrading the OS and then not having XCode updates.
Whatever you get. It should have an SSD or Fusion & 8 gB ram. The real cheapest 2014 Mac Mini actually cost $849 (1.4 ghz, 8gb ram, 1TB Fusion)
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You may be correct about that $849 1.4 GHz model but this slope is a little slippery, isn't it?
For $899 vasim could have a similarly equipped 2.6 GHz. So that would be $50 for a lot more CPU clock speed. That is a much better deal than the other mini CPU upgrades. With those Apple will boost you from a 2.6 GHz i5 to a 3.0 GHz i7 (dual core) for $300 or from a 2.8 GHz i5 to that same 3.0 GHz i7 for $200. Those are some rather expensive clock ticks especially when you consider that they will not affect performance nearly as much as the 0.8 GHz leap from the base model to the mid-range mini.
Either way,
They don't support it because it's probably not tested on older systems. Chances are they don't have obsolete systems now so this is what they do. Were they to support it then they gotta test it to certify it. It's how these things have to be done.
I ran Windows 10 on mine briefly but the only performance advantage it has was graphics. Disk performance was dreadful on the stock drive: it was slower to boot and load programs but once they were in memory they were pretty good. If I try Windows again on (which I've thought about doing so I can use my old Adobe CC 5.5 licence), I'd install it on an SSD.
As an aside, I've also run Linux on it and that performed very well too.
Mine is on borrowed time. I've baked the motherboard once already to repair the GPU solder issue. It's living out its days as my home server.
Even thinking about buying the 2014 entry-level Mac Mini is insanity.
Save your money. It will be significantly slower than the mini you have now.
The 2014 mini is total junk.
That Apple continues to sell a machine with 4 gb of RAM in 2017 is a farce.
Save your money. It will be significantly slower than the mini you have now.
The 2014 mini is total junk.
That Apple continues to sell a machine with 4 gb of RAM in 2017 is a farce.