Mac Mini Refresh, New Low-Cost Notebook, Apple Watches With Larger Displays and More Coming This Fall

[travelsheep]

So I will have to buy 2 of those new MacBooks and with a lot of dongles and tweaks it will be able to act like a new MacBook Pro? Maybe add some duct tape too?

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

I just picked up the 27" iMac last weekend.... Seriously considering returning it and waiting a few months to see what's going to happen.

If you are able to return iMac in favor of "waiting a few months", then you clearly don't need a new computer.

 

[redheeler]

Then youre in luck. Aside from the core bumps, I think the native support for eGPUs is a really big deal.

So you expect the return of upgradable RAM? I don't see the Mac moving toward increased user-serviceability, as much as I'd like it to happen. Apple is more profit-driven than ever.

 

[Ghost31]

People in this forum that complained Apple didn't update the Mac Mini are ALL going to buy it!

100% sure, you can bet on it.



Okay



Good, the home button is annoying to use, it's out of the way, I always use the gestures when I can.



LOL!

It will never be good until Apple makes basically PC with a 1080ti for $399




The outcry will continue because someone thinks they can configure computers better than Apple.



Finally! Kill the MacBook Air, and give the MB two USB-C ports.



Wow! 8K iMac?



Okay

Thanks for your much needed commentary

 

[asdfjkl;]

But seriously, this may be the last mini update if Apple can’t figure out a way to sell more of them.

Maybe update it more often so it's more competitive ... ?

 

[cullenl87]

Waiting for those AirPods 2.0

Only if they stay in my damn ears

 

[ChrisChaval]

Will be watching the keynote

 

[SnarkyBear]

A user-upgradeable Mac mini would be an instant buy for me. I have two that are on their last legs. One can't get upgraded to Mojave, one is on the dev beta and runs perfect, but likely won't see another OS update after. Both have SSDs, a second HDD, and maxed out RAM. These were the perfect Macs for hobbyists and Apple chose to neuter the product and then neglect it.

Apple can show Mac users they are serious about the Mac by giving us a great Mac mini again. We already see where they are going with the iMac and notebook lines and many of us would choose to stay away from them if we could.

Make mini great again!

 

[redheeler]

So I will have to buy 2 of those new MacBooks and with a lot of dongles and tweaks it will be able to act like a new MacBook Pro? Maybe add some duct tape too?

Er, what? The article does predict a refreshed MacBook Pro as well.

 

[jscooper22]

New Mini's been "on the horizon" before. I'll wait to get excited after I see it.

That is, as long as it has more connectivity than a couple usb-c ports.

 

[Ant2369]

You will want to verify what you're seeing. Safari does not have compatibility with the VP9 codec used by Google. The best you get is 1080 which is not terrible but is not 4K.

Interesting. I assumed it was 4k since it became an option to select that resolution when previously 1080p was the highest option I could select in the video. I will have to heck this when I get home

 

[DevNull0]

That isn't going to happen. You can dream though. lol

The form factor should be a given considering what will go into a new mini; a MB class CPU on a small logic board with soldered ram/SSD.

tvOS probably won't happen. I'd be happy enough if it could receive airplay, but that's not going to happen either of course.

 

[Freida]

How can anyone be against lower cost. Sheesh. If you don't need it, don't buy it.

I'm not against low cost, im against the messy lineup. Macbook and Macbook Air are fairly low cost. We don't need another product that is crippled and low cost. We need Macbook and Air to merge and have one low cost laptop.

 

[robbyx]

I wouldn't expect to see any significant iMac upgrades in 2018. The most I would expect is an update to Coffeelake Intel processors. AMD doesn't have anything to update to that wouldn't cannibalize iMac Pro sales.

My guess is that whatever comes this year, Mac-wise, will be modest updates. Something tells me that next year is going to be more of a Mac year. I can’t help but think that the whole Mac line is going to see some major design changes next year when the new Pro is unveiled. I think they’re doing more than just designing a new Pro.

 

[Glockworkorange]

I just picked up the 27" iMac last weekend.... Seriously considering returning it and waiting a few months to see what's going to happen.

That’s what I would do in your position, if only because there are said to be major improvements.

 

[dwaite]

I'm hoping for ProMotion, i.e. variable and high refresh rate, that already exists on the iPad Pro. HDR would be a nice bonus, but I'm not expecting that.

I'm expecting HDR. Variable refresh rate is possible (actually mostly software), but high refresh is significantly more difficult to implement with current TB3 chipsets and would require a large custom panel.

 

[FNH15]

If they do update the mini, the good news is that Apple will probably have no choice but to put in at least a quad core, since the base i3 Coffeelake (8100) is now a quad core CPU, which will also bring full 4K @ 60fps support as well. I wouldn't hold my breath for a dGPU, though...

 

[dwaite]

“Processor upgrades expected” with or without meltdown?

Has intel solved these issues yet?

 

[Yvan256]

The MacBook Air still uses 5th generation processors, that's three generations behind.
The Mac mini still uses 4th generation processors, that's four generations behind.

Intel is currently selling 8th gen CPUs and should be launching their 9th generation in rougly one year or so.

There could one simple reason for Mac mini and MacBook Air updates: Intel will stop making the CPUs Apple is currently using in these two Macs.

 

[citysnaps]

so they will put 8 gen cpus in the fall of 2018 and within a few months gen 9 cpus will be out ... pathetic.

Why would you expect cpus that would not be available until months later?

 

[dwaite]

Any Mac mini rumor is good news at this point. Though a return to quad-core for the mini is very likely given Intel's Coffee Lake chips, the big unknown is whether or not it will make a return to upgradable RAM and go SSD / Fusion drive only. A Mac mini with quad-core (hex-core as a high-end option), 2x Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C, PCIe SSD, and upgradable RAM would be great.

Keep in mind these are still sold as switcher machines, and (stocked/non-custom) upgrades are actually meant to be upsells to switchers.
Some of these features I only really see as Mac Pro features next year.

 

[robbyx]

I just picked up the 27" iMac last weekend.... Seriously considering returning it and waiting a few months to see what's going to happen.

One of my older displays bit the dust recently and I decided to pick up an iMac to replace it. I thought about limping along with one display, but I’ve been wanting to replace my aging MacBook Pro anyway. Other than feeling like I paid too much for stale hardware, it’s a great machine. Coming from a Thunderbolt Display as my primary display, my eyes are so thankful. If you can afford to wait it out, I would. But I also don’t expect to see anything revolutionary in the coming upgrade. I’m sure the improvements will be nice, but I think next year is the year we’ll see the Mac get some major love.

 

[Peace]

Cool a new Mac Pro.


Oh Wait...

 

[Spock]

$799 12 inch MacBook
$1399 13 inch MacBook Pro
$1899 15 inch MacBook Pro
$2399 17 inch MacBook Pro with edge to edge 4K display with Face ID and VR ready graphics card.

My dream MacBook lineup.

 

[manu chao]

Slowly clap clap clap... well done Apple, well done. You continue to ruin your Mac lineup. You'll barely release your computers after 7-8 month later than other brands (a whole year for 13" MacBook Pro).

That's an occupational hazard if you want to update all your models in one fell swoop instead of model by model as new Intel chips become available.