New 2014 Mac Mini Has Soldered RAM, Not User Replaceable

[technopimp]

I'm returning the gesture. Nobody (well, except you and an isolated few others perhaps) believes that what you said:

"These are fine, inexpensive machines for most tasks...It's a fine little computer at a good price."

is true. Clearly, they are not "fine" computers at the price. They are far from it, as is attested by the vast majority of sentiment of over 1300 comments within 48 hours on this thread. To assert otherwise is to insult our intelligence, which is something that I would expect Phil Schiller to do.

In the 24 months since the last mac mini was released one would have imagined that, generally, technology has improved, and 2012 technology has collapsed in price. Tech gets better, faster; the same tech becomes cheaper.

Of course, if one were to look at the 2014 mac mini, one would perhaps come to the conclusion that technology has gone backwards, and become more expensive.

You might think that makes a "fine" machine at a "good" price. But you're on your own.

Apart from Phil Schiller, and Tim Cook, of course.

Finally, someone else who sees Schiller for what he is and does. He treats us like dumb sheep and expects us to sit up and beg every time he deliberately shows something at a certain angle to show how thin and beautiful it is. I can't stand listening to that blowhard talk.

Aside from that, I'm not even upset about this anymore. Just clear that the iDevice is Apples's long-term strategy, and a desktop (or even, eventually, portable) full-blown computer is not.

If and when that day comes, I'lll just quietly go back to using something else. There's no point in complaining to Apple or making noise on this site since it's mostly apologists and zealots (and those that aren't are dismissed most of the time).

We'll just all go to bed knowing that soldered-on RAM is "in our best interest" because we wouldn't want something too sharp to poke ourselves with.

 

[samiznaetekto]

I'd buy a Mini when it has a protruding camera.

 

[Moto G]

Apple

Where their interests lie, is even in their name.

 

[InuNacho]

Apples are cracking down on Apple-tax evaders...

So Apple is cracking down on itself?

 

[milo]

The same Macs that have not had third party replacements for the past year? It might be a long wait!!

It might. But it looks like most macs are moving the the same SSD form factor, at some point there should be third party versions of those drives.

And Apple didn't like people buying cheap macs for such tasks

Well yeah, that's what we've been saying all along.

optimized for the %95, they don't want the other 5%

Besides the fact that you pulled the 95 and 5 out of your ass, in this case "optimized" means "crappier performance that saves apple money but doesn't pass the savings along to the consumer".

Processing is processing, doesn't matter if it's mobile or not.

Yeah, it does if you are trying to use a comparison of A8 and snapdragon to try and show that the 2 core version of an i7 is somehow better than the 4.

non-pro user

Again, back to "you're holding it wrong". Plenty of pros used the mini when it had a fairly powerful quad option. And I don't agree that only pros benefit from more than two cores, although it does totally depend on the apps.

Please show me the data on how many people purchased the quad core mac minis and what they used them for.

That's rich coming from the guy making claims about 95% of users working a certain way.

 

[oopsroger]

Nobody in their right mind will buy this

A 21.5 iMac with desktop class Quad i5, 8 Gig RAM, Iris Pro, a Mouse/Trackpad, a DISPLAY + 1TB fusion = 11448 HKD

A Mac mini with lame mobile dual core i5, 8 Gig RAM, Iris Pro, a Mouse/Trackpad, 1TB fusion = 9666 HKD.

The difference (around 200 USD) = upgrade from mobile i7 to desktop i5 + a solid 21.5 display.

Wow, Apple. Just, wow.

 

[subsonix]

It has always been the case. But in the past, you had the option of telling Apple to keep their additional 8GB, $200 RAM, and you could go to OWC, or someone else later, and buy the entire 16GB yourself for $100. Now Apple is putting you in the position of either ponying up the $200 for 8GB at the time of purchase, or not being able to get the upgrade at all. So yes, it is a valid point.

Not really.

• 16GB of 1600 SO-DIMM cost $144 on Newegg.
• You've never been in the position to just add 8GB, going to 16 means replacing two 4GB modules with two 8GB modules.

 

[Thermonuclear]

Boy watching B&H mac mini prices is a trip. First the 2.3ghz was $739 then it dropped to $699, then when they realized what was happening because the 2.6ghz models sold out immediately, they raised the price to $789. If that doesn't tell you the new models suck then I don't know what will. People scrambled to get the last 12 core cheese grader mac pros and now they are scrambling to get the last quad core mac mini. It's just been a downward spiral with apple these past few years.

OWC has some refurbished Minis for sale, but they are out of the late 2012 model, to no one's surprise.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple_Systems/Used/Macs_and_Tablets

 

[Col4bin]

It's been that for almost 10 years and you've always been able to upgrade the memory until now.

I hear you, I was just being facetious. It seems Apple's drawing their line in the sand and "forcing" customers to spend more $$ on a higher price point Mac if one wants the customizability. Apple's asserting tighter controls over their products while strong-arming the customer. Don't care for Apple doing this, but it's Tim's Apple now. Guess this is his way of business.

 

[ivnj]

So what if the ram fails. Can't replace it as its soldered in. So what then you're stuck with a lemon.

And the base 499 model is only 1.4ghz cpu. That's too low for Yosemite isn't it.

 

[pragmatous]

Stop complaining

And don't buy it. I'm not. Even if I needed a computer I wouldn't buy this mac mini. Not because of soldered ram but because there are no quad core options. It's almost 2015 to not have quad cores in a desktop is regressing technologically. It's an embarrassment to pushing the boundaries in what can be achieved.

It lacks innovation. It's boring. It's slower. It's 4 years ago technology.

 

[haruhiko]

Prior to the most recent redesign of the Mac mini which put the RAM slots under an easily accessible opening, I remember I needed to literally rip apart the Mac mini (2009) to add RAM. But it was still possible at that time following iFixit's guides. Soldering RAM (and offering them as BTO for insane prices) is nothing but highway robbery.

 

[Meister]

So what if the ram fails. Can't replace it as its soldered in. So what then you're stuck with a lemon.
And the base 499 model is only 1.4ghz cpu. That's too low for Yosemite isn't it.

Why would 1.4ghz be "too low"? What is your statement based upon? Reading chicken intrails?
How often does RAM fail? Never maybe?

 

[Thermonuclear]

But in the past, you had the option of telling Apple to keep their additional 8GB, $200 RAM, and you could go to OWC, or someone else later, and buy the entire 16GB yourself for $100. Now Apple is putting you in the position of either ponying up the $200 for 8GB at the time of purchase, or not being able to get the upgrade at all. So yes, it is a valid point.

Correct, but the older Mini's DIMM options are even more flexible than that, because the two DIMMs did not have to have the same capacity. For such mismatched DIMMs, there was a slight slowdown of only a few percent and this was not noticeable in practice.

 

[Thermonuclear]

Prior to the most recent redesign of the Mac mini which put the RAM slots under an easily accessible opening, I remember I needed to literally rip apart the Mac mini (2009) to add RAM. But it was still possible at that time following iFixit's guides. Soldering RAM (and offering them as BTO for insane prices) is nothing but highway robbery.

I went through the same case cracking procedure with a pair of older Minis. I bought a cheap spackle applicator to help; a useful pry tool which makes case separation easy and simple.

If you ever have to open an older Mini, before closing up it's worth the small extra effort to blast out any dust and to replace the 2032 CMOS battery. How one might do the same with the 2014 Mini, I don't know and I don't care because No Quad Core means No Sale.

 

[ivnj]

I was just asking. My 2011 is 2.3ghz and ok but not blazing fast. So 1.4ghz just seems like it might be a tad slow.

 

[subsonix]

I was just asking. My 2011 is 2.3ghz and ok but not blazing fast. So 1.4ghz just seems like it might be a tad slow.

Are there any Geekbench scores for it yet? Guess it should be similar to the MacBook Air.

 

[flyinmac]

I went through the same case cracking procedure with a pair of older Minis. I bought a cheap spackle applicator to help; a useful pry tool which makes case separation easy and simple.

If you ever have to open an older Mini, before closing up it's worth the small extra effort to blast out any dust and to replace the 2032 CMOS battery. How one might do the same with the 2014 Mini, I don't know and I don't care because No Quad Core means No Sale.

It's Apple's strategy to insure they get $2oo more out of each mini the day the CMOS battery dies. Sorry, that's considered a wear item, not covered under warranty. Actually, wouldn't matter anyway.. CMOS knows when the warranty expires and dies the next day

 

[s15119]

I'm returning the gesture. Nobody (well, except you and an isolated few others perhaps) believes that what you said:

"These are fine, inexpensive machines for most tasks...It's a fine little computer at a good price."

is true. Clearly, they are not "fine" computers at the price. They are far from it, as is attested by the vast majority of sentiment of over 1300 comments within 48 hours on this thread. To assert otherwise is to insult our intelligence, which is something that I would expect Phil Schiller to do.

In the 24 months since the last mac mini was released one would have imagined that, generally, technology has improved, and 2012 technology has collapsed in price. Tech gets better, faster; the same tech becomes cheaper.

Of course, if one were to look at the 2014 mac mini, one would perhaps come to the conclusion that technology has gone backwards, and become more expensive.

You might think that makes a "fine" machine at a "good" price. But you're on your own.

Apart from Phil Schiller, and Tim Cook, of course.

Sales will tell the story. Not posts on Mac Rumors. I'm hardly "on my own". There are folks who have been and are right now clicking on the little buy me button. Likely a much larger number than have commented on this thread.

Your "argument" lacks logic and relies on insult. Sorry. That's not how life works.

Have a nice day.

----------

And don't buy it. I'm not. Even if I needed a computer I wouldn't buy this mac mini. Not because of soldered ram but because there are no quad core options. It's almost 2015 to not have quad cores in a desktop is regressing technologically. It's an embarrassment to pushing the boundaries in what can be achieved.

It lacks innovation. It's boring. It's slower. It's 4 years ago technology.

Stop complaining. Right after you're done complaining.


sigh.

 

[rrl]

Stop complaining. Right after you're done complaining.

Stop apologizing. Right after you're done apologizing.

 

[haruhiko]

I went through the same case cracking procedure with a pair of older Minis. I bought a cheap spackle applicator to help; a useful pry tool which makes case separation easy and simple.

If you ever have to open an older Mini, before closing up it's worth the small extra effort to blast out any dust and to replace the 2032 CMOS battery. How one might do the same with the 2014 Mini, I don't know and I don't care because No Quad Core means No Sale.

I haven't thought of the CMOS battery issue and will definitely take a look with it later. Thanks.

The (external) power adapter of this 2009 mini died last year and fortunately I could still order a new one from the Apple Store, which only costed <USD60. It's been quite a journey with this Mac mini but it still serves me well for the media PC functions.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

Apple has to stop screwing over consumers by not allowing simple things like ram upgrades and more.

It is really anti-consumer and terrible.

 

[moxin]

the moment you realize even the gaming console these days (PS4) have changeable internals (hard disk).
It is lame

 

[Xiroteus]

Even Apple can't get away with something this crazy.

 

[alvindarkness]

Apple has to stop screwing over consumers by not allowing simple things like ram upgrades and more.

It is really anti-consumer and terrible.

I absolutely agree Bender..