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New Mac Mini Finally Coming in October Alongside New iPads?
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It is not, two hard drive bays are too much waste of space and where to put the SSD blade? The Apple TV is an ARM computer, so it will not become that small. But the current Mac mini size is still derived from the width of an optical disk drive and that's not the future either.
Maybe with the absent of optical drives in a slim design in Mac laptop's now, this may be a trend of smaller size of the Mac mini too ?
It's the only one left
It's like the Mini is that big cheesecake u bring out.
SSD may be good anyway in the mini, since after u run out of space internally curreently, u must replace, or just add external drive (which is bigger in capacity anyway)....since 2.5 inch is behind in storage. so why not just use ssd?
It's the only one left
It's like the Mini is that big cheesecake u bring out.
SSD may be good anyway in the mini, since after u run out of space internally curreently, u must replace, or just add external drive (which is bigger in capacity anyway)....since 2.5 inch is behind in storage. so why not just use ssd?
I'm really hoping this isn't true; not simply because I've given up and ordered parts of a Hack Mini (just waiting for the processor to arrive), but because it seems insulting for them to wait so long to do an update that will be limited to Haswell.
Of course Haswell is what I wanted, but months ago; I resigned myself to the fact that Apple had planned to use Broadwell as was being forced to wait, which seems reasonable as it would mean a better product when they eventually do arrive.
So yeah; a Haswell update a year ago would have been fair, but if that's what we can expect later next month then I'll be really disappointed with Apple for waiting so long, as I couldn't justify waiting any longer.
I'd be interested to know more about this source though, we've had several rumours for the Mac Mini which didn't seem to pan out, plus a boat-load of conjecture seemingly by journalists hoping their wild guess would be right and make them seem like they had insider knowledge when they didn't.
Of course Haswell is what I wanted, but months ago; I resigned myself to the fact that Apple had planned to use Broadwell as was being forced to wait, which seems reasonable as it would mean a better product when they eventually do arrive.
So yeah; a Haswell update a year ago would have been fair, but if that's what we can expect later next month then I'll be really disappointed with Apple for waiting so long, as I couldn't justify waiting any longer.
I'd be interested to know more about this source though, we've had several rumours for the Mac Mini which didn't seem to pan out, plus a boat-load of conjecture seemingly by journalists hoping their wild guess would be right and make them seem like they had insider knowledge when they didn't.
I think this will be their big push into your 'iHome'; a major change in focus for the device and the reason it has taken soooooo long to develop.
My prediction:
New mini - much smaller form factor, black anodised aluminium, PCIe SSD, no internal 2.5" - but plenty of expansion ports for extra storage space and 4K+ video out. Intel Core M + A8(X?) processors.
This thing will be the 'always on' device, will have Siri, manage your home and is the bridge between all your current OS X, iOS devices and future connected light bulbs, thermostats, fridges, garage doors etc.
Starting at $999.
It will sport a new form factor, and it will adopt SSD's - It will definitely NOT be a crossover device, and NOT support TWO CPU architectures - it would have to have two completely separate systems, two sets of all components.
Why do some of you think this will be the device to "merge iOS & OSX"??? Besides being not the way Apple is going to tackle this two OS dilemma, the Mac mini doesn't even have a screen, how can it have anything to do with iOS?? Would you have to go out and buy touch screen monitors for it? Apple release a new API for iOS devices to serve as its external monitor and it runs headless?
No no no, this will have Haswell's newest revision processors on it. It is the way the mini has always been treated as a product. The only way it will have an ARM processor is if it is released alongside the rumoured 12" rMBA, IF that is going ARM already, then they could possibly have two Mac models running OSX ARM instead of just introducing one. If that occurred though, I would expect them to have an entire event dedicated to the new "magical Apple desktop architecture."
Much more likely, and it makes way more sense, they would do such an event and simultaneously release new models of EVERY Mac (except possibly the Mac Pro) on the ARM platform. This would show they are all in, and going to back the platform long term. I mean if they release one model, as a consumer I would be afraid they would abandon it if it isn't a big seller, and I would be left out in the cold. That would be the biggest barrier for most consumers on a one model release. Are developers on board? Will this be supported for 5-6 years even if it is the only model in the line-up to ever go ARM?
On the other hand, They would have to be developing 3-4 different levels of CPU/GPU packages though, unless they really intend to simplify it by having one level for the MBA & mini, one level for the MBP & 21" iMac, and one level for the 27" iMac. Even then, to release that all simultaneously would be a massive feat, even though we are not talking anything like the volumes of sales that we are for the iDevices. At under 20 million units in total Mac sales annually, this actually speaks against having many different packages for the different models, due to economies of scale, so I think they would stick to a maximum of 3.
Back on topic though, loving my 2010 Mac mini, which I have given 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD this past year. It is a new machine. 6TB of RAID 10 external storage for the media and photos libraries, and it is a home server dream. Really waiting on a new one though to get TB and USB3 connectivity. Don't care what architecture it runs on, x86 or ARM, just as long as it is fast enough so that I don't notice that it isn't.
Same here for my mother. She's just fine using the much older version of her current mini until they update it with Broadwell chips, though.
Because it'll replace the ATV. And run your home.
The OS X side will be the brains for your home kit connected house, run like a server, backing up all your Macs and provide the grunt to output the 4K content to your UHD TV.
The A8X will provide support for any/all iOS games, instantly turning your TV into an XBox/Playstation killer. But for all intents and purposes the iOS management side of things will be hidden from the end user; the machine can be run just like any other Mac.
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That's just silly. You are morphing a headless Mac into product that only has one specialised use case. The ATV will continue to be an ATV and the Mac mini, as long as it is around, will continue to be a headless Mac. There isn't going to be a Frankenstein product.
New Mac Mini Finally Coming in October Alongside New iPads?
Wait, what?! Really?! . . . Oh. Dat question mark tho.
Wait, what?! Really?! . . . Oh. Dat question mark tho.
Never mind
Way too little, way too late. Mac Mini cursed by poor graphics and no upgrade path. Can you imagine being stuck with Iris Pro graphics (or worse) in two years' time? Your phone will have better graphics than your computer or your games console, especially with Broadwell chips just around the corner. Think Apple has been hanging on for Intel and finally given up waiting and just putting out slight upgrade for small businesses who use these as servers. Really wanted one earlier this year but nine months later this is such an anti-climax I'm not interested any more. Maybe it's time Apple just dropped it altogether.
Way too little, way too late. Mac Mini cursed by poor graphics and no upgrade path. Can you imagine being stuck with Iris Pro graphics (or worse) in two years' time? Your phone will have better graphics than your computer or your games console, especially with Broadwell chips just around the corner. Think Apple has been hanging on for Intel and finally given up waiting and just putting out slight upgrade for small businesses who use these as servers. Really wanted one earlier this year but nine months later this is such an anti-climax I'm not interested any more. Maybe it's time Apple just dropped it altogether.
you're talking like a pro user. the mac mini is meant for the home user on a budget. for those people it works great.
You're thinking of the past and not of the future.
Homekit. Home automation. Gaming console. Server. HTPC. Siri. These will be key words in the next major keynote.
You really think that a new iPad Air is worthy of another event? Come Oct there will be big announcements. "best product pipeline in 25 years,"
Never mind again
Most home users have 1080p TVs, PS4s or xBoxes, and soon millions more will have iPhones capable of running very sophisticated graphics. It's not too much to ask for an Apple computer to have graphics better than Intel's feeble efforts, especially in a product that, judging on past form, is unlikely to be updated for years. It's hardly pro use to expect Apple to have graphics that don't look embarrassing next to a machine you bought for half the price at Toys r Us.
Most home users have 1080p TVs, PS4s or xBoxes, and soon millions more will have iPhones capable of running very sophisticated graphics. It's not too much to ask for an Apple computer to have graphics better than Intel's feeble efforts, especially in a product that, judging on past form, is unlikely to be updated for years. It's hardly pro use to expect Apple to have graphics that don't look embarrassing next to a machine you bought for half the price at Toys r Us.
I don't disagree with your vision of what Apple's vision could be. I just don't think a device like an ARM + x86 in one Frankenstein beast is going to be the way to go about it.
I don't see the reason you need any sort of x86 processor in their at all?? Apple's A-series chip is already pushing a number of pixels in the same class as 4K on the iPads...
Also, I don't get how you need a central hub for Homekit? It will be wireless and your iPhone or iPad can do the job just as easily? Don't need a server type machine to handle this, right? Same thing with Siri & Homekit.
Gaming console? Much more likely on a new ATV stand alone device. It has to be cheap to be a PS4/XBox killer. Server and HTPC is already an established use of the current model mini.
Don't make it too complicated. Needing a central hub for all of this stuff is thinking in the past. All the separate specialised devices working in unison with each other is more the future. Think hand-off exponentially.
Fusion means two drives, and besides, it is not smart to make the device so small that it will need an outboard TB hub to plug stuff in. At that point, the too-small size becomes a stunt, contrary to the function of the device. And if the box gets too light, it won't support the weight and stiffness of an HDMI cable. Just like the current MBP is too thin-- it is too thin for an Ethernet cable. Not smart.
I sold my 2009 Mini in April expecting an update in May/June/July. I almost gave up waiting. Today is a good day.
I used to want them to include a Maxwell GPU. Now I'd be very happy with Iris Pro + additional options made available due to the vacant dGPU. Like standard PCIe SSD or more RAM. The mini isn't a gaming machine for me. Music, photos and light video editing.
If they can fit the guts of a new Macbook Pro into the new Mini for ~$900 I'm in!
I used to want them to include a Maxwell GPU. Now I'd be very happy with Iris Pro + additional options made available due to the vacant dGPU. Like standard PCIe SSD or more RAM. The mini isn't a gaming machine for me. Music, photos and light video editing.
If they can fit the guts of a new Macbook Pro into the new Mini for ~$900 I'm in!
Actually, Iris Pro graphics+4K will be perfect for my near-the-TV box for the next two years. It isn't a Mac Pro. If you want a lot of E5 cores and dual high-end graphics, get a Mac Pro.
Damn you and your sound logic. I know I'm talking out my ass. I am just bored of waiting for this thing to finally materialise.
The original mini was meant to be the machine to tempt Windows to Apple. You've gotta think that'd now be the iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air/Pro - in that order.
The mini in its current form just doesn't make sense for the general consumer anymore. Dont get me wrong, I love mine, and other nerds here will too, but these days the mobile devices rule. And then the iMacs are just so pretty. The mini was fast becoming the ugly bastard child. Apple won't keep the current mini format and will NEVER make the fabled xMac, the audience is small and shrinking.
But there's no reason for it to be such a tiny box. Only a small fraction of mini owners really need it to be super small, the rest just want an affordable consumer headless mac.
They do have quad core for mini, it's just the mobile version which isn't as fast and is probably more expensive than the faster desktop option. Making it a bit bigger to handle desktop CPU would still leave it portable enough for people who want to take it somewhere, would let them make it faster, and probably would cost them a bit less to make. Personally I don't care about GPU but I can understand why people want something better.
PCIe SSD seems inevitable, I wouldn't be surprised if the next version only offers that and dumps the 2.5 form factor. Now when will we start seeing macs with two SSD slots (crazy it's not on the mac pro)?
Yes it is an entry level mac, but there's no reason the higher BTO options couldn't go up to desktop quad core, even in the same $999 ball park for the current high end. iMac is also an entry level mac but also has a decent high end.
If Apple sold a midrange mac between the mini and the pro I could see justifying it as a bare bones "apple tv on steroids". But since it's the only headless option below the $3k mac pro, I think it's perfectly reasonable to want to see better performing options on the higher end.
And along with desktop quad core CPU I'd like to see higher ram capacity and things like more TB ports as well. Heck, putting on another ethernet port would be great as well and wouldn't add a ton of price or size. I'd be happy to get high end specs similar to high end iMac, since those are the two consumer desktop options I don't see why they shouldn't have some parity.
And looking ahead, I really want to know when Apple is going to start offering six core i7 in consumer machines as the high end BTO option. They're not that expensive, they've been out for at least a couple years now and they're more common all the time. Heck, intel is moving on to eight core i7 on the high end and that's only going to go up.
Not any time soon. Even if Apple wanted to do it, apps wouldn't work unless they were recompiled and I suspect many developers wouldn't even want to go to the trouble of supporting a new incompatible CPU. We already went through one CPU switch, it was worth it but I don't think many would want to switch back away from it.
To me here is why convergence of the mini and apple tv makes sense for someone who does not own an iMac, or a Macbook,
..too expensive, rarely use a desktop or for whatever reason. People still like to sit down in front of an larger monitor with a nice keyboard. I've tried to do everything on mobile devices and while OK, sometimes you really do need the comfort of something the mini or an iMac can offer vs an iPad. So why not allow it to take that position for light computing? It would add value to the consumer experience and Apple ecosystem.
Most Windows owners already have plenty of monitors and keyboards around the house, it would make the Apple TV that much more useful
..too expensive, rarely use a desktop or for whatever reason. People still like to sit down in front of an larger monitor with a nice keyboard. I've tried to do everything on mobile devices and while OK, sometimes you really do need the comfort of something the mini or an iMac can offer vs an iPad. So why not allow it to take that position for light computing? It would add value to the consumer experience and Apple ecosystem.
Most Windows owners already have plenty of monitors and keyboards around the house, it would make the Apple TV that much more useful
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