Kaibelf
Suspended
With all due respect, those things are generating way more money than a lot of complaining graphic artists and screenplay hipsters.
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Popular Mac Developer Slams Apple for 'Sad State of Macintosh Hardware'
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With all due respect, those things are generating way more money than a lot of complaining graphic artists and screenplay hipsters.
kriebe
macrumors regular
A year and a half ago, my dad purchased a Mini without my knowledge. I told him to bring it back right away as Apple was surely going to have an update soon, since the current model was out for so long and even when it came out, it was a downgrade from the previous model. He still has the store credit for getting a new one when(if) it comes out, but every time I see him and he asks me about a new Mini, I feel terrible for him having waited so damn long. I just hope Apple knows this kind of stuff is going on and they understand they're at fault for it.
Smith288
macrumors 65816
I don’t understand how they can’t just toss in some hardware spec bumps in their mini line. They can successfully manage a brand new iPhone hardware design in a few years cycle why not just kick up the specs for people to keep the thing competitive??? It’s insane to me this isn’t able to be accomplished.
I pretty much agree with everything the article points out. The Mac Pro isn't a concern for me right now because I bit the bullet the day the price dropped and upgraded from a 2008 to a 2013 model (and intend to get next year's model as soon as it's released) so I'm set there because it's under warranty and meets my present needs despite being much more awkward than the previous one I had because I've got external drives hanging out the back.
But the Mac Mini is something I really hope they don't abandon, and wish they would just give it a spec bump or something. I cut cable TV back in 2010 and decided to replace the cable box with a Mac Mini (2010 model), because it gave me easy access to streaming services from that time. (Hulu was still free back then, and macOS still had Front Row which provided an experience equivalent to that generation's Apple TV) I installed an SSD into that Mac Mini a few years ago and it's still great for watching shows bought from the iTunes store, but it's very much in need of replacement at this point. The High Sierra 10.13.3 update stopped it from working correctly with my projector over HDMI, and when hooked to an actual TV that did display, AC3 surround passthrough was broken too. I had to downgrade back to 10.13.0 to get everything working correctly again and haven't bothered to risk trying 10.13.4 or 10.13.5 to see if they fixed the problems introduced in .3. Ideally I'd just like to replace it with another Mac Mini, primarily because of iTunes content, but I'm not going to do that when the only model I could replace it with is already 4 years old. I thought about just building one of those tiny Intel NUC PC's instead, but I'd still prefer to have a Mac there so I can AirPlay to it with AirServer.
I know some of the lack of updates is Intel's fault because their new chipsets have been delayed multiple times, but they've got plenty of newer CPU's they could use for the Mini.
But the Mac Mini is something I really hope they don't abandon, and wish they would just give it a spec bump or something. I cut cable TV back in 2010 and decided to replace the cable box with a Mac Mini (2010 model), because it gave me easy access to streaming services from that time. (Hulu was still free back then, and macOS still had Front Row which provided an experience equivalent to that generation's Apple TV) I installed an SSD into that Mac Mini a few years ago and it's still great for watching shows bought from the iTunes store, but it's very much in need of replacement at this point. The High Sierra 10.13.3 update stopped it from working correctly with my projector over HDMI, and when hooked to an actual TV that did display, AC3 surround passthrough was broken too. I had to downgrade back to 10.13.0 to get everything working correctly again and haven't bothered to risk trying 10.13.4 or 10.13.5 to see if they fixed the problems introduced in .3. Ideally I'd just like to replace it with another Mac Mini, primarily because of iTunes content, but I'm not going to do that when the only model I could replace it with is already 4 years old. I thought about just building one of those tiny Intel NUC PC's instead, but I'd still prefer to have a Mac there so I can AirPlay to it with AirServer.
I know some of the lack of updates is Intel's fault because their new chipsets have been delayed multiple times, but they've got plenty of newer CPU's they could use for the Mini.
And they evidently forget that a large reason for their resurgence in the 2000s was that the platform was attractive to developers. Without pro-level hardware, how will they attract the developers they need to keep the iOS App Store populated?
robertcoogan
macrumors 6502a
While I realize (argumentatively) that I am beating a dead horse here - does anyone still remember what Apple used to be like? It makes me sad. I remember learning Logo on Apple IIs in junior high in the early 80's. My Mom bought the first Macintosh when it came out (it is still sitting in her garage).
I know things change. I know that to expect Tim Cook to "carry the torch" is unrealistic (and personally, I think the "Cult of Steve" that Apple cultivates now is kinda creepy). It is his company now, but I do not think it is unrealistic to expect (or want) Apple to maintain the focus that it had in its early days. The focus was on both form and function. Now it is mostly form. While Apple has maintained its focus on security (its only real strong point now), it has strayed so far from its original focus that it well and truly has become the man on the screen in the 1984 ad.
I know things change. I know that to expect Tim Cook to "carry the torch" is unrealistic (and personally, I think the "Cult of Steve" that Apple cultivates now is kinda creepy). It is his company now, but I do not think it is unrealistic to expect (or want) Apple to maintain the focus that it had in its early days. The focus was on both form and function. Now it is mostly form. While Apple has maintained its focus on security (its only real strong point now), it has strayed so far from its original focus that it well and truly has become the man on the screen in the 1984 ad.
jwhitnah
macrumors regular
I bitch about this nearly every time I post. We need less preaching and more inspiring desktops. When I go home, I do not want to to stare at an iPad. Not talking about entertainment. Email, QBO, writing lease, whatever. I need to get work done and the best way is still a desktop. More cooking, less Cooksplaining.
Signed up just to comment on this.
This has become a big deal for me and many others, and it's not talked about enough. Apple have neglected these products so grossly over the last half decade.
I can understand that they react to what the market wants- and the market is using MBPs for browsing the internet. So the emoji bar makes sense. These users want portability, so Apple trade power for weight and size. Every concession they made with their most recent hardware design- the MBP- was catered to a casual user. It's hard to take, but this is how economics works- we get it.
But that's been it! Nothing else. iMacs have the same industrial design that they had in 2012! It's ludicrous. The new iMac Pro is housed in something they designed and built 6 years ago. That is an absolute AGE in this industry. This is a company that made it's name on innovative industrial design. They don't do that anymore. Not with Macs. You could make a strong case that they've lost the edge in this department across the board.
These products aren't something most just go out and buy on a whim. vast amounts of research go in to selecting the right configuration and machine, and at the right time, and we tend to have them for at least 4 years. That's a big commitment, and it's almost impossible to make it now- because Apple seem so distant and disinterested in these products. Even if you keep up on sites like this- which most of us have learnt that you have to do- you're still almost completely in the dark.
In the old days it was just a case of when. It's never been clockwork but you knew it was coming, and you knew it would be better. Now you don't know when, what or even if anything relevant will be coming at all. These products are just drifting and they look and feel old and weak, and they're obviously aware. The repurposed 2012 iMac in a different color for $5000 with a mid life crisis of a sports car inside. It's all a real shame, but they can turn it around. I still hope they do.
This has become a big deal for me and many others, and it's not talked about enough. Apple have neglected these products so grossly over the last half decade.
I can understand that they react to what the market wants- and the market is using MBPs for browsing the internet. So the emoji bar makes sense. These users want portability, so Apple trade power for weight and size. Every concession they made with their most recent hardware design- the MBP- was catered to a casual user. It's hard to take, but this is how economics works- we get it.
But that's been it! Nothing else. iMacs have the same industrial design that they had in 2012! It's ludicrous. The new iMac Pro is housed in something they designed and built 6 years ago. That is an absolute AGE in this industry. This is a company that made it's name on innovative industrial design. They don't do that anymore. Not with Macs. You could make a strong case that they've lost the edge in this department across the board.
These products aren't something most just go out and buy on a whim. vast amounts of research go in to selecting the right configuration and machine, and at the right time, and we tend to have them for at least 4 years. That's a big commitment, and it's almost impossible to make it now- because Apple seem so distant and disinterested in these products. Even if you keep up on sites like this- which most of us have learnt that you have to do- you're still almost completely in the dark.
In the old days it was just a case of when. It's never been clockwork but you knew it was coming, and you knew it would be better. Now you don't know when, what or even if anything relevant will be coming at all. These products are just drifting and they look and feel old and weak, and they're obviously aware. The repurposed 2012 iMac in a different color for $5000 with a mid life crisis of a sports car inside. It's all a real shame, but they can turn it around. I still hope they do.
robertcoogan
macrumors 6502a
Yeah, okay. And the second Tuesday of every month you will see the massive slew of security updates due to Windows. Reason enough to stick with Apple.
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davidmartindale
macrumors regular
Though I cant say I wouldn't want that and would love to be able to install macOS on a custom built PC without having fuss with all the issues of a Hackintosh.
However, Apple did this once in the 90s and it was not very good. The biggest issue I see with it is that the reason macOS works as well as it does is partially due to having limited HW to support. There are not a lot of 3rd party drivers installed or anything like that. The developers are able to optimize it one way for say powerful Core i7 CPUs and another way for not so powerful m3 processors for instance.
So... in short its hard to say if macOS would be the same OS we love or not, and Apple will almost certainly not try it again.
sblemmy
macrumors regular
When I used PCs, I would upgrade my main system every 3 or so years. At first my upgrades were driven by Windows' continual need for resources. Later, it tended to be from hardware failures. I finally made the jump to Mac in 2012 with a MacBook Pro. I've thought about upgrading to a newer system, but it's still supported by the latest MacOS releases and I've had no problems with it.
nwcs
macrumors 68030
I am referring to consumers. And eventually I can see iPads being able to create apps for iOS. Regardless, the industry is shrinking as consumers move on and this is the inevitable effect. I’m not saying I like it, but that’s where it is going.
oh its not that bad anymore, i run both systems...actually macOS updates were much more unstable and had huge security issues lately...
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iPads to create apps for iOS? At the pace we are going maybe in 2040...
Drfter
macrumors member
Give me a Ryzen 7 v2, APU mac mini, no soldered ram or hard drive. Let me hook it up to any egpu of my choice. Bonus points if you sell one with no ram or hard drive included and let me put w/e ssd or dar drive I want inside.
oneMadRssn
macrumors 603
I agree, I say this often. I see zero reason to upgrade my 2013 Macbook Air. It has USB3, it has 802.11AC wifi, and it more RAM and drive space than I need (8gb, 512gb).
However, part of the problem is Apple used to address hardware issues quickly. First-gen stuff always has problems, but Apple used to typically update to fix these things rather fast. It's been ~3 years of the "butterfly" keyboard design and it hasn't gotten much better. How does the Macbook still have only a 480 webcam? What happened to "terraced" batteries?
I can deal with missed CPU spec bumps. Today, that stuff doesn't matter anymore. But letting these hardware issues stagnate is a problem.
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Duck yes!
69650
Suspended
Hopefully Cook will listen to Mac software developers like this guy, because he’s not been listening to Mac customers who have been saying this stuff for years.
TechGod
macrumors 68040
You know nothing about AMD if you’re calling them crap.
groovyd
Suspended
Maybe that's why they don't update them... they would have to replace all of their employees computers 😉 I actually think they use a lot of windows machines, maybe even more then macs internally.
yojitani
macrumors 68000
Interesting. I'm at a crossroad right now with Apple. My MBP is not compatible with 10.14 - the first time in 20 years that my main machine is not eligible for updates. I've held on to this computer so long because I don't want a computer I can't upgrade or repair. So, I've come to the conclusion that the only viable machine from Apple is an iMac. I will use this laptop until it dies and when it does, I guess I'll buy a Windows machine. I'm not happy about that, but Apple's closed hardware seems ethically wrong to me. I won't support it.
Superhappytree
macrumors 6502a
This would’ve happened even under Jobs:
No, iOS isn’t as capable as macOS yet but “Post PC devices” as Jobs put it are being so focused on because they are the present and future. Macs aren’t so much anymore and haven’t been for a while. That’s the problem I think. A lot of folks on here have been fans of Apple since Macs were the only focus of the company, but they aren’t the only focus anymore and aren’t the main focus either. Post PC devices are and that’s the area that still has the most potential in the long term and still has vast amounts to be improved upon more so than Macs and PC’s in general.
Having said all that; yeah, they should probably update their damn Macs.
No, iOS isn’t as capable as macOS yet but “Post PC devices” as Jobs put it are being so focused on because they are the present and future. Macs aren’t so much anymore and haven’t been for a while. That’s the problem I think. A lot of folks on here have been fans of Apple since Macs were the only focus of the company, but they aren’t the only focus anymore and aren’t the main focus either. Post PC devices are and that’s the area that still has the most potential in the long term and still has vast amounts to be improved upon more so than Macs and PC’s in general.
Having said all that; yeah, they should probably update their damn Macs.
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latweek
macrumors regular
RE: Crappy Macs.
There is a saying in the entertainment business (which Apple is becoming more and more each day).
When you haven't heard.......you've heard.
There is a saying in the entertainment business (which Apple is becoming more and more each day).
When you haven't heard.......you've heard.
ipwTiYon2190Y
macrumors newbie
I prefer the operating syren and hardware Apple produces. My current apple conputer is 7 years old and has ran problem-free longer than any windows computer. The security and privacy features of Apple products are superior to the competition. I would rather Apple build a solid system then rush out inferior just that doesn’t last. Are Apple’s largest shareholders complaining about this? No because they are making a fortune from all the people like those I know who are buying Apple computers and other products.
It started probably when Bob Mansfield left as Vice President of Hardware Engineering.
It's somehow fault of Scott Forstall - he's the reason why Bob left before.
It's somehow fault of Scott Forstall - he's the reason why Bob left before.
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M.PaulCezanne
macrumors 6502a
Honestly, I’m not sure they need to if profit is the objective - and it certainly is and should be as they are a for-profit company. The money seems to be in advertising and content these days, not hardware. The iPhone is just a content/ad server with a shiny new gimmick every year.
However, I really, really, really wish they would. I’ve been waiting out their junk releases for several years to replace my 2009 MBP! For that matter, I’m still using an iPhone 6 because I’ve not seen any compelling features (for my usage) since that release. I’ll have to update this next cycle, though I doubt it’ll have any real additional utility.
kugino
macrumors 65816
i would buy a new mac mini that connected natively to a 4K tv right away...i don't care what it looks like. i think there are a lot of ppl in my position who just want something small, relatively inexpensive, w/current specs...i think apple has dropped the ball w/the mac mini...but i'm just repeating what a lot of others have already mentioned...