Still make sense to buy a Mini?

[MaskedCarrot]

I've been going back and forth in my mind lately about getting a Mac Mini, but I keep wondering if it still makes sense to buy one, or just wait for another year to see if they refresh it.

My main reason is that for an i5/16/512, I would be looking at $1,300 + Shipping + Taxes + Applecare, and it's hard to pay that much money for a computer with a 2 year old CPU and chipset. I could get a really great PC system for that money that would have incredible specs compared to the Mini.

Of course there is also the fact that Apple can't seem to make a good OS without many bugs to save their life. Their Q/A is so awful these days.

Basically, I was just wondering how people who are just buying one now can justify paying that kind of money for 2 year old specs.

 

[jackerin]

If I was buying a Mac mini today I would definitely be looking at buying second-hand. I got the 2018 model a couple of months after release because it made sense then, but now it's getting a lot easier to find good specced ones used.

 

[Dameatball]

I've been going back and forth in my mind lately about getting a Mac Mini, but I keep wondering if it still makes sense to buy one, or just wait for another year to see if they refresh it.

My main reason is that for an i5/16/512, I would be looking at $1,300 + Shipping + Taxes + Applecare, and it's hard to pay that much money for a computer with a 2 year old CPU and chipset. I could get a really great PC system for that money that would have incredible specs compared to the Mini.

Of course there is also the fact that Apple can't seem to make a good OS without many bugs to save their life. Their Q/A is so awful these days.

Basically, I was just wondering how people who are just buying one now can justify paying that kind of money for 2 year old specs.

Buy used obviously if you cam can. For 1300 you can definitely get a nice desktop machine. The trade off will probably be the size but that may not matter to you. The spyware 10 OS is the biggest drawback but you could use Linux instead. Shoot you might as well built your own.

 

[LeeW]

Basically, I was just wondering how people who are just buying one now can justify paying that kind of money for 2 year old specs.

Depends on your use case, I think people place too much emphasis on the age of components in the mini. Sure wait another year, but will the modest spec increase available at that time really make that much difference to your use case?

That 6 core i5 will still be perfectly capable in years to come.

the chances are that next year you will saying again is it worth it as the CPU is still not the latest and it won't be.

 

[Boyd01]

I keep wondering if it still makes sense to buy one, or just wait for another year to see if they refresh it.

Of course there is also the fact that Apple can't seem to make a good OS without many bugs to save their life.

Just taking you at your word.... you could wait a year and you're not happy with Apple anyway. So why would you buy a Mini now? If what you wrote is true and you really don't need a new computer, why wouldn't you wait another year? Even if Apple doesn't refresh the Mini, the current models will only get cheaper over time.

 

[MaskedCarrot]

Currently I have an early '09 iMac that I am duel booting El Capitan and Windows 7, but I don't use it much these days because it's pretty slow. I have a Dell XPS 15 laptop hooked up to a 24 inch monitor that I use with Windows 10. Win10 works great and I never understand the hate against it.

I don't NEED to get a Mini, I just WANT something new to play with, and being that I'm telecommuting like most other people right now, I am stuck at home. I wouldn't mind getting a new MAC in the house to mess around with, but I could buy an Alienware machine for the price of the 2020 Mini. I like the Mini because it is so small and compact.

I know it's Apple we're talking about here, and we have a better chance of being struck by lightening than for Apple to lower prices of older stuff, but top dollar for two year old tech just seems silly.

Boys with toys I suppose. There isn't anything really that I would be able to do on a new Mac that I don't already do on my Windows laptop, I just need a new toy to play with.

 

[Fishrrman]

Yes, the Mini still makes sense.

I would not expect to see it updated in 2021.
I could certainly be wrong, but that's how I see it.

The price you indicated above is reasonable enough.
Or... keep an eye out on Apple's refurbished pages.
You have to watch closely, check MULTIPLE TIMES each day, and be ready to buy at the moment you see what you want (because it will probably be gone in an hour or two).

 

[mikehalloran]

or just wait for another year to see if they refresh it.

They just did a refresh, minor as it was, a couple months ago. There's little chance of another anytime soon. The WWDC is in a few weeks but there aren't even rumors of anything happening soon to the Mini.

Yes, the Mini still makes sense.

Heck yes. If you find yourself outgrowing it, you can add any other T2 equipped Mac (MacBook Pro, Mini, iMac Pro) and combine the two or more into a single, more powerful machine. According to Apple, only the 10G Ethernet Minis can be linked so keep that in mind (not an issue for the MBP and iMP where 10G is standard).

When it was launched, Apple demonstrated banks of 5, 10 & 20 Minis linked together with a single eGPU to crunch monster AV files.

eep an eye out on Apple's refurbished pages.
You have to watch closely, check MULTIPLE TIMES each day, and be ready to buy at the moment you see what you want (because it will probably be gone in an hour or two)

If that! When something is put in the shopping cart, you have 15 minutes to complete the transaction. If you see something you like in the Refurb store, be prepared to pounce!

I once waited too long while I researched something and went over 15 minutes. The transaction stalled when I went to pay. When I refreshed my screen, it was gone.

Right now there are 6:
Refurb Store Mini

 

[Falcon80]

If that! When something is put in the shopping cart, you have 15 minutes to complete the transaction. If you see something you like in the Refurb store, be prepared to pounce!

I once waited too long while I researched something and went over 15 minutes. The transaction stalled when I went to pay. When I refreshed my screen, it was gone.

Right now there are 6:
Refurb Store Mini

In my country, the only Minis available are always the 2014 version.