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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
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Not yet - we're all just lurking out here in the tall grass waiting for Apple to actually DO something about its abysmal, pre-Victorian desktop computer line.
Joking apart I'd say any Mini announcement this year probably drops in line with Apple's plans Modular Mac Pro and branded 4k and 5k monitor announcements.
It would stand to reason that Apple's headless desktop machines should be able to connect to their forthcoming new monitors which you presume would all be Thunderbolt 3 compatible. It would be the perfect time to sunset the 2013 Mac Pro and the 2014 Mini which can't even connect to a 'retina' monitor without compromises.
You'd also assume that such announcements would be timed to not cannibalise the 2018 iMacs. In other words, the 2018 iMacs to get updated at the same time if not beforehand. This realistically gives Apple till October this year, but if the Modular Mac Pro is a revolutionary machine it might get a grand unveiling at WWDC in June. It's also a moot point if Apple refresh the iMac as soon as March given that suitable desktop Coffee Lake CPUs are currently available - Apple just need to wait on decent AMD GPUs to fit the refresh.
June gives Apple plenty of time for the iMac Pro buyers to get their workstations bought.
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You left out the custom connectors (sold separately and only available from Apple for a mere $49.95 each - no ups, no down, no extras).
I believe Nostradamous predicted the rise of an ARM Mini in 2018
If the mac mini is not a dead product, I would like something like this this year :
- Intel Core I5-8305G
- 16G DDR4 RAM
- Apple T2 chip (to work with a tb Magic Keyboard)
- 6 USB TYPE-C Port
- Jack connector
- Intel Core I5-8305G
- 16G DDR4 RAM
- Apple T2 chip (to work with a tb Magic Keyboard)
- 6 USB TYPE-C Port
- Jack connector
What is the current TDP of the Mac Mini ? I'm not an expert but given the height of the mini, I would have thought it was possible to fit a 65w processor in it. All I really want is quad core and graphics slightly better than UHD 620/630.
i5-4260U = 15W
i5-4278U = 28W
i5-4308U = 28W
i7-4578U = 28W
i5-4278U = 28W
i5-4308U = 28W
i7-4578U = 28W
The current Mac Mini case was engineered to fit cooling solutions for the 45w CPU that was in the 2012 Quad. A more powerful CPU would require engineering resources to design a new case.
The spec that you lifted there is probably going into the new MacBook Pro 15". That contains 4 Thunderbolt controllers each managing 4 PCIe lanes and therefore 4 Thunderbolt Ports. To have 6 ports would mean at least 4 ports out of those 6 would be running at half speed - split between 4 controllers.
That's a bit of non starter even before we examine the price range of something resembling what you've described which would be in the $1500-$2000 range depending on storage options (HD or SSD). At that price it's almost deserving of being a Mac Mini Pro.
Having said that, for a desktop solution it might be easy for Apple to start with a headless 21.5" iMac specification wise, seal the unit to prevent upgrading or sell it pre-loaded at Apple prices up to $2k. For example, I priced up the top current SKU iMac with standard AMD 560 graphics, 3.6GHz i7, 16Gb RAM, 1Tb SSD for $2599. If you lose the 4k screen, keyboard and mouse you could potentially get a nice machine for around $2k with additional customisation available for more. This would be analogous to the difference between iMac and iMac Pro where even the base iMac Pro comes heavily specified.
Where this might not be economically possible would be because of the current high GPU prices although the effect on mobile GPU silicon in terms of price and availability is unknown. Only if AMD start quoting sky high prices for their silicon or long delivery times could there be a move towards Intel manufactured G series CPUs for more than just MacBook Pros.
I don't think the T2 chip works in the way you described by the way. In my mind a secure enclave would require either a screen with FaceID camera (quite feasible on an iMac in the future) or a connected (not wireless) keyboard with TouchID (laptop). The Mini (and Pro) is neither of these things. And not having that also keeps the price of a Mini down.
For 4 cores I think you'll be looking at an iMac or spend serious bucks on the modular Mac Pro when it arrives.
I think the Mini stays on 2 cores and Iris Graphics, probably in a 15w configuration and in the existing case with minor adjustments for Thunderbolt 3/USB-C - just 2 of those.
It'll probably use the same intel chip as the MacBook if it were intel based. I think it'll be ARM based as it gives apple more profit. Likely it'll only have one USB-C port and be sealed in an unopenable case made from one lump of plastic. When you see it then you'll never think about the 2014 Mini in the same way again.
Thank you for this complete answer
What I'm looking for is a dektop computer, but I'd rather choose the screen that fits my needs size wise, deisgn wise, spec wise etc.
Four thunderbolt ports is enough for me as it's easy to grab a hub or something.
As for the graphic power, I don't need something THAT powerfull. That being said, I'd really like a Mini with a 4 core processor. Guess it won't happen then…
The lack of information alone is reason enough to leave Apple, iPhone, iPad and IDamnAnything forever. Painful. All this guessing and wishing is even making me sick to my tummy, and I am the best wisher and dreamer that ever was.
At this rate, there will be an under powered ARM "mini" that not even your grand mother would be able to use and a "pro" mini with decent (meaning 2-3 year old tech instead of 5 year old tech) specs but too expensive. All this just to have a crappy outdated OS? Ouch. Time to rethink.
At this rate, there will be an under powered ARM "mini" that not even your grand mother would be able to use and a "pro" mini with decent (meaning 2-3 year old tech instead of 5 year old tech) specs but too expensive. All this just to have a crappy outdated OS? Ouch. Time to rethink.
On Apple's website, the Mac Mini page says this and still shows it paired to the Apple display that no longer exists.
"Thunderbolt 2. The fastest, most versatile I/O in any desktop. Of any size."
"Thunderbolt 2. The fastest, most versatile I/O in any desktop. Of any size."
What’s a Jack connector, his wife? Ooh you’re inferring to mean a 3.5mm jack port connector or adapter. I see.
Feb 1 earnings where a surprise. Between now and Q2 earnings .....
IPad Pro momentum waning .... more marketing (more expense) to boost.
HomePod seems to be rocking sales very well. Expanded countires end of February as supply ramps up a bit.
Apple Watch 3 - more exclusive contests, more carriers supporting the eSIM, possible first carrier to support roaming??
New Beats headphones (more exclusive releases/partnerships). More of the same.
But nothing else to help revenues jump further: services of course but .... a new MacMini would be great.
Right now any budding developer has to spend $1100 US to start with a new MBA, unless they spend $649US on an older Mac Mini that’s 4yrs old in specs.
Mac Mini announced before May 1st. This allows regular iPad & Apple Watch 4 updates announced in June, iMacs in summer, iPhone in fall and we’re good.
* watch bands
Does it also say something about the latest generation Intel CPU? Apple website always says everything has the latest CPUs, including the trashcan Mac Pro.
While I think they updated and cleaned the verbiage removing "Thunderbolt 2. The fastest, most versatile I/O in any desktop. Of any size."they do still show the old display.
There's obviously a disconnect within Apple - their messaging is inconsistent and fractured which clearly demonstrates they don't have a strong vision with respect to where things are going to go (i.e. TouchBar). They've served up several mis-steps as in dongles, removing the headphone jack in some products and leaving it in others in an effort to be disruptive instead of fostering a strong and stable evolving desktop product-line.
It's sad really and those of us who continue to wait it out will either be briefly vindicated or made fools of - and don't believe for one moment if Apple manages to make another offering for desktop that it will resemble the old lineage.
Perhaps in another 5 years this will all be mute and this thread will rest in peace.
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I will not be able to treat Apple as a company with actual coherent vision for their hardware as long as it's not possible to connect your brand new iPhone with your brand new Macbook/Macbook Pro.
While I have no doubts an A12 powered Mac Mini will be all singing and dancing and good value (imagine a screen less iPhone with USB-C ports) I don't think they're ready for that in the near future on the desktop. It might not even be part of their plans going forward as the desktop format appears to be unwanted.
I just sold my Mac mini on Craigslist. Replaced with a quad core Linux desktop. Apple is going to kill the whole Mac line soon enough. There will never be a Mac mini update. Later folks.