Count Blah
macrumors 68040
Good luck creating content for those iOS devices.
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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
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Aldaris
macrumors 68000
But why not push the possibilities of the creator tools.
Maybe iOS development will really be coming to an iOS device near you...
Sad day. The snake has eaten it’s tail.
jasnw
macrumors 65816
It would be interesting, and perhaps instructive, to see what the computer hardware demographics are for the workforce inside the Giant Apple Bagel Hq. Lots of iMacs? Or perhaps lots of laptops with docking setups? How many headless systems vrs. how many AIOs vrs. how many laptops vrs. how many iPads? What do the macOS developers use, and are any of them making heavy use of iPads? If Apple management reaches a decision that they don't need macOS for corporate use (including app development) that might be it for macOS and the computer line.
masterbaron
macrumors 6502
Well ... my limited view of the future says we should be independent of format and fluid in power and compatibility which ideally means the "engine" should have "mobility" within the infrastructure so that you simply plug the engine into your particular format much like the docking station functionality allowing you to morph into whichever configuration suits you with standardized ports across the board.
I'd be quite satisfied with that...
Count Blah
macrumors 68040
Yes, and the YouTube/Netflix/Prime watchers of the world, will be the ones to build those iOS apps. Developers will be using real computers.
Michael Scrip
macrumors G3
I'm genuinely curious.
Let's say 2012 was the banner year for the Mac Mini. So... how many did Apple sell?
Was the Mac Mini 50% of all Macs sold? 30%? 10%?
There are obviously lots of people here who want an updated Mac Mini. Just look at this thread for example.
But was the Mac Mini really the sought-after computer that it seems to be in comments?
Or was it a niche model that happens to have a very vocal userbase?
That's what I was wondering.
Aldaris
macrumors 68000
masterbaron
macrumors 6502
In the context of the question - PC's
In the context of where things may go ... it may be a long dark period before something epic happens in terms of making the resolution of †he work-stream on iOS devices similar to the desktop experience ... I suppose AR and augmented interfaces may close the gap.
Aldaris
macrumors 68000
Right now iOS is restricted to development on macOS-with significantly dated hardware through much of the line. If macOS (via hardware) has peaked, how long before iOS (a-series) peak as well. I’m not suggesting that there won’t be significant gains in ARM and Apple chips over the years but some of us would like some decent power now.
jasnw
macrumors 65816
Just exactly how much power is required to make apps? If Apple management decides on a narrow view of their desktop computer business as being solely there to build apps for the mobile platforms there's really no need for a Mac Pro, or much beyond an AIO line. The need will be for only as much power, in both hardware and OS, as is needed to build apps for their content serving devices. As I said, "if the minimum wasn't good enough, it wouldn't be the minimum." So, the question becomes: what metric is Apple using to set the minimum?
From a business point of view I think the Mac mini hasn't changed as the demand is good enough to maintain the 2014 model but is not potentially great enough justify an updated redesign. Prices of 2014 parts have dropped down so much that margins has improved over time.
In the past Apple did something similar to this with a 13-inch non-Retina legacy MacBook Pro that they sold from 2012-2016.
Bhphotovideo has the $499 Mac mini for $399. This proves that Apple has a more than 20% margin if you buy it direct from Apple.com. I would hazard a guess that they're making as much as 50% margin on it if bought from Apple.com at $499.
At $399 makes the 2014 Mac mini Core i5 (4th Gen) very competitive vs SFF PCs (Small Form Factor) & NUCs (Next Unit of Computing) priced below $276. Although at that price you would need to add an OS, 500GB 5400RPM spindle drive and 4GB of RAM making it hit $399 like the Mac mini.
Those who bought the Mac mini when it first came out in 2014 for $499 & at Bhphotovideo when it was offered at $399 are the luckiest as the hardware wasn't that old for the price point.
I would hope Apple decides to reprice the 2014 Mac mini to say $299 before 2019 to keep it relevant. Unless they change their minds and update it to 2018 hardware.
Remember, the Mac mini was marketed as the device for switchers to try a Mac.
In the past Apple did something similar to this with a 13-inch non-Retina legacy MacBook Pro that they sold from 2012-2016.
Bhphotovideo has the $499 Mac mini for $399. This proves that Apple has a more than 20% margin if you buy it direct from Apple.com. I would hazard a guess that they're making as much as 50% margin on it if bought from Apple.com at $499.
At $399 makes the 2014 Mac mini Core i5 (4th Gen) very competitive vs SFF PCs (Small Form Factor) & NUCs (Next Unit of Computing) priced below $276. Although at that price you would need to add an OS, 500GB 5400RPM spindle drive and 4GB of RAM making it hit $399 like the Mac mini.
Those who bought the Mac mini when it first came out in 2014 for $499 & at Bhphotovideo when it was offered at $399 are the luckiest as the hardware wasn't that old for the price point.
I would hope Apple decides to reprice the 2014 Mac mini to say $299 before 2019 to keep it relevant. Unless they change their minds and update it to 2018 hardware.
Remember, the Mac mini was marketed as the device for switchers to try a Mac.
jasnw
macrumors 65816
Indeed, but most of us in this thread would argue that its use has extended far past that original target and provides Apple with entry points into other markets that an AIO or a laptop cannot penetrate. Small-scale servers (home and business), media systems, scientific research (data collection, instrument control, etc), and for people who want to use their own monitors, just to name a few. The fact that Apple doesn't seem to understand this, or care to understand it, is what drives most of us batty to the point that we truly think Apple is going to update the Mini. I am hoping that something Mini-like will end up as the low end of whatever modular thing Apple comes out with (if they do), but I won't wait forever.
The Mac mini 2014 is just sad
There's no reason for a 4 year old computer to be the "latest & greatest"
Keeping that in mind there's no reason why a 2012 Mac mini should out perform the 2014 model
was it to hard too for the richest corporation in the world to keep quadcore cpu's in the high end
The fact of the matter is, Intel NUCs have shown this categories only gotten more popular, and it doesn't matter if it is a niche category when it comes to macs as long as they're profitable which they are
Just like the Mac Pro I've had money waiting in a bank account for more than four years for a real update
Get your $#!? together Apple geez
There's no reason for a 4 year old computer to be the "latest & greatest"
Keeping that in mind there's no reason why a 2012 Mac mini should out perform the 2014 model
was it to hard too for the richest corporation in the world to keep quadcore cpu's in the high end
The fact of the matter is, Intel NUCs have shown this categories only gotten more popular, and it doesn't matter if it is a niche category when it comes to macs as long as they're profitable which they are
Just like the Mac Pro I've had money waiting in a bank account for more than four years for a real update
Get your $#!? together Apple geez
Please explain how it "proves" that. Now I agree with your general sentiments, but this is just your opinion.
opeter
macrumors 68030
Yeah, if components won't be soldere alltogether to the mother... ups, logic board.
masterbaron
macrumors 6502
Let's face it ... the days of tinkering under the hood are just about over for the populous - you just can't dig in like you used to. People want their devices to withstand dropping, shaking and whatever comes - they want everything in the palm of their hand ... you just can't maintain tolerances once you let folks inside - you can't make things as small.
How many issues have been posted here due to RAM being mis-seated or mis-matched - all this and more is eliminated when you seal the box. The same process is occurring within your car and of course all gear is being downsized and more power to the chip. Sooner or later this concept will be ubiquitous amongst most things that consume power.
Modularity is how we're going to address changing needs all within Apple's confines - if at all.
How many issues have been posted here due to RAM being mis-seated or mis-matched - all this and more is eliminated when you seal the box. The same process is occurring within your car and of course all gear is being downsized and more power to the chip. Sooner or later this concept will be ubiquitous amongst most things that consume power.
Modularity is how we're going to address changing needs all within Apple's confines - if at all.
Neodym
macrumors 68030
It’s not about direct revenue, but about the Mac still being relevant as “home base” and integral part of a working iDevice ecosystem. Whether that’s really relevant or not, is another discussion. But the percentage of direct revenue that the Mac contributes has little relevance for the mentioned ecosystem scenario.
When was CPUs used in mm2012 & mm2014 lanched by intel?
And what mac models used them (and what year)?
And what mac models used them (and what year)?
Count Blah
macrumors 68040
You can do your own research by using the following two sites ...
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac-mini-core-i5-2.5-late-2012-specs.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i5-3210M-Notebook-Processor.74458.0.html
I even helped you out with the base 2012 mini. The bottom of notebookcheck has links to many computers released with that CPU.
jasnw
macrumors 65816
I don't necessarily agree that the desktop users want everything to be as small as possible, but that's beside the point. I do not mind it if Apple wants to weld their hardware shut and install booby-traps to rid themselves of the pesky DIY crowd. However, unlike the other major OS products (Windows and Linux) I can't put macOS on the hardware I want. With Apple, I'm stuck with what they chose to sell unless I want to spend more time than I'm willing to nurse along a Hackintosh (and who knows how much longer they will tolerate that option?). If they'd make it easier to host on 3rd-party hardware then most of us on this thread would leave them alone. They, however, want everything - and they want us to take what they decide we need and LIKE it.
I was perfectly happy in the 2004-2012 period when new hardware was good enough to make me want to upgrade and the OS X development was in pretty good (although starting to fail) shape. If they'd kept that up and shored up the lagging macOS development I'd be fine with Apple and would not be at all interested in other hardware or other OS's. Apple is pushing me to go there, and it's getting old.
It irritates me because of how incredibly STUPID it is of Apple to not take better care of its computer lines. Well, perhaps more like arrogant - hard to accuse a company of being stupid when it's raking in the big bucks. But arrogant they certainly have become. Steve had an edge of arrogance to him, but you don't mind that as much in someone who is constantly amazing you with new stuff that you cannot live without. The Tim & Jony Show, not so much.
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masterbaron
macrumors 6502
They are taking not just cues from iPhone they're trying to migrate the desktop hardware/software cycle into the iPhone marketing strategy ... just throw that 5K machine away when it get's old and tired -to motivate us they will seal more devices going forward. It's the Apple psychology that stinks now - the iPhone would have to tank for several years before they'd change their emphasis.
How do you understand my statement? $100 of $500 is equal to 20%.
Assuming Bhphotovideo also has a profit margin at $399 price tag then Apple selling at $499 would mean they make more than 20%.
Compound that with falling prices of older parts from 2014 then Apple's margin for a $499 Mac mini could be as high as 50%!
I think the only time Apple would stop selling the 2014 Mac mini would be when the older parts aren't being made anymore or people aren't buying enough of it anymore.
With how much demand as a whole the Mac has much less the Mac mini specifically would be a significant price cut to $299 direct from Apple.com.
bopajuice
Suspended
Well after six years of waiting for a decent Mac Mini desktop my wait is over. I have decided to build a PC. Just ordered my first parts and will put up my 2014 Mac Mini for sale on eBay tomorrow. Still have 2 iPads, 2 iPhones, 2 MacBook Airs, and 2 AppleTV's. We shall see how it goes.
The Apple TV's may be the next items on the chopping block.
Fare-thee-well Apple.
The Apple TV's may be the next items on the chopping block.
Fare-thee-well Apple.
I know I can research it by myself. I also think some people in this thread can tell me this.