I'd expect a redesign + one last processor update after that. 4-5 more years, then Apple will expect that everyone will have moved to dockable ios devices
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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
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I'd expect a redesign + one last processor update after that. 4-5 more years, then Apple will expect that everyone will have moved to dockable ios devices
I think it's fairly obvious the 2014 "update" was meant to the final update.
But Tim's plan of converting all non-pro Mac users into iPad users failed for the most part.
A 2018 update with decent entry/mid level specs might indicate they've given up on this dream for now.
The new Mac mini following the mini update this fall is almost certainly coming.
The crazy truth is that something as simple as not including mouse support on the iPad wrecked this stupid "no need for a computer" insanity. So, I bet that this year's refresh will actually include some sort of mouse/trackpad support.
Buy the new mini is for pro users lots of sites are saying. So is it not worth it to get a 2014 mini for now? 419 refurbished at apple 1.4 with 4gb ram. Or 559 fair open hox i5 2.3 8gb ram. With some tradeins its worth it now. Because tradein price might go down.
Or its already 4 years old so not worth it?
Or its already 4 years old so not worth it?
He finds the pencil.
He picks up the pencil.
He touches the screen and giggles around to get the insertion point right.
He puts the pencil down.
He hits backspace twice.
Then types, on a too small keyboard, a bracket, and the correction to his variable name.
He swipes to his second too small screen to verify that he's got the call right this time.
He swipes back and runs to see if Python is now happy.
Rinse and repeat.
This is Hell!
Even with pencil/kybd, edting, selecting, typing and searching are still far too hard on a pad.
Finally, someone who gets it! Thank you.
My personal favorite though ... standing on line in the grocery store when the customer goes to log those rewards points with their smartphone that's not even "On" vs using a key fob or entering a phone number ... really - you're going to make idle conversation while your phone boots up?!
I've sent some incredibly crude texts to people because of that blasted intuitive auto-type - things that just shouldn't be said ....
And you know how you end up somewhere GPS has sent you ... when you know damn well there's no strip joint next to a church.
The pencil, Siri, auto-correct ... all this stuff was supposed to make my life better you know like the 20 lanes in the supermarket with only 5 active cashiers.
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I can’t wait until the keyboard on MBPs is replaced with a screen. Just imagine how nice the typing will be.....
I already use old Dell or Lenovo keyboards on all my Macs, Win, and Raspberry machines.
I tried one of Apple's chiclet keyboards for a year.
It slowed my typing and literally doubled my error rate.
Those spaces between keys, and tactile feedback are important.
The little Apple bluetooth kybds do make nice remotes though. You can tie key combinations into AppleScripts using FastScripts or similar. Easy to memorize 25 or more key combos for iTunes, so as to change playlists etc from across the room.
Cynics have been predicting its demise for at least 10 years, but new Mac Minis have kept coming at varying intervals...... And will almost certainly continue to do so from time to time..
I use an old Apple keyboard (the wireless one without the numpad before the rechargable Magic Keyboard 2 came out). I've had it for 7 years and absolutely love it. Will keep using it until it breaks.
I have two of those wireless keyboards (MC184LL/A version), each paired with a Magic Trackpad in one of these.
Love them.
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I’ll throw my hat in the speculation game. Apple sticks with the Good, Better, Best lineup
Same Aluminum cases as before.
Good:
2.3 GHz Core i5 (I5-7360U) (Dual Core) (same as Mid 2017 21.5 inch Non-Retina iMac and 13” MacBook Pro w/o Touch Bar)
Iris Plus Graphics 640
8GB 2133MHz DDR4 memory
1TB HDD standard, 1TB Fusion Drive and 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD storage upgrades available
Better:
2.3 GHz Core i5 (I5-8259U) (Quad Core) from MacBookPro 13” Touch Bar
Iris Plus Graphics 655
8GB 2400MHz DDR4 memory
1TB HDD standard, 1TB Fusion Drive and 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD storage upgrades available
Best:
2.6 GHz Core i5 (I5-8269U) (Quad Core) (not currently used in any Apple product but it’s a drop in replacement for the I5-8259U, and a prototype may have been benchmarked, search GeekBench Browser for I5-8269U)
Iris Plus Graphics 655
8GB 2400Hz DDR4 memory
1TB Fusion Drive or 256GB SSD standard, 512GB, 1TB SSD storage upgrades available
external ports similar to Mid 2017 21.5 inch Non-Retina iMac plus HDMI 2.0a for 4k/60Hz display (same as AppleTV 4K)
2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-8559U) (Quad core) (same as MacBookPro 13” w/ Touch Bar option) upgrade available for Better/ Best models
16GB memory upgrade available for all models (maybe 32GB for Better and/or Best models) DDR4 memory since you don't have to worry about battery life.
No discrete GPU, need to use eGPU box for that.
No Hex Core processors from 15” MacBook Pro, will want to keep motherboard redesigns down to two, one for Good model and one for Better/Best model. In addition, I don’t think they would want to use Intel UHD 630 without a discrete GPU because the Iris Plus 655 is the much better integrated graphics and I don’t think they will offer a discrete GPU on any model because of cost, size and thermal constraints.
They have already engineered the circuits for the Mid 2017 21.5 inch Non-Retina iMac and 13” MacBook Pro, with and without Touch Bar, and re-laying out the circuit from proven designs to fit into the Mac Mini case would allow for a quicker and cheaper update than trying to engineer something from scratch.
Prices may rise $100 - $200 a model compared to current prices (although I hope they hold the current price points)
[TD1]Upgrade prices[/TD1]
[TD1]or[/TD1]
Same Aluminum cases as before.
Good:
2.3 GHz Core i5 (I5-7360U) (Dual Core) (same as Mid 2017 21.5 inch Non-Retina iMac and 13” MacBook Pro w/o Touch Bar)
Iris Plus Graphics 640
8GB 2133MHz DDR4 memory
1TB HDD standard, 1TB Fusion Drive and 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD storage upgrades available
Better:
2.3 GHz Core i5 (I5-8259U) (Quad Core) from MacBookPro 13” Touch Bar
Iris Plus Graphics 655
8GB 2400MHz DDR4 memory
1TB HDD standard, 1TB Fusion Drive and 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD storage upgrades available
Best:
2.6 GHz Core i5 (I5-8269U) (Quad Core) (not currently used in any Apple product but it’s a drop in replacement for the I5-8259U, and a prototype may have been benchmarked, search GeekBench Browser for I5-8269U)
Iris Plus Graphics 655
8GB 2400Hz DDR4 memory
1TB Fusion Drive or 256GB SSD standard, 512GB, 1TB SSD storage upgrades available
external ports similar to Mid 2017 21.5 inch Non-Retina iMac plus HDMI 2.0a for 4k/60Hz display (same as AppleTV 4K)
2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-8559U) (Quad core) (same as MacBookPro 13” w/ Touch Bar option) upgrade available for Better/ Best models
16GB memory upgrade available for all models (maybe 32GB for Better and/or Best models) DDR4 memory since you don't have to worry about battery life.
No discrete GPU, need to use eGPU box for that.
No Hex Core processors from 15” MacBook Pro, will want to keep motherboard redesigns down to two, one for Good model and one for Better/Best model. In addition, I don’t think they would want to use Intel UHD 630 without a discrete GPU because the Iris Plus 655 is the much better integrated graphics and I don’t think they will offer a discrete GPU on any model because of cost, size and thermal constraints.
They have already engineered the circuits for the Mid 2017 21.5 inch Non-Retina iMac and 13” MacBook Pro, with and without Touch Bar, and re-laying out the circuit from proven designs to fit into the Mac Mini case would allow for a quicker and cheaper update than trying to engineer something from scratch.
Prices may rise $100 - $200 a model compared to current prices (although I hope they hold the current price points)
| Better/Best | $699 | $999 | |
| Upgrade | |||
| I7-8559U | +$300 | +$200 | |
| 16GB | +$200 | +$200 | |
| 32GB | N/A | +$600 | |
| 256GB SSD | +$200 | included | |
| 1TB Fusion | +$200 | included | |
| 512GB SSD | +$400 | +$200 | |
| 1TB SSD | +$800 | +$600 |
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Sounds like a good educated guess to me and something Apple would go with, although it's pretty disappointing. No six core, no dGPU (eGPUs are inefficient and way too expensive for mediocre performance), 2400mhz ram (really Apple?) and 8gb ram would be very lacklustre without a reasonably priced upgrade to 16gb. I'd buy a mid spec one and then throw money into building my own rig.
If I want to write iPad is terrible to do this
So the above red bolded statement involves over 8 screen changes on the iPad keyboard.
[ ] [/] [] [/] are only some of the screen changes needed
Thus every day I have to code on an iPad I think Cook will cook well in hell if there is a hell.
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I went ahead and got a new mini today from bestbuy. 2014 mini not 18 which is still rumored. But new to me. Open box 601 100 dollars off. Excellent condition. Like new. 2.6ghz i5 8gb ram. 8 is enough for me. I traded in my 2011 mid Mac min for 88 dollars and my dads late 2011 MacBook Pro for 304 dollars. I backed up everything first and then reinstalled the os. So no worries. I paid 368.98 with apple care plus for 3 years after tradeins. Bestbuy only sell apple care plus. But originally 699 plus 100 for apple care. So 800 dollar machine plus tax. So almost half off not a bad deal. And with apple care even if they obsolete the 2014 mini I am still covered for 3 years. So not a bad deal.
Now that took courage!!
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Steve would have tore them (design team) a new ass_ole and sent them home with instructions to eliminate the keyboard all together - start over or work somewhere else. Could you see Steve on stage with those iPad machinations and dongles spread on the table? - "it just works!"
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