If Apple doesn't ship a new Mac mini next week, I'd say at that point those that want a Mac mini ought to just leave the ecosystem and buy a Windows computer. There are plenty of great alternatives to the Mac mini with much better performance. Mac mini sales already account for such a small portion of Apple's revenue that it would make no difference whatsoever if they discontinued it. Hopefully, they don't want to do that given the comments they've made about it's importance, but I don't think anyone is willing to wait more than four years for an update.
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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
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I did just that optiplex for 707 and a 6% rebate due so 665 net
I get
an intel i7 8700t
1 16gb ram stick I will add a second one
a 240gb nvme m.2 ssd
windows pro
3 year warranty
I will load linux to it and have a dual boot.
bleep apple .
BTW I will be selling all my 2012 mac minis
Maybe I will keep the mac book pro with linux loaded to it.
As I've already said earlier in this thread, re-listing the A1347 only confirms that they'll be selling a Mac Mini with MacOS Mojave on it. All it proves is that the model will remain largely the same as the existing one. If there were bigger changes, even internal ones, that appears to be Apple's reason for a change of model number.
On Tuesday, Apple may continue to sell the 2014 Mini in the current form (!), or they do do the lightest of spec bumps which could see the Mac Mini become desirable again with 28w quad core CPUs with Iris Graphics on the upper 2 SKUs and a 15w budget model on the base model.
That appears to be the difference between good news and bad news for this thread.
Notice that Apple also listed three desktop models: A2115 and A2116 are two models close together, I think this could mean a redesigned pair of iMac SKUs - and my bet is it looks the same externally but uses the iMac Pro cooling system internally thus qualifying for new model.
Where model numbers fall are largely irrelevant though, in my example above I have pointed out the fact that 2 appear together as though related and one stands alone but we continue to get the 2013 Mac Pro and the 2014 Mac Mini model numbers on the list. In the case of the 2013 Mac Pro it's safe to assume it's continuing on unchanged into 2019 with Mojave as native OS on newly built models.
The Mac Mini could also continue on but my bet there is for a genuine refresh using the same look of case - adding Thunderbolt 3. The kind of vanilla update we could all predict based on the Macbook Pro 13" and probably the 2018 Macbook Air replacement.
What's more interesting to me is the A1993 which appears to be a standalone desktop model with no relationship to any existing model other than appearing in close numerical proximity to the Macbook Pro 15" (A1990) or the Macbook Pro 13" (A1989). I'd say it is too powerful to fit into the existing Mac Mini case, yet has to be cool running for data centre applications, and perhaps a development machine for people who need a more affordable headless Mac or studio based music creators or graphic artists for example.
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Seems like Apple is finally releasing the xMac. More expensive than a previous Mac Mini, but affordable compared with a Pro machine, and with replaceable parts. Yes.
A1347 has been in use since the Core 2 Duo/ SuperDrive days, up through the present. You’re trying to read too much into it. It’s the refreshed mini.
A1993 was identified earlier as iPad Pro but who knows?
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I've no interest at all in another platform. I demand OSX. If a mini is not released, I will soon replace my mini with another Mac, probably the lowest cost current notebook. I think we will see a mini. I know the complaining, no matter what they release will be loud and manic. The rest of us will be busy enjoying our new machine.
Of course it is, but I'm saying it's not going to be revolutionary by definition of using the same model number. We'd be bored if it weren't for the fact that 4 years worth of updates in 1 refresh will make it pretty interesting if it weren't for the emergence of A1993.
Don't forget the Piker Alpha remark about the Mac Mini not being so mini any more. And if you read into the naming options for macOS 2017 he might have had Mojave right before Apple went with High Sierra. The article was based around the assumption that the iMac would come with the Xeon E3-1286 v6. While it was wrong that year and the iMac Pro emerged with Xeon W CPU, you'll note that the E3 is now the Xeon E with similar SKUs in Coffee Lake form.
A later posting references a Kaby Lake processor for a future Mac. Coming as late as October 2017 for future CPU it could mean a curious appearance for something like Kaby Lake G CPU in both 15" Macbook and Mac Mini Pro - for the sake of argument.
Kaby Lake G for 15” MBP would be more interesting if it were hexa-core but Apple seems fine with the hexa-core and off-package dGPU they introduced in July. They’d likely re-use the existing 15” MBP design for a Mac mini but I think we’re more likely to see the 28W quad-cores.
Personally I’d prefer the 45W hexa-core with (or maybe without) dGPU. Using the H series would also allow 64GB max of DDR4. If Apple really is targeting the mini more toward the pro market, that would be the way to go, it would be much better for server/VM use in co-lo for example. But the starting price would be in the $1,499-1,799 range I would think—like the older rumor, “not so mini anymore”, in cost or config.
I'd suggest that Apple will lean towards economies of scale if they are segmenting their own desktop offerings more than last year. They could share CPUs with the iMac 21.5", 13" MBP, or 15" MB.
The Kaby Lake G at this stage feels like a publicity stunt part by Intel and support for it could be limited unless Apple strike a good deal with Intel for it and Intel intend to refresh the part in future years. Yes, it does have just 4 cores and a tricksy GPU but could lag behind hex core CPUs despite being placed nicely for sitting in a 15" Macbook without threatening the 15" Macbook Pro. I'd be very worried that Intel don't plan for an Coffee Lake version of this next year. Perhaps it would be simpler for Apple to stick with CPU+GPU.
In my opinion, perhaps the best economy of scale would come with the use of the i5-8265U. This 15w unit could start in the 13" MBA replacement, add a dGPU and it'll drive a 15" MB too (assuming it replaces the nTB MBP). It's also a candidate for the Mac Mini too.
The H series is interesting, but the only available i7 iterations are in use in the 15" MBP.
The i5-8300H is a 45w mobile CPU, 4 cores, 8 threads at 2.3GHz, and add your own dGPU to proceedings. It has an upgrade version i5-8400H at 2.5GHz and could sit underneath the i7 in the 15" Macbook Pros. It could be used in a 'Pro' Mac Mini would it be considered professional enough? And would Apple get economies of scale from a CPU they can't use in the MBA replacement?
Only 4 days until the event.
Thanks bruh, wasn't sure the counter on the front page was correct... ;^p
I am excited as well, hoping for a Space Grey Mac Mini Pro (i7-8809G/16GB DDR4 RAM/1TB M.2 NVMe SSD/TB3-USB-C x4/Gigabit Ethernet x2) & matching Apple Display (TB3/4K/27"?)...
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Maybe we will see something along the lines of a modular Mac Mini...?
Basic Main module is i5 CPU w/iGPU, RAM, & SSD...
Pro-oriented Main module is the same, but with i5 or i7 Kaby Lake G CPU/GPUs...
Expansion modules (these would stack under Main module & interconnect via TB3/USB-C):
SSD/RAID module - Four M.2 NVMe SSD slots
eGPU module - MXM format; RX 590/8GB GDDR5 or Vega 56/8GB HBM2
Basic Main module is i5 CPU w/iGPU, RAM, & SSD...
Pro-oriented Main module is the same, but with i5 or i7 Kaby Lake G CPU/GPUs...
Expansion modules (these would stack under Main module & interconnect via TB3/USB-C):
SSD/RAID module - Four M.2 NVMe SSD slots
eGPU module - MXM format; RX 590/8GB GDDR5 or Vega 56/8GB HBM2
On 30th October they will update the Mac mini (or whatever it will be called) and than 4 years not.
I will add, that given these may well be the last in the line of Intel macs (except for the Mac Pro early next year) for me, ANY of these Macs they're about to release will be the last worthwhile Macs.
Not to get into any debate about Arm vs. Intel, but one of the main reasons I love my Mac is that I can have the best of both worlds - I can run macOS most of the time, but with bootcamp have a fully functioning version of windows ready to launch whenever I want as well on the same machine.
You can argue that Arm Macs may be able to virtualize windows, but frankly, even when I use Fusion or Parellels on an Intel Mac, the performance sucks compares to the real deal with bootcamp. So I'm sure virtualizing Windows on an Arm Mac would suck even worse.
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When apple used the word 'modular' in reference to the Mac Pro, most seasoned observers think that simply means a headless Mac (in other words, buy the monitor separately). But I guess we'll see. The idea of them releasing something so configurable (and probably in their eyes 'messy') like the setups you describe, is so contrary to the direction they seem to be going that it's almost laughable to consider it happening.
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Maybe.... but I'd say that's wishful thinking and the more likely outcome is just improved specs in the existing mini chassis.
I realize the forthcoming modular Mac Pro just means an Apple-designed chassis that will allow user configurable GPUs/expansion cards, storage, RAM, CPUs (?), etc. ...
As for the stackable Mac Mini modules, it was a third-party thing back in the day, at least for storage; I could only see Apple doing it better...
I don't quite see it happening, but I agree that it would be great if one could purchase separate compute, storage and graphics modules. A base mac mini could be an all-in-one, not too dissimilar to the outgoing 2014, with HDD and integrated graphics. This would be entry level.
Next tier would be a range of compute-only modules (with RAM) ranging into the i5, i7, i9 quads, hexes, and octo-cores, and on into Xeons similar to used in the iMac Pro. Basic integrated graphics could be onboard all of these too.
These could then connect to external storage modules (Apple or third party), and to eGPU boxes where performace scales as high as you want.
All modules could share a similar footprint and could be stacked (some would be taller than others). Each with a separate cooling system and power supply.
Maybe CPU compute boxes could even be added as slaves to the main CPU module (depending on software), similar to the way a farm of mac minis had been used in the past - but now as a stack on a communicating via TB3.
Far-fetched? Possibly.
Modular, customisable and upgreadeable? Absolutely.
nope changer yet unless all the software support latest whatever metal framework .
** i do hate upgrade mojave rest my heart. an external ssd os to slowww.. and some software issue
Yeah it could be. I picked up an intel 512gb ssd from newegg cost me 70 dollars after discounts.
So I will have
an i7 8700t cpu
a 240 gb nvme m2 ssd
a 512 gb ssd
a stick of 16gb ram
for under 800!
I will dual boot windows /linux but may look into a hackintosh.
I also happen to haver a spare stick of 16gb ram
So i will be running this with 32gb
When Apple released the quad core Mini in 2012 they were desperately late in releasing a new mac pro (which arrived a year later). During that year the little quad core mini helped a lot of people and created a new semi-pro category of users. They are late again with the Mac Pro 7,1.
6-core Intel Xeon E-2176G processor
32GB of memory
Nvidia Quadro P1000 ISV-certified graphics
1TB 7200 rpm HDD
256GB nvme SSD
Those above are the specs of the HP Z2 Mini G4
Apple should acknowledge there are many people who need a non-thermally impaired semi-pro machine without a screen attached to it.
If HP can make it (and sell it) I don't see why Apple can't. Even if the old mac mini form factor has to be abandoned.
6-core Intel Xeon E-2176G processor
32GB of memory
Nvidia Quadro P1000 ISV-certified graphics
1TB 7200 rpm HDD
256GB nvme SSD
Those above are the specs of the HP Z2 Mini G4
Apple should acknowledge there are many people who need a non-thermally impaired semi-pro machine without a screen attached to it.
If HP can make it (and sell it) I don't see why Apple can't. Even if the old mac mini form factor has to be abandoned.