There is absolutely still a market for an affordable Mac. Whether Apple cares or not is the issue. I'm assuming no given the new direction of the Mini. An iPad is not a desktop. If anything it's a laptop replacement for those with simple needs.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
- Start date
-
- Tags
- mac mini new mac mini
- Sort by reaction score
Personally I think you have to be a really committed Apple fan to even consider something like the new Mini. It's such a flawed product e.g. soldered storage, RAM difficult for user upgrades, sky high prices for hardware options etc.
I'm so so glad I decided to jump ship around 18 months ago by going back to self build windows machines rather than waiting for this upgrade.
Every business decision Apple makes these days appears centred on 'gouging the customer's wallet'. Enough! Linux, Windows, MacOS, no real differentiation any more, ergo no longer a consideration.
I'm so so glad I decided to jump ship around 18 months ago by going back to self build windows machines rather than waiting for this upgrade.
Every business decision Apple makes these days appears centred on 'gouging the customer's wallet'. Enough! Linux, Windows, MacOS, no real differentiation any more, ergo no longer a consideration.
Last edited:
Is soldered storage such a problem with usb c? Externals are pretty fast these days. It’s not like the usb 2 days when an external killed your speed.
[doublepost=1542554198][/doublepost]
Really? Over the last four years? Wages have gone up in that time as well. So let’s say it’s like a $200 difference in real terms. What’s $200 these days? Not much.
It's a messy solution and not necessarily a reliable one. I have had a number of issues using external HDD over the years e.g. failed chipset controllers etc. As a result had to break into enclosure and put the drive in a caddy in order to salvage data. Yet more cable spaghetti etc.
This may be the case in the U.S. however, wages in the UK in real terms are worth less now than they were decades ago. We've had a decade of wage stagnation following the economic crash in 2007.
Speak for yourself! I’m earning more. Plus our price hike has more to do with the € verses the £ conversation over the last couple of years.
And we know what caused that!
I'm sorry this is such a weak excuse. $200 is a lot of money to a lot of people. People will set a specific amount as to what they are comfortable spending for a specific item. Desktop computer is no different.
It’s not compulsory to buy one. If $200 is a lot of money to you, then I don’t think you should be buying a computer, and certainly not a new one.
Or how about someone doesn't want to spend more than $500 on a desktop, so they would have purchased the old Mini, but not this one? It has nothing to do with whether they can raise the extra funds or not. It's the value they perceive an object being worth to begin with. "I want a desktop but don't want to spend more than $500." That kind of thing.
That's a niche device that casual computer users who just need a basic computer desktop are completely unaware of.
If there is no Mac Mini, which I think is where we'd be if Apple had continued to view it as only an entry drug, er system, the entry level desktop system would be the $1100 24" iMac. If there's one thing I've come to understand about today's Apple is that it's all about the money and the adoring fans (techies and fashionistas), and to wish for them to go against that grain is seriously like trying to swim up a waterfall. I think we're lucky they've decided that the Mini fits into their plans at all. I was nearly convinced that my next computer would take me back to Linux, but I've at least got workable options with the new Mini and hopes for the as-yet-vaporware Module Mac.
Not sure it's anymore niche than the MM. If a casual user wanted a small device they would find a NUC quickly. Apple centric users know about the MM as there are so few Apple devices, it's hard not miss it on their site.
Well maybe yes. But because some people can’t afford a Mac mini, doesn’t mean Apple should cripple the hardware.
That’s like suggesting Apple make an iPhone with a B&W screen and 8GB storage because people can’t afford the XS.
Purchase is optional after all.
[doublepost=1542562002][/doublepost]
All businesses are about the money. Some might use their other attributes to get it, but the purpose is still to make as much money as possible.
They absolutely are. Also there will be Windows users who will consider making the switch and simply won't now because the Mini is so expensive. A foolish way to stop people from entering the Apple ecosystem.
It would not be a B&W screen though, it would be "the most technologically advanced liquid monochrome display ever seen in a smart phone". You might be on to something.
No, it really isn't. Apple has kept around the old MBA with that terrible screen. They could have kept or added a minor update to the last Mini to keep that previous price point. It's not about crippling anything. They had a $500 Mini for 4 years. They could continue to do so. Your iPhone example is ridiculous.
That’s what iOS does these days. Your quoting a business model from 2007.
Also laptops are the most common way into OS X. So the MacBook Air is probably the best option for the masses.
[doublepost=1542562319][/doublepost]
Nope it isn’t. But I’m not going to convince you, so I’ll bow out of this pointless discussion.
People want to use a computer with a big monitor. iOS devices are not going to allow that. There is absolutely no reason to not allow a lower point of entry via Mac OS.
The MBA is $1000 to start. A Windows user accustomed to $500 purchases wants nothing to do with a MBA. It also doesn't have a large screen, which many people still want. It also is a terrible value with that screen at that price.
[doublepost=1542562440][/doublepost]
I'm simply giving proper replies to why your suggestions are absolutely wrong.
Well, $300 is a 60% price increase for the bottom of the line 2018 vs 2014 Mini, so there is no denying that is a huge difference.
But when you consider that the new entry level Mini is as a fast as the top quad core 2012 Mini (and 50% faster than the top 2014 Mini) that makes it a bit easier to swallow. If it's too expensive then don't buy it. Apple has never been a good choice for bargain hunters.
But when you consider that the new entry level Mini is as a fast as the top quad core 2012 Mini (and 50% faster than the top 2014 Mini) that makes it a bit easier to swallow. If it's too expensive then don't buy it. Apple has never been a good choice for bargain hunters.
But again, not a fair comparison. There is no 'entry level' device anymore, take that out and you have a starting price in 2014 of $699 and now $799 in 2018. To compare that $499 device with the cheaper device today is nuts.
After reading quite a few posts since the new Mini came out, I think there are still many people are missing what Apple really did (or otherwise deliberately not wanting to see it)
Both the Mini and MBA now come with a T2 chip. While many people like it for the increased security, this is really a requirement for a lot of enterprise business sales. The price increase also puts them into the business computer category. Small and fast storage works great when you do everything on the network (like you do at most businesses). The base config (i3 / 8G / 128G ssd) pretty much hits the sweet spot for most business computer sales. The color even changed to the same as the iMac Pro. Apple even called it "much more of a pro machine"
The conclusion is simple. Apple now views the entire Mac lineup to be for the business market. These are no longer considered consumer level machines. Yes, they'll sell one to you, but they view the consumer market as belonging to iOS
Both the Mini and MBA now come with a T2 chip. While many people like it for the increased security, this is really a requirement for a lot of enterprise business sales. The price increase also puts them into the business computer category. Small and fast storage works great when you do everything on the network (like you do at most businesses). The base config (i3 / 8G / 128G ssd) pretty much hits the sweet spot for most business computer sales. The color even changed to the same as the iMac Pro. Apple even called it "much more of a pro machine"
The conclusion is simple. Apple now views the entire Mac lineup to be for the business market. These are no longer considered consumer level machines. Yes, they'll sell one to you, but they view the consumer market as belonging to iOS