But there is a new mini. It's called the HP Z2
http://store.hp.com/us/en/cv/z2mini...cd77fd&aoid=35252&pbid=78888&siteid=Skimlinks
http://store.hp.com/us/en/cv/z2mini...cd77fd&aoid=35252&pbid=78888&siteid=Skimlinks
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Two paths: Discontinuation or New Design
- Thread starter Andres Cantu
- Start date
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NY Guitarist
macrumors 68000
With as much as Apple has locked it down I'll hazard a guess and say the path for the Mini is to become the first iOS based 'computer' for Apple.
I'd be ok with that if they merged it with the Apple TV so I could surf the web, check email, while keeping the Apple TV ecosystem of apps.
Other than that, I believe the Mini will be gone at some point in the near future.
I'd be ok with that if they merged it with the Apple TV so I could surf the web, check email, while keeping the Apple TV ecosystem of apps.
Other than that, I believe the Mini will be gone at some point in the near future.
The role of iOS computer is already with the iPad Pro. I can't see Apple doing anything in a desktop format with ARM CPUs for now.
NY Guitarist
macrumors 68000
Partron22
macrumors 68030
Does that come with a Pascal compiler like my old Apple II? What about C or even Apple's own Swift?
Surely someone's done Applesoft BASIC for iPad, or do I have to run that in emulation via some Chrome website?
I realize USB is just fancied up RS232, but why should I have to pay Apple $100 a year just to use it as such? - Plus hardware connection fees if I decide to go commercial.
SpacemanSpiffed
macrumors regular
The Skylake iGPUs in the new MacBook Pros can drive 2x 4K displays or a single 5K display per set of thunderbold ports. From watching Intel NUCs and others, the Iris Plus parts with eDRAM finely appear to be plentiful. A new Mini with Skylake or Kaby Lake parts would be able to do that.
I just think that Apple isn't trying to delight the Early Adopters/High influencers anymore, and not appreciating how that used to give their products that "edge" in desirability and respect.
I know what my ideal 2017 Mac Mini would be and it's sad.. because it's totally doable, and would invoke techno-lust in people like me and help Apple keep that product aura...
jpietrzak8... I got to totally agree with you. I posted in another thread how I removed my 2011 Mini from my desk, and replaced it with a Zotac Zbox E1571 - Quad core, i7-5775C w/ Iris Pro 6200 - to meed my development needs (specifically a iGPU with DX11_1 HW feature level). It is slightly bigger volume wise than the Mini, but has enough empty space to be a wash vs the Unibody Mini. Granted it's a desktop 65w CPU, but I have to think the 45-47w TDP Kaby Lake Quad Core Parts that we should see, would be nearly equal. Heck, the Skylake i7 6870HW is only 600Mhz slower base clock, but has the Iris Pro 580 which has 50% more GPU EUs (72 vs 48) at 45w TDP. I have the ZBox driving a 43" 4K monitor, and it could handle a second one if it wanted to. It look for all the world to be a black plastic mini, sitting under the monitor.
I know, enough wishful thinking. It annoying to know that the components exist and Apple couple make a knockout newest entry in a beloved line ... if only they wanted to.
Yeah, the most interesting aspect about Apple isn't their annual iPhone/iPad updates; those are predictable and boring. It's the neglect of their computers. It's fascinating. And 2017 is Tim Cook's year of reckoning. No more "great products in the pipeline" BS. Either a kick-ass desktop computer drops this year, or the ruse is up.
I see things similarly. 2017 is their last shot at desktops. If nothing is released this year, it's all over, both for the mini and the pro.
SpacemanSpiffed
macrumors regular
In my post above I started to mention an article that I thought summed things up really well, but didn't have URL. I've since found it, and it expressed my opinion on Apple no longer building products with the target of delighting "elite" users, who have an oversized influence on others and opinion.
Apple’s 2016 in review - https://chuqui.com/2017/01/apples-2016-in-review/
I think the guy is ex-Apple. It's a long read, and doesn't even mention the Mini, but worth it. Some choice quotes:
"But here’s the problem: sitting in this niche of excluded users are some of Apple’s strongest supporters, the influencers that create word of mouth..."
"It might make sense from a purely spreadsheet view, but this feels to me like a penny wise and pound foolish decision that puts at risk the halo effect and influencer networks they’ve put so much effort into building"
"...the product configurations seem designed by what will fit the biggest part of the user base with the fewest configuration options..."
"...Spreadsheets can tell you where the sweet spots in the market are and how to hit them, but they struggle at finding and bringing forward strategic areas that also need coverage"
And so on...
Apple’s 2016 in review - https://chuqui.com/2017/01/apples-2016-in-review/
I think the guy is ex-Apple. It's a long read, and doesn't even mention the Mini, but worth it. Some choice quotes:
"But here’s the problem: sitting in this niche of excluded users are some of Apple’s strongest supporters, the influencers that create word of mouth..."
"It might make sense from a purely spreadsheet view, but this feels to me like a penny wise and pound foolish decision that puts at risk the halo effect and influencer networks they’ve put so much effort into building"
"...the product configurations seem designed by what will fit the biggest part of the user base with the fewest configuration options..."
"...Spreadsheets can tell you where the sweet spots in the market are and how to hit them, but they struggle at finding and bringing forward strategic areas that also need coverage"
And so on...
I remember that article. Word of mouth is such an important part, especially because it's not quantifiable.
Partron22
macrumors 68030
Word of mouth and word on web can be correlated, it's just a tricky business.
If Apple were to open up several single-person-shop software houses, and take feedback, they might get a decent feel for for it.
As a Megaplayer, they're basically running blind.
I've sold a lot of people on Macs these past 33 years. Not doing it anymore.
If Apple were to open up several single-person-shop software houses, and take feedback, they might get a decent feel for for it.
As a Megaplayer, they're basically running blind.
I've sold a lot of people on Macs these past 33 years. Not doing it anymore.
EncryptedUser
macrumors member
Yes.
I wonder what the 13k employes are going to do when half of the hardware and software have been killed off.
opeter
macrumors 68030
Layoffs usually far proceed product discontinuation. We can assume they are all sitting around getting paid to do nothing OR working on something.
BlandUsername
macrumors 6502
I own 2 mini's and if they came out with real horsepower new products, I would own 2 more. The market is there, the will is not.
Apple could work with DELL / HP / lenovo. To have server / workstations / desktops / gamer systems that can run mac os and let ATI / nvidia do the video drivers with there own updates.
It truly baffles me. At this point, they could charge pretty much whatever they want for it, and I would buy it.
I just want a computer box that I can put hard drives in and use a display of my choice while running OS X.
I do NOT want to keep buying more drive enclosures because apple has a maddening obsession with hypothetical mobility for its immobile products.
My work iMac is starting to get nasty image retention issues after as little as 5 minutes of a static window or screen. I would love to replace it with an Apple computer, but it seems they don't want me to do that.
THAT is the whole point of the iMac. Screen goes, bye bye computer.
Crosscreek
macrumors 68030
I said it before in one of the treads that Tim has decided to build for the millennials and they do seldom want desktops. That is why Apple puts ISO first and supplements with macOS for laptops.
PC desktops are pretty much dead except for gaming which is moving close to laptops also. Just plug in a bigger display if you need it is the philosophy now whether at the office or at home.
PC desktops are pretty much dead except for gaming which is moving close to laptops also. Just plug in a bigger display if you need it is the philosophy now whether at the office or at home.
jpietrzak8
macrumors 65816
Yep. PC Desktops are pretty much dead. Just like the automobile. Nobody needs those things to get work done anymore.
Strange that the diminution of Apple computers has come on Tim Cook's watch. While Steve Jobs came in a cut down considerably on the number of available models, it was with the goal of creating clear product categories and user bases, or so it appeared. Tim's efforts seem more derived at production efficiencies and reduction of warranty claims through user harm, which means fewer models and fewer user accessible parts. While there seems to have been more product differentiation with multiple versions of iPhones and iPads, iPhones are his big money driver and iPad Pros (though Apple Watch is waiting in the wings) have now become his signature product. I'm sure that if he could, he would do away with any interface for all Apple products that wasn't through the airwaves, since ports mean places for users to break things. Since everything can be sent by email, I wonder if he even uses a computer anymore.
I think that we should all face the fact that there is a reason computer is no longer part of Apple's name. And while I will not be moving to Wintel, I am fortunate that I don't have to make my living using an Apple computer, Tim Cook's efficiencies mean lack of efficiency for Apple computer users.
I think that we should all face the fact that there is a reason computer is no longer part of Apple's name. And while I will not be moving to Wintel, I am fortunate that I don't have to make my living using an Apple computer, Tim Cook's efficiencies mean lack of efficiency for Apple computer users.
kazmac
macrumors G4
I recently stumbled across HP's Elite Slice. It's a modular, stackable Mini PC. Looked great until I realized how gimped some of the internals are. If Apple did something like this, it would be a huge hit and I'd sort of forget the bs of late last year.
I would hope for the latter, a new design.
I would hope for the latter, a new design.
sorcery
macrumors regular
Very true.I bought my 2011 (discrete graphics) and 2012 (quad core) while my 2009 and 2010 models were still active. Skipped the non-user-upgradeable 2014. The iMac is useless to me, as a mac mini travels with me, ultra long haul, twice a year.
I am at a lost what to do next in replacing in the near-future my Refurbished MM(Late 2012), 2.5GHz, 16GB Ram, 500GB HD and my other Refurbished MM(Late 2014), 2.8GHz,8GB Ram, 256SSD.
I have been very satisfied with both of these Computers in meeting my present computer needs but "what-next" in buying a OS X Desktop machine which will last for the next 3 or 4 more years??
[doublepost=1489938286][/doublepost]
I have been very satisfied with both of these Computers in meeting my present computer needs but "what-next" in buying a OS X Desktop machine which will last for the next 3 or 4 more years??
[doublepost=1489938286][/doublepost]
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