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Unreleased 'Mid 2014' Mac Mini Referenced on Apple Support Page

MrXiro said:
The Mac Mini i7 renders video faster (can rip and rencode a DVD/Blu-ray) faster than any of the stock iMacs even in the current gen. I actually use mine for video editing all the time and it works great! Probably the best Apple computer I've bought in the last 5 years in terms of speed & value. It's essentially an i7 Macbook Pro in a small low powered box.
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So essentially it runs like a standard iMac or MacBook Pro just w/o an apple display, keyboard & mouse. Does that low power affect anything ?

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blairh said:
For your stated needs a Mac Mini will be perfect. Usually the case for an iMac is if you don't have or want to purchase a keyboard and mouse and separate monitor, or if you simply want an all-in-one device. (No denying how slick an iMac looks.)

Life span really depends on what you purchase from the start. I bought a weak spec'd Mini in 2010 and it really slugs along in 2014. That was my mistake. Had I bought a model with proper RAM back then (say 4 GB) then I'd be running Mavericks instead of being stuck on Snow Leopard due to my 1 GB internals.

I suggest you wait until the Mini is updated if you can. (Hopefully this news item turns out to be true.) I'll be getting a new Mini as soon as it's refreshed. At the very least it should be by October but hopefully before September now.
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Thanks for the infio & yes I was gonna wait for a refresh. 1 more question if u don't mind. If I plan on running Plex, do I have to purchase the model w/ OS X server or can I do without ?
 
...that's right "2014 mac mini" is an error.... Give people something to not believe than ya minds at the last minute :)

Mac mini is over-due.
 
blairh said:
For your stated needs a Mac Mini will be perfect. Usually the case for an iMac is if you don't have or want to purchase a keyboard and mouse and separate monitor, or if you simply want an all-in-one device. (No denying how slick an iMac looks.)

Life span really depends on what you purchase from the start. I bought a weak spec'd Mini in 2010 and it really slugs along in 2014. That was my mistake. Had I bought a model with proper RAM back then (say 4 GB) then I'd be running Mavericks instead of being stuck on Snow Leopard due to my 1 GB internals.

I suggest you wait until the Mini is updated if you can. (Hopefully this news item turns out to be true.) I'll be getting a new Mini as soon as it's refreshed. At the very least it should be by October but hopefully before September now.
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Not true at all. Your Mac mini can really take off when you upgrade the RAM. The Mac Mini 2010 model supports up to 16GB of RAM in its two slots located underneath the unit. It will handle Mavericks (and Yosemite) just fine after that. Like I was saying earlier, I started with a Mac mini 2009 model for my media server and it handled recording and decoding video very well with its maximum of 8GB of RAM. Its still going strong running Mavericks for my kids who rely on the latest Flash plugin (blegh) for Webkinz and other websites that require it as well as Anime Studio, Manga Studio, MS Office 2011, and many other processor intensive creative apps and games.

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scapegoat81 said:
So essentially it runs like a standard iMac or MacBook Pro just w/o an apple display, keyboard & mouse. Does that low power affect anything ?

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Thanks for the infio & yes I was gonna wait for a refresh. 1 more question if u don't mind. If I plan on running Plex, do I have to purchase the model w/ OS X server or can I do without ?
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Plex Media Server does not require the Mac OS X Server app. I use both because the Mac OS X Server app ($20) is an awesome deal for what gives granular control over file share configuration, VPN, and a host of other services that were only available on earlier versions for $500-1000 or via Open Source software (plus a lot of elbow grease and patience).
 
TheWelshBoyo said:
If anything, it'll probably contain an Intel Iris chip, which are actually reasonably good.
Sure, for the price, I'd like a better card, but I'd be happy if it had an Iris Pro. The Iris Pro 5200 is only about 15% behind the Nvidia 650M and 750M cards.
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Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep that in mind. I'm sure anything will be better than my 2007 MBP stuck at 4 GB RAM.

I want to be able to edit and render videos with FCPX and Motion.
I wish I could afford a Mac Pro, but circumstances have changed, so now I have to settle for less :S

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bekiil said:
Please, Apple. Release a mini with Ati or Nvidia graphics now! The Mac Pro is too expensive.
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The Mac Mini should be like the iMac without a monitor, but with the upgradeability of the Mac Mini.
 
rp2011 said:
You miss the point. Most consumers do not need a Mac. That's why we have seen the explosion of smartphone sales, tablets. People are buyimg what they need. Those who need a Mac need a Mac. The mini should be "the" home computer for the masses. an affordable dedicated home computer to handle small computing tasks, handle VOIP, video and music streaming, surf the web, route the data from all the smart appliances, security camera.
That's what the mini should be. There is a hell of a lot more demand for the services of an Apple TV alone than the current Mac mini. And Apple and Google are the only ones primed to really make it happen. Its going to happen and someone is going to make a lot of doing so, its a queation who it will be. Whether MS, Google or Apple is going to run with it.
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Most consumers don't need a Mac? Hmm most consumers don't need by your thinking a limited crippled player such as the ATV. I say limited and crippled because it is only meant as a front end for iTunes (though it can play other files). I doubt kids could do their homework on an ATV or download complex apps to do other tasks. The ATV is akin to Kodak's Instamatic cameras of the 1960's. - Its only purpose was to be a vehicle for selling film to the masses. I suppose you find that the Apple should entirely abandon the computer market in favour of only i-devices and ATV? The reality is there are simply things the ATV and iPad for that matter cannot do and is not positioned to do in the near future. Where I might consider a more powerful ATV a plus, Apple will no doubt cripple it to keep you in their "eco" system. For similar monies or slightly more, one can get a decent player that is able to stream from other services and do more. Apple chose to make the ATV a closed system and there are numerous "wish list" posts on the net wanting it more open, more flexible. The Mac Mini can be used as an HTPC and as a traditional computer as can other Mac computers.

As for i-Devices, I applaud Apple for bringing them to market and jeer Apple for again crippling their own devices in order to promote their limited "eco" system along with the Apple Tax on top of it. As you can see, I am not married to any maker but rather what their offerings can do (or not do).
 
mausdesign said:



Plex Media Server does not require the Mac OS X Server app. I use both because the Mac OS X Server app ($20) is an awesome deal for what gives granular control over file share configuration, VPN, and a host of other services that were only available on earlier versions for $500-1000 or via Open Source software (plus a lot of elbow grease and patience).
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Ok I got it. So what files can u share via OS X server app ? Can I use it as a media server to play music on my iPhone on the go like Plex ? I'll also be subscribing to a VPN in the near future, is it necessary to have this app if I run a VPN ? Please explain & feel free to PM me. Thanks a lot for the feedback
 
mausdesign said:
Not true at all. Your Mac mini can really take off when you upgrade the RAM. The Mac Mini 2010 model supports up to 16GB of RAM in its two slots located underneath the unit. It will handle Mavericks (and Yosemite) just fine after that.
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Er, I have a really old Mac Mini (Macmini 2,1). I bought it in 2010 new but it's an older model that supports 4 GB max. And that would have been a 3rd party upgrade as it came with 1. Chill out on these conclusions.
 
scapegoat81 said:
Ok I got it. So what files can u share via OS X server app ? Can I use it as a media server to play music on my iPhone on the go like Plex ? I'll also be subscribing to a VPN in the near future, is it necessary to have this app if I run a VPN ? Please explain & feel free to PM me. Thanks a lot for the feedback
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I guess I should clarify to say file serving capabilities (storage, backup, etc...). It's much more capable of dealing with many different groups and users with many different permission structures than what you can configure with the standard Mac OS X "client's" built-in file sharing feature. When I do photo work, I log into the Mac mini and move my finished work there so my wife can log in and pick them up for what she wants to either get printed or upload to her Facebook account from her Mac. We also move other files back and forth through it as it is a centralized repository of our family documents that we would not want out on iCloud or other outside storage sites -- these are basic features and benefits of using a Mac mini for our multimedia and file server among many other things we use it for versus just an having AppleTV for entertainment. It's always on and always working for one thing or another or handling it all at once (recording TV, file serving, VPN, streaming movies via Plex or EyeTV to another room, etc...) while it sits under our HDTV in our living room on a shelf like any other component to a stereo system. It could be configured as automated backup for all the Macs in the house via Time Machine server, but we have yet to configure it, since I would need something like a Drobo to really take advantage of it - something I may end up doing later when I can afford more.

I would recommend Plex as your primary streaming server application for a variety of multimedia files that are not copy protected (DRM). This has nothing to do with VPN or file sharing. I configured the VPN on my Mac mini server to allow me to access anything on my initial home network from anywhere else -- it assigns your mac that is "dialing in" a local IP address on your internal network so it is just like you are at home -- useful for remotely accessing any Mac or print to any printer in the house. It works best when you have a static IP address for your internet connection, although many people have had good luck using a service like DynDNS that always updates your IP address to a set domain name so it can always be accessible without a static IP address.

Anyway, I can't wait for this new Mac mini to be released so I can have a third one to use all for myself in my home office as a desktop for normal work and current games. :)

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blairh said:
Er, I have a really old Mac Mini (Macmini 2,1). I bought it in 2010 new but it's an older model that supports 4 GB max. And that would have been a 3rd party upgrade as it came with 1. Chill out on these conclusions.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that. I'm sure you are more than ready for a new Mac mini. Hopefully you can hold out a bit longer for the next one. I figure that if it ends up not coming out before the end of the year, I'll have to give up waiting and order the current model in January or so.
 
matrickz said:
Please no,

Redesign would mean soldered ram and ssd.

They would just use their supply from the Macbook Air or low-end iMac.

I really hope for a minor speed bump with the old design :)
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Sadly that is where apple is heading. If you want upgradability, you will need to purchase the previous version.
 
mausdesign said:
I guess I should clarify to say file serving capabilities (storage, backup, etc...). It's much more capable of dealing with many different groups and users with many different permission structures than what you can configure with the standard Mac OS X "client's" built-in file sharing feature. When I do photo work, I log into the Mac mini and move my finished work there so my wife can log in and pick them up for what she wants to either get printed or upload to her Facebook account from her Mac. We also move other files back and forth through it as it is a centralized repository of our family documents that we would not want out on iCloud or other outside storage sites -- these are basic features and benefits of using a Mac mini for our multimedia and file server among many other things we use it for versus just an having AppleTV for entertainment. It's always on and always working for one thing or another or handling it all at once (recording TV, file serving, VPN, streaming movies via Plex or EyeTV to another room, etc...) while it sits under our HDTV in our living room on a shelf like any other component to a stereo system. It could be configured as automated backup for all the Macs in the house via Time Machine server, but we have yet to configure it, since I would need something like a Drobo to really take advantage of it - something I may end up doing later when I can afford more.

I would recommend Plex as your primary streaming server application for a variety of multimedia files that are not copy protected (DRM). This has nothing to do with VPN or file sharing. I configured the VPN on my Mac mini server to allow me to access anything on my initial home network from anywhere else -- it assigns your mac that is "dialing in" a local IP address on your internal network so it is just like you are at home -- useful for remotely accessing any Mac or print to any printer in the house. It works best when you have a static IP address for your internet connection, although many people have had good luck using a service like DynDNS that always updates your IP address to a set domain name so it can always be accessible without a static IP address.

Anyway, I can't wait for this new Mac mini to be released so I can have a third one to use all for myself in my home office as a desktop for normal work and current games. :)

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Sorry to hear that. I'm sure you are more than ready for a new Mac mini. Hopefully you can hold out a bit longer for the next one. I figure that if it ends up not coming out before the end of the year, I'll have to give up waiting and order the current model in January or so.
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Good stuff. Thanks for the feedback !!
 
One thing it's clear, this is the end for the Mac mini Server, from now and after those who really need osx sever must buy a mac mini or a mac pro and then install the server app from the app store.

This also means the new mini could be a more radical redesign as we expect
 
scapegoat81 said:
So essentially it runs like a standard iMac or MacBook Pro just w/o an apple display, keyboard & mouse. Does that low power affect anything ?
Click to expand...

Nope, the low power mode is only when it is in idle, it ramps up with more intensive usage like rendering or pretty much when CPU or GPU gets more taxing tasks. I had a collection of Apple Keyboards, Mice and Trackpads and even a (256gb SSD that I installed) over the years so all I needed was a monitor and the Mini in 2012.
 
mausdesign said:
Sorry to hear that. I'm sure you are more than ready for a new Mac mini. Hopefully you can hold out a bit longer for the next one. I figure that if it ends up not coming out before the end of the year, I'll have to give up waiting and order the current model in January or so.
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I can only blame myself for being cheap 4 years ago. Lesson learned.

I can get by on simple tasks okay. But it shows its age at times with even simple things like HD YouTube video or having 3 or 4 tabs open in Chrome.

I'm going to wait until the end of October at the latest. I'm confident a new Mini will be available by then. Hopefully this 'mid-2014' rumor is true. I love the Mini.
 
TallManNY said:
From an engineering perspective, wouldn't it be a fairly easy process to upgrade to the new processor? Seems like Apple should do that by now. Or they should consider killing the device. There is a certain point in time when a company like Apple is damaging its reputation by selling too outdated technology. I feel like there are a lot of items in their catalogue that are dangerously close to damaging their reputation.
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I couldn't agree more! The Mini, AppleTV, and the 5400RPM spinners in the low end Macs are embarrassing.
 
iMacFarlane said:
I couldn't agree more! The Mini, AppleTV, and the 5400RPM spinners in the low end Macs are embarrassing.
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500GB SSDs should be the standard now. 1TB SSDs should be cheaper now. Carrying around or connecting an external drive should be embarrassing. I rather have 5400RPM spinners any day than non upgradable 128GB or 256GB crap.
 
Intel's current Z97 chipset that was introduced a few months ago is the intended chipset for Broadwell and it's what Apple would use in the new Mini. It's just that the CPU itself is massively late. Apple was probably planning on using Broadwells for the new Mini, but the delay means that they'll move forward with the intended release date using Haswells and will have the ability to refresh it with Broadwell next year since it'll be a drop-in replacement. As someone who was planning on buying a Mini, it gives me pause to think the model might be refreshed relatively soon.
 
Too Long Overdue.

I've been waiting for this for almost a year. And it was high time then for an update. I've completely given up, and I'm just using my company lenovo. If they decide to update the mini, I'll buy it anyway.
 
tech4all said:
Actually the Mac Mini shipped with 256MB of RAM and 40GB hard drive depending on configuration. The list early 2006, but it's enough.

Source: Apple-History.com
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That wasn't the point of my post. I was poking fun at the current Mac Mini, and how its specifications are similar to what other machines offered in 2005.
 
this week

I know we just keep saying this, but I think we might get a new mini in the next couple weeks
 
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