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When is a Mac Mini suitable

M

mralexandercom

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 16, 2018
33
11
If I would "max" out the performance, who would find the configuration suitable?

Of course, it is a little tough to say at the moment, days prior to the *fingers crossed* release, not knowing the specs.

Is it more economical and worth it than an iMac with the same specs minus the display which I would buy separately.

Thanks for your help.
 
The upcoming Mini is supposed to be "pro-focused," however Apple is defining that.

We may end up with a machine that satisfies designers, developers, musicians, photographers, etc.

Or we may end up with a piece of ****. But at least we'll know how seriously Apple is taking it and how much they want, which will answer your question about the iMac.
 
mralexandercom said:
If I would "max" out the performance, who would find the configuration suitable?

Of course, it is a little tough to say at the moment, days prior to the *fingers crossed* release, not knowing the specs.

Is it more economical and worth it than an iMac with the same specs minus the display which I would buy separately.

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

I like the idea of the computer being separate from the display...

shinji said:
The upcoming Mini is supposed to be "pro-focused," however Apple is defining that.

We may end up with a machine that satisfies designers, developers, musicians, photographers, etc.

Or we may end up with a piece of ****. But at least we'll know how seriously Apple is taking it and how much they want, which will answer your question about the iMac.
Click to expand...

Really hoping for a quality Pro-focused Mac Mini, with a Space Grey chassis as an option...

Would also love to see new Apple displays, also with a Space Grey option...!
 
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Right now...Thunderbolt 3 to eGPU, current processors equivalent to MBP, at least 16mb RAM standard.
 
What is suitable for a home entertainment Mini? Since 4K UHD TV's are now the standard for new TV's, the need for a high def HDMI output for a modern TV should be a requirement. It should also include the same type of resolution setup as seen on the retina displays in MacBooks where the resolution can change from larger text to high def video and photos on the fly. Windows also has resolution settings that works but is not quite as sophisticated as on the MacBook. The 4K features would not require a super high end graphics card or processor. All that is needed is a good 4 core processor, SSD and added thunderbolt 3 connectors on the hardware side. Anything less wold make the new Mac Mini less practical than an Apple TV or Roku, etc. I guess it could still continue to substitute as a convenient device for slide shows or Hi Def music presentations but I will just keep my older Mac Mini if that is the case.
 
georose said:
What is suitable for a home entertainment Mini? Since 4K UHD TV's are now the standard for new TV's, the need for a high def HDMI output for a modern TV should be a requirement. It should also include the same type of resolution setup as seen on the retina displays in MacBooks where the resolution can change from larger text to high def video and photos on the fly. Windows also has resolution settings that works but is not quite as sophisticated as on the MacBook. The 4K features would not require a super high end graphics card or processor. All that is needed is a good 4 core processor, SSD and added thunderbolt 3 connectors on the hardware side. Anything less wold make the new Mac Mini less practical than an Apple TV or Roku, etc. I guess it could still continue to substitute as a convenient device for slide shows or Hi Def music presentations but I will just keep my older Mac Mini if that is the case.
Click to expand...

As someone who had a 2012 mini as an HTPC and now uses a Nvidia Shield -> I really don't get the point in using an HTPC nowadays.

Now that Kodi / Plex (and Plex server) / web browsers (with the ability to play linked streams, and use a bluetooth keyboard/mouse) perform well on a $200 Android box, why use a mini for the role?
 
David58117 said:
As someone who had a 2012 mini as an HTPC and now uses a Nvidia Shield -> I really don't get the point in using an HTPC nowadays.

Now that Kodi / Plex (and Plex server) / web browsers (with the ability to play linked streams, and use a bluetooth keyboard/mouse) perform well on a $200 Android box, why use a mini for the role?
Click to expand...
I should have emphasized the additional features of home entertainment such as hi def slide shows, viewing 4K Google Earth, listening to 24 bit music files fed into a High end DAC or AVR via HDMI. I also don't like the clumsy endless button pushing of built in TV infotainment or devices like Roku, Apple TV, cable boxes, etc. I believe XBOX and maybe others will allow for the addition of keyboards and track pads soon but they still will have those horrible interfaces to deal with. I'm not familiar with the Nvidia Shield and how it stacks up to other systems. I have an XBOX ONE and Kodi can be a pain to use and is not what I would call a sit back and relax experience. I suppose it can be fun to try and beat the "system" with it. Seems more straightforward to use Pirate Bay if you're into that sort of thing. I suppose using a VPN for the BBC or watching streaming movies for free is also a form of pirating but easier on the conscience.

Personally, I like my BOX ONE as it can enhance any streaming with upscaling to an emulated HDR and Dolby Atmos. Surprisingly, it works quite well for some streaming from Netflix. etc. However, in no way would it be a replacement for my idea of an upgraded Mac Mini.

I should add that a Chromebox is certainly the equivalent in many respects to what the current Mac Mini is for HTPC's. There are also Intel Skull Canyon boxes for Windows HTPC type systems.
 
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georose said:
What is suitable for a home entertainment Mini?
Click to expand...
With all due respect I think a Mac Mini solely dedicated to home entertainment is an overkill these days. I used to have a media dedicated Mini from 2008 to 2012.
Today I run the Plex server on my 2011 multi purpose 2011 mini, streaming data from a ReadyNAS to an Amazon Fire Ultra HD.
If I had a more powerful NAS I would run the plex server directly on it.
 
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georose said:
What is suitable for a home entertainment Mini? Since 4K UHD TV's are now the standard for new TV's, the need for a high def HDMI output for a modern TV should be a requirement. It should also include the same type of resolution setup as seen on the retina displays in MacBooks where the resolution can change from larger text to high def video and photos on the fly. Windows also has resolution settings that works but is not quite as sophisticated as on the MacBook. The 4K features would not require a super high end graphics card or processor. All that is needed is a good 4 core processor, SSD and added thunderbolt 3 connectors on the hardware side. Anything less wold make the new Mac Mini less practical than an Apple TV or Roku, etc. I guess it could still continue to substitute as a convenient device for slide shows or Hi Def music presentations but I will just keep my older Mac Mini if that is the case.
Click to expand...
Even with a quad-core processor, SSD and Thunderbolt 3 ports, the Mac running MacOS supports watching 4K content on neither iTunes nor Netflix, while the Apple TV supports both out of the box.

Even if Apple does release a refreshed pro-focused Mac mini as rumored, these days it's clear they only seem to be interested in pushing one product as a dedicated HTPC, that being the Apple TV.
 
One has to agree that the low price of streaming devices like the Roku or even the higher priced Apple TV will continue to relegate an upgraded Mac Mini to a niche market for home entertainment when it comes to streaming movies.

I confess that I like my Xbox One for its enhancement of 1080p streaming by emulating 4K and HDR. Perhaps others will follow and eventually even TV's may come up with excellent emulations. I never looked at a Mac Mini as something for gaming but soon a lowly Chrome browser will be able to play advanced solo games. It may make my Xbox One obsolete when it comes to solo gaming but will remain a great Blu Ray player for 4K UHD.

In the end, I want an upgraded Mac Mini to be a good partner for my 70 inch 4K UHD TV. I suppose a laptop or phone may be all that is needed for a TV companion and certainly for those that love multitasking. I have a lot of good stuff to share on my Mac Mini besides a streaming movie that is more intimate with a few friends than texting over a phone or using Facebook, etc. One shouldn't be bored waiting for a clumsy button pushing interface to get to the next great thing whether it's a Goggle search, a new YouTube video or a music selection that's intended to be more than background music or someone's play list.

Not everyone can use a Mac Mini or a Roku on a big TV in a large room. Phones and laptops will continue to rule the day for the majority. Certainly the Mac Mini is not the only "HTPC" device around and there are better examples on the market today. Perhaps a lowly Chromebook or Chomebox will end up as the ideal companion for my 4K HDR TV. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I am looking forward to Tuesday to see what is on display.
 
Suitable when a modern designed mini arrives, smarter than my i3 laptop.
I no longer want a desktop pc.
Though a nice mini with a decent monitor could be interesting.
I'll beleive the 'Pro' part when it's announced.
 
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