Your thoughts on how the M3 Pro MacMini can be improved in 2024.

[lepidotós]

Are the NANDs still soldered to the board? If so, cut all that out and make it a standard NVMe drive. I'd also like for them to use socketed RAM since power draw is less critical than on a mobile device and it's complete fiction that being soldered to the board increases memory bandwidth (IBM Power10 has 818GB/s with socketed OMI memory, Ampere Altra has 230GB/s with socketed ECC DDR4), but I suppose that battle was lost in 2014.​

it's 2023; usb c is the present, and the future (for a while at least). more & more peripherals are usb C. either way, it's easy enough to use an A-to-C adapter cable or plug.

can't see any reason, then, to go with an older protocol. and who doesn't want speed & power?? 🤔

Most USB keyboards negotiate themselves a USB 1.1 connection. Type-C connectors are utterly wasted on keyboards, but I suppose the argument can be made that if you use a wireless keyboard that just opens up more Type-Cs for other uses...​

 

[phrehdd]

Would be nice to see the Mini and Studio be merged. That is, that the Studio would simply be the "Mini Pro" and coordinate the two models that way. Regular Minis would go up to 32 gigs RAM while Studio normally would start at 16 gigs on up to 128 gigs of RAM. Also, might as well look into fixing Bluetooth issues, both be Wifi 6e, and either the best Mini or starting with the "Mini Pro" (Studio) put in a good DAC and move towards playing higher quality lossless audio.

 

[Yebubbleman]

So I’d like your thoughts on how an M3 Pro powered MacMini can Ben improved over the current gen model. I’ll share my Top 5

#1. HDMI 2.1b across all SKUs
#2. Updated design/ Foot print
#3. Built in Gen 3 SD card slot
#4. WiFi 7
#5. DisplayPort 2.0

Pretty minor list, considering this isn't a Mac Studio.

SD card slot would be nice. 10Gb Ethernet standard across all Apple Silicon Mac desktops would be nice (hell, I'll even take it on the 16-inch MacBook Pro at this point). Otherwise, I don't know what I need with WiFi 7, considering I don't have a WiFi 6E router yet. I don't know what I need with DisplayPort 2.0; the fanciest monitors I'd want to use would be an Apple Studio Display or an LG UltraFine 5K. I'm also not entirely sure why we need a new design other than people on here getting bored with current designs. Though, front USB-C/USB-A ports would be handy.

 

[fisherking]

Currently, most printers and scanners still use USB-B connectors, however, I imagine that as we continue towards a wireless world, within 5 years, all printers will connect via wifi, Bluetooth or both. Apple has already removed the need to connect the keyboard directly to the computer for startup options on Apple Silicone machines (hold down the power button in lieu of keyboard inputs).

Until then, however, why use a Thunderbolt port and, more importantly, a Thunderbolt Bus, when USB-A is simple and cheap to install?

In the MacMini I spec'd in this forum, here is what I envisioned:

USB-A 1: Printer
USB-A 2: Webcam
USB-A 3: Desk Accessory (mini fan, light, shuttle, trackpad, etc.)
USB-A 4: Open / extra for single use scenario

USB-C 1: Time Machine Hard Drive
USB-C 2: iPhone connection / charger
USB-C 3: Keyboard + Mouse
USB-C 4: Open / extra for single use scenario

HDMI Ports: Dual monitor setup

interesting, but still don't see why usb-A ports are needed (also, we don't all use what you use).

again, easy enough to use adapters. and why not have faster, more-powerful ports?? seems a win-win...

 

[fisherking]

Thunderbolt is expensive as Apple must pay a licensing fee. Also, the bussing, which controls the ports is expensive to implement. USB-A is extremely cheap and doesn’t hurt to have other than spacing.

but why move backwards, not fowards? usb-c is compatible with usb-A, so there's no loss. and thundebolt/c ports can also (obviously) support thunderbolt peripherals. anyway, there are no A ports on my air and i am surviving (to be honest, i never use them anyway).

all our opinions are just that, and apple alone will decide what they want to do 👍

 

[fisherking]

I agree on a laptop, but on a desktop, much of the works still needs USB-A. Again Thunderbolt cost lots of money as do dongles. I’m not saying have no Thunderbolt ports, rather, have both. What’s the downside?

the upside is that a single port can serve thunderbolt devices, and usb C & A devices; seems far more practical and valuable than having a port that doesn't support thunderbolt, and will work with less power & speed with usb C peripherals. not sure why this isn't all obvious...

 

[fisherking]

Apple isn't going to put 8 thunderbolt ports on a MacMini. They don't even put that many on the MacPro (without extra cards).

It costs nothing to put extra USB-A ports. There is no expensive licensing or chip requirements and many, if not most users, still need them on desktop machines. A laptop is meant to be portable. A desktop isn't and as such, USB-A is still the standard for most peripherals. Why spend $60 or more on dongles?

BTW - I don't think I've ever seen a Windows PC, laptop or desktop, that lacks USB-A.

i stand by my comments (but i always prefer that tech moves forward, not backward... and does not stand still).

usb C means future-proofing, and offers better speed & power; i can't think of a single reason (even reading what you wrote above) to not end the usb A era. but again, apple will do what apple thinks is best.

 

[phrehdd]

Swapping USB-A with USB-C I have no issue with. Swapping them with Thunderbolt is where the licensing fees kick in.

This is a pretty good run down of USB and Thunderbolt with emphasis on USB. I would prefer to see USB4 over Thunderbolt and at 40 rather than 20 gigs capable. Skip over the licensing fees altogether. Nice that both active and passive cables can work.

Breaking down how USB4 goes where no USB standard has gone before

USB4 vs. Thunderbolt 4—and everything else to know about the newest USB standard.

arstechnica.com

 

[phrehdd]

Agreed provided USB4 works with thunderbolt 3 for existing devices.

I can appreciate what you are saying. I recall when firewire went bye bye and frustrated a lot of people who had firewire devices.