Capacity is an issue but you also have the issue of wear which small capacity drives have less ability to resist. In some sorts of server based usage, SSDs are known to wear out. Obviously this isn't a big issue with the Mini, except for when it is pressed into server duties it isn't well engineered for.
On the Mac Pro I don't see them betting at all, most users with high storage capacity needs are already using attached storage. Likewise many users are already required to make use of centralized storage. The only people that really loose are those that got by with just the internal expansion capability of the old Mac Pro. I'd be the first to admit that those are a significant number of users, but we will only know the full impact after the complete Mac Pro system debuts. That is I fully expect that the Mac Pro will be paired with some sort of low cost Apple storage array.
Of course users with high storage capacity requirements need a dedicated chassis for it. I pointed out that the chipset has 6 sata ports. In the mac pro four were used for drive bays. Two were allocated to optical bays. If you had 4 dedicated to standard bays for storage/scratch space and 2 dedicated to card based ssds, that could be 12TB with current drive sizes. In ever expanding libraries, there's always some process for offline storage in place, and you do still need a backup, which shouldn't be part of the same box. My point being it's a matter of whether the majority of those users have requirements that aren't being met by the latest generation of higher capacity drives. External is also sometimes implemented for performance reasons when something like an 8 member Raid 0 or 10 is required. In terms of low cost storage arrays, they're not a very interesting market for almost any company. Companies bundle drives to improve margins, especially as the boxes need to be tested anyway. I don't see Apple going any lower than what we have with the current thunderbolt raid. As for me, I like full control. If I was going to raid the drives, I would purchase extras and ensure all firmware matches. It's just better for me when I can do that. The nice thing with thunderbolt there is you don't require a separate host card. It's one less thing to test.
Right now it's worth waiting a couple months even if you do "need" it. "Need" is often a flexible thing since few folks has no computer at all.
Good point. Haswell has been working out really well in the products shipping so far. We can only hope that the Mini leverages Haswell as effectively. At this point we are likely only talking a couple of months as you state, something prospective customers should note.
I'd hardly call that a delay! Especially considering that intel hasn't even completed its Haswell launch yet. It will be the second half of the year before all of Intels Haswell hardware launches.
This so called delay is more of case of some analysts expectations not being meant. I suspect Intel will launch when they have a good product to sell instead of launching on artificial calendar dates.
Apparently, work on Broadwell was supposed to begin this year so there is a setback of a few months.
I'm not sure where you are getting this information. Last I new Intel had multiple teams developing processors so that tweaked devices come out each year. Broadwell would be in development already and may hae been in development for two years now or more.
I'm not sure where you are getting this information. Last I new Intel had multiple teams developing processors so that tweaked devices come out each year. Broadwell would be in development already and may have been in development for two years now or more.
Fudzilla. Rather what I mean to say is they were going to get it started on the pipeline this year though have pushed it back.
I still do not buy into every rumor of delays. It's more interesting to read about a predicted date range rather than something as ambiguous as "later than expected".
Where the hell is the news on this? I hate to sound impatient though I am going to be. The hell with the iWatch. There should be some new rumors out now.
Where the hell is the news on this? I hate to sound impatient though I am going to be. The hell with the iWatch. There should be some new rumors out now.
Sales are in the crapper, there just isn't the interest that there once was in desktops. You probably have noticed but even Analysts don't bother commenting on the Mini anymore.
As for iWatch I don't get the interest either, if it isn't a full iPhone replacement I can see a strong reason to wear one. IWatch would be great at a nudist camp if it could completely replace an iPhone though. You know when you have no place else to put your phone ????????????????????????. But that would have to mean that iWatch is a full iPhone replacement and I just don't see that happening.
In any event I wouldn't get to wound up until the end of September. Intel should have new chips on the market buy that time.
Oh I don't expect sales to be extremely high nor do I expect analysts to comment though I don't declare the desktop dead. Do you have a chart that says what sales are though? Also if the mini is cease to exist? What alternatives do I have that look as cool and I can use Windows 7 on?
Oh I don't expect sales to be extremely high nor do I expect analysts to comment though I don't declare the desktop dead.
The desktop isn't dead but it isn't strong either. In Apple case, with heavy consummer sales it is even worst. Consummer buying habits have changed dramatically with the advent of smart phones and tablets. This is one reason why I expect the Mini to morph into a more business oriented machine.
Do you have a chart that says what sales are though?
Follow Apples quarterly reports, that is the best way to get a feel for the state of the business. As it is the last time I heard anything third party about a breakdown of desktop sales, it had the iMac flat sales wise with the Mini and Pro down heavily.
Also if the mini is cease to exist? What alternatives do I have that look as cool and I can use Windows 7 on?
Mac hardware or Windows? In the end for desktop Apple hardware the Mac Pro would be about it. Lonovo has some interesting compact machines that might be of interest if Windows 7 is your only concern. I wouldn't get in a rush though, Haswell has great potential for transforming the Mini. It is really up to Apple to be proactive in making the Mini far more tractive than it is now.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by wizard69
Capacity is an issue but you also have the issue of wear which small capacity drives have less ability to resist. In some sorts of server based usage, SSDs are known to wear out. Obviously this isn't a big issue with the Mini, except for when it is pressed into server duties it isn't well engineered for.
On the Mac Pro I don't see them betting at all, most users with high storage capacity needs are already using attached storage. Likewise many users are already required to make use of centralized storage. The only people that really loose are those that got by with just the internal expansion capability of the old Mac Pro. I'd be the first to admit that those are a significant number of users, but we will only know the full impact after the complete Mac Pro system debuts. That is I fully expect that the Mac Pro will be paired with some sort of low cost Apple storage array.
Of course users with high storage capacity requirements need a dedicated chassis for it. I pointed out that the chipset has 6 sata ports. In the mac pro four were used for drive bays. Two were allocated to optical bays. If you had 4 dedicated to standard bays for storage/scratch space and 2 dedicated to card based ssds, that could be 12TB with current drive sizes. In ever expanding libraries, there's always some process for offline storage in place, and you do still need a backup, which shouldn't be part of the same box. My point being it's a matter of whether the majority of those users have requirements that aren't being met by the latest generation of higher capacity drives. External is also sometimes implemented for performance reasons when something like an 8 member Raid 0 or 10 is required. In terms of low cost storage arrays, they're not a very interesting market for almost any company. Companies bundle drives to improve margins, especially as the boxes need to be tested anyway. I don't see Apple going any lower than what we have with the current thunderbolt raid. As for me, I like full control. If I was going to raid the drives, I would purchase extras and ensure all firmware matches. It's just better for me when I can do that. The nice thing with thunderbolt there is you don't require a separate host card. It's one less thing to test.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winter
Bump! No one has any suggestions or news?
Updates can happen anytime, but Apple's next traditional product release window is the first week of August.
So the rumour mill will probably heat up again in about 2-3 weeks.
The time to do it is when you need it.
Right now it's worth waiting a couple months even if you do "need" it. "Need" is often a flexible thing since few folks has no computer at all.
Good point. Haswell has been working out really well in the products shipping so far. We can only hope that the Mini leverages Haswell as effectively. At this point we are likely only talking a couple of months as you state, something prospective customers should note.
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/32085-mobile-broadwell-in-2h-2014
I'd hardly call that a delay! Especially considering that intel hasn't even completed its Haswell launch yet. It will be the second half of the year before all of Intels Haswell hardware launches.
This so called delay is more of case of some analysts expectations not being meant. I suspect Intel will launch when they have a good product to sell instead of launching on artificial calendar dates.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winter
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/32085-mobile-broadwell-in-2h-2014
That isn't necessarily a delay. It's a year between products.
Apparently, work on Broadwell was supposed to begin this year so there is a setback of a few months.
I'm not sure where you are getting this information. Last I new Intel had multiple teams developing processors so that tweaked devices come out each year. Broadwell would be in development already and may hae been in development for two years now or more.
Fudzilla. Rather what I mean to say is they were going to get it started on the pipeline this year though have pushed it back.
I still do not buy into every rumor of delays. It's more interesting to read about a predicted date range rather than something as ambiguous as "later than expected".
Originally Posted by Winter
Where the hell is the news on this? I hate to sound impatient though I am going to be. There should be some new rumors out now.
The Mac Mini never comes out until the iMac. The iMac won't come out until Thunderbolt 2.
Damn! You're quick! Even though I wouldn't have a use for it, Thunderbolt 2 might swing me in favor of buying a new mini.
Sales are in the crapper, there just isn't the interest that there once was in desktops. You probably have noticed but even Analysts don't bother commenting on the Mini anymore.
As for iWatch I don't get the interest either, if it isn't a full iPhone replacement I can see a strong reason to wear one. IWatch would be great at a nudist camp if it could completely replace an iPhone though. You know when you have no place else to put your phone ????????????????????????. But that would have to mean that iWatch is a full iPhone replacement and I just don't see that happening.
In any event I wouldn't get to wound up until the end of September. Intel should have new chips on the market buy that time.
Mac hardware or Windows? In the end for desktop Apple hardware the Mac Pro would be about it. Lonovo has some interesting compact machines that might be of interest if Windows 7 is your only concern. I wouldn't get in a rush though, Haswell has great potential for transforming the Mini. It is really up to Apple to be proactive in making the Mini far more tractive than it is now.