2014 Mac mini Wishlist

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  • Reply 721 of 1528
    winterwinter Posts: 1,238member
    wizard69 wrote: »
    The desktop isn't dead but it isn't strong either. In Apple case, with heavy consumer sales it is even worst. Consumer 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.

    Fantastic. I am okay with this.
    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.
    Mac hardware or Windows? In the end for desktop Apple hardware the Mac Pro would be about it. Lenovo 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.

    My only concern is that it would be canceled. If it is not in any danger of going away, I am fine. I thought about getting an iMac only because of the graphics issue though I got the game I wanted to run at a passable level using the Intel HD 3000 which I was surprised at. I would not expect Apple to use the Iris Pro though it would be nice if they did.

    If they use the i5-4258U, i5-4288U, and/or the i7-4558U then I am okay and that will lean me towards buying since I don't see the next mini coming until 2015. Using the same processors as the MacBook Air wouldn't make sense and i5-4200Y or i5-4200U would be a definite no. I wouldn't mind seeing an i7-4702HQ or i7-4702MQ which are both 37W quad core.
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  • Reply 722 of 1528
    frank777frank777 Posts: 5,839member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post





    This is one reason why I expect the Mini to morph into a more business oriented machine.


     


    Apple's never really been keen on the business market.


    In an era where the iPad is the company's solution for a cash register, would the Mini really be their "business" machine?


     


    iWork for iCloud doesn't even have collaboration features yet. Does Apple really care about business?

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  • Reply 723 of 1528
    frank777frank777 Posts: 5,839member


    In terms of the next Mini update, it will be interesting to watch.


     


    My guess is that all of Apple's Mac product updates were pushed to late 2013 because of the Fall 2013 New Tech Trifecta:


     


    USB 3.1, SATA 3.2 and TB2.


     


    Throw in the introduction of 801.11ac Wi-Fi on Macs recently, and it's almost a crime not to buy a new computer this fall.


     


    Will the Mini get all four?

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  • Reply 724 of 1528
    dhagan4755dhagan4755 Posts: 2,152member
    I don't think USB 3.1 will ship on anything until 2014.
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  • Reply 725 of 1528
    winterwinter Posts: 1,238member
    frank777 wrote: »
    In terms of the next Mini update, it will be interesting to watch.

    My guess is that all of Apple's Mac product updates were pushed to late 2013 because of the Fall 2013 New Tech Trifecta:

    USB 3.1, SATA 3.2 and TB2.

    Throw in the introduction of 801.11ac Wi-Fi on Macs recently, and it's almost a crime not to buy a new computer this fall.

    Will the Mini get all four?

    Somehow I doubt it will get all four. The updates need to come soon though so Apple can eventually push out the 2011 refurbs and replace them with mostly 2012 and some 2013.
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  • Reply 726 of 1528
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    frank777 wrote: »
    Apple's never really been keen on the business market.
    In an era where the iPad is the company's solution for a cash register, would the Mini really be their "business" machine?
    By business I mean more professionally oriented. The iPad might be a cash register machine but to run a store you still need a server.
    iWork for iCloud doesn't even have collaboration features yet. Does Apple really care about business?

    You make an assumption that collaboration is a big deal for many in business. It is more of a niche than anything.
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  • Reply 727 of 1528
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    frank777 wrote: »
    In terms of the next Mini update, it will be interesting to watch.
    Yes it will be an interesting show.
    My guess is that all of Apple's Mac product updates were pushed to late 2013 because of the Fall 2013 New Tech Trifecta:
    Actually I doubt that USB 3.1 isn't really ready, and Apple is moving away from SATA. The new WiFi standard is obvious and frankly already to go. So the rational reasons for late 2013 refreshes are TB 2 and the fact that Intel hasn't released the right Haswell chips for these machines.

    Throw in the introduction of 801.11ac Wi-Fi on Macs recently, and it's almost a crime not to buy a new computer this fall.

    Will the Mini get all four?

    Not a chance.
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  • Reply 728 of 1528
    frank777frank777 Posts: 5,839member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post



    and Apple is moving away from SATA.


     


    Isn't the move away from SATA based on the fact it currently doesn't have the speed necessary for SSDs?


     


    Isn't that what SATA 3.2 means to solve?

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  • Reply 729 of 1528
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    frank777 wrote: »
    Isn't the move away from SATA based on the fact it currently doesn't have the speed necessary for SSDs?
    That is part of it, but SATA is also legacy hardware. If ou get rid of SATA you eliminated a lot of inter posing electronics and thus a lot of wasted heat. Effectively dropping SATA completely can lead to a power savings.
    Isn't that what SATA 3.2 means to solve?
    It is kinda late for that. Even in PC land PCI Express solutions are at hand. The industry has even come up with new standards for interchangeable hardware. It is a slow process but in a couple of years any SSD with a SATA interface will likely be meant for legacy hardware only.

    I'm not here to say the transition will be instant but rather that SATA is on life support with an expected slow deth.
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  • Reply 730 of 1528
    frank777frank777 Posts: 5,839member


    Okay. That's good to know. If killing SATA means less bulk and power savings, by all means!

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  • Reply 731 of 1528
    winterwinter Posts: 1,238member
    I am surprised that there hasn't even been any bs rumors from Digitimes on the mini or iMac lately. I am going crazy.
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  • Reply 732 of 1528
    marvfoxmarvfox Posts: 2,275member


    WHY?

     

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  • Reply 733 of 1528
    winterwinter Posts: 1,238member
    Because it's what I care about. While I am most certainly glad the Mac Pro got an update, I hate this doubling down on secrecy. Then again, we haven't heard any news on the exact release date of the Iris 5100 and Iris Pro 5200.
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  • Reply 734 of 1528
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    winter wrote: »
    Because it's what I care about. While I am most certainly glad the Mac Pro got an update, I hate this doubling down on secrecy. Then again, we haven't heard any news on the exact release date of the Iris 5100 and Iris Pro 5200.

    The new Iris configurations come in September.

    As for secrecy I'd like to think Apple has clamped down but really it is likely an issue of a lack of interest these days.

    Speaking of Mac Pro, if they got the base model price right would you consider going that route? I see a Base model being possible at well below $2000 if they really wanted too do so.
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  • Reply 735 of 1528
    winterwinter Posts: 1,238member
    wizard69 wrote: »
    Speaking of Mac Pro, if they got the base model price right would you consider going that route? I see a Base model being possible at well below $2000 if they really wanted too do so.

    Kind of out of my budget and I can't see myself using that kind of machine. At best I can see myself using a quad core mini if it has the Iris Pro.
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  • Reply 736 of 1528
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    winter wrote: »
    Kind of out of my budget and I can't see myself using that kind of machine. At best I can see myself using a quad core mini if it has the Iris Pro.

    I understand budgets but you seem to be a frequent hardware purchaser so in the end it might be cheaper to buy a Mac Pro and keep it for a few years. That is if they can offer up a reasonably priced base model. Maybe I'm dreaming but I have to think part of the reason for the new Mac Pro design is to have a product they can be price competitive with.

    In any event the approach has worked good for me, my 2008 MBP has lasted longer that I expected. The point was to buy the GPU for extended life compared to most other Mac hardware of the time. If you keep a Mac Pro for 6 years would it be better or worst for the budget?
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  • Reply 737 of 1528
    winterwinter Posts: 1,238member
    Not really. The 2011 Mac mini was my first Mac ever. Before that I bought an Intel Atom netbook from Radio Shack and before that my parents bought me a notebook from Staples that had 1 GB of RAM (same as the netbook).

    I figure if I don't buy a 2013 mini, the next one won't be out until 2015.
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  • Reply 738 of 1528
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    winter wrote: »
    Not really. The 2011 Mac mini was my first Mac ever. Before that I bought an Intel Atom netbook from Radio Shack and before that my parents bought me a notebook from Staples that had 1 GB of RAM (same as the netbook).

    I figure if I don't buy a 2013 mini, the next one won't be out until 2015.
    Don't be to firm on that thought, haswell successor could come faster than you might thinking. Assuming they can manage a process shrink for 2014 (not a given) 2014 could see the introduction of vastly improved processors. In a nut shel if they double the area to put electronics on, you could get close to the equivalent of two Haswell processors on a die. That is somewhat variable because intel does intend to increase integration.
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  • Reply 739 of 1528
    winterwinter Posts: 1,238member
    Hopefully they won't wait until the Haswell refresh to release a new mini and skip this year. That would suck! : (
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  • Reply 740 of 1528
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Originally Posted by Winter View Post


    Hopefully they won't wait until the Haswell refresh to release a new mini and skip this year. That would suck! : (


     


    Huh? Do you mean Broadwell? They won't do that.

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