Mac mini to be discontinued?
I think the writing is on the wall. These "updates" show that Apple simply wants to get rid of current stock and be done with it. I see no other explanation. They didn't change anything on the board, only things the user could do on their own all along. It still has the same GPU which isn't even Core Image compatible. It still has the same Superdrive which isn't DL compatible. You can't even get a 100GB hard drive build-to-order. This is the Mac to lure PC users to switch?
They treated the Cube the same way just before it was scrapped. It's over.
They treated the Cube the same way just before it was scrapped. It's over.
Comments
Just my 10 cents worth
Originally posted by Ratbert
I figure it's being so cheerful that keeps you going? Maybe the mini is proving popular but the feedback they were getting was for more memory and a superdrive? and so they have provided it, if performance is your thing then the mini is not the ideal solution, but as an introduction to the mac os and the ilife suite it is superb.
Just my 10 cents worth
I got a call from apple a few months back after I bought my mini asking what the #1 thing I would change as standard and I said ram.
They gave me a list of choices like- superdrive, airport, ram, or bigger hard disk.
I was set to buy a mini thinking they'd bump the vid card to 64MB. That didn't happen so no sale.
I'm at that point in my life where I'm growing weary with Apple again. In the meantime I may just build yet another PC and hope that the Mac mini in 2006 is a capable computer.
I got a call from apple a few months back after I bought my mini asking what the #1 thing I would change as standard and I said ram.
They gave me a list of choices like- superdrive, airport, ram, or bigger hard disk.
me too. i said Graphics with ram a close second...
Now the iBook actually got updated. It got a new GPU that is Core Image compatible, a faster 8x Superdrive (albeit not DL compatible) and a 100GB hard drive as a build-to-order option. The Mac mini got none of these.
Obviously the Mac mini has been selling very poorly and this is just enough, barely enough, to move existing stock. This is exactly what they did with the Cube. I doubt very much we will ever see an Intel based model.
Lets face it, the Mac mini is done.
Originally posted by hmurchison
No the Mac mini won't see many big changes until they move to Intel.
I doubt the Mac mini will be updated again. As a former Cube owner I can see where things are headed. The iBook is moving to Intel too but that didn't stop them from actaully updating it today unlike the Mac mini. I think the rational is why put any effort into a product that's getting the axe?
Originally posted by 1984
They treated the Cube the same way just before it was scrapped. It's over.
I would not go as far as you do, but it is clear that Apple lost its interest in releasing great computer hardware. It is probably the iPod success, probably the lack of better processors, even with Freescale AND IBM combined on their side, probably other things too. If we learn soon that the Mac mini sales are in already the toilet, then, yes, this update could be the swan's chant for the mini.
Originally posted by Aurora
I still think they should have givin mini a better GPU then its lackluster/crappy 9200. Its the Macmini's achilles heel.
This is exactly the point. If you cannot, for whatever reason, update the CPU, at least give it a better GPU. The new OS begs for that.
If you bought your mini from Amazon, or Best Buy there was no wireless and no superdrive available to you. Todays update was all about modifying the standard build products so that their channel partners can sell the machines with the options that people want.
I think there is some interesting details you can read into this update about sales:
a) partner sales arent so good.
b) people buy the bottom of the line model with no upgrades.
c) people buy the top of the line model with all the upgrades.
d) nobody is getting the 599 model, because the cpu and HD didnt seem worth it.
I think Apple has done a good job of addressing the issues that the mini was having.
a) the 499 model has the RAM that buyers who arent going to spend any extra money need to have a good experience.
b) the 599 model is now much more attractive, it basically got a $150 price cut, pretty nice.
c) the 699 model exists, so people who are looking to buy a mac through a partner ( some of whom only sell minis ) actually have that option.
What about the machine itself? While I agree that it is underpowered, and core graphics would be a nice addition, I think Apple is stuck with whatever manufacturing deal they made originaly. Say, a ballpark figure of a million machines. Thats about a years worth of sales Im thinking. Hopefully we will see an upgrade just after xmas. Then it will roll for another 12 months till it goes intel.
Originally posted by Aurora
How do you update the Mini when you cant update powermacs,powerbooks,emacs or imacs??? Macmini has to be kept this way because it would eat into other product sales. This is what happens when your CPU makers are doing nothing! G4 and G5 are dogs and benches show this.
Nah. It didn't stop them from updating the eMac. The eMac kicks the crap out of the Mac mini now and it's ready for 10.5. I see two possibilities:
A) The Mac mini will be the first to go Intel at MWSF with the iBook and PowerBook following at WWDC or later.
Given the Overstock.com story, the recent elimination of sales data, the non-update today, the lag behind the eMac, etc. I would say it's going to get the axe.
Either way this "update" is a way to clear out existing inventory.
Originally posted by mmmpie
Hopefully we will see an upgrade just after xmas. Then it will roll for another 12 months till it goes intel.
Better to kill it off now then. If it's not getting the axe it needs to be the first to go Intel. WWDC at the latest, later this year if at all possible.
Originally posted by hmurchison
I'm at that point in my life where I'm growing weary with Apple again. In the meantime I may just build yet another PC and hope that the Mac mini in 2006 is a capable computer.
I hear ya. I just had to build a PC to run some software for work from home - $700 bought me a 2ghz Athlon 64, PCI-E GeForce 6600 w/256mb, 120gb SATA, 16x DVD/RW and a 1ghz FSB.
The very first night I was hating Win XP due to driver issues, but I absolutely love the hardware. I was hating life on my iBook, it was just time for a new computer, and even if I hadn't needed Windows for work - I couldn't bring myself to buy a machine that would for all intents and purposes only be marginally faster than my iBook G3@700mhz. ($800 was just about my limit)
My next Mac is going to be running X on Intel, and hopefully a MacMini
Originally posted by serrano
1ghz FSB.
1. It's not a FSB bus
2. In Apple's marketing terminology, it should be a 2GHz bus since it's 128 bits wide.
They actually raised the price of the Mac mini Here in the UK.
The basic config now costs £359, £20 pounds more than before.
That £359 is $625. The basic mini costs $125 or £72 more in the UK than USA. I am really dissapointed in Apple.
Originally posted by 1984
I think the writing is on the wall. These "updates" show that Apple simply wants to get rid of current stock and be done with it. I see no other explanation.
There's also this minor event called the "Intel transition" happening soon. You may have heard about it? The entire G4 product line is essentially on hold until that starts happening.
Originally posted by BRussell
The entire G4 product line is essentially on hold until that starts happening.
I would say it is on hold waiting the new 7448 chip from Freescale this October. The transition is for next year and the G4 line needs absolutely the new Freescale chip for the next 8-10 months.
Originally posted by PB
I would say it is on hold waiting the new 7448 chip from Freescale this October. The transition is for next year and the G4 line needs absolutely the new Freescale chip for the next 8-10 months.
next year is 5 months away.
you can put your life savings on it that the iBook, Powerbook and MacMini will be updated next January with Intel processors.
the 7448 is another hasbeen chip from Mot/Freescale
Originally posted by Bronxite
next year is 5 months away.
you can put your life savings on it that the iBook, Powerbook and MacMini will be updated next January with Intel processors.
Of course not, since these 5 months are not sufficient to build up appropriate software support from the developers.