As fans await update for 3-year-old Mac mini, Apple classifies mid-2011 models 'obsolete'
Apple on Monday updated its official list of "obsolete" products to add the mid-2011 Mac mini lineup, once again raising questions about what the company has planned, if anything, for its cheapest Mac.
The vintage and obsolete products page was updated to reflect the fact that the mid-2011 Mac mini is no longer supported by the company, meaning services and repairs are no longer offered.
Apple guarantees parts and service for products 5 years after it is no longer manufactured. After that, they become obsolete worldwide, with the exception of in California and Turkey, where laws require another two years of support.
Because of that, the mid-2011 Mac mini remains vintage in the U.S. and Turkey, but is obsolete elsewhere.
The most recent Mac mini update came in late 2014, more than three years ago. The product is infrequently updated and has long been the subject of speculation about cancelation, though it remains a part of the company's Mac lineup for the time being.
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller made comments earlier this year suggesting the Mac mini could eventually see a refresh, though he declined to offer more specifics. Schiller did label the Mac mini as an "important product."
While Apple has not said anything else regarding the future of the Mac mini, the company did preannounce an all-new Mac Pro with modular design expected to arrive in 2018. The company also revealed, in an uncharacteristic move, that it will get back into the display business with a successor to the now-discontinued Thunderbolt Display.
The vintage and obsolete products page was updated to reflect the fact that the mid-2011 Mac mini is no longer supported by the company, meaning services and repairs are no longer offered.
Apple guarantees parts and service for products 5 years after it is no longer manufactured. After that, they become obsolete worldwide, with the exception of in California and Turkey, where laws require another two years of support.
Because of that, the mid-2011 Mac mini remains vintage in the U.S. and Turkey, but is obsolete elsewhere.
The most recent Mac mini update came in late 2014, more than three years ago. The product is infrequently updated and has long been the subject of speculation about cancelation, though it remains a part of the company's Mac lineup for the time being.
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller made comments earlier this year suggesting the Mac mini could eventually see a refresh, though he declined to offer more specifics. Schiller did label the Mac mini as an "important product."
While Apple has not said anything else regarding the future of the Mac mini, the company did preannounce an all-new Mac Pro with modular design expected to arrive in 2018. The company also revealed, in an uncharacteristic move, that it will get back into the display business with a successor to the now-discontinued Thunderbolt Display.
Comments
Someone really tries to lose market. Just like people starting switch to Samsung Galaxy Note8 I hear around. Dragging people and dropping some of features to sort out marketting issues (like Mac Mini cutting in low end Mac Pro space) is not people's problem. There are alternatives. One of them make MacPro 6-core standard instead of dropping multitasking performance on lower end computers.
Given the speed of ethernet I'm not sure I understand the need for 'ultra fast' PCIe in a server oriented model, or PCIe without a faster graphics option for a desktop oriented model ?
To me the macs that I feel are most worth looking at are the iMac - a bargain, still flexible, powerful; and the 2016 MacBook - a marvel where size matters most, and the venerable Air with such port flexibility built in...
As long as it runs all of Apples software and MS Office it would be fine for 90% of its users. Add QuickBooks, Quicken, and Photoshop the number would probably be 95%. With the ability to run everything in the IOS store, games, etc. I’d be interested....
I wonder how many of these they actually sell.
What’s odd is that I’ve never seen a good word about these machines on any Mac forum, but when I look on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-Mini-Intel-Core-Sierra/dp/B00ORHL02E/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1512427013&sr=1-2&keywords=mac+mini
People seem to really like it. The common thread seems to be “a bit pricey but it does the job”.
edit:
Imagine the general design with the centrally located airflow, but stubbier and/or a smaller diameter. I don't see that happening, I'm just noting how you could take that concept and miniaturize it.
edit: That first pic has some outdated I/O.Probably even USB-C for power with an external PSU at this point. If not, at least use a two-prong power cable and reduce the USB-A and TB/mini-DP to USB-C.
That’s not half bad. 👍🏾
https://9to5mac.com/2017/11/17/mac-mini-redesign-concept-touch-bar-face-id/