Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a boldstupid move that executives say aligns with user habits
access the button by tucking a finger underneath to press it as long as you’re a six year old child. Otherwise you have to pick the unit up.
They are trying to put a shine on a turd. This was a stupid design choice that goes against best practices and will waste electricity. So much for Apple trying to act like they keep the environment in focus.
Design is based on research and the result clearly points to it not being necessary. There'll always be a group who disagree, but that's typically because they have not adopted to newer options. The same sentiment happened when Apple removed the headphone jack, or the ability to swap the iPhone battery, or removed the iPhones Home button...
Are you genuinely trying to say Apple does market research on their designs? Did the public clamor for: Removal of floppy drives? Optical drives? A round hockey-puck mouse? A limited expansion garbage can "Pro" computer design? Putting a charge port on the bottom of a mouse? A keyboard design which just didn't work in the real world? $700 wheels for a computer?
Did Apple use research focus groups for these and their multitude of other boondoggles?
Of course not! Apple does what Apple wants to do - consumer be damned! and they rarely, VERY rarely, admit to a design faux-pas. Apple epitomizes autocratic, form-over-function mentality... and has enough zealots who will support their every stupidity to let them continue thinking they are brilliant visionaries.
There is a whole self-help book industry out there for the folks who are upset about the placement of this power button. I mean seriously. This is about the difference between placing your hand on the top of the box and feeling around on the back with the tip of your index finger for the power button or placing your hand on the top of a smaller box, curling your finger around the back to press the button on the bottom corner. That’s what all the gnashing of teeth is about.
If anything other than mundane, the button is marketing genius. Is anyone going to switch to a Windows computer because of this? No, but with all the “news” coverage and online chatter about this non-issue, a lot more people know there’s a new Mac Mini available for purchase!
Power Button Mini ..simple solution. Cut a 1/2 " piece of plywood in a circle to match to bottom of the Mac Mini, paint it black, and problem solved. It raises the Mini enough to allow access for your finger.
Power Button Mini ..simple solution. Cut a 1/2 " piece of plywood in a circle to match to bottom of the Mac Mini, paint it black, and problem solved. It raises the Mini enough to allow access for your finger.
Easier alternatives to cutting & painting plywood:
Coaster from the decorative set you were gifted 15 Christmases ago;
Inverted saucer from the ugly dish-set grandma gave you when you went off to college;
Bible you were given as a child and never read;
Random bathroom tile you've kept since that renovation;
Old cassette tape jewel-box saved from the landfill;
Metal screw-top lid from an old pickle jar heretofore used to collect interesting pennies;
That "emergency pack" of cigarettes lingering in your junk drawer since you kicked the habit 20 yr ago.
Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a boldstupid move that executives say aligns with user habits
access the button by tucking a finger underneath to press it as long as you’re a six year old child. Otherwise you have to pick the unit up.
They are trying to put a shine on a turd. This was a stupid design choice that goes against best practices and will waste electricity. So much for Apple trying to act like they keep the environment in focus.
Wait, so you believe turning off a Mac mini is better for the environment?
Do you own a microwave? A remote-controlled flat-screen television? All of these devices "live" in a low-power mode waiting to be used.
Macs have excelled at Sleep mode for 25 years. Even 20 years ago, I was advising people not to constantly switch their computers on and off, as it's harder on the electronics. There's even less reason to switch them off these days.
Even if you don’t need to use the power button very often, when you DO need it, it shouldn’t require hunting for it or using kludges like that 3D printed power button pusher.
For those who think the power button isn't necessary anymore on modern Macs, I'm guessing that most of you live in one of those fair-weather states where you don't have to unplug things in a flash during electrical storms nor have tornadoes that barrel down upon you during every warm weather season. The power button is still a necessity for some. Would love to see Hoover stick the power button on the bottom of their vacuums too -- see how well that would go over.
...and as for the coster idea, etc. -- if it has to come to that, then it should come free and complimentary with every new Mac Mini -- just sayin'... and also hate to think of the strain being put on the ports on both sides of the Mini every time it's tipped over. It is a poor design choice (if not needed - just get rid of it as some have already said) and my guess is is that the location chosen was the most convenient (aka cheapest) place to put it without any additional cabling by Apple (thinking of the old Apple Time Capsules) -- kind'a sad really.....
Putting the power button underneath was obviously an unforced error by the mini's designers. No matter how they want to talk around it or rationalize it, they had a choice, chose unwisely, and set themselves up for ridicule. Is it a BFD? Not as much as what's being made of it. If I had a say in the matter I'd always prefer that the power button be on the front and the state indicator light or LED to be embedded in the button. Easy peasy.
I really like to be able to see the state of the computer or system from a distance. Seeing a full-on green light would tell be the unit is fully up and running and seeing it pulsing green would tell me it's sleeping. Ideally the indicator light would blink red if the unit has a fault that requires your attention. When I worked as a maintenance technician early in my career these kinds of state indicators were extremely valuable, especially when you have many racks full of equipment and many equipment racks or many enclosures. (Apologies in advance for red/green color blind folks). Humans are very good at tuning into things that are "not quite right," for example a picture on a wall that's off a few degrees from level. Designers need to provide sensory hints to help users figure things out themselves.
Apple could have done better here. Why they didn't is a question they should be asking themselves. Anything that's designed to be put in front of humans to operate should follow an empathic design process where the designers put themselves in the shoes of the end user. My experience as a technician gave me a lot of insight into the challenges and stress of trying to figure out why a system wasn't working while everyone's standing around constantly asking when it's going to be fixed. As an engineer involved with designing fault monitoring, detection, localization, and troubleshooting aids for systems I was able to know what it was going to feel like for engineers and technicians trying to get systems that lose the company tens of thousands of dollars a minute when they're down back up and working. By contrast, figuring out how to guide the end user to turn a computer ON or OFF should not be anything other than stupid-simple.
Will I still buy a Mac mini with an underbutton? Sure, it isn't perfect but now that I know where the button is hidden I can deal with it, no big deal. Hopefully Apple will learn from this.
Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a boldstupid move that executives say aligns with user habits
access the button by tucking a finger underneath to press it as long as you’re a six year old child. Otherwise you have to pick the unit up.
They are trying to put a shine on a turd. This was a stupid design choice that goes against best practices and will waste electricity. So much for Apple trying to act like they keep the environment in focus.
Nonsense. You are not meant to turn it off ever to save power anymore than shutting down your iPad fully. Who does that! Nobody. Nobody does that. It uses a minuscule wattage.
Well, it was enough of a concern (by a handful) to prompt a question to senior Apple management. But there are people who freak out about anything and they loooooooovvvvvveeeeee going online about these sort of issues.
As Bill Gates said, the Internet has become the place where crazy people congregate.
There are people who said "I won't be buying this Mac mini because of the power button placement."
They had no intention of buying it in the first place and they're full of shit. It's like saying I'm not going to buy a Mac because the charging port is on the bottom of the mouse.
there is no reason to use a power button on a desktop Mac.
It's a non issue.
then why does it have one?
Don't be stupid...for the couple of times when you do need to turn it on. But who the hell turns their desktop Mac off everyday? You just put it to sleep.
Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a boldstupid move that executives say aligns with user habits
access the button by tucking a finger underneath to press it as long as you’re a six year old child. Otherwise you have to pick the unit up.
They are trying to put a shine on a turd. This was a stupid design choice that goes against best practices and will waste electricity. So much for Apple trying to act like they keep the environment in focus.
Nonsense. You are not meant to turn it off ever to save power anymore than shutting down your iPad fully. Who does that! Nobody. Nobody does that. It uses a minuscule wattage.
He's probably the type of person who unplugs everything in their house when they're not using it to "save" power.
there is no reason to use a power button on a desktop Mac.
It's a non issue.
then why does it have one?
Don't be stupid...for the couple of times when you do need to turn it on. But who the hell turns their desktop Mac off everyday? You just put it to sleep.
‘Don’t be stupid… it has a power button because it needs one. Except we pretend that it doesn’t because otherwise there’s no excuse for the design decision and then we can’t blindly parrot what Apple says’
Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a boldstupid move that executives say aligns with user habits
access the button by tucking a finger underneath to press it as long as you’re a six year old child. Otherwise you have to pick the unit up.
They are trying to put a shine on a turd. This was a stupid design choice that goes against best practices and will waste electricity. So much for Apple trying to act like they keep the environment in focus.
Design is based on research and the result clearly points to it not being necessary. There'll always be a group who disagree, but that's typically because they have not adopted to newer options. The same sentiment happened when Apple removed the headphone jack, or the ability to swap the iPhone battery, or removed the iPhones Home button...
Are you genuinely trying to say Apple does market research on their designs? Did the public clamor for: Removal of floppy drives? Optical drives? A round hockey-puck mouse? A limited expansion garbage can "Pro" computer design? Putting a charge port on the bottom of a mouse? A keyboard design which just didn't work in the real world? $700 wheels for a computer?
Did Apple use research focus groups for these and their multitude of other boondoggles?
Of course not! Apple does what Apple wants to do - consumer be damned! and they rarely, VERY rarely, admit to a design faux-pas. Apple epitomizes autocratic, form-over-function mentality... and has enough zealots who will support their every stupidity to let them continue thinking they are brilliant visionaries.
Yes and there’s a reason for all, it’s tech moving forward. The floppy was dying, the iMac was an internet focused device. Some failed of course, like the hockey puck but others are still around for reasons that will surprise you, like the charge port on the Magic Mouse.
Sometimes design is made to break a habit or prevent an undesirable one, like keeping a wireless mouse connected with a USB cable.
Steve Jobs was obsessed with profit margins and Tim Cook is doing the same so putting the power button in a totally stupid location is just a way to save a dollar or two and not cut into the profit margins by putting the power button on the case. Then Apple calling in the troops of is hardcore fanboy YouTubers to spread the word.... just say who turns off their Macs" as the battlecry to spread. Sorry Apple you were being cheap not willing to give up dollar of profit margin to do something right. I bet Apple Intelligence would tell Cook "that's a stupid idea Tim".
Steve Jobs was obsessed with profit margins and Tim Cook is doing the same so putting the power button in a totally stupid location is just a way to save a dollar or two and not cut into the profit margins by putting the power button on the case. Then Apple calling in the troops of is hardcore fanboy YouTubers to spread the word.... just say who turns off their Macs" as the battlecry to spread. Sorry Apple you were being cheap not willing to give up dollar of profit margin to do something right. I bet Apple Intelligence would tell Cook "that's a stupid idea Tim".
What proof do you have that this was done to save money? How would it save money?
Steve Jobs was obsessed with profit margins and Tim Cook is doing the same so putting the power button in a totally stupid location is just a way to save a dollar or two and not cut into the profit margins by putting the power button on the case. Then Apple calling in the troops of is hardcore fanboy YouTubers to spread the word.... just say who turns off their Macs" as the battlecry to spread. Sorry Apple you were being cheap not willing to give up dollar of profit margin to do something right. I bet Apple Intelligence would tell Cook "that's a stupid idea Tim".
There is a stunning lack of knowledge of what power buttons actually do in modern electronics. Most of what we call power buttons, actually only put the device in standby and they still consume power. The power button doesn't protect against power problems by shutting the computer or other devices down. Those devices are still waiting on commands to go active and are still conceded to power. Here is a hint, if you can power it on using a remote, or button instead of a switch, the device was in standby mode and not fully powered off. What we call power buttons, do not latch the power in one state or another by themselves. They are normally open, momentary SPST switches. All they do is briefly tell the power logic that you are pushing the button. For remote controlled devices, the power logic needs to respond to IR or RF responses and that requires power to do so.
If you are worried about power problems at night, you should be worried about power problems during the day and have the device using a surge protector or better yet a UPS. Don't forget these power protection devices also consume power.
I leave my devices on so they can backup, apply updates, process mail, etc.
Uses Less Power is one of the many myths that hasn’t been true for decades. As far as photos, patches, etc, you forgot malware, DDOS attacks, not to mention damage from power ripples in the night. No you ALWAYS shut your machine off when not using it.
Apple Silicon is based off of a portable device chip with low-power cores and an extremely efficient power management system. It sips power. Heck, I have a nightlight that draws more power.
And as others have said, my computer is always on and always plugged in. And connected to an UPS/surge protector so no power glitches either.
The only time my computer is ever off is that split second when it's restarting.
Comments
Didn't Bill also say superhuman AI is just around the corner?
Sounds to me like Bill is trying to prove is own point about crazy people and the internet.
Are you genuinely trying to say Apple does market research on their designs?
Did the public clamor for:
Removal of floppy drives? Optical drives? A round hockey-puck mouse? A limited expansion garbage can "Pro" computer design? Putting a charge port on the bottom of a mouse? A keyboard design which just didn't work in the real world? $700 wheels for a computer?
Did Apple use research focus groups for these and their multitude of other boondoggles?
Of course not! Apple does what Apple wants to do - consumer be damned! and they rarely, VERY rarely, admit to a design faux-pas. Apple epitomizes autocratic, form-over-function mentality... and has enough zealots who will support their every stupidity to let them continue thinking they are brilliant visionaries.
I'm sure you can think of more. :-)
Even if you don’t need to use the power button very often, when you DO need it, it shouldn’t require hunting for it or using kludges like that 3D printed power button pusher.
...and as for the coster idea, etc. -- if it has to come to that, then it should come free and complimentary with every new Mac Mini -- just sayin'... and also hate to think of the strain being put on the ports on both sides of the Mini every time it's tipped over. It is a poor design choice (if not needed - just get rid of it as some have already said) and my guess is is that the location chosen was the most convenient (aka cheapest) place to put it without any additional cabling by Apple (thinking of the old Apple Time Capsules) -- kind'a sad really.....
I really like to be able to see the state of the computer or system from a distance. Seeing a full-on green light would tell be the unit is fully up and running and seeing it pulsing green would tell me it's sleeping. Ideally the indicator light would blink red if the unit has a fault that requires your attention. When I worked as a maintenance technician early in my career these kinds of state indicators were extremely valuable, especially when you have many racks full of equipment and many equipment racks or many enclosures. (Apologies in advance for red/green color blind folks). Humans are very good at tuning into things that are "not quite right," for example a picture on a wall that's off a few degrees from level. Designers need to provide sensory hints to help users figure things out themselves.
Apple could have done better here. Why they didn't is a question they should be asking themselves. Anything that's designed to be put in front of humans to operate should follow an empathic design process where the designers put themselves in the shoes of the end user. My experience as a technician gave me a lot of insight into the challenges and stress of trying to figure out why a system wasn't working while everyone's standing around constantly asking when it's going to be fixed. As an engineer involved with designing fault monitoring, detection, localization, and troubleshooting aids for systems I was able to know what it was going to feel like for engineers and technicians trying to get systems that lose the company tens of thousands of dollars a minute when they're down back up and working. By contrast, figuring out how to guide the end user to turn a computer ON or OFF should not be anything other than stupid-simple.
Will I still buy a Mac mini with an underbutton? Sure, it isn't perfect but now that I know where the button is hidden I can deal with it, no big deal. Hopefully Apple will learn from this.
If you are worried about power problems at night, you should be worried about power problems during the day and have the device using a surge protector or better yet a UPS. Don't forget these power protection devices also consume power.
I leave my devices on so they can backup, apply updates, process mail, etc.
Apple Silicon is based off of a portable device chip with low-power cores and an extremely efficient power management system. It sips power. Heck, I have a nightlight that draws more power.
And as others have said, my computer is always on and always plugged in. And connected to an UPS/surge protector so no power glitches either.
The only time my computer is ever off is that split second when it's restarting.