cgWerks

Soli said:
1) It has everything to do with why the Mac mini hasn't been updated.

2) It's odd (but not surprising) that you believe the iPhone is the only product Apple updates.

3) Apple dictates their own product line. People aren't buying low-yeild, low profit products so they have less incentive to update. Now you can argue that if they did update more they would get more revenue, and potentially more profit, but it's about finite resources going to things that are less relevant to the company's bottom line (i.e.: wasteful).

4) You can bitch and moan all you want but you just sound like a colossal douche when you tell a company what it should do because you want something.

5) Apple has never done anything "perfect" for me because I don't live in a fantasy world. There are changes and directions I'd take that Apple either doesn't make because my "perfect" product is too esoteric, or because my timeline is further ahead. The difference is you don't see me crying about it because I don't it personally when a company acts in their own best interest and my support for Apple begins and ends when I choose a product that best suits my needs. If another company comes along with something better than I take it. I own them nothing and they own me nothing. One day, hopefully, you will understand that very simple concept about the free market instead of the nightmare that they design around your singular needs.

How much resources does it take to put a modern chipset in that case and price it properly? For crying out loud, they started a whole silly AI-car project with *HUNDREDS* of people working for it! Don't tell me they couldn't spare the resources to update the Mini or Mac Pro or a number of other products. That's just a lame attempt at justifying their shortsightedness.

The iPhone isn't the only product that they update, but sometimes it seems like it's the only product that really matters to them... because, well, pie-chart. And, in 5 or 10 years when no one cares about the iPhone or it isn't the flavor of the month anymore, then what? Oh, yea, the silly AI-car project, I guess. Or, maybe the Watch or HomePod will hav become a hit by then? Meanwhile, the industry influences and content producers will have moved on, and then what?

Yes, Apple dictates their own product line. That doesn't mean I can't point out stupid. And, it doesn't mean a 30+ year Apple evangelist shouldn't try to call them out in hopes of some course-correction just as fervently as I've recommended their products over that time. Do they owe me something? Legally, no. But, I've effectively sold many $millions of their product and brand over the years, even in their darkest moments... for free. They do owe me something in terms of relationship, yes, just not on paper. I've at least earned the right to bitch and complain!

And, it's not just because I want something. It's because I actually care how things turn out for them. They have had a huge impact on the world, and have made technology a better place to be. I don't want to see that all thrown away and head back into another tech 'dark ages'. I've been through previous ones, and it wan't fun. If Apple just becomes another Windows, we all lose.

re: #5 - Please explain how an up-to-date Mac Mini or Mac Pro is a 'fantasy world'. It has nothing to do with esoteric or further ahead. It has to do with serving your core (and loyal) customers. And, it isn't in their best interest! If I really thought it was, I'd just move on to Windows and say bye-bye to Apple. (BTW, we're economically far from a free market.)

Soli said:

cali said:
and is it me or has HomePod hype died down?

I'm looking forward to it, but it all depends on whether it will be able to work with the Apple TV as both a speaker system for my TV and as a way of use Siri voice commands to control content without having to press and hold the Siri button on the Apple TV remote.

Another product that I don't really get, but once again I seem in the minority of our 'modern' society? I don't want a device in the middle of my home listening, nor do I need to voice-control my toilet paper delivery. And, does anyone care about sound quality anymore?

My wife actually said the other day that she finds stereo sound annoying! That hurt my soul, LOL. I'm not sure she's even ever heard a real relatively decent stereo system in her life. The 25+ yr-old HK receiver I had died before we got married, and nothing we've purchased since (even relatively expensive Kenwood and Yamaha AVR systems haven't come close... I think I'm done with attempting surround sound, too.) and while I've heard good Infinity < 5" speakers in the past, we've had nothing to match them let alone a nice big pair of 15" - 18" woofer, 3-way towers. There's something special about actual bass you can feel vs overblown 'thumping'. We don't even have a respectable pair of speakers anymore (besides the studio monitors I'm selling because they are paired with a too-noisy amp for my office environment). What is the world coming to???

There, I think that was my curmudgeon, get off my grass, rant of the day!

polymnia said:
While I like a deal like the next guy, I’m pretty glad Apple isn’t the company you are comparing it to. 

They seem to be headed there quickly, just sans the deal part.

Soli said:
The bottom line is it's low-yield product that shouldn't get the same treatment as other products or be forced into an update simply because you want a new Mac mini or you want a Mac mini at a massively reduced lower price. Your position on the matter comes down to "does the cost warrant its value to me?" That's it! That goes for me and everyone else, too. This assertion that any company "should" do something because you wish it is ridiculous.

What does that have to do with anything? So, your argument is that because they sell less of them than the precious iPhone, it should go un-updated for YEARS while the iPhone gets yearly or more updates? Why? Please explain. No, its cost doesn't warrant it's value. The problem is there isn't a good alternative. And, it isn't about wishes, we're just making comments about what the company we're depending on is doing or not doing. If Apple is doing everything perfectly for you, great. They aren't for many of us. I'd rather complain in hopes of getting their attention before I move away and start recommending alternatives.

cecil4444 said:

MacPro said:

What have folks found to be the best bang for the buck, SSD or RAM or both?

Both. But the SSD makes the biggest difference by a longshot. And since the mini has an extra drive bay you can install an SSD as the main/startup drive and keep the HDD for storage. Works beautifully on my 2012 i7. 

Yes, unless you're incredibly RAM-starved, the SSD is a game-changer. I also don't mind having my big-storage external. My only problem/complaint is how Spotlight and other Apple services can't seem to deal properly with 'sleeping' external systems. I wonder if that's fixed in High Sierra? Having the system pause for several seconds every time you try to search something or open a save dialog is a royal pain!

Marvin said:
For people who are waiting for a quad-core i7 with a decent GPU, the better route to go is an old Macbook Pro:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Macbook-Pro-15-Late-2013-i7-2-3-GHz-16GB-Ram-512-GB-SSD-GT750M-2GB-/202081305432
Stick it in a neat stand and you get that slim headless tower you've always wanted and that model will be updated regularly:

The problem, at least from previous experience, is that MBPs don't run all that well like that and get crazy-noisy. I haven't owned a quad-core Mini, but the Mini I have owned have been fairly quiet. But, yea, in terms of bang-for-buck, you're probably right, if noise isn't a concern.

Soli said:

cgWerks said:
What amazing Apple event?

At least you're showing your true colors, troll.

Oh, a troll... nice (there's a first for everything, Fanboi). But, I meant that quite seriously. Outside some camera improvements and FaceID (which I guess is kind of awesome for the sci-fi crowd?), what was so amazing? Yes, I was especially disappointed being more in need of Mac equipment currently, but I'm also an iOS user. There wasn't much in the way of anything that compelling to me. In fact, most of the moves would actually tend to keep me on my current equipment.

mike54 said:

Tim talks crap he knows it too, as he just rattled those words off like on autopilot. Totally ignoring one of the few products you sell for 3 years is not love - unless that's the way he displays love.
I've moved to Windows 10 after waiting so long. Release a decent upgraded product and I may come back. No interest in an all-in-ones.

Well, and as mentioned, because it was kind of a downgrade in 2014, it's really closer to 5 years. I've considered Windows, but it's just not there yet (if ever). But, it would certainly open up the hardware possibilities. The problem is around eco-systems. I'm pretty heavily invested in Apple in terms of content, workflows, software, and other equipment. Switching comes at a pretty big cost. That's why I'm so vocal about my displeasure with Apple's moves (so, much so, that fanboys are now calling me a troll!).

I really want Apple to come back... I'm just starting to lose my faith.