Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Mac mini
Rumors: Mac Mini Deathwatch
Is the Mac Mini doomed? According to this AppleInsider article, it just may be. Kasper Jade writes that the mini is underpowered compared to the rest of the Mac product line and has seen far fewer hardware refreshes. Add to that relatively low unit margins for the hardware and the emergence of Apple TV, which replaces the mini as a lower-cost media server, and Jade sees that the end approacheth.
I'd be sad if Apple discontinued the mini line even if I've had some issues with its design, particularly its lack of dual monitor support. I know that's a strange quibble to have with an otherwise well priced and moderately powerful unit, but it's the single issue that has kept it off the desktop of many of my friends and colleagues.
Thanks, fraserdrew.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
tim said 4:08PM on 5-24-2007
i say this couldnt be more wrong. its not meant for power users! its meant for converters. and media center users.
unless they are REPLACING it, i dont see this happening anytime remotely soon.
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BilboWaffen said 4:14PM on 5-24-2007
Is this stealth marketing to make us feel like we have to buy one?
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Steve Sande said 4:22PM on 5-24-2007
Geeeze, I hope not. The mini makes a great little departmental server. See macminicolo.net for other ways to use the mini as a low-cost server...
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Paul said 4:27PM on 5-24-2007
Re: I've had some issues with its design, particularly its lack of dual monitor support.
I think that is the point, actually. Apple didn't want people buying the mini for advanced features as this would cut into iMac and PowerMac sales.
I think a midrange (read: upgradable HD and Memory) Apple desktop would make more sense than a Mini - or release a midrange, but continue to make the mini but with only a single option and with no CTO options. This way it wouldn't cost as much to manage - it would be like checking out with an iPod dock only with or without AppleCare as far as the web store was concerned.
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Francis said 5:03PM on 5-24-2007
I would think this mac aswell as the macbook is responsible for most of the Mac switchers in the last few years.
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Slaptijack said 5:14PM on 5-24-2007
Dual monitor support is exactly why I don't have a Mini.
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bloodthirstyrobot said 5:17PM on 5-24-2007
I can't place much stock in this kind of speculation. I think the sales record of the product speaks for itself--it's very hard to find a store that has a plentiful stock. Demand is that healthy.
I for one bought mine instead of AppleTV because it's far more versatile and powerful.
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Jeremy said 5:17PM on 5-24-2007
Wouldn't it be cool if they remodeled it to be smaller and more AppleTV-like so that you could put it on top of an AppleTV, plug it in to that mystery USB port, and have a high-end AppleTV or something to that effect?
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frogbat said 5:18PM on 5-24-2007
yeah my next purchase was going to be the refreshed mini to serve as my main media player
the general consensus appears to be the need for apple to fill the hole in their line up with a home / semi pro home tower
i have a 1st gen single cpu g5 and a 20" lcd - definitely can't afford a mac pro - i wouldn't mind an imac 24" spec machine w/o the monitor, with 2 hdd bays, support for desktop rather than notebook ram and maybe maybe an upgradable gfx card
another pet peeve i have about the imac is that to upgrade i have to throw out the ram and replace them rather than to simply add.
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shirster said 5:25PM on 5-24-2007
I hope it isn't true, I just bought one and am about to send it to a data center !
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Joshua Ochs said 5:37PM on 5-24-2007
I think the mini is damn-near perfect, if just significantly underpowered. I mean, it's not even Core2 or 802.11n.
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Jesse Gillespie said 5:37PM on 5-24-2007
Bah. The product is not intended for high-end users with multiple monitors. I don't think it's really intended to be a media server either. It's aimed squarely at low-end PC converts. I think it hits this target fairly well.
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JayC said 5:43PM on 5-24-2007
I have a Mini. still pretty happy with it. did I want a laptop or a CPU...nope. I've used it on my big screen a few times which allowed for a even bigger monitor. did I wish it was more expanable? sure. but it got me to use the features of the Intel processor sooner than waiting for something else.
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Jon H said 5:55PM on 5-24-2007
Shouldn't a Mini be able to go multi-headed using a Matrox DualHead 2 Go box?
When you plug it into the computer the computer thinks it has a big monitor, and the box splits that up across the two monitors connected to it.
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Otsego said 5:58PM on 5-24-2007
The best application for the Mac Mini is to put that sucker in your car. Its something ive been wanting to do for quite a while. Apple just needs to make this easier to do for a car (without the power converter and some auto sleep/wake feature when the car turns on)
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Marcos said 6:51PM on 5-24-2007
The mini fills a gap in Apple's lineup. They NEED a monitor-less desktop computer. They NEED an under $1000 computer. People who buy a mini don't do it instead of a more expensive Mac, they do it instead of a similarly priced PC.
I think Apple needs to update the mini (which I own as a second computer, mainly used as a HTPC), and furthermore, plug that hole left by the 12" Powerbook (they suffered in the Japanese market this quarter, this is the reason).
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Alan said 7:00PM on 5-24-2007
The fact that the Mac Mini never got an upgrade to wireless N is a pretty strong sign that Apple has been neglecting it and perhaps intends to get rid of it. It's true that the Mac Mini doesn't make a lot of sense as a media device with the Apple TV around, but it would be a shame to get rid of it since it appeals to the geek crowd. I would never have switched if it wasn't for the first generation of the Mac Mini. I still use it as a server. It's true that the new Airport Extreme can replace some server functions (print server, NAS), but it doesn't support RAID and can't share a scanner, so it really doesn't meet the same needs. I really hope Apple doesn't kill the Mini.
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The Geek said 7:08PM on 5-24-2007
Who needs dual monitor support when you hook it up to a 32" HD LCD?
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Bruce Funk said 7:18PM on 5-24-2007
"The mini fills a gap in Apple's lineup. They NEED a monitor-less desktop computer. They NEED an under $1000 computer. People who buy a mini don't do it instead of a more expensive Mac, they do it instead of a similarly priced PC"
Bingo. That's exactly why I switched. and I, too, like the nice little footprint on the desktop. And by the time I add in elgato and joost, the downstairs mini makes a very good entertainment center (don't have a tv, just the mini with at 26" monitor).
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YodaMac said 7:40PM on 5-24-2007
Man, I sure hope this isn't true, unless they are replacing the Mini with something similar.
After using it for a couple of years now, I don't want to go back to a big desktop computer again!!! I love it because it's so tiny and fits out of the way.
I don't like the iMacs, because the screen is attached to it. I have a perfectly good Cinema Display and don't need an iMac display. I also don't edit video or anything at home (I do that all day at work), so I don't need a power-tower Mac.
Nope, the Mini suits me just fine. And I intended to replace it with an Intel Mini when Leopard comes out... (fingers crossed)
Of course, if they replace the Mini with a new and improved Mac with multi-touch screen and NO keyboard, then I'm on board! :) Bring it on!
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