What’s Up With the Mac Mini?
At Apple’s October 22nd event, my friends and I were absolutely sure that they would refresh the Mac mini, but that didn’t happenThe Mac Mini has, since its launch in 2005, has always been the entry level Mac. I know for my family, it was the perfect first Mac. With a price under $1,000, it is easily the most affordable Mac. So I ask the question, why didn’t Apple update the Mac Mini at their event?
The market for PC’s has slowly been sliding with the introduction and refinement of tablets. Apple sold under 20 million Macs in the 2012 fiscal year, as apposed to 15.43 million iPads in their first quarter of fiscal year 2012 alone. It’s kind of obvious where the majority of the attention would be.
The Mac Mini is literally a repackaged Macbook Pro. Same circuit board, just refitted. Same RAM. Same Specs (except for the new Haswell Processors). The problem with the Mac Mini is that there just isn’t the market for it. Casual Mac users will typically buy a Macbook Air or Pro because of the portability, and Pro users, are going to buy either an iMac or a new Mac Pro. The Mac Mini just hasn’t evolved with the desktop users in terms of features and power. The current Mac Mini is still sporting Intel’s HD Graphics 4000, which are a joke for anyone wanting to do any video or photo editing.
Desktop users these days are typically the people who need power. The Mac Mini just doesn’t provide the power at an enticing price anymore. If you were to buy a Mac Mini with the same specs and an iMac, it comes within a few hundred dollars, plus you still need to buy a display, or use the crappy one in the basement. With the iMac, you get an amazing display, keyboard, and mouse or trackpad. There is no more use for the current Mac Mini in a semi Pro setting.
Then again, Apple has been known to amaze us, like with the iMacs last year. They tend to breath new life into old product lines. Let me know what you guys think down in the comments.
For your’ convenience I have embedded a video of David and his dad unboxing a Mac Mini… Classic J-Puff… =)
About the Author Sam Farrar
Sam Farrar is a technology enthusiast, Apple Fan, and all around geek. Sam has been writing for a few tech and gaming websites for 2 years. While only 18, Sam knows quite a bit about the tech industry. His first Gaming console was the Nintendo 64, with a Gameboy Advance to follow after that. His current main gaming machine is the XBOX 360, with a PS3 as a close second. As of now his eyes are on the XBOX One, but the Steam Machine looks really cool. His first computer was an old E Machines desktop, handed down from his parents. (It only ran Windows 95 with 256 mb of RAM) Sam was first introduced to the Apple Brand when his cousins bought one of those translucent, teardrop shaped iMacs in the early 2000's. (He played lots of Nascar: 2000 on that thing) Apple would weave in and out of his life with iPods and Macs here and there, but his real passion didn't begin until his neighbor bought an iMac in 2009. His thought it was a stupid $1500 computer until he used it. There were many early YouTube collabs made on that computer. Ever since then, he has been a total Apple fan, finally able to convince his family to buy their first Mac at Christmas 2010. The family is slowly turning into a true Apple family, with 3 iPads, 4 iPhones, 2 Macs, an Airport, and many iPods. One of Sam's many role models is Steve Jobs for his intensity and attention to detail. Sam is currently a student at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, MA, in their Applied Arts program. His goal right now is to go on from Community college and move on to an art school to get a bachelors degree in Digital Film or Graphic Design. Sam is now an Apple Employee at their Natick Retail Store as a Specialist.
Sam Farrar is a technology enthusiast, Apple Fan, and all around geek. Sam has been writing for a few tech and gaming websites for 2 years. While only 18, Sam knows quite a bit about the tech industry. His first Gaming console was the Nintendo 64, with a Gameboy Advance to follow after that. His current main gaming machine is the XBOX 360, with a PS3 as a close second. As of now his eyes are on the XBOX One, but the Steam Machine looks really cool. His first computer was an old E Machines desktop, handed down from his parents. (It only ran Windows 95 with 256 mb of RAM) Sam was first introduced to the Apple Brand when his cousins bought one of those translucent, teardrop shaped iMacs in the early 2000's. (He played lots of Nascar: 2000 on that thing) Apple would weave in and out of his life with iPods and Macs here and there, but his real passion didn't begin until his neighbor bought an iMac in 2009. His thought it was a stupid $1500 computer until he used it. There were many early YouTube collabs made on that computer. Ever since then, he has been a total Apple fan, finally able to convince his family to buy their first Mac at Christmas 2010. The family is slowly turning into a true Apple family, with 3 iPads, 4 iPhones, 2 Macs, an Airport, and many iPods. One of Sam's many role models is Steve Jobs for his intensity and attention to detail. Sam is currently a student at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, MA, in their Applied Arts program. His goal right now is to go on from Community college and move on to an art school to get a bachelors degree in Digital Film or Graphic Design. Sam is now an Apple Employee at their Natick Retail Store as a Specialist.
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