I do like the 2018 model...but I do rather wish they had doubled the size of the case, and put in a larger cooler so that it can accommodate 95W TDP chips (without throttling), and a spare m2 slot. That would have been superb.
It can be done, though I'd recommend moving to the 45w TDP mobile chips, as everyone testing it seems to show the current Mini thermal throttling a lot under load. This would give it head room to offer the I9 or Xenon E 8-core CPUs in the current package.
Seriously, we're living in a time of exploding core-counts thanks to AMD (32 core Threadripper with 128MB L3 and a single NUMA Domain??? Be still my beating heart). For the Mini to stay near the top of the heap, it should offer an 8-core/16-thread model that's not thermally hampered.
Anyway, back to Spectrum's quote... and case in point for your desire for dual M.2 slots...
I just got a Zotac EN72070V.
It has the i7-9750H - a 45w TDP chip, nearly as powerful as the 65W i7-8700B in the top mini: Both are 6/12 cores/thread, but the 9750H is 2.6/4.5Ghz to the Mini's 3.2/4.6Ghz. But it doesn't seem to thermal throttle as badly.
Where it beats the mini is component access. No tools needed. 2x SO-DIMM slots, takes 64GB (confirmed personally, not properly documented), and has 2x M.2 slots - one it obstinately for an Optane module, but I've gotten the BIOS to recognize dual HP EX 950 M.2 Drives in it, but it doesn't retain that info correctly across reboots. Based on a number of things elsewhere, it should be able to do so with just a BIOS update. I've put in a request through Zotac support and sent them a video of it showing it recognizing the dual M.2 drives. Hopefully that comes in the next BIOS update. It also has a 2.5" drive slot.
It's about twice the volume of the Mini 2.65l vs 1.36L ( 0.57 inches wider, 0.29 inches deeper, 1.05 inches taller. External Power Supply though.
Well that sucks.. twice the volume!?!? External Power supply?!? What the bleep is it doing in there??
OH YEAH... It packs an 8GB nVidia RTX 2070 in there.
Click spoiler for a visual size comparison:
2012 mini sitting on top of the Zotac's predecessor (same dimensions).
Relative to the mini:
Pros: SD Card reader, Microphone Jack, 6x USB 3.0/3.1, 4x Simultaneous Display @ 4K, Dual Ethernet, Cheaper
Cons: No Thunderbolt. No 10G Ethernet (only 2.5G), No OSX, External Power supply (could be a pro)
Cost:
Zotac w/ 64GB, 2TB M.2 SSD, OS - $2,100
Mini w/ 64GB, 2TB SSD 10Gb - $3,200
tl;dr - Given that an RTX 2070 is a $500 video card, and the already > $1K price difference, there's room for Apple to improve the Mini.
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A 50% increase in size would make the Mac Mini less mini, and less transportable.
Although the Mac Mini is a desktop, it is small enough to be easily transportable in a backpack. That is one of the features that attracted me, and maybe others, to the Mini.
When I got mine, I did not want a portable computer to tote everywhere, every day. I did want something that could be easily transported occasionally locally on a bicycle, or when relocating by public transport. The Mac Mini can be disconnected in a minute or so, taken some place and set up as quickly, with locally available peripherals. As a teacher I have taken my Mini from home to class from time to time, connecting it to an LCD projector and audio system in class.
FWIW: I've been taking a Zotac Magnus, like the one EN72070 I just got done posting about, back and forth between Seattle, Phoenix, and Houston via plane in my carry-on backpack (no way in hell will I let it be checked). Along with my 13" MacBook Pro in the same backpack, and bunch of other stuff. Much bigger and you got a problem, but ~3 liters and under seems be the sweet zone for a super portable "desktop" .
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