If Apple only sold the iPhone there would not be an ecosystem and that is one of the major selling points. Thats why Apple makes so much money, when you have an eco system like Apples the actual parts of the ecosystem don't need to be all that great, they just need to work well together.
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Resolved Why hasn't Apple updated the Mac mini since 2014
- Thread starter Hexley
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If the Mac is important to this "ecosystem", why doesn't Apple bother to keep its Mac products up to date?
Refer to the part where i said "the actual parts of the ecosystem don't need to be all that great" . Apple does not need to keep it up to date when people will buy outdated products at a premium.
I think we‘ll see a redesigned Mini someday. No fans, pure SSD, completely closed chassis - affordable price point. Anyone with me?
But this one doesn‘t run macOS and thus can‘t be really used as a server or personal computer. Even more so, if there exists a „similar“ product, why not use the same principles for a full headless computer?
I would argue that, rather than being 'important' to the Apple ecosystem, the computer is a 'necessary evil'. IMO Cook and company want to eliminate computers from the equation - at least as far as the non-professional is concerned, but at the present time, there is just too much that still cannot be done on a tablet... but I firmly believe that it's their goal...
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Possibly, but I doubt that it will happen... and it's highly doubtful that we'll ever see anything from app at an "affordable price point"... that ship has sailed.
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IMO, a device like that would be welcomed by the customer, but it would cannibalize other offerings in the computer line... and that is bad for Apple and their shareholders.
We're seeing things like AMD GPUs being integrated into Intel CPUs and RAM being soldered directly on the motherboards (MacBooks, Mac mini, low-end iMac) or even integrated into the CPU itself (package on package) if the ARM transition rumours turn out to be true.
So if Apple really wanted the most bang for their buck, they would design a single motherboard for both this new low-cost MacBook and the new Mac mini (whatever their actual names will be) and could also be used inside the iMac. The new Mac Pro could have multiple slots for motherboards, making upgrades easier and spreadable over time. Buy a one-motherboard Mac Pro to begin with, then add another one a year later.
The MacBook/Mac mini/iMac/Mac Pro would have separate boards for their ports and other connections, the Mac mini would convert the GPU lines to an HDMI port, the iMac would convert the same lines to its internal display, etc.
If they could make it technician-accessible, they could make more profits by selling more upgrades to a lot more users every year across all lines all at the same time, lower their own shipping costs, lower their inventory space requirements, lower the environmental impact of upgrading your computer, etc. This solution is so obvious and efficient, I don't know why Tim isn't pushing for this idea.
Maybe it's why we're seeing delays all over the place and rumors of a "modular Mac Pro". It would also explain weird placeholder computers like the iMac Pro which makes no sense for pro users.
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I'm tired of hearing this "cannibalize other offerings" argument because it removes things like needs and price from the argument.
- People who want a headless computer will never buy an iMac.
- People who need power will not buy a Mac mini.
- People who need to be mobile also won't buy a Mac mini.
- While we're on the subject, real pro users don't want an iMac Pro or even a trashcan Mac Pro, they want an actual Mac Pro like the old Mac Pro tower.
- People who cannot afford an iMac will buy a Mac mini. Or a non-Apple computer, which is the worst kind of cannibalization because instead of Apple making less profits, they make no profit at all. And then those people don't buy an iPhone, don't buy an iPad and don't subscribe to Apple services. That's even less profit.
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Steve Jobs used to run Apple with a commitment to excellence and a brutal rejection of "good enough".
So, has Apple become "it doesn't need to be all that great" under Tim Cook's modus operandi?
edit: all this merging of posts makes it hard for people to upvote comments because you rarely agree with all the points of merged posts.
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It's also entirely possible that Apple just doesn't care (anymore). It's been 4 years since they've done anything with the Mini... selling that low-spec'd machine at what I consider an exorbitant price is proof to me that Apple doesn't care about the person you described above... if they did, things would be different.
Charging over $1000 for a cell phone is all the proof that I need that Apple's only concern is profit. Profit is not bad, but it can't be the only thing that drives a company.
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To be honest, I don't see any bright future for the Mac mini.
The Apple computer line is now concentrating on these products:
- Macbook
- iMac
- Pro machine(s): Macbook Pro, iMac Pro, maybe the modular Mac Pro*
* It is interesting, that Apple will eventually really release a (modular) upgraded Mac Pro.
Because it seemed that, the desktop line of computers (except the iMac series) will be totally canceled.
The Apple computer line is now concentrating on these products:
- Macbook
- iMac
- Pro machine(s): Macbook Pro, iMac Pro, maybe the modular Mac Pro*
* It is interesting, that Apple will eventually really release a (modular) upgraded Mac Pro.
Because it seemed that, the desktop line of computers (except the iMac series) will be totally canceled.
You really expected that from a software and developer conference? Really?Another Apple Event and no new computers announced!
Another Apple Event and no new computers announced!
Wow... it doesn't matter what Apple has done on occasion, this is a SOFTWARE conference for developers... sort of makes sense, really.
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MacBook Air refresh 2013
That was FIVE years ago...
Nearly the same amount of time since Apple updated the Mini (which is what this thread is about)
what does that (or your "what? no hardware?" post) have to do with the subject at hand? Are you suggesting that Apple should do hardware at a software conference every 5 years or so?
To quote MacRumors "Oftentimes, new hardware, such as refreshed Macs, debuts at the event...".
The subject at hand is "Why hasn't Apple updated the Mac mini since 2014" not the software development conference.
Oh by the way, this time last year, the WWDC 2017...
Apple’s annual developer conference felt especially like a show for consumers this year, with announcements of seven laptop updates, a new iMac Pro desktop computer, a new iPad, and a new home smart speaker called the HomePod. But Apple also had something for developers...
Go figure!
I had to turn off when they started yapping on about the animoji stuff- cringe
[doublepost=1528187798][/doublepost]SJ : Insanely Great
TC : Tediously Mediocre
[doublepost=1528187798][/doublepost]SJ : Insanely Great
TC : Tediously Mediocre
To quote MacRumors "Oftentimes, new hardware, such as refreshed Macs, debuts at the event...".
The subject at hand is "Why hasn't Apple updated the Mac mini since 2014" not the software development conference.
Oh by the way, this time last year, the WWDC 2017...
Apple’s annual developer conference felt especially like a show for consumers this year, with announcements of seven laptop updates, a new iMac Pro desktop computer, a new iPad, and a new home smart speaker called the HomePod. But Apple also had something for developers...
Go figure!
And this year's software developers conference brought no new hardware. Go figure.
Yet just last year at WWDC they announced the iPad Pro 10.5, updated iMacs, updated Macbook/Air/Pro, HomePod...oh, and a little thing called the iMac Pro.
https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/apple/wwdc-2017-3522648/
So, yeah, no hardware precedent there.
Also, what the hell are devs supposed to develop on right now? The Mac Mini is 4 years old, the Mac Pro is 5 years old this year, the MacBook Pro has a dodgy keyboard and no F keys...it's a complete joke. Instead of banging on about Animojis, they could have at least thrown devs and pros a bone by updating where things stand with the fabled believe-it-when-I-see-it modular Mac Pro and in-house display.
Just saying that it seemed illogical to me to expect hardware... and it didn't happen... no reason to get your panties in a bunch... hardware will come when hardware comes... I'm out.
But Animoji's now have tongue detection!
I don't know why anyone expected a new Mini, there were certainly no rumors about that. And there are no rumors that would suggest there will ever be a new Mini.
I don't know why anyone expected a new Mini, there were certainly no rumors about that. And there are no rumors that would suggest there will ever be a new Mini.
I see that in the Mojave article it states that Macs as old as the 2012 and the 2010 Pro will be able to use Mojave, so panic over. Purchase more-or-less confirmed. I think I will bump the HDD to SSD on the mid-spec to help save any moving parts dying. But yeah, I can see they get quite a long period of software support.