256GB Mac Mini discontinued

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hanno Labuschagne

Hanno Labuschagne

Journalist
Staff member
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
6,489
Reaction score
4,779
256GB Mac Mini discontinued

Apple raised the starting price of its Mac mini desktop to $799 from $599, adjusting to inventory shortages driven by AI demand and the tight supply of processors.

The company is effectively increasing the price by removing the entry-level configuration, a model that includes an M4 processor and 256GB of storage.

[Bloomberg]
 
Crap.
I've been considering getting that base M4, was literally looking at a deal on it yesterday, looks like I might be forced to pull the trigger now. R16K+ for 256GB extra storage almost completely eradicates the value proposal as far as I'm concerned.
 
Last edited:
RaptorSA said:
Crap.
I've been considering getting that base M4, looks like I might be forced to pull the trigger now.
R16K+ for 256GB extra storage almost completely eradicates the value proposal as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...
Carb Carb Carb...depending on your location they should be plenty to choose from :unsure:
 
FiestaST said:
Carb Carb Carb...depending on your location they should be plenty to choose from :unsure:
Click to expand...

Yup! That's where I started and couldn't see any current deals that haven't been scooped up.
That said, the wootware pricing is barely more than the 2nd hand option so I think the time has come.

Not a Mac person, but, I realized it can run freeCAD, blender, etc. which is perfect for a little 3D design and printing training machine. My poor intel work MiniPC is sweating blood, time to give it a break. I did consider using the mac mini as a work machine but after chatting with some macbook pro guys at work it does seem that 16GB memory just isn't enough.
 
No doubt with further model shortages to follow.
 
“… adjusting to inventory shortages driven by AI demand and the tight supply of processors.”

I thought yesterday there was no issue with Apple and RAM?
 
Dolby said:
“… adjusting to inventory shortages driven by AI demand and the tight supply of processors.”

I thought yesterday there was no issue with Apple and RAM?
Click to expand...
As far as i know there isn't. More likely this is because 256GB is just not popular anymore and you're sort of wasting CPU and RAM with a spec that probably won't sell well, given this current climate of possible shortages.

Also Apple's M chips are definitely not being scooped up by AI companies they're purpose-built so I can't see them having a shortage there. However with chip manufacturing focusing on AI it could be a case of slowness in production. While I don't always like China copying stuff, i think once they can compete with TSMC and can produce the same we should see prices plummet, and processors pitching up all over the place..
 
neoprema said:
As far as i know there isn't. More likely this is because 256GB is just not popular anymore and you're sort of wasting CPU and RAM with a spec that probably won't sell well, given this current climate of possible shortages.

Also Apple's M chips are definitely not being scooped up by AI companies they're purpose-built so I can't see them having a shortage there. However with chip manufacturing focusing on AI it could be a case of slowness in production. While I don't always like China copying stuff, i think once they can compete with TSMC and can produce the same we should see prices plummet, and processors pitching up all over the place..
Click to expand...
He hates the Apple logo.
 
Smiggles said:
He hates the Apple logo.
Click to expand...
Not at all - I have an iPhone, two Mac minis, Apple TV etc ... also use Mail, Apple Music. I think I'm just a bit more objective than you and don’t align myself to Apple decisions?

I remember when the Mac mini was launched and many said 256GB was ideal (because Apple it) - and now it's not? But the 16GB RAM was a welcome because times have moved on ... and then the Neo came out with 8GB and that was also perfect. And then they said they're not worried about RAM shortages (and you agreed) and then the next day they say they removed 256GB drives because of the shortages.

It feel that they can give you something with 2GB and you'll praise & defend ... and change their stance every 6 months and you'll do the same.
 
Last edited:
neoprema said:
More likely this is because 256GB is just not popular anymore and you're sort of wasting CPU and RAM with a spec that probably won't sell well, given this current climate of possible shortages.
Click to expand...

It was popular 18 months ago? And now it's suddenly not popular?

Let @SauRoNZA tell you about the metrics they use the make these decisions.
 
Dolby said:
It was popular 18 months ago? And now it's suddenly not popular?

Let @SauRoNZA tell you about the metrics they use the make these decisions.
Click to expand...
The opposite:


www.businessinsider.com

Clawdbot has AI techies buzzing — and buying Mac Minis

Clawdbot is a local AI agent that promises to manage your digital life, from organizing your calendar to booking restaurant reservations.
www.businessinsider.com www.businessinsider.com

It's been all over my feed past 2/3 months ago, less so very recently.
 
Dolby said:
Not at all - I have an iPhone, two Mac minis, Apple TV etc ... also use Mail, Apple Music. I think I'm just a bit more objective than you and don’t align myself to Apple decisions?
Click to expand...
Must be why you have so many issues. Even my 69 year old mother manages fine without any issues.
 
Smiggles said:
Must be why you have so many issues. Even my 69 year old mother manages fine without any issues.
Click to expand...
I think if you’re listening to background music or have low expectations, it’s not a bad phone.

I just won’t pretend to like things.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swa
The base M4 was insane value. Either there's a Mac Neo coming to fill the price gap or the MacBook Neo is a better value offering than the M4 256GB + Monitor etc.
 
Dolby said:
Not at all - I have an iPhone, two Mac minis, Apple TV etc ... also use Mail, Apple Music. I think I'm just a bit more objective than you and don’t align myself to Apple decisions?
Click to expand...
I got a message using google search, not alleging illegal activity, but vaguely insinuating problematic content removed they claim was against their policies which they keep flip-flopping around. I had to reconfirm their policies before continuing. Nobody can tell me what this removed content is.

It made me realise. These corporations are too powerful and vying to have all the market share for control.

I now know. You should have multiple emails for services spread across different providers. Don't use devices just for the name but pick the best for the purpose. They inadvertently shot themselves in the foot as I now use Duckduckgo for search as well and Bing for image search and encourage everyone else to do the same. If you don't want to use those choose others but spread out what you use and don't use one account for everything.

I got a mail from a site once called Experience Project when they shut down precisely because of this crap. At any time there are around 30 agencies that have a say over what you do or say. It's an endless game of cat and mouse with both sides trying to catch up each other.

It's not that I don't trust Google with my info. They are probably the best out there but there's a reason behind the one account. It's about governments and corporations vying for social control. If you can control a person's online behaviour you can control them. This is more important for some controversial people than for others but spread out your online presence and devices across as many providers as possible. The more fragmented it is the better. Use encryption where you can, even if it's a basic password protected rar that will stop their routine scanners, and ensure you have backups of everything.
 
Smiggles said:
Weird way to live life. Using things you don’t like but whatever gets you through the day.
Click to expand...
It’s a weird way to live by pretending to like everything & essentially become a puppet in a corporate cult without having any thoughts or opinions of your own

But whatever helps you sleep at night
 
Smiggles said:
Weird way to live life. Using things you don’t like but whatever gets you through the day.
Click to expand...
Why would you not like what gets you through the day? Better than simply liking what doesn't get you through the day. We do have some weird people.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X