The Eventual Death Of The Mac Mini And Why

It’s been rumored that Apple’s Mac Mini will soon bite the dust. Introduced in January 2005, the Mac Mini’s aim was to entice switchers and make the transition as easy as possible. Even though it sported an all new amazing form factor and became a popular hit, it’s neglected and overpriced. Apple’s reincarnation of the cube was once again a failure and will eventually be killed off.

Apple had yet to venture in making their Macs small. True they had slim PowerBooks and iMacs but they all came with built-in displays, keyboards, mice, etc. If buying a Mac wasn’t your first computer then you could either get a PowerMac for a few thousand or sell off your hardware and invest in an iMac or even iBook. This wasn’t the best upgrade path for many, especially switchers. When Steve Jobs debuted the Mac Mini about two and a half years ago all our problems were solved. This was the lowest priced Mac to date; if you had an existing display, keyboard, and mouse they could all be hooked up to the Mini and you’d save at least a thousand dollars doing so.

The small form factor was not only a relief for those accustomed to big towers (like I was) but also expanded the pathway to mobile computing, such as installing a Mac Mini in your car to check the traffic or to control your car in the traffic. It was a huge leap for Apple design-wise as well. Many loved the PowerMac cube but its limited availability and high price and odd cooling system put it off as a luxury computer. The Mac Mini took its great features and included them in one small package.

Sadly the Mac Mini has always received the short end of the stick from Apple. Its brethren the MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, and Xserve have all been regularly updated and sport the latest and greatest processors from Intel, while only older versions of the Core Duo live on in the Mini. Besides, from aging technology finding a home in Apple’s low-end Mac, prices have gone up from the move to Intel while prices on other Macs have plummeted from the switch. The reason behind this is probably the laptop hardware used, 2.5” HDDs and Laptop style RAM.

Apple’s neglect will eventually lead to the death of the Mac Mini and any machine similar to it offered by Apple. Consumers in turn have also shunned the Mac Mini. The reason being is the Mini tries too hard at what it does. Its appearance is awesome but it’s appealing to switchers coming from the PC world. No doubt some of these people have tinkered with their own computers to change components; with the Mini it’s a difficult task compared to other computers and only a limited amount of components can be changed by the user. Another thing is price: Mac users have been accustomed to the prices Apple charges for its hardware, but it can still pose a problem for families who want a new computer and those used to the low prices of PCs. This can all be attributed to the type of hardware Apple put in the Mac Mini. Aiming for a small form factor, laptop-based parts were needed which drove up the price and made some upgrades difficult.

A totally new form factor would be needed for the Mac Mini to survive. Something that would allow easy upgrading, reducing price by using desktop components and still having a small footprint. Apple designing a PC after Shuttle would be the Mac Mini’s only hope to stay in Apple’s product line. Even then Apple would need to cut the price and regularly update the line, not use an outdated chip with minimal specs.