Smaller Mac Mini? Apple May Redesign the Mac Mini to Apple TV Size
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Apple's Mac Mini has long been a favorite among tech enthusiasts for its compact size and versatility. Now, rumors suggest that Apple may be planning to make its smallest Mac even smaller. According to recent discussions on the MacBreak Weekly podcast hosted by Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, Jason Snell, industry experts are buzzing about the possibility of a redesigned Mac Mini that could be about the size of an Apple TV.
The potential redesign comes as Apple is expected to announce an M4 version of the Mac Mini. This new chip could allow for significant size reductions while maintaining or even improving performance. As Jason Snell pointed out, "The Mac Mini doesn't need much... other than maybe some surface area for ports."
The current Mac Mini design dates back 15 years, originally accommodating components like optical drives and spinning hard drives. With modern solid-state storage and Apple's efficient system-on-chip designs, much of that space is no longer necessary.
Alex Lindsay highlighted the potential impact of such a redesign: "When you think about people doing hybrid work... having that little puck that you put in, hook it up when you get to the office, hook it up when you get home, and it's all just got all of the stuff there. It's pretty interesting."
The panel's speculation about this potential "Mac Nano" covered a wide range of possibilities. They envisioned a device small enough to fit in a pocket or bag, making it incredibly portable for users who move between work and home. The experts discussed the likelihood of USB-C power, which could further enhance its portability and potentially allow it to run off a power bank. They also expected Thunderbolt ports for expansion, maintaining the Mac Mini's reputation for versatility.
In terms of performance, the panel anticipated both M4 and M4 Pro variants, catering to different user needs. This led to an interesting discussion about pricing, with suggestions ranging from an aggressive $299 to a more conservative $499 for a base model. The potential use cases discussed were equally diverse, from serving as a compact home theater PC to functioning as a portable workstation or even as an embedded system for various applications.
While exciting, the experts cautioned that this is still just a rumor. Andy Ihnatko emphasized the importance of maintaining the Mac Mini's versatility: "I would still want the ability to have a really powerful desktop and the ability to buy something that is large and substantial enough to have the sort of cooling that you would want to have with some beefy multi-core processors."
As Apple continues to push the boundaries of what's possible with its custom silicon, a reimagined Mac Mini could open up new possibilities for users and developers alike. Whether it's called the Mac Nano or retains the Mini moniker, this potential device could redefine what we expect from a compact desktop computer.
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