*** The official 2023 and 2024 Mac mini thread (it has the M2 chip, the M4 chip and everything!) ***
- Thread starter Feek
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My M4 Mac Air handles 6k video fine, I don't see why it wouldn't manage 8k. M4 chips are beastly.
I have a prediction that the company which generally releases new products on an annual cadence, will have a new product out in the next year.\
You're welcome.
No was purely just curious. I already know its the following week of anything I buy anyways lol.
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Caporegime
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I didn’t even bother with M4 for my MBA a few months ago and went for a heavily discounted M3 with a bump up in ram and SSD. There is no difference in daily use and only noticeable if it’s hit with a prolonged load.
There's probably not a lot of difference in terms of the raw CPU performance, but the M4 has significantly better media engines over the M1-M3 chips, so there'lll be a difference when it comes to video encode/decode.
Easy there Mark Gurman.
I'm currently weighing up a Mini +- MBA, not the easiest decision, only easy one is there is really zero case for waiting to see the new MBP lineup for current use outside of 16" screen option. This will be for normal admin stuff, and moving my coding to so I can separate both from my gaming PC, no photo editing or video stuff currently and can't see why in future.
Mini
+ Can keep on with my new desktop USB multi charger
+ Use with my LGC2 without needing additional dongle, cable will be tucked away
+ Cheaper
- Less portable but struggling to think where I'd be taking a laptop other than round the house.
- Can upgrade SSD for much less than factory option
+- Limited to 16gb ram unless get higher model, but that also pumps up the SSD & price so don't get as much benefit from manual SSD upgrade saving. Not sure if this is problematic
- Only have normal windows peripherals (m+kb)
MBA:
+ Can charge with new desktop charger
+ Can use around the house if I don't want to be tethered to desk.
+ Touchpad is nice and negates need for mouse (and keyboard) when using with external screen
- Need a dongle to use with my monitor and then have an HDMI cable flapping about.
- Much more £ as would have to go for 15" 512 version (15" as struggle with work 13" when using as laptop, 512SSD because 256 just seems ridiculous).
- Can't upgrade RAM or SSD DIY
+- 16gb ram again unless pay extra £200 for 24.
Not expecting anyone to make a decision for me btw, just laying it out. I do have access to education discount and one through work, whichever works out best but won't be a huge amount. I'd also consider refurb MM but not MBA. Ultimately my brain goes back to, does being able to take a laptop about justify the £900+ extra cost, even though there's more to it as a whole.
Mini
+ Can keep on with my new desktop USB multi charger
+ Use with my LGC2 without needing additional dongle, cable will be tucked away
+ Cheaper
- Less portable but struggling to think where I'd be taking a laptop other than round the house.
- Can upgrade SSD for much less than factory option
+- Limited to 16gb ram unless get higher model, but that also pumps up the SSD & price so don't get as much benefit from manual SSD upgrade saving. Not sure if this is problematic
- Only have normal windows peripherals (m+kb)
MBA:
+ Can charge with new desktop charger
+ Can use around the house if I don't want to be tethered to desk.
+ Touchpad is nice and negates need for mouse (and keyboard) when using with external screen
- Need a dongle to use with my monitor and then have an HDMI cable flapping about.
- Much more £ as would have to go for 15" 512 version (15" as struggle with work 13" when using as laptop, 512SSD because 256 just seems ridiculous).
- Can't upgrade RAM or SSD DIY
+- 16gb ram again unless pay extra £200 for 24.
Not expecting anyone to make a decision for me btw, just laying it out. I do have access to education discount and one through work, whichever works out best but won't be a huge amount. I'd also consider refurb MM but not MBA. Ultimately my brain goes back to, does being able to take a laptop about justify the £900+ extra cost, even though there's more to it as a whole.
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I'd go for the MM Pro, if you don't need the portability of a laptop then there's no point buying a laptop. Its also much easier to permanently hang an external SSD off a Mac Mini especially if you want to install MacOS on it and boot from it. It will also be cheaper than a laptop.
Ah the duality of man lol. I've just put a Linux distro on my Windows laptop too.
Just saw error in my post too. I didn't mean MM Pro/Studio, I was going to write pros and cons in that format but changed it to the + / - I assume @chrisd you would echo Niel then?
Suppose there is one risk with this regarding cost. I may decide I want the portability and end up getting a laptop in addition...
Just saw error in my post too. I didn't mean MM Pro/Studio, I was going to write pros and cons in that format but changed it to the + / - I assume @chrisd you would echo Niel then?
Suppose there is one risk with this regarding cost. I may decide I want the portability and end up getting a laptop in addition...
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Right, I was comparing MacBook Pro to MacBook Air. Ultimately it comes down to whether you need a laptop or a desktop. if you don't need portability, I'd get the Mini.
If you're prepared to wait, no doubt their bestest fastest ever super duper M5 chip will be out at the end of the year.
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Caporegime
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That is how I went from 2012 i7 core2duo to M4 Mac Mini !
I wish I could do that easier with my Macbook Pro 2017, but I have to use the open core patcher to get it updated to that point, and most apps still won't upgrade once open core patcher is in place, but the hardware is still perfectly serviceable and fast enough to use for day to day stuff
That must have been hell of an upgrade.
Caporegime
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I wish I could do that easier with my Macbook Pro 2017, but I have to use the open core patcher to get it updated to that point, and most apps still won't upgrade once open core patcher is in place, but the hardware is still perfectly serviceable and fast enough to use for day to day stuff
I couldn't do that with the Macbook some reason. 2010 MBP (base) to 2017 MBP (upgraded CPU, RAM and SSD....cost me £2300) to 2024 M3 (24g/512). So about 7 years for my laptops.
It was but also means a lot of software and some hardware are no longer supported. Like the Wedding Album design lifetime licence software only works for the intel macs, not the Apple Silicon one, the company moved to a subscription model, so I still have to boot up the iMac or use my 2017 MBP for that.