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Monday, October 08, 2012, 02:12 pm
Mac mini supply drying up, could signal Ivy Bridge update
With the Mac mini still waiting for an update to Intel's latest Ivy Bridge chips, supply of the diminutive desktop has begun to dwindle at various resellers.Numerous sellers found in the AppleInsider Mac Price Guide are currently out of stock of the Mac mini. Specifically, for the 2.3-gigahertz model, stock-outs are seen at Amazon, MacConnection, and J&R, while the 2.5-gigahertz option is unavailable at Amazon, MacMall, MacConnection and J&R.
Supply of the Mac mini Server with a 2-gigahertz Core i7 process is also running dry, as Amazon advertised as of Monday that it only has a few units left in stock, while MacMall and MacConnection are currently sold out.
In addition, Macerkopf.de noted on Monday that supply of the Mac mini has also begun to run dry in Germany. Apple typically winds down its inventory ahead of a new product launch, and limited supply at third-party resellers is often one of the first signs that a hardware refresh is forthcoming.
However, supply fluctuations are not always a sign that a hardware refresh is imminent. For example, Apple's iMac has seen its availability remain constrained off and on since July, but the all-in-one desktop has not yet been updated.
An updated Mac mini was not listed by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo among the eight new products Apple is rumored to launch this fall. However, he did indicate that Apple is planning to debut a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, as well as redesigned 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs.
Apple last updated the Mac mini in July of 2011, adding support for the high-speed Thunderbolt port while ditching the built-in optical disc drive that had been found on previous models. The current Mac mini lineup starts at $599 and features Intel's previous-generation Sandy Bridge processors.
On Topic: Future Hardware
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- Rumor: Apple testing 1.5" OLED displays for wearable 'iWatch'
- MacBook Air inventory begins dwindling ahead of Apple's WWDC
- Cook: US-built Mac will be refreshed version of existing product
Previous Comments View All
2 months ago we heard the iMac supply was drying up and- nothing. Maybe Apple is just for iThingys and laptops now.
It isn't better than an iMac for my needs/wants. I'd rather have the AIO with the 27" display.
It's only better than an iMac if it suits your needs better. I want a Mini for a home server and media device. Ben waiting for an update a long time.
Can someone explain to me why a Mac Mini is better than an iMac? I'm genuinely curious.
Hope it's true, though. I see that many, many people have been waiting on this.
EDIT: The analyst has been wrong on 3 out of 4, so far. Why's he worth quoting? 
It is a good value for some people. I have a nice Apple monitor and I don't do anything that requires much computing
power, so a Mini suits me fine, for example.
Being wrong 3 out of 4 might place this analyst among the better ones, when it comes to Apple.
Apples lack of updates on their entire desktop line is ridiculous, you can forgive them for not following the 3-6 month schedule of their competitors but 18 months + takes the piss.
It isn't better than an iMac.
It certainly can be. Depends on your use case.
I've been waiting for a mini update for awhile now. I have a 2005 iMac that is getting long in the tooth, but I'm trying to use it as long as I can for what I paid for it.
When the new mini comes out, I plan on getting that plus the Thunderbolt Display. With the lower cost for the computer itself, I'd be much more likely to upgrade every few years than every seven.
I'm hoping that there'll be a whole "mini event" where the new iPad is released and this gets a significant update as well.
iMac: 18 months old already, and the processor they're rumored to be putting in to the next update is already nearly 8 months old.
iMac: 18 months old already, and the processor they're rumored to be putting in to the next update is already nearly 8 months old.
Many of us are thinking Haswell at this point.
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Lowest Prices Anywhere!
| Model | Price | You Save |
|---|---|---|
| Core i5 MacBook Pros w/ Retina | ||
| 13" 2.5GHz/8GB/128GB | $1,406.48 | $292.52 |
| 13" 2.5GHz/8GB/256GB | $1,479.99 | $519.01 |
| 13" 2.5GHz/8GB/512GB | $1,699.99 | $799.01 |
| Core i7 MacBook Pros w/ Retina | ||
| 13" 2.9GHz/8GB/256GB | $1,599.99 | $599.01 |
| 13" 2.9GHz/8GB/512GB | $1,799.99 | $899.01 |
| 15" 2.3GHz/8GB/256GB | $1,899.99 | $299.01 |
| 15" 2.6GHz/8GB/512GB | $2,299.99 | $568.01 |
| 15" 2.7GHz/16GB/768GB | $2,699.99 | $499.01 |
| Model | White | Black | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad mini (WiFi only) | |||
| 16GB WiFi |  |
$329.99 | $329.99 |
| 32GB WiFi | |
$429.99 | $429.99 |
| 64GB WiFi | |
$529.99 | $529.99 |
| iPad mini (WiFi + 4G) | |||
 |
 |
 |
|
| 16GB 4G White | $459.99 | $459.99 | $459.99 |
| 32GB 4G White | $559.99 | $559.99 | $559.99 |
| 64GB 4G White | $659.99 | $659.99 | $659.99 |
| 16GB 4G Black | $459.99 | $459.99 | $459.99 |
| 32GB 4G Black | $559.99 | $559.99 | $559.99 |
| 64GB 4G Black | $659.99 | $659.99 | $659.99 |
Can someone explain to me why a Mac Mini is better than an iMac? I'm genuinely curious.
Hope it's true, though. I see that many, many people have been waiting on this.
EDIT: The analyst has been wrong on 3 out of 4, so far. Why's he worth quoting?