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I love the idea of it, and I love how tiny it is. Will probably get one when money isn’t so tight.
But I was curious if the power button was accessible without lifting it. And it genuinely isn’t. Why does Apple like shoving important IO and buttons underneath the device. Good thing it’s light?
Oh and a funny thing was the staff had to loosen its mount on the table so you could turn it on.
If money is generally more on the tighter side, I honestly can't understand getting a Mac anything. It's many things, but never "frugal". There are always options that do more for less, and maybe look a little less polished.
In a lot of cases, especially five years ago, this is correct. Lately, with Apple silicon processors, the low end machines are a good deal. You won't find a NUC with similar low-power performance, capable of 4k video editing without fan noise or a hiccup, at anything close to the same price. It SMOKES the competition at the $600 price bracket.
But yeah, if money is an issue and you're already invested in macOS software, buy a used M1 mini for $300 and you're good, or if really broke, buy an off-lease business desktop for $125 and put linux Mint on it.
If the power button location is the biggest issue with this Mac Mini then it'll do just fine.
Easily. It's annoying, but if it bugs me that much I could just flip it upside down and put a rubber pad down so the top doesn't get scuffed.
How often do you turn off your computers?
I feel like “buttongate” is one of the biggest non-issues the internet has gotten riled up with in a while.
That's beside the point. Dumb design doesn't stop being dumb, even if the consequences are minor. It wouldn't deter me from buying one, but pointing out it's fucking stupid shouldn't be controversial...
Everyday?
Really?
I mean, do what you will. No worries either way. But it does surprise me to hear lots of people turn their computers off all the time. I tend to just let them go to sleep and then wake them back up.
How do you wake a Mac Mini? Is it enough to just press a keyboard button? If so, does the keyboard have to be wired, or does Bluetooth work?
Move the mouse or touch the trackpad, or press any key on the keyboard and it wakes up quickly. BT OK.
Many macs that I work on haven't been shut down for months, usually just rebooted after system updates.
Sleep on a mac mini is very low power: if you use the computer every day it’s less energy than booting up.
Saw some cute 3D prints that turn it sideways and turn it into a mini Mac Pro!
Placing the power button on the bottom is a genius move by Apple. It’s inconvenient, sure, but it wouldn't stop a single customer from buying this PC. And just look at how much people are discussing the new Mac Mini, all because of this power button.
I have a Mac mini and I think I've used the power button one time in the past year.
Did it work though??!
You can only assume they believe that people won't want to use that button much.
For a lot of people that's surely a mistaken assumption, but in my case it would be pretty true.
I use an old macbook pro from work as my permanent desktop, in a closed configuration under the desk. Sometimes I sleep it, but I don't ever turn it off. I only ever need the power button when something has gone wrong.
But they could have just put the button on the back. Kinda silly.
I still think the apple should be the power button. Would’ve been a baller move on their part.
That would be one more flex cable to deal with when taking it apart so I would prefer it not be there.
Power button is already on a flex cable, could have put it anywhere really.
Yes, but it’s a flex cable that doesn't get in the way. If you moved it to the top, you would have to deal with it when accessing the cmos, fan, ssd, etc.
I think Apple customers generally aren't the type to be taking their own computers apart.
I’m certainly not, but having seen claims you can replace the SSD with a bigger one, I can imagine a lot of people might try it…
Yeah but doesn't adding the extra flex cable to make it more frustrating to disassemble seem like just the sort of thing Apple would do to discourage user modifications? Apple doesn't like the kind of users who know how to tinker with and upgrade computers
I have turned mine on once since I got it at launch.
I’m one power button press in the last month with it.
And then it just goes to sleep (and wakes instantly with a button or mouse press).
The power button really isn’t that important anymore. Leave it on, let it sleep. Tap a key on the keyboard and the thing wakes up. Even after a power outage, it’ll power itself back on.
Don’t get too close or you’ll frighten it.
i got one for work and honestly the power button isn't a big deal since the machine usually stays on in sleep mode when i don't need it. an occasional restart does the trick if the system ever feels sluggish but that hasn't happened yet.
once you know where it is, it's easy to instinctively press. there are also 3d printed gizmos that can help if you really prefer a more accessible button:
https://www.printables.com/model/1074723-mac-mini-m4-power-button
The real flaw of the M4 Mac Mini power button is that it still needs a power button. There’s no battery or built-in display to merit shutdown, yet it can’t operate like an Apple TV.