- Mac mini 2014 add ssd upgrade#
- Mac mini 2014 add ssd tv#
- Mac mini 2014 add ssd mac#
- Mac mini 2014 add ssd windows#
Mac mini 2014 add ssd mac#
The Mac mini broadly offers the same sort of processor options that you find in the MacBook Air. It already has 8GB of RAM as standard, but the option to add the Fusion Drive is then £160, bringing you up to £729, and coming in a mite more affordable than the £799 model on review here. We'd most likely opt for the 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 with Intel Iris graphics. That places this Mac mini at £799, by which time you're moving into the MacBook Air's starting prices. We've been living with the 2.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Iris graphics, 8GB RAM and the 1TB Fusion Drive. The Mac mini might have taken a price cut, but you'll probably want to opt for 8GB of RAM at least.
Mac mini 2014 add ssd upgrade#
To upgrade to 8GB is an extra £80, bumping the total to £479. The base offering for RAM is 4GB in the £399 model, which comes with Intel HD Graphics 500. Perhaps that doesn't matter for the Mac mini's target audience, but previously it was such an incredibly simple upgrade it required no technical skill at all. This perhaps follows a growing trend in Apple devices, with fewer user upgrade options across the Mac family of late. You can't opt for the basic model and then jump in with more RAM or an SSD later when you've raised the cash. That's a blow for the budget conscious, meaning you'll have to opt for enough RAM to see your Mac mini through the entirety of its expected life. There's no option to upgrade the RAM even if you do get into the casing, as it's soldered to the board, as revealed in an iFixit teardown.
Previous Mac minis also offered a spare SATA port, so you could add an additional drive if you wanted to. This carried the advantage that you could buy in cheaper and then bump up the amount of RAM at that time you felt things were starting to slow down.Įqually, you could scrabble around to expand the storage, perhaps switching over to an SSD for the welcome speed/noise/energy gains that come with that over conventional HDD. Previously you could access the internals of the Mac mini so that you could perform some upgrades yourself - namely storage and RAM. It still looks great with its slick and simple design, which should appeal to those looking for something elegant to side beside their monitor. Otherwise, this design has stood the test of time. Yes, it's not the prettiest of things, but having to reach around the back each time is terribly impractical - the same issue we found with the iMac 5K. Of course that leads to some impracticality, especially if you're prone to using the SD card port.
The rear panel houses all the connections and ports, the aim being that you have this minimalist box on show and the wiring out of sight to the back. The aluminium enclosure measures 197mm square and is 36mm tall. The current Mac mini design was introduced in 2010 and the only change from that earlier model has been in the connectivity on the rear in the latest device, along with the loss of access to the internals through a bottom panel.
Mac mini 2014 add ssd tv#
With the increasing sophistication of Apple TV or simplicity of Chromecast, those days of needing a computer to access online TV services are behind us, but if it's the lounge you're targeting, the Mac mini's design is certainly fetching. There was a time when we considered the Mac mini a great choice as a home entertainment computer, to sit in your lounge. We've long been fans of the Magic Trackpad (excusing the name) because it replicates the silky interaction experience of the MacBook. If there's one thing we'd advise, it's that you use the Apple Wireless Keyboard and either the Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse.
Mac mini 2014 add ssd windows#
You might be ditching an existing Windows tower, or repurposing an existing display, like a TV. If you're switching from an existing desktop PC, then it means you can pretty much plug right in. But if you're looking for a cute little Apple computer to handle your daily computing needs, then the Mac mini may still be it. If you're looking for power, look to iMac. This isn't going to compete with the upper echelon iMac models, however, and that's perhaps the reason for Apple removing user access for upgrading after purchase.
For those who only need basic computing and internet functions, we daresay the base model will be an attractive option at £399. It's an elegant compact desktop computer that will slave your existing display and bring you into the Apple Mac world without breaking the bank. We still love what the Mac mini sets out to do. Perhaps that's just our inner geek coming through, but it's now a case of getting what you pay for - buy now and stick with it into the future. There are tweaks and changes, but the thing we notice most is that the Mac mini now feels like it's been moved out of the hands of those who like to tinker. The Mac mini has been changed in 2014: updated, if not upgraded.