The new 2024 Mac Mini is Apple’s IBM PC moment and this tiny computer is the final nail in the desktop PC’s coffin: here’s why

Just complete 43 years ago, nan dawn of a caller era started erstwhile IBM launched nan first existent individual computer, nan 5150 which I fondly retrieve by its moniker, IBM PC.

The caller new Mac Mini announcement came arsenic portion of a bland, plain matter Apple property merchandise a fewer days ago, but I judge that it is simply a immense milestone for nan Cupertino-based company, a philosophical pinnacle that will alteration nan position of Apple skeptics (like me).

Without bumping its guidelines value ($599, $499 for students), Apple shrunk nan Mac Mini to nan celebrated 5-inch x 5-inch shape factor, commonly adopted by gazillions of Mini PCs.

It is nan smallest Apple PC ever, it is nan first 1 without nan quasi-obsolete USB Type-A port, it is nan cheapest PC that supports immoderate benignant of AI (Apple Intelligence) aliases comes pinch Thunderbolt 4 connectors.

It is besides nan astir affordable (or smallest) PC I cognize that tin thrust 3 monitors pinch a mixed 55,461,888 pixels (a brace of 6K monitors and 1 5K display); that’s capable grunt to powerfulness six, yes six, 4K screens.

Outstanding capacity for nan price

As for nan M4, it delivers nan fastest processor capacity successful this value range; there’s nary photograph finish, particularly for single-threaded tasks. I checked it against nan Core i5-14400 (as recovered successful nan Dell Inspiron PC), nan Core i7-13620H, and moreover nan mighty Ryzen 9 7940HS, utilizing nan nationalist trial database compiled by CPU Benchmark test.

The 2024 Apple Mac Mini is not cleanable though, pinch its biggest bugbear being nan puny 256GB retention nan introduction level exemplary comes from; I tin unrecorded pinch that. Like nan original IBM PC, it has deed a saccharine spot, a Goldilocks equilibrium betwixt pricing and features that yet brings to Apple nan last feather to crown nan Mac Mini arsenic nan cleanable PC; worth for money.

Apple is now affordable, bully value, accessible, for nan masses, and friends even. Is it clip to opportunity goodbye to nan Windows PC? Perhaps but it depends connected who you are. The caller Mac Mini covers a batch of bases but it is nan introduction level exemplary that captures my imagination; expanding nan representation by 50% and doubling nan storage, which costs astir $20 successful parts, adds different $400 to nan value tag.

This is wherever PCs person and will proceed to differentiate themselves from Apple offerings by offering much choices pinch little margins (and truthful keener prices). With each caller procreation of devices though, Apple makes life a small spot much difficult for PC vendors for illustration Dell aliases HP.

The Apple Mac Mini presently tops our champion Mini PC database and its caller loop only cements its position there. And I whitethorn good person recovered my cleanable Christmas gift; only request to make judge I’ve been connected nan bully database for Santa Claus.

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