Apple Defends Mac Mini Power Button Relocation (9to5mac.com)
- Reference: 0175461727
- News link: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/24/11/13/1121225/apple-defends-mac-mini-power-button-relocation
- Source link: https://9to5mac.com/2024/11/11/m4-mac-mini-power-button/
In a Bilibili video interview, Apple's Greg Joswiak and John Ternus explained that the Mac mini's form factor, now [2]half the size of its predecessor , [3]necessitated finding a new position for the power button. The executives said that the bottom placement allows for convenient access despite initial user criticism.
[1] https://apple.slashdot.org/story/24/10/29/1748248/apple-moves-the-m4-mac-minis-power-button-to-the-bottom
[2] https://apple.slashdot.org/story/24/10/29/1559248/apple-shrinks-mac-mini-adds-m4-power-boost-in-major-redesign
[3] https://9to5mac.com/2024/11/11/m4-mac-mini-power-button/
They keep "defedning" these decisions, loudly (Score:3)
Why other companies manage just fine without these same types of inane design decisions.
Re: (Score:2)
To be fair, this is how you can find something new and useful. It is just that not every attempt is successful. And, this is a great learning experience, you do something stupid and there will be some financial feedback.
Who turns off their computer in the first place? (Score:3)
I haven't shut down any computer in my house in years and I don't know anyone else who does. I reboot for patches or I let it go to sleep- but that's it. Are people really turning their computer on and off all the time?
Re: (Score:3)
Too right. My system uses ZFS with encryption and I need to enter a passphrase to decrypt the keys to unlock the volume. Turning off the computer means nobody is getting to my homedir, remotely or locally.
Re: Who turns off their computer in the first plac (Score:2)
A few times a year I need to long-press the power-button 'cos everything locked up. It's rare, but it's not zero.
Re: (Score:1)
All of my computers spend a good 8 hours of every 24 powered off. Why would I want them on?
Re: (Score:2)
I definitely turn my computer off when I am not using it.
It's not like the old days where it would take well over a minute to fully boot a computer. It takes seconds. Why wouldn't I just turn it off rather than have a power draw on something that I am not using?
Re: (Score:2)
> It's not like the old days where it would take well over a minute to fully boot a computer. It takes seconds. Why wouldn't I just turn it off rather than have a power draw on something that I am not using?
I don't want to spend those "extra seconds" for it to fully boot up....
I actually don't ever give it much a thought....I mean, compared to my AC drag on my power bill....anything else I leave on is so minuscule I'd not notice it on the bill one way or another.
Re: (Score:2)
I shut down my computers every day. I do CAD / Design / Video Editing / CFD / FEM, and a bit of gaming. A freshly rebooted computer is a good practice for all of those applications.
How often (Score:2)
Are people using the power button? When the machine is asleep it takes milliwatts.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, I mean I still think it is dumb, but all my machines are on all the time anyway, they just hibernate when idle. I turn them on by slapping a key on they keyboard, and put them to sleep with a menu item or by just walking away and leaving them idle. I only use the power button when there's been a power outage or I had to unplug something for some reason. Even then, several of my machines are configured to boot if the power is interrupted and restored via the BIOS, so the power button is basically ve
I came for the retard fight (Score:1)
vote me down. Soon Apple retards will be fighting over the best colour of aluminum. Shiny or dull?
Maybe some high level executive will tell you which one is better. That will settle it for sure.
<..munches popcorn...>
Easiest response ever (Score:4, Insightful)
Then make it bigger. I bet it'd cool better with more size for better airflow and a bigger heatsink. There is actually no reason not to do that other than moronic image and prestige at the cost of everything else. Never really understood small computers and I've built over 1000 custom ones where I used to work.
Re: (Score:2)
Who needs a giant full tower case anymore? Certainly not your average user. If you did buy one then it's going to be mostly empty space inside. My next desktop is going to be a mini tower.
"Work on this carburetor till you're normal." (Score:2)
Every time I read a story about Apple's user interface hardware, I feel like Hank Hill confronted with one of Bobby's flights of fancy. Except Bobby was only ever trying to be a theater kid, not... replace the escape and function keys with a touchscreen.
Just... be normal, please.
Apple's Defense (Score:3)
Apple: "Well, it had to go somewhere"
Missed oppourtunity (Score:2)
They could of had the entire base be a button, and you just press down on the aluminum to power it on or off
When I read things like this, I always think... (Score:2)
..about Jobs' defense on eliminating a physical keyboard on the iPhone "Think about how many points of failure are on a keyboard"
Okay Steve, I thought about it, one GIGANTIC point of failure is much better than a bunch of little ones.
"If someone's space bar breaks, they can still use their phone, and not have to buy a new one. I dedicated the totality of my creative genius and vision towards solving this problem"
I use a power strip, you insensitive clod (Score:2)
I turn *all* my gear off at night with just one button. Subscribe to my newsletter and you can too!
Re: (Score:2)
I can't remember when I first realized that most countries don't have power switches on their wall sockets. In the UK it's very unusual to find one that doesn't have its own power switch.
Other things about our electrical systems suck, but that's one thing we got right.
The 2024 version of... (Score:3)
"You're holding it wrong".
Re: (Score:2)
Yep.
"You're turning it off wrong".
"You're holding it wrong!" (Score:2)
Rationalizing failure with PR wank. Not buying.
While it truly sucks for Mac Minis held with a bracket, but OTOH, how often do you ever touch a Mac Mini?
In other news, I currently need a reasonably fast, reasonably priced arm64 server... but I don't think Apple qualifies.
Ease of use takes the back seat. (Score:2)
But that new size sure does look nice.
There you go slashdot ... (Score:2)
Another opportunity for people who seem to have very little to do be feign rage at something entirely inconsequential. The bloody thing is 5 inches square - just lift it up a fraction.
Always on--always using power (Score:3)
It shows Apple's commitment to waste natural resources.
By that logic... (Score:2)
Why does the fuckwit who buys a mac mini need a keyboard cluttering up their desk? They can just fuck themselves with the keyboard, give another $3000 to Apple, and go eat shit in hell, right...??!!?!!?!
Re: (Score:2)
You have odd fantasies.
Mac Mini Takes 4W at Idle--Each (Score:2)
If they sold a million of them, then they would consume 4 Mega Watts, doing nothing. It would take oil and one of these to power them: [1]https://www.uspeglobal.com/lis... [uspeglobal.com]
[1] https://www.uspeglobal.com/listings/4108715-used-4-mw-2008-used-mtu-16v40000g63-diesel-generator-sets
3rd party ecosystem enrichment! (Score:2)
Apple is just throwing a bone to the 3rd party ecosystem.
Now there's an opportunity to:
1. 3d print a button extension
2. Sell a dock that moves the on/off button somewhere visible (using an extension)
3. Offer a service to disassemble your mac mini and rehome the innards into a different case form factor, that puts the on/off button somewhere visible (using an extension)
4. Sell furniture or a plinth with a cutout for the button for easy access, or a button located on the desk that presses the button for y
form over function (Score:5, Informative)
Who cares about usability when the main objective is to be pretty? This isn't a computer for using, it's a thing for owning.
Re: form over function (Score:2)
I read this as "petty" and it still made sense.
Re: (Score:1)
A power button on the bottom is "convenient".
Removing the headphone jack is "brave".
Newspeak is for the Party faithful.
Re: (Score:3)
While I agree bottom power button is not a great place for it....who turns their computers off anyway?
Mine all stay on pretty much 24/7...with automatic backups running, etc. during the late night hours.
Re: (Score:2)
Mac users dont turn off the machine, its M series chip, it sips power when idle. Like really, people really turn off the machines? Now you have get all your apps back up and running. People clearly have too much time on their hands. Ive never used the power button on my PCs or server (sitting in a crawl space).
Re: (Score:2)
> If you have a PC laptop for example, or use your phone for most stuff, you probably only turn on your Mac desktop a couple times a week if that. This isn't the 1990s, "nobody" is using a desktop for a primary computing device.
Actually, I am quite the opposite.
I work on my desktop Mac daily during the week and quite often I'm on it on the weekend for fun things (editing videos, etc).
For portable things, I take my iPad....my phone is primarily for well.....phone calls and texts.
I bought a higher end deskt
Re: (Score:2)
I shut my computer down when I am not using it. I guess I must be alone here.
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Having cheap electricity must be nice... Until I can scrounge up enough for some solar panels, my computers remain off when not in use.
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> Having cheap electricity must be nice... Until I can scrounge up enough for some solar panels, my computers remain off when not in use.
I have no idea what my electricity "costs" in terms of KWH....
I do leveled billing so my monthly rate is roughly about $200/mo or so....
My AC is the primary driver of energy cost, living in the New Orleans area....
I have a decent job, this certainly isn't any type of drag on my income or disposable income....
It's kinda like gasoline....I have to have it, I really don't
Re: (Score:2)
{ Who cares about usability when the main objective is to be pretty? This isn't a computer for using, it's a thing for owning. } --- Exactly.