Apple 2023 Mac mini desktop computer M2 chip with 8‑core CPU/10‑core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD

If this had 16gb it's an instant buy (if the slower SSD can be overlooked). Indeed, 8gb doesn't cut it anymore.

Apple are still trying to con people into believing their version of 8Gb is really the same as 16Gb because of Apple Silicon. Bullplop as everyone knew. 16Gb and 512Gb storage should be minimum now really.

They cheaped out on the SSD using one chip instead of the previous two in M1 variants. Slowed things down in that department I seem to recall seeing. Cost cutting to save pennies shows off Cooks mean, penny pinching streak unfortunately

You might find these in your back yard.
To fit on these

Apple has worldwide warranty for Macs. Just go to the Apple website or take it to an Apple Store.

Absolute nonsense. I use my M1 8/256 at work. Have 20 tabs open in safari, BT Cloudwork running and regularly do image and video editing with no issues.

This is a whole number bigger

It's included (edited)

software upgradeable too with newer MacOSes


no

Imagine not having the CPU and ram integrated on the same chip, in 2024...

Agreed.

512Gb is perfectly doable nowadays given how much most people will have in the cloud instead thanks to today's average internet speed not being the handicap it used to be and if you need much more locally fast external drives are far more economical.

Also wouldn't go with less than 16Gb of ram. Apple can bang on about how great unified ram is but it doesn't hold water.

Personally think this model is literally just there to give Mac beginners enough of a taste to then go out and buy a real one. Yes, for incredibly light users this will be OK, but they should really be buying Chromebooks instead. (edited)

I have to say I've had no problems with 8GB on my Macbook Air. It depends what you do. I can fill up the 128GB on my Windows desktop if I'm number crunching, but for web surfing, Netflix and email 8GB works for me. Saying that I'd pay the extra for 16GB because you are much better future proofed (and you can't upgrade anything on these things - it's all soldered on). 256GB for SSD storage means that you probably need somewhere else to store all your stuff, particularly since you always need to leave 20-30GB free for big system updates to work properly. Mind you, if you don't have many photos, games or videos then you don't need very much space. And the stackable hubs do a pretty good job adding storage if you need a lot of storage since they let you add regular NVME cards which are pretty cheap up to 4TB.

What is running hard for you?

actually, perhaps it's because AI is a load of marketing hype crud?

Just because Windows 11 task bar is centred to more resemble MacOS and a subset of the system dialogs have been brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century doesnt make it equal to MacOS. Windows is still a mess. 

I’m waiting for the M3 too, but its only rumours of a spring or summer release. How likely either is I don’t know given the M2 was only released last year. I’m in no rush, I have a large network of Windows based desktops, laptops and servers at home with a significant amount of storage on the servers.

I just want a Mac because I’ve never had one and this would be a good introduction to having one at home to play around with and I can use it as a cheap machine to run when only performing basics tasks on the internet without having to turn on my large 1200W desktop machine. (edited)

That’s weird, both my m1’s (air and mini) have been great. I use the mini as a plex server and I’ve had no issues with general use or playing games in 4k.