Apple just announced a new Mac Mini available with both ab M6 chip and an M5 Ultra chip, and also a Mac studio that's a lot bigger and costs a small fortune.

The base Mac mini M6 started at $899. I have a bulked up M4 MacMini it's a solid machine. I should be good for 5 years.

16 minutes ago, TedG said:

The base Mac mini M6 started at $899. I have a bulked up M4 MacMini it's a solid machine. I should be good for 5 years.

A few years ago, I bought the base model Mac Mini with the M4 chip. At least I think it was the base model. It shows I'm used about 170 GB of storage, with 245GB still available.

Anyway, it's everything I need just for playing around online.

I might consider some of the new Apple TV boxes that should be coming out soon.

For travelling purposes (like each time we head up to Bangers) I just have an antique MacBook Air. Perfectly adequate for a few days.

Occasionally I call in at Apple HQ to check out the latest gear. All lovely but not worth the small change if you're not an obsessive.

1 hour ago, mfd101 said:

For travelling purposes (like each time we head up to Bangers) I just have an antique MacBook Air. Perfectly adequate for a few days.

Occasionally I call in at Apple HQ to check out the latest gear. All lovely but not worth the small change if you're not an obsessive.

I had a MacBook Air from 2018 that I used to use once in a while, only, as I usually use IPad Pros. Anyway, a few years ago the 2018 Air was bricked by one of the software updates and that was that. Even though I hardly use a laptop anymore, I feel bad if I don't have one, so I bought a new 15" M3 Macbook Air. I think I've used it only a few times in two years. I'm either on my desktop or one of my IPad Pros 99% of the time.

My daily driver is a MacBook Air M2. Bought it new in 2023. Suits my needs. I can’t afford to upgrade every few years nor see any reason to.

Apple hardware is great and lasts. What get's really angering is how after 6 or 7 years, they just stop all the software updates f and support for iPhones or Macs that forces you to get a new unit, depending the user end's needs. Europe has put hefty fines in the past on Apple for their programmed obsolescence on their products or batteries. Not surprising why Apple shares are slowly starting to drop on the global markets as at the end of the day no matter what, it's the user end consumer who makes the rules of the market.

1 minute ago, Sigmund said:

Apple hardware is great and lasts. What get's really angering is how after 6 or 7 years, they just stop all the software updates f and support for iPhones or Macs that forces you to get a new unit, depending the user end's needs. Europe has put hefty fines in the past on Apple for their programmed obsolescence on their products or batteries. Not surprising why Apple shares are slowly starting to drop on the global markets as at the end of the day no matter what, it's the user end consumer who makes the rules of the market.

Apple hasn't come out with any revolutionary products for a long time. Mostly just updates to existing platforms. So, much of the growth they've experienced int he past my slow. We're about to see what the new CEO does.

As for them dropping support for certain hardware after a number of years? Normally, that's just a function of the hardware no longer keeping up with the software. Makes sense.