mini me?!…..Apple announces redesigned Mac Mini with M4 & M4 Pro chips…..

[NewtonMP2100]

…..today…… 2 front USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 5…..base model starts with 16 GB of memory for $599……launches on November 8….


…….new Mac Mini…….?!

[Rolando]

Just saw the video. Looks like one of the C/T-bolt ports is used for power.

EDIT. I was wrong! I will take the correction!

[Gareth]

Rolando wrote:
Just saw the video. Looks like one of the C/T-bolt ports is used for power.

It looks to me like it's always plugged into AC power when it's on. Would be genius if it could be powered by USB-C because the Studio Display will provide 96W of power over the thunderbolt connection and then one could make an "iMac" like computer with only 2 cables (and a little mount to attach the mini to the stand, which I'm sure someone will make).

But, if it really was able to be powered by USB-C, that would probably be a spec that would be promoted.

[Gareth]

The power button is on the bottom! Why?!?!?

[Robert M]

Gareth,

It'd be very cool if the Mini could be powered via USB-C. Many of the better displays have USB-C with power delivery. The innocn I have at work provides up to 90 watts.



USB-C and USB-C with power delivery are one of the reasons I bought the Innocn 27C1U for my dad. He uses it with an M1 Macbook Air.



The single connection USB-C to the computer supplies power and its display features.

Robert

[gabester]

About USB-C power, which I suggested on another site, yielded this response from a knowledgeable individual I trust:

KP wrote:
The reason you need to be careful about USB-C is most are not considered consistent power. Power is negotiated so your device still needs to be ready for changes in power protocols. For example power bricks that have more than one USB-C port may disable power on the first port temporarily if the second becomes active to change its broadcast of power availability.

There is a lot more to it then people realize that can lead to machines behaving in weird ways or just randomly shutting off.

[Gareth]

gabester wrote:
About USB-C power, which I suggested on another site, yielded this response from a knowledgeable individual I trust:

[quote=KP]
The reason you need to be careful about USB-C is most are not considered consistent power. Power is negotiated so your device still needs to be ready for changes in power protocols. For example power bricks that have more than one USB-C port may disable power on the first port temporarily if the second becomes active to change its broadcast of power availability.

There is a lot more to it then people realize that can lead to machines behaving in weird ways or just randomly shutting off.

Yea, I kind of figured that's why it's only used for machines with batteries, and not desktops. Every time I plug or unplug something from a multi-port charger, everything stops charging while power is renegotiated, which would be a disaster for a desktop.

[Robert M]

Gareth,

I have a couple of multiport chargers and there are never any power fluctuations when I plug or unplug anything. Which model multiport charger do you have?

Robert