2 ms·

It would be strange if the latest release of a computer line was not the best one ever in that line.

wslh 2y ago
It's not only the typical improvements in chip technologies: form factor also plays a significant role here [1]. It's also worth noting that the M4 Pro supports three (or more?) displays. From a business perspective, I'm eager to see Apple’s Q4 and Q1 reports. My hypothesis is that they might be reshaping the desktop market with these Mac minis. I think one of the next milestones could be to achieve a fanless model. [1] Height: 4.97 cm (1.96″) Width: 12.70 cm (5.00″) Depth: 12.70 cm (5.00″) Weight (M4): 0.67 kg (1.48 lb.) Weight (M4 Pro): 0.73 kg (1.61 lb.)
Miniminix 2y ago
Two points It is strange that the "entry level" computer in 2024 competes and sometimes wins against the 2022 fully-decked out M2 and the original M1 Ultra. The M3 Pro had a DECREASE in number of P-cores compared to the M2 Pro. That was very strange and unexplainable.
- pchangr 2y ago
  I don’t know who was it .. but I heard some YouTuber suggesting it might have been a commercial decision to further distinguish between the pro and max / ultra versions of their chips. Which.. sucks but makes sense.
- stephen_g 2y ago
  Best explanation would seem to be a rebalancing to increase efficiency - the M3 Pro was basically the same performance as the M2 Pro but at much greater energy efficiency. Now the M4 Pro has increased the performance again (I assume at a similar power draw as the M3 Pro)
r2ew 2y ago
What about Intel Arrow Lake?
mpweiher 2y ago
I think it's relative to the advancing state of the art...
jitl 2y ago
True, but also Apple is somewhat famous for releasing “faster but worse” redesigns of their computers. Like: - making MacBook Pro thinner and faster, but now the keyboard fails after 12 months and no SD card or HDMI port - making Mac Pro a desktop sized trash can, but now no CPU or GPU updates or PCI expansion slots Since Ive’s departure and the M1 era Apple has reversed course on all these blunders which is great, but I guess no new blunder is newsworthy. (I think the better headline is as MKBHD put it, this m4 mini at the $600/$500 EDU price point is the best deal in computers)
Toritori12 2y ago
the weird part is that outclass all current minipcs. Better cpu, better power-usage, better price, way faster ram...
johndoe0815 2y ago
The 2014 Mac Minis were such a downgrade, the entry model was downgraded from a 2.5 GHz dual-core Ivy Bridge Core i5 (3210M) in the 2012 models to a 1.4 GHz dual-core Haswell Core i5 (4260U).

wslh 2y ago

It's not only the typical improvements in chip technologies: form factor also plays a significant role here [1]. It's also worth noting that the M4 Pro supports three (or more?) displays. From a business perspective, I'm eager to see Apple’s Q4 and Q1 reports. My hypothesis is that they might be reshaping the desktop market with these Mac minis. I think one of the next milestones could be to achieve a fanless model. [1] Height: 4.97 cm (1.96″) Width: 12.70 cm (5.00″) Depth: 12.70 cm (5.00″) Weight (M4): 0.67 kg (1.48 lb.) Weight (M4 Pro): 0.73 kg (1.61 lb.)

Miniminix 2y ago

Two points It is strange that the "entry level" computer in 2024 competes and sometimes wins against the 2022 fully-decked out M2 and the original M1 Ultra. The M3 Pro had a DECREASE in number of P-cores compared to the M2 Pro. That was very strange and unexplainable.

pchangr 2y ago
I don’t know who was it .. but I heard some YouTuber suggesting it might have been a commercial decision to further distinguish between the pro and max / ultra versions of their chips. Which.. sucks but makes sense.
stephen_g 2y ago
Best explanation would seem to be a rebalancing to increase efficiency - the M3 Pro was basically the same performance as the M2 Pro but at much greater energy efficiency. Now the M4 Pro has increased the performance again (I assume at a similar power draw as the M3 Pro)

r2ew 2y ago

What about Intel Arrow Lake?

mpweiher 2y ago

I think it's relative to the advancing state of the art...

jitl 2y ago

True, but also Apple is somewhat famous for releasing “faster but worse” redesigns of their computers. Like: - making MacBook Pro thinner and faster, but now the keyboard fails after 12 months and no SD card or HDMI port - making Mac Pro a desktop sized trash can, but now no CPU or GPU updates or PCI expansion slots Since Ive’s departure and the M1 era Apple has reversed course on all these blunders which is great, but I guess no new blunder is newsworthy. (I think the better headline is as MKBHD put it, this m4 mini at the $600/$500 EDU price point is the best deal in computers)

Toritori12 2y ago

the weird part is that outclass all current minipcs. Better cpu, better power-usage, better price, way faster ram...

johndoe0815 2y ago

The 2014 Mac Minis were such a downgrade, the entry model was downgraded from a 2.5 GHz dual-core Ivy Bridge Core i5 (3210M) in the 2012 models to a 1.4 GHz dual-core Haswell Core i5 (4260U).