My regular readers know that I cover a wide range of topics in my articles. I am not a niche media person, but rather a general commentator. So after criticizing Zhan Hao and Luke Wen for several days, today I will talk about digital products! Despite those media personalities criticizing Apple buyers for being overly Westernized, it does not prevent Apple from becoming number one in various fields in China 🥇.
For a long time, I have thought that Apple computers are relatively niche. After all, not many people use Mac OS, and they are quite expensive, making them unaffordable for most. Therefore, I usually do not pay attention to Apple computers. However, this year, the newly launched Mac Mini 2024 has surprisingly sold out on JD.com and even topped the desktop computer rankings, which astonished me. When did Apple computers become so sought after?!
In the traditional perception of the public, Apple computers seem to have always been relatively niche. Their proprietary Mac OS system differs from the mainstream Windows system in terms of operational logic and software ecosystem, resulting in a relatively fixed user base. Furthermore, Apple’s consistent high pricing strategy has deterred many consumers. However, the newly launched Mac Mini 2024 has created a craze in the market, selling out quickly after its launch on JD.com and even ranking first among desktop computers, which is truly surprising. What exactly has led to this sudden popularity of the Mac Mini 2024?
First and foremost, we must mention the significant improvement in performance. The Mac Mini 2024 is equipped with the advanced M4 series processor, offering powerful performance. Whether it’s multitasking or running large professional software, it can handle it effortlessly. Its high-performance graphics card demonstrates exceptional capabilities in graphic processing and video editing, allowing for smooth rendering of complex 3D models and high-definition videos, providing professional creators with effective tools. Additionally, the starting memory configuration of 16GB is quite substantial, ensuring smooth system operation and stability when running multiple programs simultaneously. The fast storage devices significantly reduce file read and write times, greatly improving work efficiency. Apple has broken its long-standing rule of starting with 8GB memory, thanks to the new AI features developed by Apple that require a minimum of 16GB memory support!
Moreover, the Mac Mini 2024 has made new breakthroughs in terms of cost-effectiveness. Compared to previous Apple computers, this time the pricing is more affordable. It allows more consumers to own an Apple desktop computer at a relatively low price point. In the market for desktop computers with similar configurations, the Mac Mini 2024 excels in balancing performance and price compared to other brands. Consumers are no longer deterred from Apple computers solely due to price; the high cost-performance ratio has become a major highlight attracting many buyers.
Especially this year, with student discounts or national subsidies, the base model of the Mac Mini 2024 can be purchased for just over three thousand! Yes, you read that right! So people are going crazy to buy it, thinking that if they don’t buy it, they’ll miss out. This is the first time Apple products have made people feel like they have a cost-performance advantage.
However, buying just for the sake of buying is meaningless; after all, several thousand is not a small amount. You must be clear about what you want to achieve by buying it.
Let me briefly introduce what the Apple small desktop can do!
1. Office applications: Handling business reports, creating PPTs, copywriting, and editing, using Microsoft Office for Mac or iWork suite for document formatting and data processing.
2. Graphic design: Running Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, processing high-resolution images, and drawing complex graphics to meet the needs of poster, flyer, and book cover design.
3. 3D design: Supporting software like Blender for basic to intermediate 3D modeling and rendering operations.
4. Video editing: Smoothly running Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro for multi-track editing, color correction, adding effects and transitions, and handling various video projects.
5. Music production: Installing Logic Pro X and Ableton Live, providing an audio recording, editing, and mixing environment, supporting various audio interfaces and virtual instrument plugins.
6. Student learning: Ensuring smooth playback of online classes, completing various subject assignments, and researching academic materials, reading e-books.
7. Photo processing: Using Adobe Lightroom and Capture One to process RAW format images, conducting color correction, exposure adjustment, detail sharpening, and blemish repair.
8. Gaming entertainment: Running lightweight to medium-sized games on Apple Arcade or Steam, such as Monument Valley and Stardew Valley.
9. Social communication: Using QQ, WeChat, Skype, Zoom, and other software for high-definition video chats, voice calls, and text communication.
10. Home entertainment center: Connecting to high-definition TVs or projectors, using streaming platforms to play movies and TV shows, supporting local media file playback.
11. Programming development: Supporting programming languages like Python, Java, Swift, and development environments, installing Xcode, Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, and other tools for programming.
12. Website building: Installing server software and database management systems, combining front-end and back-end technologies to create and deploy personal websites.
13. NAS functionality: Connecting external hard drives, using file sharing features to share files within the home network, can serve as a download storage.
14. Home server functionality: Running software like Plex to manage and play multimedia files, can act as a smart home control center.
15. Soft routing functionality: Achieving traffic control and management using third-party software, setting access rules and QoS strategies.
I have summarized about 15 aspects of its uses, and it can be said that this time the Mac Mini truly offers great cost-performance; Apple is genuinely sincere!
The Apple Mac Mini 2024, despite its high demand, shows extraordinary practicality in many areas for ordinary users.
In office application scenarios, it is a professional-level document processing tool. Whether handling complex business reports, designing beautifully crafted presentations (PPT), or performing daily copywriting and editing, its smooth operating experience and efficient performance can greatly enhance office efficiency. With its powerful software ecosystem, such as Microsoft Office for Mac or Apple’s iWork suite, users can easily achieve document formatting, data processing, and content creation.
For professionals and enthusiasts in the design field, the Mac Mini 2024 is an ideal platform for unleashing creativity. In graphic design, it can perfectly run industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, supporting the processing of high-resolution images and the drawing of complex graphics to meet design needs for posters, flyers, and book covers. In the 3D design field, although it is not a professional graphics workstation, it can still support basic to intermediate 3D modeling and rendering operations using software like Blender, providing designers with a convenient way to realize their creative ideas.
Video editors will find the Mac Mini 2024 an invaluable tool. It can smoothly run professional video editing software like Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro. Users can utilize its powerful performance for multi-track video editing, color correction, adding complex effects and transitions, whether processing home videos, travel documentaries, or small business video projects, they can achieve high-quality output results.
In the music production field, the Mac Mini 2024 showcases exceptional capabilities. By installing professional music production software like Logic Pro X and Ableton Live, it can provide a stable environment for audio recording, editing, and mixing. Supporting various audio interfaces and virtual instrument plugins, it can facilitate high-quality music creation, from simple song writing to complex music arrangement and production.
For students, the Mac Mini 2024 is a valuable partner for learning. In online learning, its stable network connection and excellent system performance ensure smooth playback of online courses, avoiding issues like lagging and disconnections. Additionally, it can be used for completing various subject assignments, whether writing papers, creating project reports, or conducting mathematical modeling and programming assignments, it can meet students’ needs. Furthermore, it serves as a great platform for researching academic materials and reading e-books.
Photography enthusiasts can fully utilize the Mac Mini 2024 to process a vast number of photos. Using professional post-processing software like Adobe Lightroom and Capture One, it can quickly process RAW format images, conducting precise color correction, exposure adjustments, detail sharpening, and blemish repairs. Its high-resolution display output and color management capabilities ensure that processed photos achieve professional-level visual effects.
In gaming and entertainment, although the Mac Mini 2024 is not designed specifically for gaming, it can still run some lightweight to medium-sized games. Through platforms like Apple Arcade or Steam, users can enjoy casual games like Monument Valley and Stardew Valley, or some independent games that do not require high hardware specifications, enjoying the fun that games bring.
In everyday social and communication, the Mac Mini 2024 provides users with a quality experience due to its stable system and rich software ecosystem. Users can use QQ, WeChat, Skype, Zoom, and other social and communication software for high-definition video chats, voice calls, or text communication, keeping in close contact with friends and family, easily handling both personal chats and small group meetings.
As an important component of a home entertainment center, the Mac Mini 2024 can connect to high-definition TVs or projectors via HDMI or other compatible interfaces. Combined with streaming platforms such as Apple TV +, Netflix, and iQIYI, it can play high-quality movies, TV shows, and documentaries, providing home users with an immersive viewing experience. Additionally, it supports local media file playback, meeting users’ needs for playing their own media resources.
For programming learners and developers, the Mac Mini 2024 is a highly valuable programming platform. It supports various programming languages and development environments such as Python, Java, and Swift. Users can easily install professional development tools like Xcode, Visual Studio Code, and PyCharm for coding, debugging, and project building. Whether beginners learning the basics of programming or professional developers working on projects, the Mac Mini 2024 can provide a stable and efficient development environment.
Furthermore, for users with web development needs, the Mac Mini 2024 can be used to build personal websites. By installing server software (like Apache, Nginx) and database management systems (like MySQL, PostgreSQL), combined with front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript and back-end programming languages, users can create and deploy their blogs, portfolios, or small business websites, achieving personalized online presentation and information sharing.
In terms of NAS functionality, the Mac Mini 2024 can serve as a small network storage device. By connecting large-capacity external hard drives and utilizing its file sharing features, files can be easily shared within the home network. Whether storing family photos, videos, documents, or serving as a storage location for downloads, it can meet the storage needs of family users, allowing convenient access and sharing of data among family members.
As a home server, it can take on the role of a family server. Running media server software like Plex, it can centrally manage and play multimedia files within the home, enabling media streaming to multiple devices. Additionally, it can serve as a control center for smart home systems, connecting and managing smart devices through related software, achieving centralized control and monitoring of home automation.
In terms of soft routing functionality, the Mac Mini 2024 can achieve soft routing capabilities through third-party software. It can conduct more precise traffic control and management of the home network, such as setting access rules and QoS (Quality of Service) strategies, optimizing network bandwidth allocation, and enhancing network stability and security to meet the different network needs of various devices in the home network.
Of course, although the Mac Mini seems cheap, if you don’t have a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc., you will have to spend some extra money. Moreover, many people will inevitably need to purchase Thunderbolt hard drive enclosures and solid-state drives. (Thunderbolt is a high-speed interface technology developed in collaboration between Intel and Apple, integrating PCI Express and DisplayPort technologies, featuring high bandwidth, multi-protocol compatibility, and high-speed stable transmission. The maximum bandwidth can reach 120Gbps, allowing simultaneous transmission of data, video, audio, and charging, applicable to external displays, storage devices, graphics docks, etc. The 2024 Mac Mini M4 model is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 interfaces, while the M4 Pro model is equipped with Thunderbolt 5 interfaces.)
So, in total, it may not be cheap.
Don’t buy a product just because it’s cheap; if you buy it and it sits unused, it’s a waste of money. You need to clarify your needs. Moreover, Apple is likely using this as a strategy since Apple products work best when paired together. If you buy the Mac Mini just for its low price, you will likely find yourself gradually falling into the trap, needing to purchase the entire Apple ecosystem to make the best use of the Mac Mini. Originally intending to spend a few thousand on an Apple desktop, you may end up spending tens of thousands… 😂