The new Mac Mini 2024 is Apple's IBM PC moment, and this tiny computer is the final nail in the desktop PC coffin: Here's why

A little over 43 years ago, a new era began when IBM released the first true personal computer, the 5150, which I fondly remember by its nickname “IBM PC.”

The latest announcement of the new Mac Mini came a few days ago as part of a boring, straightforward press release from Apple, but I believe that it is a major milestone for the Cupertino-based company, a philosophical high point that will change Apple's point of view -Skeptics will change (like me).

Without increasing the base price ($599, $499 for students), Apple shrunk the Mac Mini to the popular 5-inch x 5-inch form factor commonly used by millions of mini PCs .

It's the smallest Apple PC ever, it's the first without the virtually obsolete USB Type-A port, it's the cheapest PC that supports any type of AI (Apple Intelligence) or is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports .

It's also the cheapest (or smallest) PC I know of that can drive three monitors totaling 55,461,888 pixels (a pair of 6K monitors and a 5K display); That's enough to power six, yes six 4K screens.

Excellent performance for the price

The M4 offers the fastest processor performance in this price range; There is no photo finish, especially for single-threaded tasks. I compared it to the Core i5-14400 (as found in the Dell Inspiron PC), the Core i7-13620H, and even the mighty Ryzen 9 7940HS, using the public test database compiled by CPU Benchmark Test.

However, the Apple Mac Mini 2024 is not perfect. Its biggest annoyance is the paltry 256GB storage that the entry-level model comes with. I can live with that. Like the original IBM PC, it has reached the perfect point, a Goldilocks balance between price and features that finally gives Apple the finishing touches to crown the Mac Mini the perfect PC; Value for money.

Apple is now affordable, inexpensive, accessible, mass-market, and even friendly. Is it time to say goodbye to Windows PC? Maybe, but it depends on who you are. The new Mac Mini covers a lot of bases, but it's the entry-level model that captures my imagination; A 50% increase in RAM and a doubling of storage, which costs about $20 in parts, adds another $400 to the price.

This is where PCs have differentiated themselves from Apple offerings and will continue to do so by offering greater choice at lower margins (and therefore higher prices). However, Apple makes life a little more difficult for PC providers like Dell or HP with each new generation of devices.

The Apple Mac Mini is currently at the top of our list of the best mini PCs, and its new version only solidifies its position there. And maybe I've found my perfect Christmas present; I just need to make sure I'm on Santa's nice list.

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