I been considering buying a 24GB Mac Mini M2 if I can find a good deal, preferably with Apple Care.
However, I came across this on Amazon:
This seems like a great deal, but am wondering if I would be missing the performance of the M2?
Please advise.
Thanks
[Edited by Moderator]
The Intel based 2018 mini has been listed as compatible with the upcoming Sequoia OS. But, I would be surprised if Apple supports any Intel based Macs much beyond that.
We have one with these same specs, and it's a nice machine, but its days are numbered.
You won't be able to get AppleCare on it. Anything like that from Amazon is a used computer that has long gone past its warranty period, including the additional 2 years of coverage AppleCare it may have had.
Best place to look is Apple's own refurbished page.
https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/mac-mini
Anything purchase here you can save you a fair amount of money over new, and they have the same full one year warranty.
There's only a few here at the moment, but you just have to keep looking as the choices change rather frequently. There were a lot more available last week, so it's an indication they sell quickly. If you see one you really want and it's in your budget, don't hesitate very long to make a purchase.
Do you really need AppleCare . . . it's not there for your benefit, it's quite a nice little earner for Apple.
I am ultra cautious, always expecting the worst.
In the 22 years I have been using Macs, I have bought 6 new computers. I still have 4 of them.
Only one, an eMac in 2005 gave any trouble. Within weeks of purchase it started going slower and slower and startup was taking about 20 minutes.
The hard drive was replaced under warranty and it was still going strong up to 2020 when I threw it on the tip because it was so outdated.
All Macs come with a one year warranty and almost always, if anything is going to fail, it will be early on in the first year . . . at which point someone will probably chime in and say that their's failed after the warranty expired but this is very unusual and can very often be the result of misuse.
Thanks Kurt!
I think you're right, better to buy a M2.
How are you going to use your Mac mini as the basic (cheapest) M2 may well be all you need.
Look at all my answers to this question . . .
Correct. Even though there are drop-down menus for RAM and SSD size, they don't mean anything as the only specs for a given Mac is what they have available as a refurb. Just keep going back every day and watching for new additions to the list.
I have been looking there! Also just had a chat with a Rep. They told me they can't upgrade the RAM on refurbished so it's 'what you see is what you get' on refurbished Macs.
+1, overkill and overspend for desktop Macs.
Should I buy this Mac Mini or wait and buy the latest one?
