Mac Mini seems unworthy for upgrades

Apart from the Mac OS X Yosemite, iMac Retina and the new iPads, Apple had also announced the Mac Mini. Though the price seems cheaper for the mini computer, there are various limitations to the product that could be disappointing.

iFixit, known for taking apart products by tearing it down piece by piece, reveals some shocking information about the Mac Mini.

Firstly, apart from the older models, the 2014 model sports a metal cover with tiny Torx screws. This poses an unusual problem for servicing and upgrades.

On further digging deep into the hood, they found the motherboard design even shocking—the RAM is hard-soldered to the PCB, which means one cannot upgrade or replace the memory (RAM) chips in case of a breakdown. Also there is no additional RAM slot for memory upgrades. This means that you would have to order your RAM and storage needs at the time of booking it. Once purchased, you would have no choice, but have to buy another one if you need higher specs.

The disappointment goes further as there is no additional slot for a second storage drive. Though the support for Fusion Drive is provided, you cannot install another hard drive and create RAID arrays anymore. Lastly, the processor is also not upgradable, as they are mobile processors now.

Finally, this all boils down to your careful decisions while ordering it online. Once placed, you will have to live with the hardware or opt for a second one. All in all, when buying the Mac Mini, you will have to be careful what you wish for.