The M4-powered Mac mini is an unbelievable machine total. It’s an inexpensive little powerhouse, however as a lot as we like it, one factor concerning the redesign nonetheless has us scratching our heads: Why, oh why is the facility button situated on the underside?
Apple VPs Greg Jozwiak and John Ternus defined in an interview to a Chinese language content material creator on Billibilli (noticed and machine-translated by ITHome) that the primary purpose the facility button is on the underside of the 2024 Mac Mini is due to the pc’s dimension. Because it was almost half the dimensions of the earlier era, the underside was “type of the optimum cease” for an influence button. Additionally they say most customers “by no means use the facility button” on a Mac, anyway.
Apple isn’t fallacious right here. The Mac mini measures 5 x 5 x 2 inches, in comparison with 7.75 x 7.75 x 1.4 inches from the final era; it takes up a lot much less area in your desk, which is nice. The trade-off is that you simply run out of area for some vital issues, like an influence button.
The facility button is situated on the underside rear-left nook of the Mac mini. So if it’s sitting in your desk and it is advisable energy it on, you must attain across the again of the unit and barely carry it. Because the Mac mini weighs simply round 1.5 lbs, this isn’t a giant deal for most individuals—it’s extra of a pet peeve than the rest. The vital issues, just like the Thunderbolt 5 and HDMI ports, are out the place they need to be.
Apple advised Gizmodo one thing comparable throughout a product briefing weeks in the past: It discovered that most individuals put their Mac merchandise to sleep after they’re not utilizing them. Nonetheless, that didn’t cease DIYers from discovering their very own inventive options to enhance the Mac mini’s awkward energy button earlier than pre-orders went reside.
I get it. I wish to energy off my gadgets as soon as I’m executed utilizing them, and I’d argue that probably the most optimum spot for a button can be in a spot that’s much more accessible. However what do I do know? Till then, I assume I’m becoming a member of the handfuls of Mac mini customers who will simply velcro the darn factor below my desk.
