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Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

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Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#251

Post by officeplant »

not-a-llm wrote: post #242
officeplant wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ebay and Amazon are flooded with it. Especially if you are looking for anything prior to DDR5. DDR2 and DDR3 are especially flooded with weird brands you've never heard of before. Unfortunately its not so cheap anymore as everyone ramped prices up of course. Last year I could still get 32GB of DDR4 for under $60 from chinese brands.

DDR3 is from 10 years ago. DDR2 is from 15.

And?

I just upgraded my 2008 Thinkpad R61i to 8GB of DDR2 a few months ago while I was also upgrading to a core2duo.

DDR2 and DDR3 are still in active use by SBC manufacturers.

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#252

Post by JKCalhoun »

mikeocool wrote: post #182
Sebastian_09 wrote: post #89

What I’m not sure to understand is that if you want to just run Claude code or openclaw type software with llm apis or subscriptions (and not run local models) to benefit from a local file system and always-on capability for ‘second brain’ type of workflows, I guess you don’t need a Mac mini but can run it on a raspberry pi or an old laptop ? Does anyone have experience with that ?

Yeah I find the Mac mini trend is kind of baffling. It seems like it's driven either by 1) people hearing Macs are good for AI, buying one, and using Claude for inference, not realizing that you interact with the anthropic API from an internet connected hair dryer. Or 2) people want their agents to have blue bubbles. I find it hard to believe that enough normal people are doing on device inference is driving Mac Mini…

The people I know getting Mac Minis to run agents (I include myself) are running local LLMs.

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#253

Post by stasomatic »

windex wrote: post #96
Sebastian_09 wrote: post #89

What I’m not sure to understand is that if you want to just run Claude code or openclaw type software with llm apis or subscriptions (and not run local models) to benefit from a local file system and always-on capability for ‘second brain’ type of workflows, I guess you don’t need a Mac mini but can run it on a raspberry pi or an old laptop ? Does anyone have experience with that ?

Yup, for openclaw and APIs you dont need a big PC. I run something lightweight on the RPI4 8gb. Many people run local LLMs which is where a mac is useful. Frankly I dont think you can beat the value of an openrouter subscription and API calls.

If you or anyone else don’t mind, I have a have a question or 2.

I use Claude Pro ($20/m) as a glorified search engine (no ads/SEO) plus simple hobbyist dev things (shell scripts, managing my Mac, apps etc.

I also use it for tasks like - “search the web for top ten selling EVs, put them in a table” and then iterate - pivot tables, charts, additional research”. It could be cars, it could be broccoli. Code Work has facilities to streamline this type of work, but I usually drop into the CLI.

How much if any functionality would I need to recreate if I switch to OpenRouter and would be match my costs with the API approach. I don’t want any cost overruns. With Codex or Claude, if I run of tokens, no big deal, I can wait.

Thanks!

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#254

Post by ceroxylon »

habosa wrote: post #219

Apple has totally failed to deliver interesting AI experiences so far ... and I still think they're going to be the dominant provider of AI in 5 years. We're just one or two advances in chips / models / both away from being able to run very good local models for free on mid-tier Apple devices. The privacy, cost, and latency story there will be too much for OpenAI/Anthropic/Google to beat. Just writing this down so I…

I don't mind the subtle ML integrations that they have put in the photos app: plant ID, recognizing faces, removing background, OCR text search (even for handwriting!), etc.

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#255

Post by overfeed »

xyst wrote: post #228
habosa wrote: post #219

Apple has totally failed to deliver interesting AI experiences so far ... and I still think they're going to be the dominant provider of AI in 5 years. We're just one or two advances in chips / models / both away from being able to run very good local models for free on mid-tier Apple devices. The privacy, cost, and latency story there will be too much for OpenAI/Anthropic/Google to beat. Just writing this down so I…

Apple has failed to live up to the Steve Jobs era and initial iPhone hype. It's not just "AI experiences", it's computing in general. Maybe the consumer sector is just dead/dying. Maybe consumers are just running out of cash because filthy VCs are destroying communities and forcing the 99% into poverty. The one thing that is marginally exciting: the Apple SoC or M series chips. It's unfortunate they are locked behind…

> it's computing in general.

Unsurprising. Apple seriously thought the iPad would replace computers and usher in a "post-PC" word during their "What is a computer?" ad campaign era. Now they are sticking phone chips in laptop chassis.

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#256

Post by rdn »

ceroxylon wrote: post #254
habosa wrote: post #219

Apple has totally failed to deliver interesting AI experiences so far ... and I still think they're going to be the dominant provider of AI in 5 years. We're just one or two advances in chips / models / both away from being able to run very good local models for free on mid-tier Apple devices. The privacy, cost, and latency story there will be too much for OpenAI/Anthropic/Google to beat. Just writing this down so I…

I don't mind the subtle ML integrations that they have put in the photos app: plant ID, recognizing faces, removing background, OCR text search (even for handwriting!), etc.

I don't like when I'm trying to copy a photo online and it copies some piece of text in the photo instead

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#258

Post by HaloZero »

awakeasleep wrote: post #189
mikeocool wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I find the Mac mini trend is kind of baffling. It seems like it's driven either by 1) people hearing Macs are good for AI, buying one, and using Claude for inference, not realizing that you interact with the anthropic API from an internet connected hair dryer. Or 2) people want their agents to have blue bubbles. I find it hard to believe that enough normal people are doing on device inference is driving Mac Mini…

One aspect you're missing is that people running a claw type agent thing need to run it on a Mac to automate software in the Apple ecosystem. Neo-Siri in iOS 27 removes the need for a lot of this, but before then, if you want to ask a robot about information that is stored in Apple notes, or to send an iMessage, a Mac mini is your only practical option.

What does the new Siri do that circumvents the need for a mac? To access Siri you still need one no?

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#259

Post by mlsu »

overfeed wrote: post #255
xyst wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has failed to live up to the Steve Jobs era and initial iPhone hype. It's not just "AI experiences", it's computing in general. Maybe the consumer sector is just dead/dying. Maybe consumers are just running out of cash because filthy VCs are destroying communities and forcing the 99% into poverty. The one thing that is marginally exciting: the Apple SoC or M series chips. It's unfortunate they are locked behind…

> it's computing in general. Unsurprising. Apple seriously thought the iPad would replace computers and usher in a "post-PC" word during their "What is a computer?" ad campaign era. Now they are sticking phone chips in laptop chassis.

For the general consumer, they were basically right though. Most people don't use laptops except for work. The primary computing device is the phone, and phones have basically become become mini-ipads in form factor since that ad aired.

Re: Apple Silicon Exec Explains Mac Mini AI Demand and On-Device Future

#260

Post by robertoandred »

egorfine wrote: post #197
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, that is an outdated PoV. It has probably not been valid, since last century. It's just that Apple isn't really focused on software development professionals, and it's still fashionable to throw shade on them, so we hear a lot of kvetching about it, in communities like this.

Could you please point me out which current Mac model has enough storage for full feature video editing job? Thanks.

Video editors use high-speed network storage.
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