[rozwado1]

From mwsf.macnn.com:
Apple introduces Mac mini. New member of Mac family Slot-load Combo optical drive. Play DVDs, burn CDs. Queit. Tiny, FireWire, ethernet, USB 2.o, both DVI/VGA output. Very tine. Height is half the size of an iPod mini. BYODKM. Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, Mouse. Firs tone is $499: 1.25GHz 256MB/40GB More memory and larger hard drive for $599. Will ship on January 22. Ships in a box smaller than the regular iPod box. [10:36 PT]

Is this for real?

[nooon]

yep.

[Rampant Desire]

Wow... I can't wait to get my hands on one!
Definitely a perfect computer for me as a tie-over until I can afford a Power Mac. I wonder if they'll actually be able to meet their January 22nd shipping date?

[trevorM]

Its a stunning little design. I am utterly impressed. I think it fills the Apple Computer line quite nicely. It allows people to have an Apple, run whatever monitor they already own and enjoy the Apple experience for a small amount of money...

[awcopus]

I think they're doing this at the right time. I mean obviously they could have released a product like this a long time ago, technically, but whent their whole line was G4-based, it would have cannibalized sales. Now with the G5 duallies in the Pro line, and single chip in the iMac, and with the tremendous popularity of the iPod among wintel users.... it's just smart timing.

I know some PC guys who have held off because they like to game and the Mac can't compete in that arena. But they dropped $500 on iPods. Why wouldn't they tuck this computer into their setup for about the same price (not including necessary additional RAM)? I bet they would end up using their PCs as gaming-only units, given all the problems they run into with viruses, and use the Mac for just about everything else.

And if Tiger's advantages can be leveraged by the Radeon 9200 w/32MB of RAM, that little 1+GHz G4 chip may actually turn into a surprisingly great performer!

[Apple Pro Underwear]

when tiger ships on it, i'll probably get it.

it's all i can afford and tiger = a savings of $129

THINK ABOUT THAT!

instead of buying Tiger, pay a bit more and get the whole freaking thing!

[awcopus]

Here's another interesting possibility. Spend $499 for the iMac mini and use it in aliving room setup to power a 20" or 23" widescreen monitor/TV. Is that an option? I mean, is there a way to run a digital cable television signal to Apple's 23" display through the iMac mini? I think it would be cool to have a system that could play DVDs, surf the internet, and play back DTV programming. That could be very interesting. I know it's possible to get 5.1 surround sound out via USB to the receiver. Cable modem discreetly placed next to the cable box plugs in via ethernet. Use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse... it's a relatively cheap, fairly high quality, versatile little system.

[euphras]

It�s back, OMG, it�s back.....

.........the LCube is back.....

[awcopus]

Replace the RAM with 2 512 sticks from Crucial for $170 (with shipping)... then add this guy...
http://www.midiman.net/products/en_u...it-main-1.html (which can be gotten for about $90) for surround sound output to your surround sound receiver.

The 1.25 GHz Macmini is the better value at this end of the spectrum. HD space... you can get a 200GB drive for $130 or a 120GB drive for $90 from Newegg.com, so it's not worth the additional $100 for that. Add another $130 for the bluetooth mouse and keyboard (incl. shipping from catalog).

Superdrive? Eh. Can live without it. And the difference between 1.25 and 1.42 is not worth money.

SO: approximately $979 gets you this beautiful device in your living room plugged into your surround sound speaker and then you pick between the $1000 20" or $1800 23" screens for your home theater and iTunes playback pleasure... with ample support for most apps.

Only thing left is running television through it. Anybody have any ideas?

[historylme]

Eye El Gato?

[sworthy]

I was under the impression it only has one RAM slot... correct?

[Shaddim]

Originally posted by sworthy:
I was under the impression it only has one RAM slot... correct?

that's correct.

[historylme]

.

[JHromadka]

Originally posted by sworthy:
I was under the impression it only has one RAM slot... correct?

That's not user-serviceable. Maybe it will be like the Lamp iMac and require that heat-resistant paste for DIYers

[demograph68]

No Superdrive option?

[mike one]

no keyboard and mouse?

apple can be a bunch of el'douches sometimes IMHO.

that is the lamest thing. seriously.

an extra $60 at the apple store, brings the entry model to $560.

[DeathMan]

Originally posted by mike one:
no keyboard and mouse?

apple can be a bunch of el'douches sometimes IMHO.

that is the lamest thing. seriously.

an extra $60 at the apple store, brings the entry model to $560.

Bring Your Own.

[Mr Heliums]

Originally posted by demograph68:
No Superdrive option?

Yes there is.

[Rampant Desire]

Originally posted by awcopus:
The 1.25 GHz Macmini is the better value at this end of the spectrum. HD space... you can get a 200GB drive for $130 or a 120GB drive for $90 from Newegg.com, so it's not worth the additional $100 for that.

Given the size of the computer, I would have my doubts that it houses a 3.5" hard drive. If this was indeed the case, then why wouldn't we have 120, 160, or even 200 gigs? The drives are cheap, like you said.

My guess is that it uses a notebook drive, which is considerably more expensive per GB.
What do you guys think?

In the mean time, i'll do some checking and see if I can find out for sure.

-RD

[rozwado1]

It's a 2.5" drive.

[threestain]

Originally posted by demograph68:
No Superdrive option?

no, there is for a little extra...

in the UK its �340 basic and would tell the pricing for better, but store's been swamped!

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by JHromadka:
That's not user-serviceable. Maybe it will be like the Lamp iMac and require that heat-resistant paste for DIYers

What are you talking about... how do you think Apple places the RAM in there? There is obviously a way to get at the RAM, it may not be as easy as a PowerMac, but I'm sure it's easer then just about every PC on the market.

[demograph68]

Originally posted by threestain:
no, there is for a little extra...
but store's been swamped!

That's good.

Yeah... it's taking forever to load. I think Apple hit the jackpot.

[mitchell_pgh]

With hard drive capacities offered for Mac mini, you can easily make sure that you have enough storage capacity. Hard drives for Mac mini are offered in 40GB and 80GB capacities.* All Mac mini models include standard Ultra ATA hard drives. ATA hard drives (also known as IDE drives) combine low cost with excellent performance.

Does this mean the Mac mini uses a standard HD or is it a laptop HD?

[rozwado1]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
Does this mean the Mac mini uses a standard HD or is it a laptop HD?

2.5" laptop drives. I think by 'standard' they mean 4200rpm.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by rozwado1:
2.5" laptop drives. I think by 'standard' they mean 4200rpm.

Just out of curiosity... where are people getting that information from?

[Mediaman_12]

At this price point if one things for sure is that it's going to decimate the single proc G4 towers & cubes resale values.
This is a 1.4ghz Mac for under �400 (and a 1.2ghz for just over �300). Taking a quick look at eBay, most <1ghz G4 towers have pulled more than that. These old towers are going to hit rock bottom now.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by Mediaman_12:
At this price point if one things for sure is that it's going to decimate the single proc G4 towers & cubes resale values.
This is a 1.4ghz Mac for under �400 (and a 1.2ghz for just over �300). Taking a quick look at eBay, most <1ghz G4 towers have pulled more than that. These old towers are going to hit rock bottom now.

So you are saying I should have sold my 733 PowerMac G4 last weekend...

[Krypton]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
So you are saying I should have sold my 733 PowerMac G4 last weekend...

People will still pay top money for G4 towers on eBay, they aren't too bright.

[awcopus]

Originally posted by Rampant Desire:
Given the size of the computer, I would have my doubts that it houses a 3.5" hard drive. If this was indeed the case, then why wouldn't we have 120, 160, or even 200 gigs? The drives are cheap, like you said.

My guess is that it uses a notebook drive, which is considerably more expensive per GB.
What do you guys think?

In the mean time, i'll do some checking and see if I can find out for sure.

-RD

You got me. I was wrong about that. They're using 2.5" drives, in which case all my stuff about HDs from newegg is garbage. Hmmm.

Feels like this product is targeted at the middle-aged to grey market... people who don't play games and are sick of dealing with viruses and just want a very straightforward, unobtrusive computer that gives them a reliable computing experience. Young folk and twenty-thirty somethings will pine for better graphics for games, plus a little more HD space and expandability options for their "digital lifestyle" hobbies.

I think my folks would like this computer. Not sure if any of my peers will go for it. I know that if it looks like the product doesn't have legs, I'm going to snag one before it's discontinued just because, well,

it's absolutely adorable.

[shabbasuraj]

well done Apple.

[awcopus]

Originally posted by Krypton:
People will still pay top money for G4 towers on eBay, they aren't too bright.

I don't know, it's a different market. A G4 tower can be filled with better graphics cards, more hard drives, more RAM, dual optical drives in some cases, and a bunch of interesting PCI cards, too. Certainly the dual G4 MDDs with Firewire 800 and Superdrives won't see their value fall faster than they already are because of G5 towers.

[Cody Dawg]

The Mac Mini. IT IS THE MOST BRILLIANT THING I'VE EVER SEEN.

I am buying two. Orders are in.

Jobs is a phreakin' genius.

[meelk]

this is the kind of thing women/girls will want because its "cute"

[deminisma]

Anyone know anywhere that will sell them online, and ship internationally?

[FulcrumPilot]

Stupid Mugger: whats that in the bag?

victim: It's my lunch box.

Mugger: I dont believe it, open the f$#@in thing!

vicitim: Hey look! it has a half bitten apple on it!! Give me a break!

mugger: oh, ok, so whats in your wallet?

etc.

Just trying to be imaginative. I think I could work for apple!

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by mike one:
no keyboard and mouse?

apple can be a bunch of el'douches sometimes IMHO.

that is the lamest thing. seriously.

WHY?

Everybody has computers now right? Just plug in what you already own! That's the whole point.

If you need new set of stuff... get a imac or a powermac

[PowerTower Fan]

Originally posted by mike one:
no keyboard and mouse?

apple can be a bunch of el'douches sometimes IMHO.

that is the lamest thing. seriously.

an extra $60 at the apple store, brings the entry model to $560.

PC users, including some mac users, complain about using a one button mouse. This way, they can just buy a $15 2 button mouse instead or use their existing usb mice. This takes away the paranoia of switchers with using a one button mouse.

[Cody Dawg]

mike one:

You probably thought the iPod was dumb also, huh?

[Evan_11]

I kind of see where Jobs is coming from by not including a keyboard or monitor. Besides keeping the price under $500 it adds to the infiltration aspect of the mini. If it came with it's own keyboard and mouse then you wouldn't be forced to necessarily abandon your PC. However most people will unplug their mouse and keyboard from their PC and just use it for the mini thus leaving their Dell Tower or whatever to gather dust.

[rozwado1]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
Just out of curiosity... where are people getting that information from?

Speculation. Look at the size of the unit, size of the drives, and target market. It would be damn hard to get a 3.5" drive inside of there with everything else and still have ventilation space. Drives are offered in 40 and 80GB - if they were 3.5" they would be easily 100GB+. The target market is PC users who don't know sh1t about computing. They're not gonna need a 5400rpm drive, so I don't think Apple would waste their money by installing them.

[Mithras]

Yeah, the 2.5" drive thing is the only real disappointment for me. I was hoping for one of these to be my "jukebox". But with a 2.5" drive, I'll need an extra Firewire drive hanging off the thing, which kinda defeats the compactness idea. I'll just settle for an iBook+external drive in that case...

[AKcrab]

Originally posted by Mithras:
Yeah, the 2.5" drive thing is the only real disappointment for me. I was hoping for one of these to be my "jukebox". But with a 2.5" drive, I'll need an extra Firewire drive hanging off the thing,...

Why? I don't understand the problem with a 2.5" drive.

[lavar78]

Originally posted by AKcrab:
Why? I don't understand the problem with a 2.5" drive.

They're slower, more expensive, and have lower capacities.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by lavar78:
They're slower, more expensive, and have lower capacities.

they are that way for smaller, more compact machines.

[icibaqu]

if there was ever a compelling reason for people to make the switch, get pumped about OSX and then go full force with a G5 in a year (using the mac-mini as extra storage space or something), then this is it. that really is very cool.

[agentz]

Does anybody have any pics of the Mac Mini from the show floor? I'm intrigued to see the power brick and the weird-ass power connector on the machine.

I think it's a stunning wee machine that ought to do the job it's designed for very well indeed.

[CreepingDeth]

Well met, Apple.

Decent design, nice and small. Perfect for those people who'd rather just plug in the stuff they have and escape the Hell that is DOS-based Windows, which might last until 2008 if current trends hold.

But it's not what I'm looking for. If I had the money, a 1.8 Dulie and a 20" display would be fine for me. But of course, I smell G5 update in the next 6 months, so I'll really need to pinch every penny I have right now. Man, I really need one of those.

That thing has more horsepower than my "rig".

800 MHz iMac
Burned out display
4 year old Mitsubishi 21" monitor

I'm pushing the limits with this!

[BTW, I see Apple bought some ad space here. Better than seeing ads for MP9.]

[ringo]

Originally posted by JHromadka:
That's not user-serviceable. Maybe it will be like the Lamp iMac and require that heat-resistant paste for DIYers

That's going to make avoiding the Apple surcharge on RAM more difficult...If I show up at an Apple store with a Mac mini and a stick of RAM, how much will it cost to have it installed?

I see one of these machines in my future, good going Apple.

[elise]

Is this going to be like a new version of a laptop??

I have a 15" Powerbook which I love but if I had a display/keyboard/mouse at home (I already have those things at work) I could just carry the mini back and forth.

I guess most people don't have two sets of all of those items tho. Or can you hook up the mini to a television?