Other Sites
Megadittos
From Stephen Zamic
Megadittos Charles, from a fellow conservative Canuck.
I recall the extravagant praise Rush had heaped on iChat real-time video conferencing; he claimed it could one day put the phone companies out of business! I wondered why Apple didn’t use this guy to sell Macs to his 20 million-plus-per-week radio audience?
And speaking of big-time right-wing Road Warriors, there’s David Frum, former George W Bush speech writer (“Axis of Evil”) and iBook user.
Does anyone seriously believe that giving Vice President Algore a seat on Apple’s board of directors has increased the Mac market share one jot?
It’s time that Mr. Jobs started focusing his marketing efforts more on “creative conservatives” who don’t use Macs.
Cheers,
Stephen Zamic
Hi Stephen;
Megadittos back at ya'.
Yes; it warms the cockles of my Canuck conservative heart that the redoubtable Mr. Frum, a Canadian, was writing some of GWB's first-term speeches. Frum hastens to emphasize that President Bush is quite hands-on about content.
Incidentally, I understand that GWB himself is a PowerBook user.
Charles
Review: Apple Launches $500 Mac
Apple's new $499 Mac Mini A Slick Little Budget Computer [/url]
The Mac mini, Price Reductions, and the Road Ahead
Apple Could Be On To Something Big
Will Mac Mini Spur Petite-PC Revolution?
Apple Trips on Mac Mini[/url]
Target Pulls Mac mini From E-store
"If Apple Doesn't Sell A Boatload Of These .... There Is Something Wrong With The Human Race"[/url]
Review: Apple Launches $500 Mac
AP Technology Writer Matthew Fordahl reports:
"When the original Macintosh computer was little more than a sketch, its creators envisioned the machine retailing for about $500. But when the first Mac finally rolled out in 1984, it carried a hefty price tag of $2,495.
"Apple Computer Inc. has never had a problem capturing consumers' hearts, though their wallets have been another story. Over the years, Apple's reputation for innovation, fashion-forward design and high prices rose while its market share dwindled.
"Now, it's finally selling a computer, called the Mac mini, for $499, the same price as one of its higher-end iPod music players.
"Though this compact little box won't have the same impact that a $500 Mac could have had 21 years ago, it just might be the right computer for our times."
For the full report visit here.
Apple's new $499 Mac Mini A Slick Little Budget Computer
USA TODAY 's Edward C. Baig says:
"It resembles a coaster on steroids - or a container for Wonder Bread. The familiar Apple logo is the only obvious sign that the handsome 2-inch-tall, white-with-silver-trim, square box on my desk is a different sort of wonder.
"Apple's new Mac Mini is the least expensive Macintosh to date. As befits Apple's heritage, this Mac defies conventions. It weighs just 2.9 pounds, but it's a desktop computer, not a notebook. It's portable - but in the sense of moving from room to room, not home to office or city to city. Apple sells the 6.5-inch-square machine in a lunchbox-size package with a handle. ..
"Mac Mini is something of a pioneer in the Apple universe, just as the freshly minted $99 Apple iPod Shuffle digital music player I reviewed last week breaks new ground. This computer may give Steve Jobs his best opportunity yet to wrestle some market share from the masses schooled on Windows-based personal computers.....
"Many buyers have been reluctant to embrace Macs. In part, that's because the computers typically command a premium over Windows PCs. And once all is said and done, the Mac Mini will cost more than comparable entry-level Windows machines. You could make the case, though, that with the software loaded on the Mini, you're getting more bang for your buck."
For the full report visit here.
The Mac mini, Price Reductions, and the Road Ahead
Low End Mac's Dan Knight says:
"Despite the nay-sayers, the Mac mini is a runaway success. Apple can't make them fast enough, and the backlog is now measured in weeks. The US$499 price point, compact size, and barely compromised design - which also looks just great - have caught the public's interest.
"A lot of us are patting ourselves on the back. After all, we've been saying it for years. 'Apple, if you make a low-end Mac that's price competitive with cheap PCs, you'll sell a boatload and really increase market share.'
"And that finally happened. I suspect the Mac mini will be the top selling computer this month and for several months to come, just as the US$1,299 iMac was for most of the year following its introduction. ......
'It Gets Better
'In an unexpected turnabout, Apple has already reduced the price of several accessories, peripherals, and upgrades for the Mac mini. Remember the Apple USB mouse and keyboard? They once sold for US$59 each; today you can buy the pair for US$58 (US$29 each)...
"Bill Palmer is completely confused by this. He speculates that Apple may be doing this to boost lackluster Mac mini sales, but based on reports of backorders everywhere, that can't be the case. His second speculation is that perhaps Apple isn't selling enough profitable upgraded build-to-order minis, which just might be the case....
"Now if Apple would just make a nice 15" megawide 1280 x 854 pixel flat panel display to complement the mini, they could have a really cost-effective completely Apple-branded solution."
For the full commentary visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/musings/05/0128.html
Apple Could Be On To Something Big
Will desktop computers make sweet music for Apple?
IT Week's Alistair Dabbs says:
"After the dismal failure of Apple's Cube a few years ago, everyone is cautious of appearing too enthusiastic about this new strange, shrunken Mac for the moment. However, the Mini is everything that the Cube was not: it has a high-level spec, can be upgraded (sort of), and is quite cheap. Also, because it is not bundled with a monitor, keyboard and mouse, the Mini makes a very cost-efficient replacement computer.
"On the other hand, the Cube's downfall was a series of serious design flaws that nobody spotted until later. My personal favourite was the touch-sensitive power button, which operated by sensing the heat from your finger. Since this button was located near the Cube's warm air venting grill, the machine would suddenly switch itself off while you were working.
"My gut feeling is that lots of PC makers will soon be producing their own book-sized desktop machines too. Design faults excepted, the Mini could be the start of something, erm, big. But Apple itself doesn't seem to see it quite that way. After talking about iPods and home video software for over an hour at the aforementioned press briefing, Apple covered the Mac Mini in less than three minutes. Unfortunately, desktop computing does not currently appear to be music to Apple's ears."
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.itweek.co.uk/comment/1160821
Will Mac Mini Spur Petite-PC Revolution?
CNET News.com's John G. Spooner says:
"Apple Computer isn't the only company with big hopes for small computers.
"Rival PC makers are hoping Apple's newly minted Mac Mini, which went on sale last Saturday, helps shift consumer tastes to smaller desktops at a time when most people associate "little" with laptops.
"I love the product. I think it's beautiful," said Tom Anderson, vice president of marketing for the Consumer PC Global Business Unit at Hewlett-Packard. "If it started a trend of small (desktops)...I'd be very happy about that. It would be a reason for someone to consider a desktop."
"Big-name PC makers such as HP have so far had little success with small desktops, but the tiny Apple could well create enough buzz to spark new interest among consumers...."
For the full commentary visit here.
Apple Trips on Mac Mini
ebcvg.com 's Jeremy C. Wright says:
"Apple Computers’ founder Steve Jobs has a way about him. He has a halo, or a blessing, or something that makes it so that whatever he does gets eaten up by the Mac community. And often they’ll have a second helping. And sometimes even a third.....
"As such, it comes as no real surprise that last week’s product announcements were met with surprise, enthusiasm and even a little bit of glee. Both the Mac Mini and the iPod Shuffle were hailed as “innovative”, “industry redefining” and “a massive repositioning” by various news organizations around the country.
"Personally, I fail to see how a smaller, cheaper, less powerful Mac and iPod are innovative or in any way good for anything but Apple’s short-term bottom line."
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.ebcvg.com/articles.php?id=549
Mac Mini On The Rack Already
Macworld UK reports:
"Texas based Pure Static is offering to colocate Mac minis into a rack that will be housed in its Data Foundry facility in Austin Texas �“ an ex-bank vault, manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by a group of dedicated network engineers.
The company describes the Mac mini as: "The first product in a long time to make us really excited. The fun is back!"
For the full report visit here.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=10717
Target Pulls Mac mini From E-store
TechWeb reports:
"Now you see Mac Mini; Now you don't. That was the disappointing experience for shoppers at one major retailer. Retailer Target, which began selling the new Mac mini computer on its online store just days ago, has pulled the product, citing availability issues.
"Target.com, which showed the Mac mini starting last Friday, now has withdrawn the two models, one priced at $499 the other at $599, from its Web site.....
"We can't offer a definite date when it will be on hand again, and because of this, we're not able to make it available for ordering at this time," the e-mail from Target said in part."
For the full report visit here.
"If Apple Doesn't Sell A Boatload Of These .... There Is Something Wrong With The Human Race"
macreviewzone.com says:
Some interesting facts about the Mac mini
1) The heaviest single part of the mini is the top housing, which must be close to half the computer's weight. When the top cover is removed, the Mac mini is very light weight.
2) The mini is very quiet when the fan is not running. Under heavy load the fan will come on, then the sound level is like when a PowerBook fan comes on.
3) There is only one RAM slot
4) It is smaller than it looks in pictures - that they were able to cram that amount of technology into such a small package is a marvel.
5) It is extremely cool - If Apple doesn't sell a boatload of these .... There is something wrong with the human race.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://macreviewzone.com/html/reviews/guides/appleseed.shtml
Mac Mini Xbench Disk Performance Comparisons With HD Upgrades
Mac mini versus Cube versus iMac versus Power Mac[/url]
Comparison Data Between A Mac Mini G4/1.42 And PowerBook G4/867 MHz[/url]
Mac Mini Xbench Disk Performance Comparisons With HD Upgrades
On xlr8yourmac.com:
Mac Mini Xbench disk performance comparisons with HD Upgrades - Jamie Dresser of OWC sent a link to their page with Xbench disk test results comparing these drives in a Mac Mini:
• Stock 40GB 4200RPM Seagate Momentus 42
• 60GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache Hitachi Travelstar
• 80GB 5400RPM 8MB Cache Hitachi Travelstar
• 80GB 5400RPM 16MB Cache Toshiba
• 100GB 5400RPM 8MB Cache Seagate Momentus 5400.2
You can check it out at:
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/index.html#S18733
��
On BareFeats:
Mac mini versus Cube versus iMac versus Power Mac
rob-ART morgan says:
We're working on a full array of tests comparing the Mac mini to all its "siblings." We should have the testing complete early next week. Meanwhile, I replaced my controversial Xbench graphs with a few "real world" ones...
"The Mac mini is a credible performer as long as you aren't running 3D Games at highest quality settings. We plan to add results from Photoshop, iTunes, FileMaker Pro, Halo, Unreal Tournament 2004, and other apps early next week.
"The mini's "Achilles heel" continues to be the hard drive, which is a 2.5" notebook model running at only 4200rpm. You might be better off replacing it with a faster 5400rpm or 7200rpm drive or booting from an external 7200rpm 3.5 inch FireWire drive."
You can check it out at:
http://www.barefeats.com/mini01.html
On macreviewzone.com
Comparison Data Between A Mac Mini G4/1.42 And PowerBook G4/867 MHz
Comparison data between 15 Inch PowerBook G4/867 - M8858LL/A and Mac mini G4/1.42 GHz - M9687LL/A
Processor .... mini ... 84% Faster
Graphics Card .... mini ... 3% Faster
Graphics Processor .... mini ... 81% Faster
Graphics Interface .... mini ... 36% Faster
You can check it out at:
http://macreviewzone.com/html/reviews/guides/appleseed.shtml
Mac mini Plus
Mac mini Hard Drive Upgrade Not?[/url]
Mac mini Plus
Low End Mac's Dan Knight says:
I'd love to see Apple create a Mac mini Plus, a computer with the same 6.5" square footprint, a somewhat more robust power supply, and room for a 3.5" hard drive. To allow for the larger drive, the mini Plus wouldn't have to be even 3" high, and suddenly those who are willing to sacrifice a bit of size and weight for a bit more storage space or drive performance would have a great option.
At the same time, Apple could use the extra space on the back of the mini Plus to add some much-needed ports: one more FireWire, two more USB, and the one I'd really love to see - a Disk Mode button that would allow the mini Plus to function as a FireWire or USB 2.0 hard drive. (I'd love to see this on the mini, too. Maybe the next revision....)
You can check it out at:
http://lowendmac.com/musings/05/0128.html
Mac mini Hard Drive Upgrade Not?
MacInTouch Reports:
"We received the fast Hitachi 60GB drive we ordered and installed it in the Mac Mini last night. Here's a tip: Don't even consider doing a hard drive installation in the Mini unless you're a confident, hard-core hacker. It's neither easy nor fun, and there's a lot of potential for trouble....
"Like Apple says, the Mac Mini is not designed for customer access to the internals.....
�
"The fast 60GB drive was about 33% faster than the stock Apple 80GB drive
"Upgrading the Mini's hard drive improved Xbench's Disk Test score from 63 to 85 (averaging three runs).
"What our 'Fast 60' upgrade did was to improve Mini performance to the same level as an iMac G5, but neither easily nor cheaply. Bottom line? We'd probably stick with the standard 40- or 80-GByte drive in the Mini and use external FireWire drives for more capacity and a small performance boost....."
For the full report, visit here.
http://www.macintouch.com/index.shtml
***
Charles W. Moore
Note: Letters to Mac mini Muse may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context.
Opinions expressed in postings to Mac mini Muse are those of the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or Applelinks management.
If you would prefer that your message not appear in Mac mini Muse, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published.
CM
Tags: Blogs ï Mac mini Muse ï
