Other Sites
My own Mac mini musings[/url]
• The very FIRST SEALED COMPUTER[/url]
• mini-Mac[/url]
• Think[/url]
• Warming to the mini[/url]
My own Mac mini musings
From: Brian Braunschweiger
Hi Charles! I like the idea of this new section.
I have a mini on order from Apple but won't see it until mid February. I recognize the limitations of the mini - few upgrade options, hard for the user to do any upgrades, only 1 RAM slot, good but not great video card and a slow hard drive. But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for me. There are a couple things that especially drove my decision.
(1) Price. My only OS X access has been Panther on an external firewire drive running on my 400 mhz 192 meg RAM Pismo. Getting the Mac mini will get me to getting the most out of OS X at a much lower price point that getting an iMac or PowerMac. I have the keyboard, mouse and monitor already. As a fringe benefit I get another copy of Panther (meaning I can pass my present copy along to my college daughter), iLife 05 (probably would have bought that anyway), and upgrades to older versions of software I already use like AppleWorks and Quicken. Getting the SuperDrive was only $100 in addition, not a bad price at all for that upgrade.
(2) Portability I expect my work to take me overseas later this year. I expected to "have" to upgrade to a PowerBook G4 for between $1200 and $1600. Now I can keep my Pismo for true portable computing but stick the mini in my carry on bag and get a monitor where I end up living and be perfectly happy with the setup. I may need to spend some extended time at my parents later this winter and can do the same thing - take the mini, mouse and keyboard and use their monitor.
I saw in person a mini at my local Apple store on Saturday. It is SMALL! If Apple had asked me I would have said add an inch or so to each dimension and put in another RAM slot and make it easier to open. Still it is an amazing machine if you take it for what it is meant to be.
Now for one question:
Any idea why Apple went with "mini" over "Mini"?
Brian
Brian Braunschweiger
Hi Brian;
I expect that there are many prospective mini purchasers with similar considerations to your own. Me, for instance. I have a gaggle of keyboards and mice, and three workhorse 'Books. I need a decent external monitor, but the mini represents a very attractive package.
Why mini? I guess it looks appropriately cool. Apple introduced that lower case mini with the iPod mini.
Charles
The very FIRST SEALED COMPUTER
From Roger Born
I believe that with the industrial design of the Mac mini, that this is the very FIRST SEALED COMPUTER.
Oh yeah, people are going to be cracking these things open and modding them like crazy!
But as a stand-alone design, it is perfect like it is (provided you did your upgrading BEFORE you bought it).
Think about it. No screws. No latches. Apparent seamlessness in it's manufacturing. - This new Apple Mac mini is a completely different computing paradigm equal to what would happen if one of the major car makers introduced a model with a sealed engine, without so much as a hood to open on the vehicle.
This is major. I think the vast majority of mini owners will never attempt to open it for any reason.
Apple Macs are very reliable, and long-lived. I think the mini will be such a computer too - one that you toss, or give away, once you eventually outgrow it.
Regards,
Roger Born
Writer, Teacher, General Troublemaker
Hi Roger;
Thanks.
It's also something of a return to the Mac's roots. Remember the case cracker (or substitute) you needed to get the original compact Macs open?
Charles
mini-Mac
From Ed Rashed
I am budgeting to get a mini for my 86 year old mom, who has been hinting for some time that she would like to get in on this "new" e-mail thing to keep in closer touch with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. I could not imagine her trying to deal with one moment of Windows and the torture of dealing with overly complex installations of overly bloated software just to end up overly bludgeoned by viruses and spyware. At the same time she insists that somewhere there must be a computer that will "just work" and doesn't cost more than her washing machine did. Thank goodness for the mini Mac!!!
-Ed Rashed
I expect she'll be tickled with it, Ed.
Charles
Think
From Mike Cane
Think Different.
-- iMac
Think Smaller.
-- Mac Mini
Think Smaller Still.
-- Mac Mobile
Or so I hope! Imagine http://www.oqo.com with a G4 running OS X. Heaven.
Warming to the mini
From Glennsan
When I first heard about the Mini I will confess I was happy about it for others but not myself. As an Apple employee and a user of OS X for 4 years who really uses iLife to it's max I did not think it would be something I would consider for our purposes.
However in the week and a half since it was released I admit I've started to warm up to it. My almost 4 year old DA 533 is starting to get long in the tooth and I am looking at spending around $ 300 to upgrade it's CPU for iDVD 05 so if I was to purchase the mini it would cost me that much less and I would donate my current one to my church or a school, my family members are too far away to deliver it to and spend time going over the Mac OS. I have the 15" CD with an ADC connection so I will purchase a LCD as the adapter option does not appeal to me but I probably would have bought a new one anyway. Either the 20 or 23 Apple CD are what I am considering, the price difference is significant and I am not sure I need the HD but the extra screen size is good for my eyes, any opinions from you Charles or your readers?
My thoughts are the mini is great for what the average user needs, my situation will be I'd upgrade the RAM of course and probably get the Superdrive. When I'm done with it and get whatever the next version is I would give this one to my sister in the Midwest who struggles with her Compaq with Windows ME on it and the virus/spyware problems that we never deal with but know others who do. In another 2 years I would upgrade mine again and give it to my Mom. So the Mac experience is able to be shared and I have the best of possible situations. A seriously decent monitor purchased with my very good discount and a computer that gets upgraded enough so I always think I have the latest and the greatest.
All in all, I think Apple has hit a home run with this one and they will be selling them for a long time.
Thanks for the excellent columns. I always read yours every week.
Hi Glennsan;
Sounds like an excellent plan.
The newest external monitor I have in the house is a prehistoric NEC 15" CRT, so I can't be much help to you with your display decision.
Personally, if I go with a mini for my next system upgrade, I'll probably get an NEC MultiSync LCD1760V 17" LCD that weighs 10.1 pounds without stand (it's wall-mountable) and 12.9 pounds with stand.
http://www.necmitsubishi.com/products/ProductDetail.cfm?Product=270&ClassificationFamily=1&Classification=1
Your upgrade/hand 'em down plan sounds great.
I agree; the mini is a home run.
Thanks for reading!
Charles
New Mac Mini Site: HTmini.com[/url]
• Mac Mini Finds Its Target[/url]
• Target Mac mni pages[/url]
• Mini Me - The New Mac Mini is All About Movies[/url]
• Mac mini vs. Cheap Dell, Gateway, HP, and Compaq PCs[/url]
• Is The Mac mini Worth More than a Low Cost DIY Windows PC?[/url]
• 1.42 GHz Mac mini versus 1.4 GHz Cube and others running xBench [/url]
• Mac Mini Might Inspire Buyers In Mass Quantities[/url]
• The First Sealed Computer - The Mac mini[/url]
• Why the Mac Mini is the New Altair [/url]
New Mac Mini Site: HTmini.com
With the release of Apple's Mac mini desktop computer and the massive following it is sure to create, HTmini.com has announced the launch of a premier site focused on providing comprehensive coverage on the coming cult following of the Mac mini and its uses in Home Theater.
HTmini.com will set the standard in this new niche market by providing a single location on the Internet for Mac mini and HT enthusiasts to find any tips, tricks, hacks, reviews, accessories and links pertaining to their favorite computer and their favorite hobby. The next few months are sure to be filled with first-hand accounts, mini mods, insights and satisfaction as thousands of Mac mini owners put their tiny computers to work in their Home Theater.
HTmini.com aims to be the best source of Mac mini and HTmini information on the web.
Mac Mini Finds Its Target
CNET News.com's Ina Fried reports:
"In another sign that the Mac Mini is aimed at the masses, discount retailer Target has added the diminutive desktop to its online store.
"As of Friday, Target.com lists the Mac Mini as available for order. The site offers both the $499 and $599 models, the latter offering a more spacious hard drive and faster processor.....
"It is unclear whether Target's retail stores will also be carrying the product. Target and Apple representatives were not immediately available for comment.....
"While Target has not been known as a place to get Macs, or even PCs for that matter, it has been selling the iPod for some time. Target was also the first venue to offer prepaid iTunes music store gift cards, though Apple has now expanded that effort."
For the full report, visit here:
http://news.com.com/Mac+Mini+finds+its+Target/2100-1041_3-5545475.html
Target Mac mni pages
Apple Mac mini - 40GB/1.25GHz PowerPC G4 processor - $499.99
Apple Mac mini - 80GB /1.42GHz PowerPC G4 processor - $599.99
Mini Me - The New Mac Mini is All About Movies
Robert X. Cringely says:
"Steve Jobs is so enigmatic. A couple weeks ago at MacWorld, he introduced the 2.9 lb. Mac Mini and the reaction was so great it was like he had re-invented the PC. Readers are all excited by the little box and have been asking me for my take on it. Like everyone else, I had to scratch my head a bit and ponder what this thing is really for. I know, I know, it is for all those PC drivers who bought an iPod and are now supposed to trash their Windows PC for a Mac Mini. Yeah, but what's it REALLY for? Movies.
"The Mac Mini is one of Apple's trademark technology repackaging jobs. There ought to be nothing inherently exciting about the little box. It isn't especially powerful. You can buy smaller Windows and Linux machines. You can buy cheaper Windows machines from all the big brands. Yet the Mac Mini has people excited and those other PCs mainly don't. Some of it is industrial design -- it just looks cool. Some of it is commercial psychology: by forgetting the keyboard and mouse Apple not only saved money, it invented a whole new computer configuration between a barebones box and a complete system. Other keyboard-and-mouseless systems will soon appear from other vendors, I promise you, but they'll just be seen as copies."
For the full commentary, visit:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050120.html
Mac mini vs. Cheap Dell, Gateway, HP, and Compaq PCs
Low End Mac's Dan Knight says:
"The Mac mini is how Apple does a low-cost computer without making a cheap one.
"It has some stunning advantages compared with low-end Windows PCs: incredibly small, very attractive, the Mac mystique, bulletproof OS X, no known malware, and it's almost ready to use right from the box. (Bring your own keyboard, mouse, and monitor - or buy them with the mini.)
"It has some big disadvantages compared with low-end Windows PCs: no expansion slots or expansion bays, no built-in flash card reader, no place for a floppy (yes, it does still matter to some people), the Mac mystique, and the fact that OS X just isn't Windows. Learning a new OS can be challenging, as longtime Mac users will remember from their transition to OS X. (And many still haven't made the switch and may never do so.)
"Most of all, Apple is pushing the Mac mini as an affordable alternative to low-end Windows PCs. Let's see how it compares."
For the full report, visit here.
http://lowendmac.com/musings/05/0121.html
Is The Mac mini Worth More than a Low Cost DIY Windows PC?
Low End Mac's Adam Robert Guha says:
"I've seen a number of people doing 'the Mac mini is $499 - how much can I build a low-end PC for that matches the specifications?' comparisons. I've found that some have come out heavily biased on the Mac side, others heavily biased on the PC side.
"Since I recently built a PC for myself, I know that it was significantly less expensive than any Mac alternative available at the time. However, with the introduction of the Mac mini, I thought I might as well do a new comparison for."
You can check it out at:
http://lowendmac.com/archive/05/0121.html
1.42 GHz Mac mini versus 1.4 GHz Cube and others running xBench
BareFEATS rob-ART morgan reports:
"I know you are dying to see the Mac mini performance test results compared to others. We plan to give you that as soon as we get our hands on a Mac mini. Meanwhile, we're going to wet your appetite with some xBench 1.1.3 results.....
"The Mac mini is a decent performer when compared to Macs with CPUs running at similar clock speeds. Its 'Achilles heel' is the hard drive speed. If you don't have the maximum 1GB of memory, the constant hits in the virtual memory scratch area will slow it down considerably during real world use......
"If you order the 1GB memory with the Mac mini at the time of purchase, Apple charges $425. I suggest buying the mini with the default 256MB module and getting the 1GB module from a third party. You don't want to buy it from just anyone, since I found out with the iMac G5 and G5 Power Mac that not all memory modules are compatible with the Mac. I suggest purchasing from "Mac aware" companies like Other World Computing and TransIntl who test the modules in each model of Mac, then sell them at reasonable prices (like $189).
"To my surprise, the Mac mini beats the iMac G5/1.6 in the CPU and Thread tests. It will be interesting to see how that translates to real world performance when we are able to test the Mac mini fully."
For the full report, visit here:
http://www.barefeats.com/mini01.html
Mac Mini Might Inspire Buyers In Mass Quantities
USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham says:
"With a few tweaks, Apple's tiny Mac Mini could be transformed into a multimedia powerhouse to run a home entertainment center.
"Look to spend slightly more than $1,000 to turn a Mini into a combo DVD, digital photo and music player, TiVo-like TV recorder-and-playback unit and home video editor.
"Souping it up wouldn't require big tech skills — most of the add-ons can be ordered through Apple's Web site when purchasing the computer.....
"Already, the Mini has hit a real chord on the Internet, where bloggers see it as more than just a device the size of a Cheez-It box. Fill the 40-gigabyte hard drive with music, put it in the trunk and use it to run your auto stereo.
"Hook the Mini into a home stereo system, make a few alterations, and you've got a digital hub that can tie the TV, music, photos and DVD together.....
"Internet sites are abuzz with possibilities. Here's a rundown of what you'd need...."
You can check it out at:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-01-21-apple-usat_x.htm
The First Sealed Computer - The Mac mini
The Macintosh Continuum 's Roger Born says:
"I understand our need to open things, and to show off our native ability to bust things open. Therefore, it is already understood that this new Mac mini will be modded like crazy! Especially for autos. Some companies are already producing third party products for this.
"Yet I think the new Apple Mac mini is "Something Different."
"Those who know, are saying that the mini can be successfully opened by an Apple service technician with a spatula or putty knife. (mymac.com)
"Does nobody get it?
"Apple actually designed the Mini so that it should not be opened by anyone. (Not since the days of the first Macs, has this been true. But back then, they needed to be opened - a lot. Thus many of us owned a long Torx wrench, right?)
"So, I am naming the Mac mini the first Sealed Computer. One so elegant, so full featured, that it need never be opened during its product life. And for the vast majority of mini owners, this will be true."
For the full commentary, visit:
http://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?do=something&id=990
Why the Mac Mini is the New Altair
PC Mag's Alice Hill and Bill O'Brien say:
"On the many tech Web sites I visit each day, I started noting a lot of playful discussion on how Microsoft is the new IBM and Google is the new Microsoft, which got me thinking about Apple and more particularly, the new Mac Mini. What was it about the fever spreading through the blogs and Web sites that seemed so different, even for a hype machine like Apple? And that's when the light bulb went off: The Mac mini is the new Altair.
"For those of you who don't remember the odd little machine that kick-started the PC revolution and caused a young Bill Gates to drop out of Harvard to write programs for a box that did little more than light up, the MITS Altair sparked a frenzy few personal computers have matched. Until now...
"Consider this: There have been many Apple products that were oohed and ahhed over, but what makes the Mini different is that hard-core PC users are seriously looking it over, car nuts are busy finding ways to jam one into a car's dashboard, home-media enthusiasts are lusting over a sleek Mini home-media server—and the product has been out only a week. When the tinkerers and hobbyists light up, that's what I call Altair fever. Unlike the other Mac products that looked great or were useful for listening to music or making a home DVD, the Mini is sparking hackers' curiosity to crack it open, make adjustments, and find new ways to use it. It's a computer hobbyist's delight this time, not the glee felt by an art director or budding novelist or amateur filmmaker."
For the full commentary, visit here.
***
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 ď Mac mini Muse ď
