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Apple's Mac Mini Gets Maximum Attention
Mac mini to 'ride PC revolution'
Mac Mini: The Emperor's New Computer
Apple Mac mini (1.25GHz) Review
Apple Extends Mini Brand
Mac Mini Key to Apple Future
Apple Launches Cheapest Mac in India[/url]
Apple's Mac Mini Gets Maximum Attention
TheStreet.com's Troy Wolverton says:
"Already struck with iPod fever, Apple may now be suffering from some Mac mini mania.
"Not that the company necessarily minds.
"Only two of Apple's 98 U.S. retail stores had the new cut-price Macintosh computer in stock in recent days, according to Gene Munster, a financial analyst with Piper Jaffray. Combined, those two stores had just three Mac minis in stock, Munster said. Meanwhile, the average waiting list for a Mac mini at Apple's stores has 18 people on it."
For the full report visit here:
http://www.thestreet.com/_tscfoc/stocks/troywolverton/10206714.html
Mac mini to 'ride PC revolution'
Macworld UK's Karen Haslam reports:
"The future looks rosy for Apple, according to a detailed report examining the possibilities surrounding the new Mac mini......
"In addition to coming at a time when there is good feeling towards Apple, the Mac mini shows its face just real change happens in personal computing....
"This change in the way people think of the home computer, coupled with a greater awareness of Apple thanks to the iPod is sparking what some describe as the "Halo Effect". The Mac mini could be the tool Apple needs to spark of this transition, suggests one industry observer."
For the full report visit here.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=10752&Page=1&pagePos=7
Mac Mini: The Emperor's New Computer
Divisiontwo Magazine's Jorge Lopez says:
"...Both the Apple hype machine and Jobs' reality distortion field have kicked into overdrive this year with the recent release of the bold, innovative and affordable G4 Cube...oops I mean the Mac mini.
"I’ll admit, we were excited at first to get one in the lab to put through its paces....
"If you believe Apple’s marketing department, the new Mini is 'smaller than most packs of gum' and weighs 'less than four quarters'.�Well, we received our test unit from Apple yesterday, and let me say right off the bat that those claims are a wee bit of an exaggeration.�Far from being Trident-sized, the Mini actually measures about 6.5”x6.5”x2”, about the size of two wonderbread cheese sandwiches stacked on top of each other, or about 50 packs of Bubble Yum.� As for the weight, it feels about three pounds.� Hold a Mini in one hand and four quarters in the other and tell me which one feels heavier.�You could perform this experiment yourself at an Apple store.....
"So is the mini a maxi value?�For me, clearly, no.�When I consider that a good deal of my time is spent running applications like Disk Defragmenter, Scandisk, Norton AV, Windows Update and Ad-Aware--none of which are available for the Mac platform--it doesn't make sense for me to "switch" to a Mac at this time....."
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/MacMini2.html
Apple Mac mini (1.25GHz) Review
ZNet UK reports:
"Apple has tried everything to get Windows users to switch to the Mac. First, it created a revolutionary operating system, Mac OS X, then it launched the 'switch' ad campaign, with former Windows users frankly explaining why they like Macs better. When these efforts didn't produce the intended results, Apple employed a more straightforward strategy: make Macs cheaper. With the Mac mini, Apple has finally conceded the possibility that most people shopping for a desktop choose price above all else and don't want to ditch their expensive monitors to move to the Mac platform."
For the full review visit here:
http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/desktops/0,39023845,39186351,00.htm
Apple Extends Mini Brand
cio-today.com reports:
"The "Mac Mini" name is a direct derivation of "iPod Mini" branding, highlighting the strength of the iPod brand identity, which has been built up by Apple since its launch. Apple refers to this appeal as the "halo effect" and is hoping that non-Mac users will be tempted to convert to the Mac by the Mini's low price and compact form.....
"Hailing from the California studio headed by Jonathan Ive, Apple vice-president of industrial design, the Mac Mini is designed to leverage consumer interest in the company, drummed up by the immensely popular iPod music player.
"The Mac Mini name is a direct derivation of "iPod Mini" branding, highlighting the strength of the iPod brand identity, which has been built up by Apple since its launch three-and-a-half years ago.
The company refers to this knock-on appeal as the "halo effect" and is hoping that non-Mac users "
For the full report visit here.
Mac Mini Key to Apple Future
Washington Square News's Matt Buchanan says:
"While the absence of a monitor allowed Apple to keep the price at $500, the exclusion of a keyboard and mouse is significant because it indicates that Apple's target audience is PC users. It seems to me that the goal of the mini isn't so much to supplant its Windows -- and to a small degree, Linux-based -- competition as it is to be on the desk next to them...
"The low price allows those who have recently been converted to the cult of Apple by the iPod explosion to further indulge their newfound fanaticism without giving up their regular PC often necessary for work or school. Hell, the mini is actually cheaper than one of the iPod models, putting it in the suspicious space (at least in the consumer mind) between actual hardware and simply another iPod addendum......
"This is prime time for Apple. For the first time ever, it can finally penetrate the mass market with one of its computers. For all of Apple's success on college campuses, with multimedia editors and with the iPod at large, its share of the computer market still hovers at a mere 2 to 5 percent, depending on where you get the numbers from."
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/40117.htNEWS:
Apple Launches Cheapest Mac in India
The Press Trust of India reports:
"Having remained a high-end player for years, Apple on Tuesday launched 'Mac Mini' in India at a price point of Rs 32,200 to address the entry-level market.
"Mac Mini is primarily aimed at existing PC users who want to get started with Mac OS X and first time users, Apple's Asia Pacific head of hardware products EY Yeo told newspersons."
For the full report visit here:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1223866,0003.htm
Install 10.3 Server on Mac mini
Report on Mac Mini Overclocking
IOGEAR Connects New Mac Mini With Any Computer
Sound Bite, a 2.1 Speaker System[/url]
Install 10.3 Server on Mac mini
macosxhints.com reports:
"The OS X Server (Panther) CDs will not boot the MacMini. To work around this, attach a FireWire drive to a Mac capable of installing Panther Server. Install to the FireWire drive, and run all updates. Now connect the FireWire drive to the mini, and boot off of the mini's Boot DVD. Click on the Apple logo menu item, and choose Disk Utility."
You can check it out at:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050131122653705
Report on Mac Mini Overclocking
Leo Bodnar has posted a mini-tutorial on Mac mini overclocking:
I have settled on 1.42GHz speed for my original 1.25GHz Mac mini. 1.5GHz settings gave me some glitches in Xbench Altivec routines and very weird behaviour at 1.58GHz - the speed was reported by the system profiler as 750MHz(?!) I would guess 1.42GHz mini owners may be able to get 1.5GHz if they bother to try. Mind you it is only 6% increase so I am not sure if it is worth it. Well, at least I have 1.42GHz now and it works fine.
You can check it out at:
http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/macmini/
IOGEAR Connects New Mac Mini With Any Computer
IOGEAR, the mobile connectivity and peripheral specialist, announces that its MiniView Micro USB PLUS KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) Switch (model# GCS632U) is a simple, low-cost solution for consumers to connect any computer to the new Apple Mac Mini. Since the low-cost Mac Mini computer does not come with a keyboard or monitor, users can connect their favorite keyboard, monitor, speakers and mouse to the new Apple system, along with their current desktop computer. This enables PC users to have affordable access to the simple computing and graphic interface of Macs.
The MiniView Micro PLUS KVM is a self-powered switch with built-in cables for simple Plug-n-Play use. This product allows users to simultaneously run and share audio between two computers with a single keyboard, monitor and mouse. The KVM comes with a unique USB Sniffing Technology that reduces the delay typically experienced when switching computers and allows multiple computers to be booted simultaneously.
The MiniView Micro PLUS KVM switch is the smallest two-port KVM switch available on the market with audio support. With KVM cables molded into the unit, users are now able to manage two PCs or Macs from a single keyboard, monitor and mouse and share the multimedia speakers between them. In a breakthrough in KVM technology for Mac users, IOGEAR has enabled the functionality of the special keys on the Mac systems. When using a PC keyboard, a special set of 'hot keys' have been designed to emulate the special keys on all Mac machines.
"Consumers who purchase the new Apple Mac Mini are able to save their old computer and switch back and forth between the two computers, depending on what computing solution is needed," said Miranda Su, vice president of sales and marketing at IOGEAR, Inc. "IOGEAR's affordable KVM switches are an ideal solution because they connect two computers with just one keyboard, monitor and mouse, while allowing consumers to share multimedia speakers. That old computer no longer has to sit around and collect dust. PC users can now have the best of both worlds."
The MiniView Micro PLUS KVM switch is priced at $79.95 (MSRP) and is available immediately from all major catalog resellers, online resellers and selected retail outlets. The KVM switch functions on Microsoft Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP, Mac OS 8.6 or higher and Sun Solaris workstations. The product comes with IOGEAR's standard three-year warranty.
For more information, visit:
http://www.iogear.com
Sound Bite, a 2.1 Speaker System
TRITTON has introduced the Sound Bite music system designed for portable computers. The USB portable 2.1 speaker system delivers quality sound across the entire musical spectrum in a compact design. With a built-in subwoofer, you will enjoy the highs and lows as it was meant to be herd. Both the audio and power come from the single attached fold-away USB cable so there are no batteries, power adapters or cables to carry around. Sound Bite is small enough to fit in your pocket, just plug into any PC or Mac USB port and start enjoying music on the go.
Features
• Compact, portable fold up design
• Plug and Play USB Connectivity
• No external power adapter or batteries required
• Superior 2.1 audio sound with built-in subwoofer
• Registers as a second sound device on system
System requirements:
• Available USB port
• Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
• Mac OS9/OSX
Specs.
• 2 x 28mm magnetically shielded satellite speakers
• 1 x 52mm magnetically shielded subwoofer speaker
• Attached 50cm USB type-A cable
• Maximum output power - 1.2W + 1.2W
• 5W rated input power
• Power LED
• USB bus powered (5V, 500mA)
• Product Dimensions: 110mm x 110mm x 42mm
• Mass: 280g
Available in pearl white or dark gray finishes
Price: $49.95.
For more information, visit:
http://www.trittontechnologies.com/products/TRIUA201.htm
Apple's Mac Mini Could Make It Big In The Digital Home
Project: mini PC[/url]
Apple's Mac Mini Could Make It Big In The Digital Home
Digital Connect 's Russell Redman says:
"The home and business PC soon may have to move over to accommodate an unwelcome guest: a new Macintosh.
"With its inexpensive, compact Mac mini, Apple aims to lure more users to the Mac platform and snare a bigger share of the home and office desktop--and maybe even space in the living room, bedroom, den or kitchen, industry observers say...
What's more, the book-sized Mac mini--which weighs 2.9 pounds and measures 6.5 inches square and 2 inches high--could easily find a spot in the living room entertainment center as the "brains" of a home theater system, in the kitchen for quick Web surfing, in the bedroom for music playing and e-mailing, or in multiple rooms of the house, as well as serve as a backup device, second computer or networked repository of digital photos, movies and music."
You can check it out at:
http://www.digitalconnectmag.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59300563
Project: mini PC
Kevin Rose says:
"I’ve seen a tn of articles around the web lately comparing the Mac mini to the near full size desktop PC.� What they fail to compare is the amount of computing power per square inch you get with the mini.� So, I decided to take it upon myself to create the fastest PC possible with the size constraints of the mini's small form factor."
You can check it out at:
http://www.kevinrose.com/index.php/weblog/comments/191/
***
Charles W. Moore
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