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Rush Limbaugh Could Sell The New Mac mini

Several years ago I suggested that Apple should have used conservative talk radio pioneer Rush Limbaugh in one of their "think Different" ads. Rush is a longtime Mac user and enthusiast, and certainly does "think different" than at least the stereotypical Mac user.

However, as Steve Jobs noted to the WallStreet Journal's Walt Mossberg (a conservative Mac booster himself), there are nearly as many Republican Mac users as Democrats. Or maybe not quite as many, but a sizable and comercially significant cohort. Personally, I know lots of right-wing Mac users, in fact most of the Mac users I know personally are conservatives, but that's probably because I konw a lot of conservatives, being one myself. Te point is that these days, according to polls (and the recent election), there are substantially more Americans who self-identify as conservative than liberal, and Apple would be smart to make them feel like they are valued customers -- actual and potential. Particularly with the new Mac mini being positioned as an everyman's computer (everywoman's too) more than any Mac since the original "computer for the rest of us."

David Hill, director of Hill Research Consultants, a Texas-based firm that has polled for GOP candidates and causes since 1988, contends in a .commentary for the Congress newspaper The Hill:

"This week, Apple Computer is launching a campaign to sell a new product, the $499 Mac Mini, that portends to transform the world in a way the original Mac didn’t. But Republicans will be needed for the campaign to succeed.

"To put this in context, you need to read Revolution in the Valley, Andy Hertzfeld’s new book about the making of the original Mac in the 1980s..... Will a low price tag and terrific design alone entice a mass market to buy this new product? I’m not so sure. Apple’s image may still be an impediment to Mac sales.

"To research this column, I read lots of discussion boards all across the Internet, and it’s evident that politics still play a role in computer purchases. Just as there are red states and blue states, there are also Mac Democrats and PC Republicans. These battles were especially nasty after Apple went public with its politics and added Al Gore to its board of directors.

"Apple’s leader, Steve Jobs, seems to have sensed last year that his company was getting too 'political.' He backed off some of his campaigning for John Kerry and cryptically signaled to The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg in an interview that he understands the problem.....

"There are, in fact, devoted Republican Macintosh users, but that is not the perception. So Apple desperately needs to introduce a replacement image to achieve the original Mac’s vision. There would be no better way to do this than to add a Republican or two to Apple’s board of directors. Mac users such as Karl Rove or Arnold Schwarzenegger adviser Mike Murphy would be possibilities, but Rush Limbaugh is the most obvious choice. Rush is an ardent Mac evangelist and knows a thing or two about marketing. Even if Limbaugh is not put on Apple’s board, the company should market through his daily radio program, paying Rush to tout his favorite computer the same way he builds mattress sales for Select Comfort."

For the full commentary, visit:
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Comment/Pollsters/DavidHill/

It's not just Rush and Mr. Hill.

Mr. Lion, of the Capitalist Lion blog site says of the Mac mini Macworld announcement:

"Oh baby.

"Well, the lack of a webcast of today's Stevenote left those of us in the mac-addicted camp furiously reloading web pages for real time blogging of the event. The server angels are, indeed, crying.

"But it was worth it, because we got the Mac Mini. This absolutely tiny computer is even more ridiculous that we thought it would be....."

"Me want. Me want now."

You can check it out at:
http://capitalistlion.com/index-monthly.cgi

Charles W. Moore

Apple: Think big by thinking Mini
Apple To Honor Price Protection On BTO Mac mini
Perfect Bookshelf Box for Mac Minimalists
The Mac Mini Experience From A Linux-user's Perspective
Mac mini Key To Apple’s Future
Cheap Apples
Mac mini Prices Slashed After Two Weeks? Mac mini Disappears From Target? It's Like A Game Of MadLibs
Mac Mini - iPod all over again?
ForeverGeek: Mac mini Review
The iCar Anyone? The Mac mini Could Make It Happen
iPod Shuffle And Mini Desktop Computer Set New Standards[/url]


Apple: Think big by thinking Mini

CNEWS Tech News's Greg Gazin says:

"It's a Mac Mini, not an iMac Mini [actually it's a Mac mini CM]

"You have to be living on an island somewhere without access to any wireless device to not have heard about Apple’s biggest announcement � or should I say smallest Macintosh ever, the Mac Mini....

'Apple’s always been known for having everything in the box. Of course to keep to that magic price point Apple did something they never did before � ship a product without a mouse and a keyboard."

The article includes comments from two PC-users who are contemplating at least a partial switch to the mini.

You can check it out at:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/Gazin/2005/01/26/910950.html






Apple To Honor Price Protection On BTO Mac mini

MacMinute reports:

"Following yesterday's price drops on certain build-to-order (BTO) Mac mini components, Apple said it will refund the difference to affected purchasers, according to MacMinute readers...

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.macminute.com/2005/01/26/mac-mini-refunds/






Perfect Bookshelf Box for Mac Minimalists

Macworld's Jennifer Berger reports:

"When Steve Jobs unveiled the Mac mini at Macworld Expo in January, the reaction was a mix of amazement (how did they get that Mac so small?) and uncertainty (can a well-made computer really come in a tiny package?). After all, many Mac veterans thought they’d seen it before—they haven’t forgotten the ill-fated Power Mac G4 Cube, Apple’s other diminutive Mac.

"But Mac lovers haven’t seen this before. The Mac mini isn’t targeted at design pros, it’s for regular folks who want to do basic tasks. And it costs as little as $499. It just may be the perfect upgrade for many Mac users, and Windows-to-Mac switchers.

"We’ve given the Mac mini a thorough going-over, even dismantling it to probe its insides. We can now report that, although the Mac mini has its flaws—such as its unacceptably tiny amount of RAM—many people will find it the perfect Mac."

Of particular note:

"One surprise in our testing appeared when we tested the hard-drive access speed by duplicating 500MB of data. The 1.25GHz Mac mini beat the faster 1.42GHz model by 10 seconds. Upon further investigation, we found that the 1.25GHz model actually contains a 5,400RPM drive, despite Apple’s claim that it contains a 4,200RPM drive. The 1.42GHz model, does contain the slower 4,200RPM drive."

For the full report, visit here.





The Mac Mini Experience From A Linux-user's Perspective

OSNews special contributor John Yanosko says:

"The box arrived at my home in the Southern US two days after leaving Shenzhen. It was light, as if I had orderd a new hard drive. When I opened it, the package was neat and trendy, with a cute little setup book I didn't need. For the first time since the power supply in my beloved Mac Plus had gone wonky back in '93, I had a Macintosh.

"After the Plus died I was lured over to the Windows world by the promise of cheap multimedia, and was bitterly disappointed by the horroble gui of Windows for Workgroups 3.11. I upgraded to Windows 95 but was still unhappy with the instability of the OS, so I switched to Red Hat Linux, and have been using Linux ever since, although like many of us I still fix my relatives' Windows machines every few months.....

So how does the Mini compare to desktop or laptop Linux?

"First there's the machine itself. My old box was noisy like an old hoover. The Mini is quieter than many so-called 'silent PCs.' The fan came on briefly (and quietly) when I turned the heat up to test it, but other than that there is only the faint chirp of the hard drive - my monitor is louder. I have room for my feet, and I don't have to reach under my desk to stick in a CD. There aren't even any keyboard/mouse wires to get tangled up in, as mine are wireless. You can buy small crappy PCs, or small expensive PCs, but you can't buy something this small and elegant and stylish except from Apple........

"The Mini recognized my HP printer and I only had to click a box to share it. It set up my monitor properly with better refresh rates than Xorg ever managed. After one polite soft-sell (for .Mac, $99 a year, no thanks), reminding me that this is indeed a proprietary system......

"The gui differences between OS X and the Gnome and KDE desktops I'm used to are not overly significant.......

"Overall, though, the desktop is beautiful, fast and very smooth. It's more responsive than a Gnome or even a KDE desktop on a much faster machine....."

For the full commentary, visit:
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=9527






Mac mini Key To Apple’s Future

Washington Square News's Matt Buchanan says:

"At the Macworld keynote on Jan. 11, Steve Jobs unveiled what promises to be the most important product Apple has launched since the iPod: the Mac mini. Aside from its demure size and typical Apple aesthetic, it's the first truly affordable Mac, at a mere $499 for the basic model.....

"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, they can finally penetrate the mass market with one of their 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:
http://www.nyunews.com/opinion/columnists/8691.html







Cheap Apples

cbnnews.com's Rizal Raoul Reyes says:

"The announcement was nothing less than historic, perfectly summed up by The New York Times when it reported that, -- for the first time in its history, Apple has begun to make gorgeous, inexpensive things.

"And those gorgeous, inexpensive things have reached Philippine shores....

"Danny Lam, product marketing manager of desktops of Apple Asia-Pacific, said the entry of the Mac Mini into the local market is a welcome development for computer users because this would give them the opportunity to enjoy the much-vaunted Apple system, which in the past has been priced beyond the reach of the ordinary consumer."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=FOCUS&oid=67366






Mac mini Prices Slashed After Two Weeks? Mac mini Disappears From Target? It's Like A Game Of MadLibs

Bill Palmer says:

"I've made myself promise not to write about the Mac Mini on consecutive days because at this point I'm tired of hearing about it, tired of reading about it, and mostly, tired of writing about it. There are in fact more interesting topics out there. But something bizarre happened today that merits at least a few words, and don't worry, I'll try to be brief (well, at least brief by my standards)...

"It seems that a mere two weeks after announcing the Mac Mini, Apple has slashed the pricing for nearly all of the Mac Mini's build-to-order upgrade packages. The $499/$599 base pricing for the two standard models has not changed, but as of today, the larger hard drive option, the AirPort/Bluetooth option, and the gigabyte of RAM option are each about 30-40% cheaper than they were yesterday. And as the mind races at what could possibly be going on here, I can think of three different possibilities for this move. I'm not necessarily saying that any of these possibilities is accurate or even plausible, but here they are nonetheless, in no particular order, with particular emphasis on any one over the other....

"Oh, and just to add to the weirdness, it appears that Target, who last week began selling the Mac Mini online, and then began doing so at a ten percent discount, is now no longer selling the Mac Mini at all."

For the full commentary, visit:
http://www.billpalmer.net/2005/01/mac-mini-prices-slashed-after-two.html






Mac Mini - iPod all over again?

PowerPage's Bob Snow says:

"What was the problem with the original iPod? It used a tiny hard drive with a higher price and lower capacity than the laptop drives found in other players. It could not be opened by the user. It was expensive.

"What was so good about it? The small size, Apple iTunes software, great interface and fast Firewire connectivity.

"What about the Mac Mini? It uses a laptop drive that is slower, has lower capacity and is more expensive than a 3.5" HD. It comes in a case that is sealed along with a premium thin slot loading notebook optical drive. It does not have much memory or bluetooth or Wifi or keyboard or mouse included in the base configuration.

"What is so good about it? The small size, iLife software, great OS-X interface and lots of potential connectivity with USB-2, Firewire and Ethernet included. Bluetooth and WiFi can be added internally to cut down on clutter. It is very much like the original iPod in concept."

For the full commentary, visit:
http://www.powerpage.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/powerpage.woa/wa/story?newsID=14142






ForeverGeek: Mac mini Review

MacGeek says:

"Despite my initial misgivings about the mini when it was first announced, now that I have one, I'm duly impressed. Apple has come out with a great entry-level machine."

For the full report, visit here.
http://forevergeek.com/apple/forevergeek_mac_mini_review.php






The iCar Anyone? The Mac mini Could Make It Happen

macsimumnews.com's Dennis Sellers says:

"iPod car kits are a big rage these days, but last week Sloatsburg, N.Y.-based Classic Restorations revealed plans to install the Mac mini in automotive dashboards. When I first heard about it, I thought it was a goofy idea. But the more I think about it, the more I think the folks at Classic Restorations are onto something.

"In fact, what if the big automakers actually built the Mac mini into some of their vehicles?

"Such a system could use USB or FireWire to connect and run the DVD players, GPS (Global Positioning System), satellite radio and such automotive goodies. Eventually, the Mac mini could be the brains for the whole car. Imagine the Mac keeping logs of what is done and when, keeping mileage logs for sales people, etc. There should even be a market for Bluetooth auto instrumentation: odometer, oil pressure, speedometer, etc. And let’s face it: would you want a Windows system in charge of such things?"

For the full commentary, visit here.






iPod Shuffle And Mini Desktop Computer Set New Standards

MSNBC's Gary Krakow says:

"Apple's recent unveiling of the iPod Shuffle and the Mac Mini caused a big stir and with good reason. There's a lot more than meets the eye on both these "downsized" devices....

"The Mini is the perfect size to hide or display in any room of the house....

"At first, when I read the specs, I thought to myself that Apple was cheaping out by not including a keyboard or mouse.� Over the years, Apple often has provided what appeared to be the absolute bare minimum of memory and hard drives for what they charged. The Mini is different.

"With most bargain-basement computers that run Windows, the video controller you get inside is usually an afterthought. At best it's a bottom-of-the-line card with a little memory.� At worst, the video is integrated onto a board and the memory is shared with the processor.

"Apple's Mini comes standard with an ATI Radeon 9200 video board and 32MB of DDR video memory.  That means this computer can handle a good sized monitor display with ease. Add to that the fact that the Min's video output is via a VGA port or an all-digital DVI connection, and you start to realize that Apple isn't really skimping this time around...."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6865772/

byodkm.net

From Chris Long

http://www.byodkm.net/

if you haven't seen/mentioned it already.

chris




***



Charles W. Moore


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