The Mac Mini
$499 computer from Apple
Wednesday, January 12, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: Macintosh
Apple has announced a $499 computer - the Mac Mini. This computer could really put the Mac on the map in a much more mainstream way. Designed as the ultimate computer PC, the Mini is designed to literally just plug in and go.
Will this change the facts on the ground in the PC vs. Mac demographic?
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Dr Guy
Reply #2 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:32 PM
Reply #2 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:32 PM
Unfortunately no. You can get a Dell for about 299, that comes with speakers (crappy) KB and mouse. Apple is still higher on price. I personally like the buggers, but I got to earn a living. Windoze does that for me! 
lilstarfish
Reply #3 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:33 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:33 PM
The mac Mini will be one of Apple's best selling products =D
The capable little computer is even CHEAPER than the 40GB iPod
I bought last spring =D
Definitely going to get one to complement my new P4 rig.
weee, it's so small you can take it with you everywhere you
can hook it up to a monitor =D
The capable little computer is even CHEAPER than the 40GB iPod
I bought last spring =D
Definitely going to get one to complement my new P4 rig.
weee, it's so small you can take it with you everywhere you
can hook it up to a monitor =D
BJ Bundy
Reply #4 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:47 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:47 PM
It doesn't include the mouse, keyboard or monitor. I configured one with the cheapest of everything and it came to $557.00 without tax. Add a monitor and you're spending almost a grand. I would love to have one, but given the fact I would need to buy the extra software, it hardly seems worth it. But I love 'em! 
47songs
Reply #5 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 7:30 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 7:30 PM
It appears to already come with at least iLife, which includes garageband, something I'm interested in. I'd definately consider investing for the 500. I've got old pc monitors and keyboards laying around that I can use until I invest in something better. Also, I like the size. I visit friends quite a distance from me and usually stay for a few days. They have airport and I have had difficulty setting up my pc laptop to work with thier airport. Carrying that little box would be a simpler salution for me, personally.
KoL_
Reply #7 Thursday, January 13, 2005 12:36 AM
Reply #7 Thursday, January 13, 2005 12:36 AM
Im going to get one too.
I already have a mouse and keyboard, The only thing that I need is another monitor. I'll use the one Im using now until I can get one for the Mac mini
I already have a mouse and keyboard, The only thing that I need is another monitor. I'll use the one Im using now until I can get one for the Mac mini
KoL_
Reply #8 Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:22 AM
Reply #8 Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:22 AM
Dr. Guy : I dont have a Mac, Im talking about the monitor, I'll use the one that Im using with the PC until I get one for the Mac.
Dr Guy
Reply #9 Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:40 AM
Reply #9 Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:40 AM
| Im going to get one too. I already have a mouse and keyboard, The only thing that I need is another monitor. I'll use the one Im using now until I can get one for the Mac mini |
If you really want one, and already have a Mac, why not just buy a KVM Switch? You can pick up some good ones for a little over $100. That way you dont have desktop Clutter.
I agree with the poster who said this was going to be a hot seller. It sure makes it easy to move around (even easier than a notebook). Just have a set of attachments at the place you want to go to, and go for it!
Siegy
Reply #10 Thursday, January 13, 2005 10:30 AM
Reply #10 Thursday, January 13, 2005 10:30 AM
I think it's gonna be a good seller if you already own a Mac. Windows users are not gonna switch to a new $500 hard disk with no keyboard and mouse, speakers or monitor. You can buy a fully equipped Dell computer for that amount of money which looks much more appealing. Software is nowhere near as available for a Mac Operating System as software is available for a Windows Operating System. Most Windows users will simply be dissapointed when it comes to a Mac as it does not compare to a Windows PC in any category besides graphics, which is why Apple is in the class it is. That class would be 3% of total operating system shares in the market.
Personally, this will be a failed investment for Apple. I assure you, Bill Gates is not worried about Apple's latest venture in the market. He's worried about iPod sales, which may save Apple for the time being.
Personally, this will be a failed investment for Apple. I assure you, Bill Gates is not worried about Apple's latest venture in the market. He's worried about iPod sales, which may save Apple for the time being.
Abanamore
Reply #11 Thursday, January 13, 2005 11:17 AM
Reply #11 Thursday, January 13, 2005 11:17 AM
where can you get a dell for $299? I have only seen them for $499, and that's on sale. Plus, the mac mini comes with a pretty nice vid card 32MB *dedicated* memory, not those cheap cards they put in bargain pc's .
Dr Guy
Reply #12 Thursday, January 13, 2005 11:45 AM
Reply #12 Thursday, January 13, 2005 11:45 AM
| where can you get a dell for $299? I have only seen them for $499, and that's on sale. Plus, the mac mini comes with a pretty nice vid card 32MB *dedicated* memory, not those cheap cards they put in bargain pc's . |
Try this link. It is right on the page.
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
qrayg
Reply #13 Thursday, January 13, 2005 12:20 PM
Reply #13 Thursday, January 13, 2005 12:20 PM
KoL,
Dr. Guy must have misstyped or something. He is right though. You don't need to buy a new monitor for your Mac if you already have one for your PC. Just buy a KVM and you can use the same Keyboard, Monitor, and Mouse for both machines at the same time. I have this setup for my Mac and PC at home. It works great and there is no clutter.
Dr. Guy must have misstyped or something. He is right though. You don't need to buy a new monitor for your Mac if you already have one for your PC. Just buy a KVM and you can use the same Keyboard, Monitor, and Mouse for both machines at the same time. I have this setup for my Mac and PC at home. It works great and there is no clutter.
Dr Guy
Reply #14 Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:00 PM
Reply #14 Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:00 PM
| Dr. Guy must have misstyped or something. He is right though. You don't need to buy a new monitor for your Mac if you already have one for your PC. Just buy a KVM and you can use the same Keyboard, Monitor, and Mouse for both machines at the same time. I have this setup for my Mac and PC at home. It works great and there is no clutter. |
Kol, sorry for the confusion, but I use to have the same set up (with an old PPC 180 Mac clone). I had to get a converter for the keyboard, but that was no big deal. As it was, that verions of the Mac used a standard VGA in, so I only had to worry about the Keyboard and mouse.
Thanks for clearing things up qrayg! I owe you one.
Dishwasher Safe
Reply #15 Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:08 PM
Reply #15 Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:08 PM
Would love to get one of these. Does anyone know how well the PC emulation software works on G4 systems?
Dr Guy
Reply #16 Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:56 PM
A little slow, but other than that, great! My wife uses it (slow as it is emulation).
Make sure you get a LOT of memory.
Reply #16 Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:56 PM
| Would love to get one of these. Does anyone know how well the PC emulation software works on G4 systems? |
A little slow, but other than that, great! My wife uses it (slow as it is emulation).
Make sure you get a LOT of memory.
nozaknaT
Reply #17 Thursday, January 13, 2005 7:09 PM
Reply #17 Thursday, January 13, 2005 7:09 PM
Main work computer/PC replacement - don't think so [32Mb video RAM and a puny Radeon 9200 do not cut it, especially not for my line of work (DTP)]; HOWEVER, as a competitor for mini-ITX boxes (often used for small and quiet media boxes)it's a goer - the media software is pretty much all present (though for a full Media PC you would need to add external video capture hardware and probably an external FireWire drive as 80Gb will not cut it for TV capture), it has the most important interfaces (USB2/IEEE1394/Ethernet), the graphics are faster (despite only having half the graphics frame buffer - the mini-ITX boards have 64Mb of video RAM), and the CPU is in a different league entirely (serious floating-point grunt power!)while consuming relatively modest amounts of power. If I needed a media computer, I would be tempted, but I will stick to my AMD64 Shuttle box (with its spiffing WD 'Raptor' HD)for 'real' jobs.
In reply to last post, PC emulators work pretty well considering the vast architectural differences between PowerPC and x86 processors (someone I know with a G4 733 is running Win2K SP4 on Virtual PC running under 'Panther').
In reply to last post, PC emulators work pretty well considering the vast architectural differences between PowerPC and x86 processors (someone I know with a G4 733 is running Win2K SP4 on Virtual PC running under 'Panther').
joetheblow
Reply #18 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:00 PM
Reply #18 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:00 PM
I like it and its about time.
As far as replacing your PC, I think the reality is that most people will get it to go with their PC. I think Apple should stop the 'switch to PC' and start the 'get both and get more'.
Apple is really the media center that the PC wants to be. The PC is really for work and some play, but Apple (unless your in the design field) is great for play.
Those who buy or want to make music will get this ESPECIALLY if they have an iPod. Those who wanted to try a MAC out will get this. Not to expensive and the important general functions (internet, email, word processing) is covered.
I think Apple has something here is they market it right. The 'get both and get more' is a possible way to go, along with 'Apple: The true media center' is another.
Also, if Apple can come up with a way to network PC computers with Apple computers the 'get both get more' campaign would be even stronger.
As far as replacing your PC, I think the reality is that most people will get it to go with their PC. I think Apple should stop the 'switch to PC' and start the 'get both and get more'.
Apple is really the media center that the PC wants to be. The PC is really for work and some play, but Apple (unless your in the design field) is great for play.
Those who buy or want to make music will get this ESPECIALLY if they have an iPod. Those who wanted to try a MAC out will get this. Not to expensive and the important general functions (internet, email, word processing) is covered.
I think Apple has something here is they market it right. The 'get both and get more' is a possible way to go, along with 'Apple: The true media center' is another.
Also, if Apple can come up with a way to network PC computers with Apple computers the 'get both get more' campaign would be even stronger.
joetheblow
Reply #19 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:13 PM
Reply #19 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:13 PM
Oh and I don't see Dell cheapest computer being the same as the Mini-MAC. the 299 one does not have a DVD player, nothing with graphics, no standard word processor, its not a Pentium4 (Celron Processor is good though)... I'll admit at least with Dell you get everything you need out of the box, but that is it.
A similar PC to the mini-Mac would be the same price I think; Maybe a little lower.
A similar PC to the mini-Mac would be the same price I think; Maybe a little lower.
47songs
Reply #20 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:16 PM
Reply #20 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:16 PM
"As far as replacing your PC, I think the reality is that most people will get it to go with their PC. I think Apple should stop the 'switch to PC' and start the 'get both and get more'"
I agree! Variety is definately the spice of life!
I agree! Variety is definately the spice of life!
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Reply #1 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:03 PM
And then what would I "Skin?"