“Even while at the top of its game, Apple Inc. can seemingly find faults with just about anything, including a bit of itself. The Mac maker is constantly evaluating the market segments in which it wishes to participate and those which it does not. It’s an application of love-hate methodology that inevitably produces its share of casualties,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“Take, for instance, the firm’s petite line of headless desktop computers known as Mac minis. They retail between $599 and $799, catering to the once critical sub-$800 PC market,” Jade reports.
Jade reports, “…It comes as little surprise that sources, for whom AppleInsider holds the utmost respect, are now pointing towards the mini’s impending demise. For it’s according to those people that the miniature Mac will soon follow in the wake of its similarly-proportioned counterparts of years past: the PowerBook 2400, the PowerMac G4 Cube, and, most recently, the 12-inch PowerBook.”
Full article here.
Makes sense for them to drop it – if it’s available, there’s less imperative to buy the TV…
Meanwhile, I wish there was a 12inch MacBook. My 12inch Powerbook was my favourite Apple ever…
i never liked the mac mini, it has ugly keyboards and ugly screens
The Mac Mini is one of the most disappointing products in the Apple lineup – it was a great idea, but Apple just hasn’t bothered keeping it competitive with the competition. If I have $800 to spend on a computer (without screen/keyboard), I can get something way more powerful from Dell. Sure, MacOS is a compelling reason to not do this, but why should I have the dilemma? Keep the hardware competitive with Dell and give me the OS. The Mac Mini could be a top selling line for Apple: instead, its anguishing. Poor show.
languishing even
As I remember, one of the previous MacRagloids said the 17″ iMac is getting deleted soon, so what is left for low end consumers?
Switchers are esp. squirrely about forking over larger sums for an unknown experience. The comfort zone is to stay with what you know, even if it totally sucks.
If Apple kills the Mini they should keep the 17″ iMac and slash the price so the people who want to either try switching or people who just can’t afford more have an option.
Sheer rumor…and everyone seems to have it in concrete already.
While I understand the business decision behind this (Apple only wants to pursue certain markets), I have to disagree with it. The mini is an excellent entry level machine, capable of nearly all tasks w/ the possible exception of gaming. I think it is important to pursue these types of markets in order to propel macintosh into its next era of significant market share.
As a matter of fact, I would like to see a machine of the power of the iMac but sans display, with better video than the mini. This would fit between the Mac Pro and the mini.
First off, even if this might be true, let me point out that it’s currently only a rumor.
Even if Apple dumps the Mac Mini, there’s no gaurantee they won’t replace it with some other form factor to take up the low end, or possibly create a mini/Apple TV hybrid that can serve as a higher end Apple TV and a Mini at the same time.
Many people have asked for Apple to release a low cost expandible tower, and if they do so and price it agressively it could replace much of what people use the Mini for, other than the nice factor of the mini’s size.
We don’t know what Apple plans to do with its hardware line up, I’m hopeful that YoYo is right and that with an expanding customer base Apple will consider opening up its line up to include more options.
Time will tell.
I agree with a previous poster, go with a regular hard drive, (cheaper, more options, only slightly larger) and give us more video card options. Gamers and entry level buyers don’t need 8 memory slots, PCI slots and four hard drive bays. Add a Firewire 800 and USB2 port and you’ve pretty much made a screenless iMac.
Really don’t understand why this option is so problematic for Apple.
I would miss the Mac mini. The original was my first Mac.
Albeit a rumour, this is a prime candidate for an online petition to Steve Jobs. Any one interested???
RIP Mac Mini, hello to Mac Nano?
Since when is having a more affordable, moritor less, Mac a bad idea? I just don’t get it. Arggg!! This is a good option for a lot of people. Apple why kill it??
I hope it truly is just a rumor.
A mole hunt – very good. It is getting close to release time for some major products. And the article/speculation touts the connections of the source. Could be Pink Slip time in Cupertino.
Haven’t we read articles about the Military and Industry using the Mac Mini due it’s size and power? Wonder if they buy those at a retail location? Like, how do the wholesale numbers become available?
Instead of an online petition, wouldn’t it be just as effective if everyone interested in Apple keeping the Mac mini in some upgraded configuration, just go to the Apple feedback site and voice their opinions for product enhancement?
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macmini.html
What a foolish move if this is true. The excellence of design in the core duo mac mini-s has helped me replace close to a hundred pc’s with superior mac mini’s. I could not have done so with anything else in the Apple product line. In fact, there really isn’t anything else out there that has the same form factor, performance, and ease of configurability as the mac mini.
I repeat, what a foolish move if this is true.
It’s a rumor, folks. Apple hasn’t actually canceled the Mac mini. But if it’s true, Apple no doubt has other plans for the low(er) end of the market. I wouldn’t be upset at this rumor. I’d be excited about Mac product line prospects for the future.
I think they will release a higher-spec Apple TV with an optical drive in place of the mini.
Apple will replace mini with something much better.
Just watch.
He never much cared for the Mini, and didn’t even make it a large deal on introduction. It seemed a necessary product at the time, but sales of the Mini are the lowest across the line, which reveals two things:
1. Mac users would rather purchase higher end systems.
2. Switchers are not moving in parallel to Mini’s for price point sake. Rather, when a Windoze user decides to change platforms from a beige box to a Mac, it is usually done with a bit of purchase flair. they are not looking to get a boring box with existing monitor and keyboard. These swithers are looking to make an impact with their switch, and find themselves in a MacBook or 20″ iMac.
Thus the Mac Mini is no longer necessary for switching as it has been proven out to not be needed for that crossover customer – which it was originally believed would be needed for such a move.
Steve is glad the box is gone.
NO WAY. I LOVE my Mac Mini! Please don’t drop it Apple! This thing has been running 24/7 for 2 years now. PLEASE don’t kill it!
It’s a GREAT little machine. Seriously. KEEP IT.
I still think they should bring back the 12″ Powerbook… or MacBook Pro now. still don’t like that name.
I think the Mini is a great machine, but I’d much rather Apple create a slightly larger mid-range system with better specs, discrete graphics and more desktop oriented internals to keep the price competitive. At possibly half the price of a Mac Pro, it would sell beautifully.
Not everyone wanting to try a Mac may be (able or) willing to pony up the cash for an iMac. Especially if they already have a monitor & USB KB around to use with a computer only design. An entry Mac should be kept in Apple lineup, IMHO…