“Apple’s new Mac Mini is the least expensive Macintosh to date. As befits Apple’s heritage, this Mac defies conventions. It weighs just 2.9 pounds, but it’s a desktop computer, not a notebook. It’s portable — but in the sense of moving from room to room, not home to office or city to city. Apple sells the 6.5-inch-square machine in a lunchbox-size package with a handle,” Edward C. Baig writes for USA Today. “Mac Minis start at $499, though the total climbs quickly if you boost the memory and supply often-needed accessories — such basics as monitor, keyboard and mouse. Even so, with the Mac Mini, Apple has fashioned a winner.”
“Mac Mini is something of a pioneer in the Apple universe, just as the freshly minted $99 Apple iPod Shuffle digital music player I reviewed last week breaks new ground. This computer may give Steve Jobs his best opportunity yet to wrestle some market share from the masses schooled on Windows-based personal computers,” Baig writes. “Many buyers have been reluctant to embrace Macs. In part, that’s because the computers typically command a premium over Windows PCs. And once all is said and done, the Mac Mini will cost more than comparable entry-level Windows machines. You could make the case, though, that with the software loaded on the Mini, you’re getting more bang for your buck.”
MacDailyNews Note: Kudos to Mr. Baig for that last sentence. It’s very nice to read someone who actually gets it and also writes it down for millions to read.
Baig continues, “Other factors could make Windows customers ponder a switch. Thanks to the iPod, legions of PC users have been wowed by Apple’s technical prowess. And the maddening virus/spyware epidemic may have led some Windows customers to beg for alternatives. (Macs have so far been immune to the scourge.) Some longtime PC users might now willingly invest in a Mac. Two things that truly set Mac Mini and all recent vintage Macs apart: the slick Panther operating system and the inclusion of the best-of-breed iLife multimedia software suite. iLife ’05 has the latest versions of iTunes software, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand (a recording studio application). Apple has also thrown in Quicken 2005 personal finance software… It’s the slickest little budget computer I’ve seen.”
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
USA Today: Apple’s iPod shuffle should ‘send shivers through’ competitors – January 20, 2005
deal with it, you mac goober heads.
I will cut you up
Raw power for the average user has become virtually irrelevant. The computing world is now walking up to the pure elegance and genius of the Mac. Tiger will be the final clincher. We won’t hear from Sputnik once this beast comes to town.
I can’t believe my magic word is TOWN. MDN you’re starting to freak me out!
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“Even Gates seems to understand that the future of games in consoles, not PCs (or a console masquerading as a PC).
-Doc”
And what processor did Mr. Gates choose for the X-Box 2? The G5 (or at least a G5 derivative). What irony that M$ is sending G5 towers to x-Box 2 developers.
The magic word is degree, as in “It doesn’t require a degree to see that Macs are superior.”
PCs are toys to play games on while Macs are for getting the real work done. Couldn’t have said it better myself!
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mrboma commented on Microshaft shipping G5 towers for xbox development.
While I don’t get into conspiracy theories, its worth considering that those G5 boxes are NOT running any version of OS X. They are running an updated (modified) version of NT. Remember back in 1997-1999 when NT shipped a PPC version?
If its not OS X, and it comes from Microshaft, even the G5 can look, feel, and perform badly.
IF you are a conspiracy kinda guy/gal/thing, you can certainly read between these lines. Bill’s own little toejam horse to sour developers on Apple and the Mac platform by forcing them to run a Windows OS. And, when the other shoe drops, the pundits and so called tech reports will bleat at the top of their lungs “MS abandons IBM chips in XBox due to developer outrage over bad experience programing with Macs.” No mention of the fact that those Macs were running a poopy redmund excuse for an OS.
OK, some pessemistic sarcasm over the toejam horse and resulting headlines, but a fact that the G5s are running NT. I wonder if there is an OS X install in there anywhere?
Hey sputnik! Quit hogging the bong!
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Hey Sputnik – great to here from you again – NOT!
Well here’s the facts on your precious windows Longhorn:
FACT 1:
It will be DOS with a new gui on top of it!
FACT 2:
It will have a few new features not in XP!
FACT 3:
Because it is DOS, all the 95,000+ windows virus’s, malware, spyware etc WILL BE TOTALLY COMPATIBLE WITH LONGHORN!
FACT 4:
Upgrade to Longhorn and get all your old virus problems for FREE! – with compliments from Mr Gates!
FACT 5:
Currently there is NO existing consumer spec windows pc that can currently run Longhorn!
If Longhorn was for sale tomorrow you would need to spent around £2500 to get a machine to run it!
Now go to the nearest Apple Store and buy a Mac! Because OS X IS here now and is 35 years infront of windows thanks to the unix open source movement!
I do more than just play games on my almost 3 year old iMac, but when I do play, I usually play Starcraft or Warcraft III. And the new mini is more capable than my old iMac. So we’re not completely devoid of games, even at the low end.
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Safari Browser is pretty slow, how about fixing this first before re-inventing a Word Processor software package?
On MDN the majority of comments are about Windows. On Windows Forums the majority of comments are about Windows. When will someone start commenting on Macs?
Safari ifs fast on my mac – I only have an old silver G4 dual 800mhz with 1.5gb RAM!
Great Article!! He hit it 100% on with all cylinders firing. This is gonna be HUGE!
OK, so we haven’t had a Sputnik post in a while, so newbies wouldn’t recognise him, but I see a lot of names above that should know better.
He’s not being serious. He’s a Mac user taking the piss out of Windows users.
“Real Gaming World”. That’s a classic in itself. Genius.
Welcome back. My magic word is “returned”, btw, so even MDN agrees.
Another interesting review:
http://www.boston.com/business/personaltech/articles/2005/01/27/two_decades_late_apple_launches_500_mac/
Mike, what clip did you watch? Link?
Hmm…I don’t think it’s the real Sputnik. He didn’t put a © at the bottom of his drivle, er, message.
Thanks, Dave H – read that first post, and then saw “who” posted it. And then I just started scrolling down to see who all would take the bait. Sure got hot on this thread for a while.
I, too, am glad Baig said what he said about “bang for buck” – more ammo to toss at my dad, who I’m hoping to take to a local Apple store this weekend (and mom, too) and show them the new mini up close and personal.
My word – “training”… draw your own conclusions…
Of course Sputnik wasn’t serious, and neither was I. Minesweeper???
Go Sputnik
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Re: games for the Mac… try the multiplayer game for Mac/Windows/Linux called ThinkTanks. There is a huge Mac base of users (more Mac users than PC & Linux users combined!) You can find it at http://www.garagegames.com. There’s a free demo (very easy to play.) It only costs $20 and is guaranteed to get you addicted when playing multiplayer. I myself haven’t been much of a gamer but since this game inception I have been playing ThinkTanks almost every day for the past year! LOL!
Try it out for I need some fresh meat to shoot at.
One button mouse is definatly not designed for gaming.
Why the heck would you buy a unix based machine for gaming?
Why would anyone buy anything for games?
I am having too much fun in real life to play computer games………
but then again, those who areinto games will not understand this comment………….
so………never mind!