“The conventional way to produce a PC for users with shallow pockets is to start subtracting features from a more expensive model until you reach the price point you want. Then toss the works into the same dull cabinet as the pricier offering,” John P. Mello Jr. writes for The Boston Globe. “But Apple has shown over the years that it doesn’t have a penchant for conventional thinking or for anything dull. Priced at $499, the Mac mini turns commodity computing into fine computing. Moreover, it makes it affordable for many PC users enamored with Apple’s iPod to test the OS X waters.”
“If you’re new to computing, that $499 price tag will start moving upward when you have to buy a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. And even if you have extra parts collecting dust in a closet, you’re probably going to want to upgrade the Mini’s paltry 256 megabytes of memory to 512 megabytes immediately,” Mello Jr. writes.
“One way to reduce costs when producing an economy PC is to skimp on software. That’s not the case with the Mac mini. It includes the iLife ’05 suite of programs that Apple bundles with its higher-end machines. iLife’s applications let you manage and edit digital images (iPhoto), manage, play and purchase digital music (iTunes), edit video (iMovie), author DVDs (iDVD), and create music (GarageBand),” Mello Jr. writes. “Another shortcut taken by computer makers is to unload the burden of processing graphics onto a system’s main processor and memory. That’s not Apple’s style. The Mac mini
has a dedicated graphics processor, the ATI Radeon 9200, and 32 megabytes of dedicated memory to handle its graphics chores.”
Mello Jr. writes, “While the Mac mini’s $499 price may smack of advertised prices for new cars, the additional $100 or $200 — if you have a spare keyboard, display, and mouse, or have better luck with a switching cable than I had — is a worthwhile outlay for a machine that can bring so much fun to your computing experience.”
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Sick of your Windows PC? It’s time to move on with your iLife with Apple’s new ‘Mac mini’ – March 09, 2005
Tech writer Fasoldt: Apple’s Mac mini includes ‘outstanding, superb’ software – March 09, 2005
Educators and students will want Apple Mac mini computers – March 07, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini ‘a money-saving option for PC users who want to test-drive Apple’s reputation’ – March 06, 2005
TrustedReviews: ‘The Mac mini is a master stroke by Apple’ – March 01, 2005
Apple iMac G5, Mac mini models hold top 5 spots on Amazon’s Desktop Computer Top Sellers list – March 01, 2005
PC World gives Apple’s Mac mini 4 out of 5 stars – February 26, 2005
Apple Mac mini ‘perfect for computer user who wants to leave the tyranny of Window and viruses’ – February 26, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini might well convince Windows users to switch to Mac OS X – February 22, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Apple’s Mac Mini is a device of the most cunningly crafted evil’ – February 18, 2005
CNET Executive Editor switches to Mac and he ‘ain’t ever going back’ to Windows – February 17, 2005
Tom’s Hardware: Apple Mac mini’s size, design, attractive price sets it apart – February 16, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini is a convincing shot across Bill Gates’ bow – February 15, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini makes using a Mac more affordable and more attractive than ever to Windows users – February 08, 2005
Washington Times: ‘Mac mini raises the bar for what a good, low-price computer can and should do’ – February 08, 2005
Apple Mac mini, iMac G5 models hold 5 of top 6 spots in Amazon’s Desktop Computer Top Sellers list – February 08, 2005
New Mac mini helps Apple get its secret weapon – creative software – in front of Windows users – February 08, 2005
The Seattle Times: Apple’s new Mac mini is ‘tiny, beautiful and dirt cheap’ – February 05, 2005
BusinessWeek: Apple’s Mac mini comes with elegant, stable Mac OS X and very good software – February 03, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini is an attractive option to Windows-based PCs – February 02, 2005
Computerworld: Apple Computer ‘has a hit on its hands with the new Mac Mini’ – February 01, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini offers relief from Windows viruses and malware – January 30, 2005
Associated Press: With Apple’s Mac mini ‘you could abandon Windows altogether’ – January 27, 2005
CBS News: Grab a new Apple Mac mini ‘and kiss the old Wintel machine goodbye’ – January 27, 2005
AnandTech reviews Apple’s Mac mini: ‘tempting Windows users everywhere’ – January 26, 2005
Keep those cards and letters coming, folks!
I was at a charity fundraiser this weekend and the projector showing the organization’s promotional movie was run by a Mac mini. As the event was winding down I talked with the guy disassembling the setup – mostly so I could hold the mini. He was in his mid 60s and this was his first Mac. He said he had already produced 30 short movies – something he’d never try in Windows. He was convinced. For the record he bought the faster model (mostly for the 80gb hd) and the ram was 512mb. He uses an old windows keyboard, mouse & monitor.
i would be lost without the command key.
been there, done that.
nothing to see here, move along pleeze.
“Another shortcut taken by computer makers is to unload the burden of processing graphics onto a system’s main processor and memory.”
“Unload”? He meant load didn’t he?
I found the article a bit meandering. I think the author was smoking too much of the funny stuff when he wrote this hack job.
Extra parts getting dusty in a closet? Like what, an ISA modem adapter? He makes the mini sound like it uses ancient technology that a modern PC would have no use for.
I don’t think this article reads as well to the general populace as the author intended.
How about, “the mini employs the latest in expansion technology like firewire and USB2.0 and digital (DVI) video output”?
While the author is upgrading the memory, he might as well point out the hard drive is a paltry 4200 RPM laptop drive and the loudest noise from the mini is the chattering optical drive because the internal speaker is so puny. To open it you have to use a putty knife of all things! How cleaver!
It’s a good thing I had one around the house, and after two trips to the emergency room from the grievous wounds I suffered after stabbing myself with my SHARPENED my putty knife I was able to upgrade the hard drive in Apple’s ingenious design.
With 256 megabytes of memory OS X was able to spell check this article but little else. Two more trips to the emergency room later I had installed a higher-density PC2700 memory module. The machine didn’t boot up because I bled all over the circuit board.
I can’t tell you how much I love OS X. I had to buy a new mini already configured off eBay. I found a DVI-based LCD monitor, I nearly forgot about, covered in dust in the back of my closet. OS X is very lickable and I get a sugar craving every time I use it which probably isn’t good for those of you watching your weight. Stick to Windows XP plastic.
All in all it cost me $1100, but it was well worth it it use my old PC equipment on my new Mac!
How do these guys get writing jobs?
Whew – you blew $1100 on a $499 mini – congratulations as techdork of the day.
Hazard´s Dad: ” I had to buy a new mini already configured off eBay.”
What´s an already configured mini????
“How do these guys get writing jobs?”
Remind me never to ask you to work on my computer….
I received my mini last week and it’s been great. It’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it so far (iLife, Photoshop, web/email, etc.). Great product that should be a great win for Apple.
b ill,
The “windows” key works just like the command key. As a matter of fact the extra volume up and volume down keys also work, hold down F12 to open or close your cd/dvd drive and the “Scroll Lock” and “Pause/Break” keys work to adjust the brightness on my Apple LCD display.
You don’t lose any functionality using a windows keyboard on your mac, you only lose fasion points.
There is a free utility to remap the keys on a windows keyboard if you want.
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macgems/2005/01/doublecommand/index.php
It seems to have been lost on “To: Hazard’s Dad” that I was speaking with the author’s voice. Not my own. You see, it’s satire.
You may have missed the transition it began with, “While the author is upgrading the memory, he might as well…”.
I was pointing out the flip flopping sytle of the author.
Why do I bother responding?
Hazard’s Dad:
Good question.
i do not know why people have a problem with 256mb of ram. i have the stock 256mb in an iBook and all is well. i can run upwards of 15 applications at once and im fine. i never see a slow down. but i dont use crappie bloated software, like anything from Microsoft or adobe. open-source does everything i want, and does it faster.
for the average user 256 is fine, i am much much more than an average user and it works fine for me. maybe with tiger more memory will be necessary, but with 10.3.8 it runs just fine.
“OS X is very lickable”
But the slobber on the screen doesn’t half spoil the image quality!
Hazard’s Dad: “Why do I bother responding?”
Uh….Because no one knows what you are talking about?
Next time write real big at the start of your words of wisdom:
“I have no sense of humor but the following is supposed to be witty and clever”.
Now you know the answer to your question:
“How do these guys get writing jobs?”
(Tip: They can write.)