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Mac Mini Not Dead Yet?
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Seems I may go that way, except, I love the portability of a laptop.Hackintoshs.. are they possible with any laptops out there?
Yeah, i've got a friend running Leopard on an AMD compaq laptop(!). It took him so long to get it working correctly and he still hasn't got QE working, seems like far too much trouble than its worth for me.
Or, you could buy a macbook and use it with a screen, keyboard and mouse at home like i do, then its quite alot like a mac min. Then just unplug it and go!
HAs anyone actually shown any EOL information? Surely, it being that Mac Minis are actually selling quite well that the stocks would have dwindled by now? Apple itself has a finite inventory (say 6-7 weeks) presumably, and the companies themselves resell them would also have a limited supply, no?
So that potentially being so, if they're still selling, but not making more, and have an EOL, wouldn't we be seeing stores selling out now/in a week or two?
So that potentially being so, if they're still selling, but not making more, and have an EOL, wouldn't we be seeing stores selling out now/in a week or two?
I should clarify: the official EOL is for the current 1.8 GHz model, based on the reports that European retailers can no longer order the 1.8GHz model, which presumably means Apple is not making any more of them.
It doesn't mean the Mini is dead; it is quite possible a new and improved Mac Mini is in the horizon. Or it simply means Mac Mini is only available as 2.0GHz model from now on.
It doesn't mean the Mini is dead; it is quite possible a new and improved Mac Mini is in the horizon. Or it simply means Mac Mini is only available as 2.0GHz model from now on.
That's a cute concept.
The desktop/Mac mini new look could have the same specs as the new 13" MacBook at $599/799
The Screen+Keyboard/AirBook could be either:
- a "dumb" wired/wireless terminal for the Mac mini (or other Mac), with a slighlty smaller screen as the MacBook, probably 12" to accomodate a full size keyboard,
or
- some intelligence in stand-alone mode (iPod touch type of specs), access to safari, mail, other iPod touch apps...
The proprotion seems a little off; the disc slot seems a little too big. In any case, that is a good looking concept. And with the foot print of your average size A/V component, it fits in nicely with the rest of the home entertainment system. Basically, take a MacBook, remove the screen and keyboard, viola, perfect Mac Mini. Although the disc slot should be front facing for easy access.
To bad the mini at $600 is bad buy and at $800 a big ripoff. Droping the $800 down to $600 does not help much.
maybe it will work at $500 with 2gb of ram and a hd size bump.
True for the current model, $600 is not a good deal.
But if the "new" Mini were to be identical to the new MacBook internally, I'd say $600 is a pretty good price, as it is less than half the cost of a base MacBook, which is at $1,299. However, I would hesitate if the Mini didn't come with Firewir (like the new MacBook), since I may use one as a home server.
But if the "new" Mini were to be identical to the new MacBook internally, I'd say $600 is a pretty good price, as it is less than half the cost of a base MacBook, which is at $1,299. However, I would hesitate if the Mini didn't come with Firewir (like the new MacBook), since I may use one as a home server.
It wouldn't be that bad of a buy, if Apple hadn't left in stuck a couple of years in the past.
I'd imagine that the prices are raised, just because of the technology in it--using smaller components and such. Heck, it might as well be a laptop since it's so tiny!
What Apple needs to realize is that although it is portable and attractive, size isn't what matters when people are buying a desktop, as long as it is within certain boundaries. So, why don't they make an affordable Mac that you can expand, like the MacPro, one that is smaller since the Pro is downright HUGE! Why is Apple always so afraid to make things that people can upgrade themselves--eMac, iMac, Mini, all computers you can't upgrade components other than the RAM by yourself.
What Apple needs to realize is that although it is portable and attractive, size isn't what matters when people are buying a desktop, as long as it is within certain boundaries. So, why don't they make an affordable Mac that you can expand, like the MacPro, one that is smaller since the Pro is downright HUGE! Why is Apple always so afraid to make things that people can upgrade themselves--eMac, iMac, Mini, all computers you can't upgrade components other than the RAM by yourself.
Is this so hard? There is less money in it for Apple. I'm sure they'd much rather sell you a more closed/restricted unit as it's more likely to encourage you to buy anew after, say, 18 months rather than buying from a third party and slamming in a new processor/gpu/whatever to keep that machine for 36 months - Apple sees no new money from you that way.
If Apple were release this highly upgradeable, affordable, "mid-tower" machine no one will shut up about, what's in it for them? You'd buy the bare bones configuration and then hop on over to crucial or owc or whoever to beef it up and keep it going - you know it, they know it.
I think half the reason the Mac Pro costs what it costs is due to the convenience of customisation. A Mac Pro customer could very well keep that machine for 5+ years, potentially without Apple seeing another penny. So they make sure they get a chunk up front.
tl;dr There's no magical super awesome mid-range desktop coming, accept it - buy a Mac Pro or "you don't need configurability enough" in Apple's eyes
And Apples eyes are becoming increasingly myopic. When they rid themselves of their traditional power user base, who is going to be there when the fad teenagers leave them for the next cool thing? And when it comes to money, Apple has a choice, and it doesn't involve me wasting money on another iMac or spending $3000 on a workstation. That's like choosing between a Lincoln version of a Ford Fiesta and a semi. They can either take between $1300-$1700 of my money or they can have none at all. I'm past the point of giving Jobs the benefit of the doubt. I'm not alone on this either.
Market Share
If Apple would put out a Mac Mini that is configurable at a reasonable price (That is part of the fun of owning a PC.), it is true that there would be a delay in people later buying a new one. But their market share would jump maybe 10%. Also, many would invest in new software (more profits).
That being said, there is a very good chance that Apple doesn't have the manufacturing capacity to jump market share that quickly. There might be huge backorders and a lot of upset customers, plus a sudden ramping up often means a reduction in quality/reliability.
Because Apple is so diversified by having the iphone, ipod, itunes, etc., it makes manufacturing capacity all that much harder to concentrate on computers.
If Apple would put out a Mac Mini that is configurable at a reasonable price (That is part of the fun of owning a PC.), it is true that there would be a delay in people later buying a new one. But their market share would jump maybe 10%. Also, many would invest in new software (more profits). That being said, there is a very good chance that Apple doesn't have the manufacturing capacity to jump market share that quickly. There might be huge backorders and a lot of upset customers, plus a sudden ramping up often means a reduction in quality/reliability.
Because Apple is so diversified by having the iphone, ipod, itunes, etc., it makes manufacturing capacity all that much harder to concentrate on computers.
There's a reason it's called the "Mac Mini". I'm perfectly fine with its current FF.
Speculation.
Apple contracts their manufacturing out to any number of Chinese companies. Capacity isn't the issue - it's Apple's business plan that is.
Snow Leopard
Any info on when snow leopard is going to be released? It would probably be a good idea to wait for that to come out before buying... Unless the upgrade cost would be low
Any info on when snow leopard is going to be released? It would probably be a good idea to wait for that to come out before buying... Unless the upgrade cost would be low
I'd like to think that it's not because it's one of the coolest little machines...
But Apple just isn't leaving much room for hope!
I was looking forward to a new rev of the Mac mini. Guess not this time around. Maybe a quiet update in a few weeks? Would be nice.
At least it's not been discontinued.
At least it's not been discontinued.
Yeah, but the new Mac notebooks are made with unibody construction!!!! Now that's really living! Design has evolved to make your life worth living!