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Mac Mini To Be Discontinued?

mklos said:
Its never been in Apple's practices to do this. You can't sell a computer at a loss for very long. Apple isn't Microsoft has billions up on billions of dollars to do this. Neither you nor I know what Chevy makes off the Colbalt.
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Whether or not Apple has ever done this before, it's good business practice. It has worked (again anecdotal, which is meaningless) with me and other people.

As for cash reserves ... funny, Apple does have billions and billions of dollars. http://byronmiller.typepad.com/byronmiller/2007/04/apples_cash_res.html (not a primary source, but I don't have a NY Times account)
Apple said it ended the second quarter with $12.6 billion in cash.
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Digital Skunk said:
And you are ANGRY :mad:


Just wanted to make sure, thanks.
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Nope, not angry, I just think it's silly when people get so worked up and as a result start making comments that are not well-thought out.

Funny thing is, look at all the speculation over a RUMOR .. and we all know how accurate THOSE are ;)

I'm having fun!
 
actually, only the ATV is a different footprint, the Airport is 6.5" ^2

mrgreen4242 said:
Which they are likely getting rid of as well...


The AE and AppleTV are slightly different in footprint than the mini (ATV ~7.7"^2, mini 6.5"^2). I think it's more and more likely with each passing week with no mini update that there will be a big revamp of the mini line. I suspect it will be 7.7"x7.7"x4", and fill the roll of the old mini and the 17" iMac in the product line. A little more space means full sized HDD, and room for extra cooling so they can use a faster GPU, etc.

I'm predicting they drop the 17" iMac with the next revision, move the mini to a taller ATV box, and have two models at $499 and $749. The cheaper model being, more or less, the old mini with a C2D and more standard RAM, the more expensive one being the old iMac guts in a new box.

This would satisfy a lot of people without adding a new type of computer to the lineup, and without competing with the Mac Pro or iMac. Of course, those of us who want an iMac with an upgradable GPU are still out of luck, but it's an OK compromise.
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mini switchers

I think the mini is dead. The reason Apple came out with it in the beginning was to encourage switchers. There are several reasons why they will discontinue it:

1. Apple is gaining more switchers with the MacBook than the mini.
2. AppleTV will replace it as a media system
3. Apple sells far more iMacs than mini/cinema combos.
4. There are suffeciant numbers of minis for sale in aftermarket to satisfy enthusiasts.

I don't think the sales numbers are large enough to justify keeping it, even if they update it. The AppleTV will almost certainly eclipse it as Apple expands it's functionality.
 
oscuh said:
Nope, not angry, I just think it's silly when people get so worked up and as a result start making comments that are not well-thought out.

Funny thing is, look at all the speculation over a RUMOR .. and we all know how accurate THOSE are ;)

I'm having fun!
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SO SORRY...

Yeah... I get your point... I hit the wrong quote window... sorry about that... I meant that another poster was angry not you.

And I agree with this one... some people don't know how to discuss anything and they get worked up when their ideas don't mesh. If you are wrong or not entire correct then so what... that's what learning is about. I have been schooled on this site once or twice... take it in stride and keep on posting.
 
Turkish said:
No, serioiusly, what were you hoping to accomplish?
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In a nutshell? Don't use assumptive reasoning, and beyond that, play nice! :rolleyes: We're all here to talk about a company whose products we love ... copping an attitude doesn't help, especially since we're "all on the same team"
 
boo, hiss, and all that.

I rather like the Mac Mini! Was planning on buying my sister one, since her bedroom TV has a VGA input. I'd really love a Mac Mini myself! Probably just use it for little tasks like EyeTV recording, bittorrent, ripping DVDs. Things my Powerbook can do but running quieter.
 
Object-X said:
I think the mini is dead. The reason Apple came out with it in the beginning was to encourage switchers. There are several reasons why they will discontinue it:
1. Apple is gaining more switchers with the MacBook than the mini.
2. AppleTV will replace it as a media system
3.
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I would agree about 1., at least in the past 6 months - year.
2. is debatable. I got a mini because I wanted a media server, not another media client. But as has been pointed out, that's a niche use.
I'm not sure what I think about 3.
 
raggedjimmi said:
boo, hiss, and all that.

I rather like the Mac Mini! Was planning on buying my sister one, since her bedroom TV has a VGA input. I'd really love a Mac Mini myself! Probably just use it for little tasks like EyeTV recording, bittorrent, ripping DVDs. Things my Powerbook can do but running quieter.
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I'm sure they'll have them around for awhile ... my dad has two G4 Minis and a 14" iBook ... and he loves them .. for what they were designed for, they're a good product .. and the CD versions are even better
 
Hey, let's all play nice and get rid of the insults.

I thought it was bad. But it says, "Getting rid of the Mini", not, "Getting rid of their lineup of cool, low cost computers...."

I can go for a Mac in an :apple:TV formfactor and get rid of that powerbrick...
 
oscuh said:
In a nutshell? Don't use assumptive reasoning, and beyond that, play nice! :rolleyes: We're all here to talk about a company whose products we love ... copping an attitude doesn't help, especially since we're "all on the same team"
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Play nice? You're the one calling people names and saying your "having fun" doing it, not me, pal - don't lecture me about "playing nice."

If you don't like my line of reasoning, so be it. I'm not overly concerned.

I'll bow out for the sake of the thread and keeping it on track.
 
Turkish said:
eBay is certainly no gauge for economics... when I can sell a 16-month old PowerBook G4 for what I paid for it...
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I think that proves my point rather than hurts it. They don't make PB G4's anymore. They seem to be a very popular brand with all or most of the kinks worked out of the design, like the 1.2GHz iBook I had before I went Intel. They don't have video cameras built-in, which is a good thing for some people working in high-security installations. If you have a 12", some people prefer that to the 15+" MBP's. And if your PBG4 is sixteen months old, then doesn't that mean it came out in January 2006, when the switch was announced? Either you or its previous owner must have liked the line well enough to buy it, despite the impending switch (assuming they knew about it).

Like I said, we'll see who's right when it's gone, but I hope I'm wrong. I like the mini.
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I hope you're wrong too. I already have my mini, so I don't have much to lose ;) I don't think that this evidence is enough to kill the mini.

Long time since an update? Maybe they want to ensure they can drop it back down to a $500 price point, seeing how negatively the Intel price hike was taken (not saying the hike wasn't justified, considering what I got with that extra $100). Keeping the Mac mini a step behind everything else makes it a better value and makes it more distinct from the MacBook, which is almost inarguably a better deal (unless you already have a new laptop).
 
Turkish said:
Play nice? You're the one calling people names and saying your "having fun" doing it, not me, pal - don't lecture me about "playing nice."

If you don't like my line of reasoning, so be it. I'm not overly concerned.

I'll bow out for the sake of the thread and keeping it on track.
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I called someone a name? when? :confused:
 
tyr2 said:
If it's being discontinued I wouldn't be surprised if it was replaced with something similar at the price point. A Mac Nano?
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Which begs the question: what would a mac shuffle be?:eek:

At least we can be sure you could clip it to your shirt.
 
I, like many others only entered the Apple realm because of the Mini...I have never liked the all-in-one approach and the power mac has always been more than I would spend on a computer.

People complain about the onboard graphics, yet most have never compared the performance of the mini...the current mini will run circles around my G4 mini for video and photo editing...sure, maybe that is mostly due to the processor, but the end result is it is a better user experience.

I have been waiting to upgrade, anticipating at least C2D. I have a great setup...and prefer to stay headless...I'm not sure I would ever purchase an all in one design.
 
I do believe AppleInsider. They put a lot of there creditabilty in here and I do think thats a wrong decision made by Apple. :mad:

I am not in the market for a Mini - I will buy myself a Macbook Pro 17" but I think it is plain stupid to drop the Mini. Many people like it. Many have purchased it and build their setup around it and want to eventually replace it. The all-in-one is not for everybody. Apple should give people more choices instead of less. The Apple TV is a failure - at least at the moment because it lacks so many features.

2 cents
LaForge
 
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