Next Mini update?

[mklos]

I don't think we'll see these for a while. Not as long as they're still selling like hotcakes.

Except that they're not selling like hotcakes. Last quarter's numbers on the MacMini were quite disappointing. Apple sold far less than anyone had expected. It was basically in the 250,000 range which isn't very good considering that iMac sales are around 400,000 to 450,000 and cost more than 3x the MacMini.

I think Apple just needs to bite the bullet the sell a keyboard and mouse with it. Its only an extra $70 for Apple and it will seem like a better value to any customer. A customer sees that its $499, a very good value, then they read that they need a keyboard, mouse, and display. Now it doesn't seem as good as a value to the customer, especially when they can buy a Dell for $399 with a keyboard, mouse, and display. Now we all know the $399 Dell is a POS, but the clueless person who knows nothing about computers will just look at the price tag and what's included and take the Dell because at the time, it seems like a better value. Its a psychological thing, I guess you could say.

If Apple would put a little better graphics card in it, that would be great. Even something like the NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra would be perfect for a $499 computer. Sure its nothing it brag over, but it sure beats what a PC has to offer for $499, which is 64MB or less of SHARED RAM from an Intel Extreme graphics chip or something.

My opinion, Apple is kinda stuck right now. The G4 isn't advancing very fast so it makes it hard to have updates for any Mac using the G4. You can't make the MacMini too powerful, because then it doesn't compare well with the PowerBook. Most people probably won't compare a MacMini to a PowerBook, but basically, a MacMini is a laptop in an desktop case without a keyboard, mouse, or display. I don't think you'll see iBook updates without also having PowerBook updates. If you do, then the iBook will basically be the same exact thing as a PowerBook in a different case, with a different name. So I think this is one of the reasons why Apple is just saying the heck with this, were going with Intel. They have different processors that are scalable on a yearly basis without a problem. They also have the money and resources that Freescale (Creators of the G4 processor)doesn't have. The Macs using a G5 have the same problem. The G5 isn't going anywhere fast. So Apple can't update the PowerMac lineup which makes it hard to update the iMac line up.

I would like to see a 1.5 GHz MacMini with a 5400 RPM HD, 512MB RAM, and 64MB VRAM. I think that would a steal for even $599....

 

[alexf]

Except that they're not selling like hotcakes. Last quarter's numbers on the MacMini were quite disappointing. Apple sold far less than anyone had expected. It was basically in the 250,000 range which isn't very good considering that iMac sales are around 400,000 to 450,000 and cost more than 3x the MacMini.

I think Apple just needs to bite the bullet the sell a keyboard and mouse with it. Its only an extra $70 for Apple and it will seem like a better value to any customer. A customer sees that its $499, a very good value, then they read that they need a keyboard, mouse, and display. Now it doesn't seem as good as a value to the customer, especially when they can buy a Dell for $399 with a keyboard, mouse, and display. Now we all know the $399 Dell is a POS, but the clueless person who knows nothing about computers will just look at the price tag and what's included and take the Dell because at the time, it seems like a better value. Its a psychological thing, I guess you could say.

If Apple would put a little better graphics card in it, that would be great. Even something like the NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra would be perfect for a $499 computer. Sure its nothing it brag over, but it sure beats what a PC has to offer for $499, which is 64MB or less of SHARED RAM from an Intel Extreme graphics chip or something.

My opinion, Apple is kinda stuck right now. The G4 isn't advancing very fast so it makes it hard to have updates for any Mac using the G4. You can't make the MacMini too powerful, because then it doesn't compare well with the PowerBook. Most people probably won't compare a MacMini to a PowerBook, but basically, a MacMini is a laptop in an desktop case without a keyboard, mouse, or display. I don't think you'll see iBook updates without also having PowerBook updates. If you do, then the iBook will basically be the same exact thing as a PowerBook in a different case, with a different name. So I think this is one of the reasons why Apple is just saying the heck with this, were going with Intel. They have different processors that are scalable on a yearly basis without a problem. They also have the money and resources that Freescale (Creators of the G4 processor)doesn't have. The Macs using a G5 have the same problem. The G5 isn't going anywhere fast. So Apple can't update the PowerMac lineup which makes it hard to update the iMac line up.

I would like to see a 1.5 GHz MacMini with a 5400 RPM HD, 512MB RAM, and 64MB VRAM. I think that would a steal for even $599....

Well said. Yes, Apple is in a rut. I think hardly ever in their history have they put out such infrequent updates, and when they do come out they are seriously meager.

As you mentioned, a big problem is the tiered product line. For instance, if a processor cannot be made to go any faster - such as seems to be the case with BOTH the G4 and the G5 - then that affects the entire product line, as they cannot have a consumer-end machine competing with a professional-end model.

The Intel thing makes me very sad - Apple seems to have lost a piece of its 20+ year old soul, but maybe that really was the only option to save sales...