Apple Macintosh releases an affordable computer

[FORD]

The new Mac mini from Apple measures a mere two inches tall, weighs just below 3 pounds and is powered by Mac OS X; a display and input peripherals are optional.


Apple today introduced Mac mini, hailing the latest addition to the company's line-up of PCs as the most affordable and compact Mac ever. The low-cost mini-PC will initially be available in two versions with different processor speeds and hard drive sizes, both of which are powered by version 10.3 of Mac OS X, also known as Panther.

Weighing in at a mere 3 pounds and with dimensions of 6.5" x 6.5" x 2", or 16.5 x 16.5 x 5 cm, the Mac mini more closely resembles a PC accessory rather than a standalone PC. The lowest-budget version of the mini features a 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 processor and a 40 GB hard drive, while the higher-end version comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 1.42 GHz processor.

Processor speed and hard drive capacity aside, both minis share all specifications including 256 MB of RAM, expandable to 1 GB; a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive; an ATI Radeon 9200 graphics card with 32 MB of memory; one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports; a 10/100 Ethernet card and V.92 compliant 56K modem; a built-in speaker and 3.5 mm line out port; and a DVI output with an included DVI-to-VGA adapter.

Optional accessories include an internal AirPort Extreme card for Wi-Fi 802.11g, an internal Bluetooth module and an adapter to convert the VGA/DVI out to composite or S-Video out.

Mac OS X version 10.3 is pre-installed on every Mac mini, and provides a familiar range of applications including iChat video conferencing, Mail, the Safari web browser, Sherlock, Address Book, QuickTime, iSync, iCal, DVD Player and the Classic environment. In addition, the Mac mini will come with software targeted towards families including Quicken 2005 for Mac and the games Nanosaur 2 and MarbleBlast Gold.

The Mac mini will be available in the US on Saturday, January 22 and worldwide on Saturday, January 29, as always through Apple online and retail stores, as well as through Apple approved resellers. The 1.25 GHz Mac mini will retail for $499 USD, whilst the 1.42 GHz version will retail for $599 USD.


I must admit that at this price, buying a Mac as a second computer is very tempting. While I'm in the process of ditching Windows in favor of Linux, I have no intention of going to Mac full time. This is a smart move on the part of Steve Jobs though. His only error might be not including actual keyboard and mouse ports on the damn thing. I don't have room on my desk for a second mouse or keyboard, and the set I have ain't USB.

Put me in the "maybe" column, Steve.....

[flappo]

don't they do usb adaptors ?

[teamaa104]

apple is incredible

[Flash Bastard]

FORD, you can get USB adaptors at Radio Shack pretty cheap.

I'm thinking about buying this thing, the previous Macs were just outside of my price range.

Flappo, have you checked into this? I know you're our resident Mac expert, is this thing worth bothering with?

[twonabomber]

i'll probably get the Mini. probably just get a KVM switch and use the same monitor, keyboard, and trackball i have now. i eventually want to run Final Cut Pro. if i ever got a real Mac, the Mini would be a good portable capture/edit system.

Superdrives are a $100 option, and a gig of RAM is another $425, but it can be added later.

i'm also going to futz around with Linux. i got Red Hat Professional Workstation for $49 the other day.

[Flash Bastard]

Originally posted by twonabomber
i'll probably get the Mini. probably just get a KVM switch and use the same monitor, keyboard, and trackball i have now. i eventually want to run Final Cut Pro. if i ever got a real Mac, the Mini would be a good portable capture/edit system.

Superdrives are a $100 option, and a gig of RAM is another $425, but it can be added later.

i'm also going to futz around with Linux. i got Red Hat Professional Workstation for $49 the other day.

Shit, I forgot about using a KVM. You could just put the mini right on top of the PC. Brilliant!

Final Cut Pro is the main reason I want to switch. These PC programs are rather spotty when it comes to digital video.

I'm off to the Apple Store.

[twonabomber]

a Mini will fit right under the edge of my monitor, next to the PC. or, if i end up going with dual 19's, it'll fit under those.

[rustoffa]

I'll go out on a limb and suffer the consequences.....

Are the Macs really that far superior?

I have only dealt with pc...the exception being a friend's machine that's like Job's signature model or some shit.

I just always end up closing shit instead of maximizing it or vicey-vercey when I use it.....that's a broad example.

Gimme the cliff-notes lowdown.

[teamaa104]

Originally posted by rustoffa
I'll go out on a limb and suffer the consequences.....

Are the Macs really that far superior?

I have only dealt with pc...the exception being a friend's machine that's like Job's signature model or some shit.

I just always end up closing shit instead of maximizing it or vicey-vercey when I use it.....that's a broad example.

Gimme the cliff-notes lowdown.

ive got a mac powerbook and i love the way it runs, it never crashes and nobody ever makes viruses for macs, so you never get them

the only thing i cant stand about macs is how slow the mouse and the fact that it only has one button, but other than that, its a great computer

[FORD]

I already have the KVM switch. I've actually been experimenting with various Linux distributions on a beat up old 333MHZ Celeron machine, so I have both machines running often. If the output from that switch can be adapted to USB for the Mini Mac then that might work.

But for the record, I still think the lack of ports is bad marketing when Apple is obviously aiming this machine at people who already have keyboards & mice (attached to a working PC)

[Flash Bastard]

Originally posted by FORD
I still think the lack of ports is bad marketing when Apple is obviously aiming this machine at people who already have keyboards & mice (attached to a working PC)

You could always add a USB hub, and add a bunch of other stuff too....

It seems to me that Apple designed this thing to get a foothold with the PC users, to offer them a deal and then watch as the cash rolls in when the customers realize they need to buy all the extras for a fully functional setup.

Perhaps I'll just save a few bucks and upgrade the processor on my PC instead.

[flappo]

Originally posted by rustoffa
I'll go out on a limb and suffer the consequences.....

Are the Macs really that far superior?

I have only dealt with pc...the exception being a friend's machine that's like Job's signature model or some shit.

I just always end up closing shit instead of maximizing it or vicey-vercey when I use it.....that's a broad example.

Gimme the cliff-notes lowdown.

in os-x ( panther ) you have the option of having just one active window ( like windoze ) , plus with expose , the quartz graphics based window tiling feature , it's very easy to arrange things

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/expose/

[ashstralia]

i have an older imac
running os 9.2,
bought it for a song,
runs like a dream.

fast as, never crashes, no bugs.

[flappo]

you can prob upgrade that to panther and run all your 9.2 stuff in classic mode

i used to be very anti-x until i actually used it

my bro has an xp laptop at work and 17" PBG4 at home

the xp laptop crashes every few days

the mac one hasnt crashed once in a year

[ashstralia]

there are a lot
of mac users where i live, (lots of music people)
i was thinking about upgrading to
a g4 this year, i can get one of those
pretty cheap.

the os is just so fucking elegant.

when i get on friends pc's,
it's like driving an old morris.