Mac mini

[fryke]

Well, then you need a better salesman. The thing's _got_ sound. But this is _not_ a media center, so don't act as if it was one. It's a home computer, a cheap one at that, and I think it compares well to other cheap computers out there.

Btw.: Show me the 499$ computer with digital audio out. Show me the 499$ media center. Or rather, know what? Don't.

[scruffy]

Here's something interesting: on the main Mac mini page, there is a little blurb on the right column titled "Perfect for Programmers". Are they trying to appeal to Windows/Linux programmers with a cheap-o machine to develop on (well obviously they are)?

Also, the programmer probably already has about four computers on, under, and beside his desk, the fan noise is driving him to distraction, he's tripping over cables, and he uses a KVM, so the last thing he needs is another keyboard and mouse that he won't use.

[Ripcord]

keep in mind most LCD HDTVs can double as Computer monitors

And nearly any non-LCD HDTV as well. Even if the TV doesn't have specific ports for a computer, you can pick up converter boxes from DVI/VGA to HDTV component, etc.

My Y2K-model CRT-based HDTV has a SVGA port specifically for hooking up a computer. I had one in the living room for a while until I got sick of the noise... Maybe I will again =)

[markceltic]

The first chance I get I'm showing this thing to my neice! Myself I think she'll flip

[iMan]

Nice little thing!
It's funny how everyone is buying one and maby even two or more

Wife just got the new IPod shuffle, se just had to get one.

Viktor

[Mephisto]

I will get one myself as well but I can wait 4-6 months. That will give enough time for initial feedback as well as give the mac sites time to determine just how hard it will be to replace the memory. I would rather not fork out the upgrade for the memory when I have 1GB 333 DDRs sitting around my house not being used.

It is not expensive, especially for Mac, but when you start piling on the options the price rises quickly. Is it worth the cost? Oh yeah. But unless you have a pressing need why not wait to make sure the mac mini does not suffer from 1st gen bugs like many of Apple products have had of late?

[symphonix]

don't you still need an USB keyboard initially when pairing the BT keyboard and mouse to any mac?

No. If the Mac doesn't detect a keyboard plugged in, it looks for a BlueTooth one. If it finds it, it then displays a number on the screen with instructions to "Type this number in to pair with the keyboard", thus ensuring it has the right one.

Too bad there's only one RAM slot though. $425 extra for one gig, yikes!
Wonder if this thing could run iLife and iWork smoothly on just, say, 256 Mb.

I think that for the type of uses you're likely ot put this machine to, 256mb will be just fine. You might bump it up to 512 or so, but for 90% of the demographic there just isn't going to be much point. Even GarageBand will behave ok on 256mb. If you're talking about 1gb, though, then you're going to be happier with an iMac G5 anyway.

To quote Bill Gates, commenting on the Macintosh in 1984: "This is the computer I'd like to buy for my grandmother".

[j79]

Thank goodness!!

The first thing I did was fire off an e-mail to Bill Palmer - billpalmer.net.

The guy has been saying that no Mac mini would be announced and then gave some rather weak arguments as to why (some articles I read of his were on other sites - can't remember the exact wording - however, his personal site still has some reasons why.. towards the bottom...)

My favorite:

Alright, I've said all I'm going to say about the headless iMac nonsense (at least until after it doesn't get announced at the Keynote on Tuesday), as I think I've made my position abundantly clear, and I've grown a bit tired of making my point again and again. And at this point I'd have to imagine that many of you are as sick of hearing about it as I am. But for those out there who are (still!) writing to me in an attempt to invent a demand for the headless iMac that just simply is not there, I'll offer you this report from a salesperson at a retail store that sells both Macs and PCs. If you don't want to believe me that there's zero interest in removing the monitor from the Macintosh, then perhaps you'll believe him:

"Being somewhat in the know on what Apple products motivate switchers, I have to say there is next to no interest in a headless iMac amongst real buyers. Nine out of ten people shopping my Apple section are attracted by the fact the monitor is built in. The ones who are turned off by it are the same type who are convinced the eMachine is a sweet deal. (Which is most often purchased when bundled with a printer and 17" CRT btw)."

If that doesn't say it all, I don't know what does.

HAH! No Interest? Sure there's interest, you kook!!! The lack of interest before was because there was NO headless mac to begin with...