Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Eunoia]

http://www.apple.com/macmini/

Anyone seen this yet? Could be another winner for Apple! What do you think, is this going to inspire more people to make The Switch?

[mindmetoo]

No. It's cute. Its price point might make PC users buy it as a second computer, to have around as a conversation piece and take a look at this whole Mac thing. ("Oh this is what Windows will look like in 2 years... I can wait.") But what drives computer sales these days are not the things that are Mac's strong points: DTP and photo/video/music editing. It's computer games. Full stop. It's the only thing driving chip sales these days, so much so that Intel actually gives game makers money to develop new games for their latest chips.

Apples best move would be to release a funky $500 laptop. The alpha male at any Seattle or Silicon Valley/Silicon Alley Starbucks is the one with the coolest laptop. And cool Mac laptops beat anything in terms of funk appeal.

[Swiss James]

it looks smart, and might make me dip my toe into Macs when I get my own place. It seems to me that one of the main plus points for PCs is the massive amount of pirated software available for it- although you won't be seeing that point made on too many spec sheets.

[Wangja]

From www.TwoChapsTalking.com ...

[ulsanchris]

I looked it up on the apple sight today. I was disapointed that it has the older g4 processor. Looks neat though

[Eunoia]

Apparently they're having troubles with (1) getting the G5 small enough, and (2) running cool enough to stick in the Powerbooks, which is why they're still using the G4 in this new Macmini (and why there are no G5 laptops in the foreseeable future... ). That being said, the G4 is still a fine processor (you just gotta boost the RAM) for most average home users.

Which are the people, MM2, that Apple is really targeting. Most of these people already have a kb, mouse, & monitor ready to go, which can easily be used with this new system. People who have heard about how easy Macs are, but aren't willing to spend the big bucks on the chance that they won't like it. The hardcore gamers you're talking about tend to prefer PC's anyway - and besides, there are more and more games coming out for Mac all the time.

Let's face it: Who REALLY uses Macs anyway? It's still something of a niche market. Professionals involved in High-end graphics / music / video editing (PowerMac G5). Educators love them (Powerbooks, iBooks, iMacs). Until recently I didn't know very many people at all who used Macs. You always hear about a friend (of a friend) who loves his with a passion, but is it enough to make the average person want to Switch? In most cases, no.

(But I'm sure glad I did! )

It's a fact that Mac sales have increased since iPod / iTunes hit the market. See the Macmini as Apple's way of getting their system into even more homes to "spread the word" about the ease of use, the smoothness & reliability, the "cool" factor...

More systems sales means greater demand for a wider range of software, which in turn *should* encourage the major software companies to put out more product for Mac.

Anyway, that's just my two-bit theory. Hope it works out for them.

[ulsanchris]

i'vw been interested in getting a mac for a while. I am still somewhat interested in this one.

[Bunnymonster]

Shuttles are so much nicer, faster and cheaper............... and let you run all you favourite free software

[nrvs]

[Bulsajo]

AMD's $185 Computer:

[Sage Monkey]

NEVER

[Bulsajo]

I agree, it is fugly compared to the mini-Mac, but it's also a lot cheaper. and so much for Apple being cutting edge and innovative, etc. I believe AMD got there first. Apple's just competing in the market like everyone else is (or should be).

[Eunoia]

To be fair, the AMD doesn't have a CD drive, and it only has a 10 G HD and 128 of RAM. It DOES have 4 USB ports, though, and it looks like there's an audio-in, which is handy. According to AMD's own website (on which the 50*15 is surprisingly hard to find...), it's being marketed as a "Personal Internet Computer" (PIC) to be sold primarily in developing nations, to those who can't really afford all the bells and whistles.

The Mac Mini comes with a CD RW (DVD burner is optional), 40 G HD (80 is available) and 256 RAM (upgradeable to 1 Gig), but it only has two USB ports, 1 Firewire, and only a single line-out for headphones or PC speakers. No line-in or mic feature and one would almost certainly need to add a USB multi-port.

[Bulsajo]

The mini Mac and the AMD PIC are aimed at entirely different markets, as Eunoia points out. My bad for implying that the mini and the PIC would be competing in the same market.

The PIC is part of the "50x15 initiative": to see 50% of the world have a computer by 2015.

[Swiss James]

yeah it's strange how the blurb says "..plug in your electric guitar or keyboard and make music. " when there's no audio in- I guess it assumes you'll buy a USB or firewire soundcard.