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TMO at MWSF - Apple Announces Mac mini Desktop, Starting at $499

by , 1:40 PM EST, January 11th, 2005

SAN FRANSICO -- Before a standing room only crowd at the Moscone Convention Center, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced Tuesday the Mac mini, the company's smallest Mac desktop without a monitor and keyboard, starting at US$499.

the G4-based Mac mini features a square shape with rounded edges in a silver brushed metal enclosure that is a little over an inch high.

The Mac mini will be available January 22 in two models -- a 1.25GHz processor model with a 40 gigabyte (GB) hard drive and 256 megabytes or memory for $499, and a 1.42GHz system with a 80GB hard drive for $599.

The Mac mini features one FireWire 400, two USB 2.0 ports, a DVI interface that also supports VGA, a built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, a ATI Radeon 9200 graphics with 32MB of dedicated DDR memory, and AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth support.

Observer Comments

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View Name:Guest
Subject: Finally!
Close Name:JimWCB Posts: 301 Joined: 29 Aug 2002
Subject: No keyboard/mouse

According to the tech specs on apple's site, one way they saved money was to omit the keyboard and mouse from the package. Which lets the buyer choose their keyboard and mouse (or use existing ones) instead of getting the standard keybaord and mouse and buying others. Not bad if you want a bluetooth kb/mouse and don't need the prepackaged ones.

They used to sell the keyboard separately in the Mac SE/II days so users could get the standard or extended keyboards they wanted.

View Name:RealityCheck -   Troll Posts: 392 Joined: 06 May 2004
Subject: Mac Mini A Big Disappointment
View Name:Guest
Subject: Mac mini oh my
Close Name:geoduck Posts: 1745 Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Subject:

I hope they have a lot of manufacturing capability tooled up to produce these. They are going to sell as fast as they can produce them. Actually they will sell faster than they can make them NO MATTER HOW MANY THEY BUILD. I think I've sold three of them to windows users here in the office just based on the picture and the price in the half hour or so since they were announced.

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject: Nice!

Wow thats small! Sweet! Guess you'll need a dock for your iPod shuffle since the USB ports are in the back. Hehe.

Close Name:Bosco Posts: 999 Joined: 03 Jun 2002
Subject: Cool but...

Not user upgradable .

View Name:Guest
Subject: Reality Check...
View Name:Guest
Subject: Keyboard, mouse, megaphone and display sold separately.
View Name:Guest
Subject: Keyboard, mouse, megaphone and display sold separately.
View Name:Guest
Subject: The Cube lives
Close Name:Will C Posts: 239 Joined: 12 Oct 2003
Subject: Box=Module

Much smaller than I was expecting it to be, and I guess it has a 2.5 inch HD, but then a thought came to me, the case is a beautiful design for further modules.
How's about a FW Drive? or perhaps a USB hub? or maybe even an 'iHub' - that is a FW and USB hub with sockets at the back and media card slots and a USB and FW socket at the front. The modules could then be stackable to build a cube or side by side if you like low profile...

Maybe I'll get one - anyone want to buy a 1.25GHz eMac?....

View Name:Guest
Subject: Mac Home Media Center
View Name:Guest
Subject: I'm sorry guys
Close Name:pyxl8 Posts: 171 Joined: 24 Dec 2003
Subject: Hard to order one on a whim

2 of us here at work have repeatedly gotten timeout errors at the Apple store page as we spontansously felt the urgent need to order one! If the pounding on Apple's site servers is any indication, the Mac mini is already a huge hit!

I expect MAJOR inventory shortages...

-Ken P

Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1953 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject: A+

I give this one an A+

I think it speaks for itself. Usually I like to argue with the naysayers or debate technical points...

But not today. I'm giddy and I feel great about this. I think it's perfect for what it is. I don't really need something like this and I STILL want to buy one.

Imagine the people who already want a computer with mid-range specs. This is perfect for them.

Totally perfect.

Close Name:mrmgraphics Posts: 824 Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Subject: brilliant!

+

I agree with others: Apple will never, EVER keep up with the demand for these. Remember that Apple is selling MP3 players for the same price, if not more in the case of iPod photo.

The Mac mini is clearly a shot right at the heart of Switchers who already have monitors, keyboards, and mice (and who no doubt want to keep using their favorite keyboards and mice). Aside from skimping on RAM (as usual), the tech specs are excellent for the price.

Heck, even Mac diehards who might be considering CPU upgrades for older machines will find lots to like in the Mac mini (myself included). Home run, Apple!

Close Name:tekgi Posts: 1 Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Subject: Reality Check for Reality Check

Quote
Compare to $499 Dell System:
2.8 GHz, over twice as fast
512 MB memory, twice as much
INCLUDES: keyboard, mouse, and 17 Monitor

So pay $499 for a Mac mini, get half the speed and memory and no keyboard, mouse, or monitor. The lame Mac Mini video card is not upgradeable, so forget about video editing or games.


Your twice as fast processor flop for flop doesn't hold up. Plus, take a look at the graphics card you get with the dell and the crappy monitor, hmm, oh year, i forgot, you can upgrade the card (oh, but wouldn't that cost more money). You also get the advantage of using OSX minus the viruses and plus the stability. You forgot to mention that you can upgrade the memory to 1GB and RAM is cheap. Oh, don't forget the fact that the dell tower is going to be almost 10 times larger. You also get the iLife '05 suite that edits video, by the way, and kicks anything you will find "standard" on a pc. I could go on, but I think you get the point. Dollar for dollar (if you took the time to compare) to configure the dell comparably (which by the way still wouldn't be comparable) you would find, I believe that the dell would be more expensive. (take into consideration, slot loading drives, software, graphics card, everything) and yes that also takes into consideration getting a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Don't forget, you always get what you pay for.



Last edited by tekgi on Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
Reply | Quote
Close Name:pyxl8 Posts: 171 Joined: 24 Dec 2003
Subject: Size matters

As much as I love this little Mac, I'm (slightly) disappointed that it's a mere half-inch too high to fit in a 1U rack space. If it were only 1 3/4 inches high it could look soooo cool in my road case (with the appropriate rack ear adaptor mount of course). Touring musicians would've loved that!!!!

Guess I'll be Velcroing it inside instead. Oh well....can't have everything! I'll make do...somehow!

-Ken P

View Name:Guest
Subject: Reality Check Needs to Check the Facts
Close Name:avonterr Posts: 19 Joined: 13 Apr 2002
Subject: It just fits, and a prediction

At work, I measured the width of the black Dell CPU unit. Just over 6.5 inches. My prediction: In a few weeks, there will be a third-party device (also 6.5 inches square) that will allow you to switch your monitor/keyboard/mouse between the Mini and the Dell.

Close Name:Halix Posts: 38 Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Subject: They even have accessories…

… for those who want to switch, such as a device to share a keyboard and mouse between a PC and a Mac

This is gonna be a extremely nice year![/b]



Last edited by Halix on Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
Reply | Quote
View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:AyaSofya Posts: 137 Joined: 11 May 2004
Subject: Yeah but

Yeah but your still STUCK with a Dell, not to mention Windows. It is like getting an operation from Dr Nick http://www.httpcity.com/ronq/simp/ because he is cheaper than a real MD

Quote
RealityCheck wrote:
Compare to $499 Dell System:
2.8 GHz, over twice as fast
512 MB memory, twice as much
INCLUDES: keyboard, mouse, and 17 Monitor

So pay $499 for a Mac mini, get half the speed and memory and no keyboard, mouse, or monitor. The lame Mac Mini video card is not upgradeable, so forget about video editing or games.

Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1953 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject: Re: brilliant!

Quote
mrmgraphics wrote:
+

The Mac mini is clearly a shot right at the heart of Switchers who already have monitors, keyboards, and mice (and who no doubt want to keep using their favorite keyboards and mice).


Yup. Did you see the place on the Apple page where they have a photo of the mac mini with a NON-APPLE keyboard, mouse, and monitor?

People have used other peripherals with their macs for years, but this has got to be a first for their marketing, I think.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Good video of Mac Mini introduction
View Name:Guest
Subject: future of emac
View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: International Mac of Mystery
Close Name:DanLyons Posts: 133 Joined: 25 Jun 2001
Subject: Re: The Cube lives

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
The cube lives!


I'm just waiting for the mod kit to put this into a Cube case - adding a second HD bay in the process.

Already ordered one for a friend rather than rebuilding an old G4/400.

View Name:Guest
Subject: New Mac Mini - Jobs must be back on the hash pipe
View Name:Guest
Subject: future of emac
View Name:Guest
Subject: future of the emac?
View Name:Guest
Subject: this is my next upgrade
Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 2941 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
MiniMac... ok, cool... 32Mb Video Ram..... hmmm... everything else is the same as usual. No "new technology" except maybe minimization.... Why no TV-tuner? Imagine the use the mini would have had right out of the box... record your TV-show to DVD.... a remote to switch channels... then the thing would be an instant hit, I think. Now, the MiniMac is a un-upgradable G4 Mirror Drive 1.25 that probably will heat your workspace. The "Mac Mini Heater".


it also doesn't make coffee. What is your point? Exactly how much "new technology" do you expect to see in a bottom-end machine?

Face it, unless it had an 8GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of dedicated video RAM, an HD tuner and 500GB or hard drive space for $300, you wouldn't be interested. Go buy a Dell.

Close Name:mrmgraphics Posts: 824 Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Subject:

+

Quote
Small White Car wrote:
Quote
mrmgraphics wrote:
+

The Mac mini is clearly a shot right at the heart of Switchers who already have monitors, keyboards, and mice (and who no doubt want to keep using their favorite keyboards and mice).


Yup. Did you see the place on the Apple page where they have a photo of the mac mini with a NON-APPLE keyboard, mouse, and monitor?

People have used other peripherals with their macs for years, but this has got to be a first for their marketing, I think.

I saw that, and agree that it has GOT to be a first for Apple's marketing. A brilliant first, and about freakin' time, IMHO. It makes the Mac look like a stylish addition to an existing PC setup, and not a bold step into alien territory. I can almost hear the gasps of ignorant PC users: You mean that Mac works with my Dull keyboard, my Dull monitor, and my M$ mouse???

Now let's hope the megahetz myth doesn't rear it's ugly gead a la RC, and this product will literally fly off the shelves.

Anyone up for a "predict Mac market share at the end of 2005" thread???

Close Name:Mace Posts: 9169 Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Subject:

Hi Guest above

Mac Mini is targeted at switchers not new buyers or existing Mac users.

However, the small form factor and price makes it suitable for existing Mac users to use it as a desktop server or an intelligent harddrive.

View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

RC forgot one very important thing that the $500 Dell lacks. It doesn't blow you away when you see it. Please imagine your average person wandering into the Apple Store and seeing this little thing sitting there. Now imagine when an employee demos it for them and they see this tiny little box doing all of these amazing things on one of those Apple LCD panels. Sold.

Close Name:fultonkbd Posts: 121 Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Subject: vaild points

You make some good points and that was my initial reaction also - what? No keyboard? No mouse. It isn't as cheap when you factor that stuff in - But then I realized that I wasn't the target audience for the Mini Mac.

Say you have a cheap PC at home and you have the keyboard, the mouse, the cheap flat panel display and you need a new computer. Now you have an option with the Mini Mac to make the switch. Granted you're still using your older paraphernalia, but Dell is probably selling the same keyboard, monitor and mouse they were 2 years ago so you are breaking even.

Thats the target audience. Mac lovers need not apply unless your willing to spend more or already have older paraphernalia laying around. Which I do. So I may buy one. As it's faster than any current Mac I own. My video card is better, but processor speed above 1GHz are always nice.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Revolution
View Name:Guest
Subject: RC: GRRRRRRRRR!!
Close Name:Gunhedd Posts: 14 Joined: 06 May 2004
Subject: The complainers need to get over themselves

These armchair tech critics somehow think they know what's best. Please... Apple is a smart company. They know their market. They do their homework. If it's not what you want then it's not for you.

Just because RC and its ilk don't "get it" doesn't make those that do zealots or fanboys or such. For not much more than an iPod, people that want to see what the deal is with the Mac can find out. If they already have a PC, so much the better, (for the keyboard, mouse, etc.).

Personally, I still use a G4 450 for my workhorse (and it does a great job...of course I'm not a "gamer." I'm a designer; I make money with my machine. I don't suppose RC does much more with ANY PC than play games considering that seems to be his primary method for evaluating hardware...silly boy) and while I'd love a G5, I can spend $500 bucks for one hell of an upgrade.

Cheers

Close Name:Mace Posts: 9169 Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Subject:

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
So, I got an iPod, I like it, maybe I'm a switcher. MiniMe should be for me? 32Mb of video Ram?? Hello? Mac people... you say we are only playing Games all day... well if you know that, why put a little box in front of us with which we can't do what we supposedly are doing all day? And... take away the upgrade path? Apple is great, but always falls short.
I am sure you would not re-buy all Mac games that you use to play in a PC. So, continue to play those games in PC. That said, since you can afford to buy an iPod, it is likely that you have a couple of PCs at home. You can replace one of those PCs with this cute little Mac mini.