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Go to your local Apple Store, notice something?

post #1 of 38
2/10/08 at 1:38am
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Go to your local Apple Store, notice something?

Exactly, you don't. The Mac Mini is nowhere to be seen. In 3 Apple stores in the NYC area i've visited this past month, each only has ONE Mac Mini on display. A single unit, also hidden on the side, away from the prominent views of iMacs, iPods, and iPhones in the center isles.

I have a sneaky suspicion that a redesign for the Mac Mini is due. It basically hasn't changed since its introduction years ago besides bumps in performance. Though the design is def still very, very relevant in todays computing world (actually i still think its nicer than any Dell, HP, etc...), Apple is know to do a complete 360 and introduce a sleeker product replacing an older product even at the height of its popularity (think iPod Mini). Maybe they can get rid of that huge power brick and incorporate a magsafe-like plug...perhaps a sleek aluminum case with black glass Apple logo... who knows.

The Mac Mini has the potential to sway huge amounts of PC users to the Mac. A slight redesign with a bump in performance would clearly be welcomed.

I don't know what else can be done to improve the Mac Mini, IMHO its a near flawless design, bordering classic status. I honestly love the Mac Mini, but I'm sure SJ and Co can whip something up.
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post #2 of 38
2/10/08 at 5:29am
IMHO, one thing that might help sales would be including the built in iPod dock that was originally designed for the G4 Mini, perhaps as a BTO option. Also some type of built in TV-in capability. It would be a even better media center.

All that would have to be done is change the outer case to one with the dock, and make the connection on the inside of the case, assuming the necessary hardware was included in the Mini.
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post #3 of 38
2/10/08 at 6:03am
It is a classic. However with Apple moving more and more idiot-proof, connecting all those cables and stuff, the Mac Mini does not have a definitive future right now. It will probably be EOL (end of line) obsoleted by end of this year, IMO.
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post #4 of 38
2/10/08 at 6:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post

It is a classic. However with Apple moving more and more idiot-proof, connecting all those cables and stuff, the Mac Mini does not have a definitive future right now. It will probably be EOL (end of line) obsoleted by end of this year, IMO.

I think Apple might discontinue it, but I think it's a premature move.
I hope they (Apple) realize that it's not a spot below the iMac that makes most users unhappy with the choices. It's something between the iMac, and Mac Pro that has a real Video card, a real Desktop CPU, and at least one extra slot that seems to be what more people ask for rather than an iMac, or a mini.
At that point I think given the list of choices, including the mini, more users would be able to zero in on the exact Mac they are looking for. At that point I think mini sales could possibly increase.
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post #5 of 38
2/10/08 at 9:10am
I think they'd do well to add a higher end model, priced around $1299, that's slightly larger to accommodate faster components. Keep it spec-for-spec on par with the $1799 iMac, only without the monitor/iSight/keyboard/mouse. Let it be a headless iMac instead of a headless MacBook. The thing could stand to be twice as big considering you're not lugging it around; it just sits on the desk. Heck, they could replace the entry-level model with a larger version as well, making the Mac Mini family a $599 model and a $1299 model, with the ability to BTO anywhere in between and beyond. Let it be the desktop for the otherwise-Dell buyers.
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post #6 of 38
2/10/08 at 11:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cory Bauer View Post

I think they'd do well to add a higher end model, priced around $1299, that's slightly larger to accommodate faster components. Keep it spec-for-spec on par with the $1799 iMac, only without the monitor/iSight/keyboard/mouse. Let it be a headless iMac instead of a headless MacBook. The thing could stand to be twice as big considering you're not lugging it around; it just sits on the desk. Heck, they could replace the entry-level model with a larger version as well, making the Mac Mini family a $599 model and a $1299 model, with the ability to BTO anywhere in between and beyond. Let it be the desktop for the otherwise-Dell buyers.

I don't know. I think the price and feature list is right with the mac mini. Making the mini priced over $1000 would be a disaster, nobody would buy it. I think its in the right spot actually, just needs a revision because its been around for 3 years without much change.

Maybe a better graphics card and a small slot for expansion, thats pretty much it. The rest would just be performance upgrades. Honesty though, the 2 ghz Core 2 Duo in it now isn't a slowpoke, ram and hdd you can upgrade yourself. That leaves just revising the aesthetics, making a smaller power brick (like AppleTV), perhaps bumping performance, maybe adding an expansion slot. Otherwise its a great mac, any upgrades you can DIY (ram, hdd).

I would have myself bought a mini if i didn't need a new screen. Instead I got the iMac. I will be buying mac minis for the office however.

edit: Found this, looks interesting.
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post #7 of 38
2/10/08 at 1:28pm
The mini is dead. The mini is dead. The mini is dead. The mini is dead.

If you want to connect to your TV, get an Apple TV. If you want a small Mac, get a MacBook. If you want a desktop, get an iMac. If you want a cheap computer, get a P.C.

This is what I suspect Apple is thinking.

The profit-margins on the mini are very small, iMacs are becoming cheaper all the time, Apple TV was created to connect to your TV, the mini is a bit too niche for Apple. I wouldn't be surprised if the mini just faded away.

Oh and by the way Steve, the Apple TV needs a DVD slot, and badly.

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post #8 of 38
2/10/08 at 2:20pm
During the last few years Steve mentioned several times that the world is replacing desktops with notebooks. It seems that he believed that in 5 years 90 percent of the non-server computers will be portable. He even said he is proud Apple is the first company which sells more notebooks. I don't remember when he said this but at that time the main reason was that Apple had no competitive offers in desktops IMO.

The last 2 quarters the reality seems to suggest otherwise! Today, despite the extremely limited product range and lack of an option in the most popular minitower segment, Apple sells more desktops than notebooks! I doubt this was not noticed and Apple will not do anything. They introduced 2-button mouse after all
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post #9 of 38
2/10/08 at 2:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post

It is a classic. However with Apple moving more and more idiot-proof, connecting all those cables and stuff, the Mac Mini does not have a definitive future right now. It will probably be EOL (end of line) obsoleted by end of this year, IMO.

I can see the mac mini and AppleTV lines merging. The mini is too expensive; it's a very limited market that can look at a mac mini and an iMac and choose the mini.
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post #10 of 38
2/10/08 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdotdubz View Post

I don't know. I think the price and feature list is right with the mac mini. Making the mini priced over $1000 would be a disaster, nobody would buy it. I think its in the right spot actually, just needs a revision because its been around for 3 years without much change.

Maybe a better graphics card and a small slot for expansion, thats pretty much it. The rest would just be performance upgrades. Honesty though, the 2 ghz Core 2 Duo in it now isn't a slowpoke, ram and hdd you can upgrade yourself. That leaves just revising the aesthetics, making a smaller power brick (like AppleTV), perhaps bumping performance, maybe adding an expansion slot. Otherwise its a great mac, any upgrades you can DIY (ram, hdd).

I would have myself bought a mini if i didn't need a new screen. Instead I got the iMac. I will be buying mac minis for the office however.

edit: Found this, looks interesting.

Well the Mac Mini isnt that popular and should be EOL and price drop the iMac and maybe the Mac Pro
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post #11 of 38
2/10/08 at 4:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland View Post

... The profit-margins on the mini are very small...

They WERE small when it was introduced... but the cost of those components has dropped since then (aside from it's processor it's not new tech stuff.... and even it's processor is about to become lower tier). I would think that at 599... and especially at 799 the profit margins are rather impressive these days!

Just part of the reason I'm putting off buying one until the last minute... I keep hoping they'll update it with 802.11n and GMA x3100 !
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post #12 of 38
2/10/08 at 5:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdotdubz View Post

edit: Found this, looks interesting.
<image>

I like the idea. Thought he ports should be on the back and it would need to taper like the MBA to be comfortable to use. Even if it was the thick item photoshopped, it would still be very expensive for a relatively low amount of processing powr, RAM, VCG, storage capacity. And people still would need a monitor, which makes the iMac a much better fit as the back of an LCD has plenty of unused space for the internals.
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post #13 of 38
2/10/08 at 5:57pm
Mac Mini is going nowhere, people have been waiting for it to be dropped from even Appleinsider wrote that it would be dropped, it ain't going nowhere.
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post #14 of 38
2/10/08 at 7:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adjei View Post

Mac Mini is going nowhere, people have been waiting for it to be dropped from even Appleinsider wrote that it would be dropped, it ain't going nowhere.

Nah, mac mini is here to stay. Its pretty popular. The only reason apple would drop it is to replace it with a better, improved model like a Mac Nano!
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post #15 of 38
2/11/08 at 6:19pm
MacMini popular? I hardly hear people talking bout MacMini since it was released due to it still being expensive compared to its competitor with better hardwares.

Nowadays people accepted Apple pricing and are willing to buy a iMac or MB. MacMini would only appeal if they make its hardware spec a hybrid between MacPro and iMac.
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post #16 of 38
2/11/08 at 6:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland View Post

...the mini is a bit too niche for Apple...

Really? So what in the hell do you call the Macbook Air?
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post #17 of 38
2/11/08 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdotdubz View Post


edit: Found this, looks interesting.

I think this is brilliant! I don't know if Apple would ever actually do anything like this, but I would buy one in a heartbeat!



opn
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post #18 of 38
2/11/08 at 10:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by opnsource View Post

I think this is brilliant! I don't know if Apple would ever actually do anything like this, but I would buy one in a heartbeat!



opn

Really? How would you use it? That computer has no video out capabilities: two usb, one firewire, one ethernet, and a security plug.

Frankly, that design was done with the Commodore 64, and as much as my fondness for my Vic-20 remains, I can't imagine anyone buying that monstrosity...
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post #19 of 38
2/11/08 at 10:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by opnsource View Post

Really? So what in the hell do you call the Macbook Air?

I knew someone would mention that. Yes the Air is niche, but it has much bigger profit margins, so it can afford to be.

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post #20 of 38
2/12/08 at 6:46am
EVERYTHING Apple does is "niche". And that's not a bad thing.
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post #21 of 38
2/12/08 at 6:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post

EVERYTHING Apple does is "niche". And that's not a bad thing.

Five words (including these): iPod
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post #22 of 38
2/12/08 at 6:56am
My local Apple store still has the minis on display, though everything was moved around to make room for the MBA which is now front an center. On Sunday I saw two minis being sold, both with the EyeTV thing from Elgato (one guy even had the memory bumped to 2 GB at the store, which is what caught my attention). Obviously someone must be buying these things.

If you want to gauge demand, look to see how long they last on the refurb online store, the minis go instantly...

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post #23 of 38
2/12/08 at 9:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland View Post

I knew someone would mention that. Yes the Air is niche, but it has much bigger profit margins, so it can afford to be.

The mini actually has very large margins.
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post #24 of 38
2/12/08 at 9:43am
Those high margins are only relevant if there are sales...which I suspect aren't there. If AppleTV "take 2" is a hit, the mini is deader.
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post #25 of 38
2/12/08 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland View Post

The profit-margins on the mini are very small.

Really? I haven't noticed any really significant price drops. I have noticed that its a pretty old design using pretty old parts. I suspect Merom got pooped in because Yonahs started getting more expensive than the Meroms at the volumes Apple was buying at.

So where the hell does this "The profit-margins on the mini are very small" BS come from? Has Apple mentioned that the profit on the mini was less than 25%? I'm thinking no.
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post #26 of 38
2/12/08 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordy View Post

Those high margins are only relevant if there are sales...which I suspect aren't there. If AppleTV "take 2" is a hit, the mini is deader.

While the mini is more expensive than the iMac if you need keyboard, mouse and monitor it is still cheaper if you already own those things (assuming you want a superdrive).

The AppleTV doesn't fill that role. Nor does the MacBook at $500 more.
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post #27 of 38
2/12/08 at 1:50pm
To many the Mac Mini is the perfect home theatre. Alot of people will choose it over an Apple TV, as at least with the Mac Mini you get computer, which can do more than an Apple TV. I think Apple's keeping it around for a couple of years yet, but just not putting it in the spotlight. Apple, after all, doesn't make it's money off the low-end Macs.
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post #28 of 38
2/12/08 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordy View Post

Those high margins are only relevant if there are sales...which I suspect aren't there. If AppleTV "take 2" is a hit, the mini is deader.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leonard View Post

To many the Mac Mini is the perfect home theatre. Alot of people will choose it over an Apple TV, as at least with the Mac Mini you get computer, which can do more than an Apple TV. I think Apple's keeping it around for a couple of years yet, but just not putting it in the spotlight. Apple, after all, doesn't make it's money off the low-end Macs.

Which is why I think it's likely we'll see some blending between the AppleTV and MacMini lines. I also want to see an new enclosure. The Air is here, and the message is that rectangular blocks are out.
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post #29 of 38
2/14/08 at 2:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Splinemodel View Post

Which is why I think it's likely we'll see some blending between the AppleTV and MacMini lines. I also want to see an new enclosure. The Air is here, and the message is that rectangular blocks are out.

A new enclosure is looooooong overdue. I think the Mac Mini is the oldest active design in the entire Mac lineup! Perhaps you can argue the Mac Pro is older, because that case has been around since the G5! Remember those days?!?

According to the design language used on the iPods and the Air, thin products with aluminum cases and curved edges is in. Aluminum is being used in all products now, and its great becuase not only is it recyclable, it looks great and feels cool to the touch!
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post #30 of 38
2/17/08 at 2:19pm
Well I went to the Apple store the other day and noticed that the trackpads on the MacBook and MacBook Pro look tottlay look diferent and I tried them and they were muiltitouch!
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post #31 of 38
2/17/08 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacBookAir77 View Post

Well I went to the Apple store the other day and noticed that the trackpads on the MacBook and MacBook Pro look tottlay look diferent and I tried them and they were muiltitouch!

Look different to other MBs and MBPs or look different to PBs and iBooks? All Intel based Mac notebooks have dual-touch trackpads. They can sense one or two points on the trackpad. This is a much simpler version of the new multi-touch trackpads found on the MBA. The MBA can sense when your palm is on the track pad and thus ignore it, while the other notebooks can't. They can also understand 3 or more points on the trackpad and thus perform complex actions, the other notebooks currently can't.
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post #32 of 38
2/17/08 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicham View Post

Really? How would you use it? That computer has no video out capabilities: two usb, one firewire, one ethernet, and a security plug.

Actually, that fits Apple's 'less is more" philosophy. Video can now be provided over USB
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post #33 of 38
2/17/08 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

... All Intel based Mac notebooks have dual-touch trackpads...

So does my G4 pBook.
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post #34 of 38
2/17/08 at 6:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post

So does my G4 pBook.

As did mine with the appropriate 3rd party driver, but I didn't feel it was necessary to express that nor do I think that a similar 3rd party driver was used to give current MB/MBPs a multi-touch trackpad in the Apple Stores.
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post #35 of 38
2/18/08 at 5:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicham View Post

Really? How would you use it? That computer has no video out capabilities: two usb, one firewire, one ethernet, and a security plug.

Frankly, that design was done with the Commodore 64, and as much as my fondness for my Vic-20 remains, I can't imagine anyone buying that monstrosity...

First and foremost, the person who did this MOCKUP did it as a concept, ya moron!
Second, you are making the ignorant assumption that the video out for this MOCKUP would be in the same place as it is on the Macbook or the Macbook Pro. The artist never showed us the front side of the machine, and there could very well be video out there!
Besides the fact that it is concept art.
IT IS A MOCKUP!
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post #36 of 38
2/18/08 at 11:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by opnsource View Post

First and foremost, the person who did this MOCKUP did it as a concept, ya moron!
Second, you are making the ignorant assumption that the video out for this MOCKUP would be in the same place as it is on the Macbook or the Macbook Pro. The artist never showed us the front side of the machine, and there could very well be video out there!
Besides the fact that it is concept art.
IT IS A MOCKUP!

classic
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post #37 of 38
2/18/08 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

As did mine with the appropriate 3rd party driver, but I didn't feel it was necessary to express that nor do I think that a similar 3rd party driver was used to give current MB/MBPs a multi-touch trackpad in the Apple Stores.

NOT with a 3rd party driver. The later G4 pBooks had trackpads that could sense two-finger input straight out of the box.
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post #38 of 38
2/18/08 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post

NOT with a 3rd party driver. The later G4 pBooks had trackpads that could sense two-finger input straight out of the box.

Ah, I didn't know that. I had a 1GHz 12" G4 PB.
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