The day Apple computers price their hardware to be competitive then I will believe that they COULD have a deal. I purchased a mini a couple of years ago and the poor quality of the cheap ass hardware they put into it is abysmal. Let's take a look shall we?
512 (2 x 256) MB memory upgrade = $100 | actual cost of memory (2 x 256) online (not apple) $5
DVD-ROM $14
Micro motherboard (proprietary) We'll go conservative since there is no reseller of this product $100
Processor (Dual core Intel) (can't remember anymore what that cost) so we'll say $100
60GB 2.5" 5400 Hard drive $100 (which failed after 1 year & 1 month)
$319 total (if I could get all of the components)
Paid.... over $800
This is the definition of rip-off
Wait a second, you forgot a few things:
case
software (including the share of development costs) including OS X, iLife, etc.
cables
power supply
packaging
marketing
I'd estimate the cost was closer to $400-$500 (assuming you paid $599 for the device; Apple wasn't making quite the profit margins on the Minis as they were on other machines).
Look at the bright side, at least *you* got to select the keyboard and display :-)
I love the Mac Mini. The problem is when you come to peripherals--or the lack thereof. The cheapest Apple keyboard is $50 (wired). The cheapest Apple mouse is $50 (also wired). And the only Apple-branded display is $1000. So, conservatively, an all-Apple-branded solution based on the Mini is going to cost you $1,800.
So, if I want any kind of deal I can afford, I end up using the Mac Mini with some other brand of 22" monitor for $200 and another brand of mouse and keyboard for $30 combined. Sure, it works great. But is this really how Apple wants us to use the Mini?
Could they possibly come up with a 22" display and bundle a mouse and keyboard so that the whole bundle costs about the same as a 21.5" iMac? The components and specs are all the same otherwise, and it shouldn't cost that much extra (if anything at all) to put them in a smaller case. It seems only reasonable to me.
[QUOTE=alpha10711;1839377]I love the Mac Mini. The problem is when you come to peripherals--or the lack thereof. The cheapest Apple keyboard is $50 (wired). The cheapest Apple mouse is $50 (also wired).
<And the only Apple-branded display is $1000. So, conservatively, an all-Apple-branded solution based on the Mini is going to cost you $1,800. >
i have a mac mini and have used a 24" viewsonic and a 27" samsung monitor for many years with no problem. each cost much less than 1/2 of the $1000 you quote for the apple display.
same goes for memory. just as good as apple memory if you buy from a legit seller. far far cheaper.
I see that MacMall is now offering the MacMini Server at a $50 discount, rather than $100 for the regular MacMini. Far from proportional, I would say (or it would be $125 rather than $50).
Considering that MacOSX Server will be included in Lion, there won't be a further price premium for MacOSX Server over regular MacOSX.
Therefore the MacMini Server's price may come down.
(Expect the MacMini Server to come with a 10 user limit at the lower price, though. Price as before for the MacMini Server unlimited, or just slightly lower.)
Comments
The day Apple computers price their hardware to be competitive then I will believe that they COULD have a deal. I purchased a mini a couple of years ago and the poor quality of the cheap ass hardware they put into it is abysmal. Let's take a look shall we?
512 (2 x 256) MB memory upgrade = $100 | actual cost of memory (2 x 256) online (not apple) $5
DVD-ROM $14
Micro motherboard (proprietary) We'll go conservative since there is no reseller of this product $100
Processor (Dual core Intel) (can't remember anymore what that cost) so we'll say $100
60GB 2.5" 5400 Hard drive $100 (which failed after 1 year & 1 month)
$319 total (if I could get all of the components)
Paid.... over $800
This is the definition of rip-off
Wait a second, you forgot a few things:
case
software (including the share of development costs) including OS X, iLife, etc.
cables
power supply
packaging
marketing
I'd estimate the cost was closer to $400-$500 (assuming you paid $599 for the device; Apple wasn't making quite the profit margins on the Minis as they were on other machines).
Look at the bright side, at least *you* got to select the keyboard and display :-)
This was very timely - I'd been tasked to buy a Mac Mini for my fathers birthday in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for posting this AI. You've just saved me a hundred bucks!
Make sure you don't put 10.6.7 on it. I have one with 8gig of ram and with the new update it acts like there's 128Mb of ram...
I'm very, very disapointed. It was very, very quick before the new 'update'.
So, if I want any kind of deal I can afford, I end up using the Mac Mini with some other brand of 22" monitor for $200 and another brand of mouse and keyboard for $30 combined. Sure, it works great. But is this really how Apple wants us to use the Mini?
Could they possibly come up with a 22" display and bundle a mouse and keyboard so that the whole bundle costs about the same as a 21.5" iMac? The components and specs are all the same otherwise, and it shouldn't cost that much extra (if anything at all) to put them in a smaller case. It seems only reasonable to me.
<And the only Apple-branded display is $1000. So, conservatively, an all-Apple-branded solution based on the Mini is going to cost you $1,800. >
i have a mac mini and have used a 24" viewsonic and a 27" samsung monitor for many years with no problem. each cost much less than 1/2 of the $1000 you quote for the apple display.
same goes for memory. just as good as apple memory if you buy from a legit seller. far far cheaper.
I see that MacMall is now offering the MacMini Server at a $50 discount, rather than $100 for the regular MacMini. Far from proportional, I would say (or it would be $125 rather than $50).
Considering that MacOSX Server will be included in Lion, there won't be a further price premium for MacOSX Server over regular MacOSX.
Therefore the MacMini Server's price may come down.
(Expect the MacMini Server to come with a 10 user limit at the lower price, though. Price as before for the MacMini Server unlimited, or just slightly lower.)