Closing the book on Apple's Mac mini

[Kevin Callahan]

On May 25, 2007, at 9:16 AM, Adam Bridge wrote:

> Wow - ONE report that the mini MAY be going away and there's panic in
> the streets. Geesh. To me the tea leaves don't look so cut and dried
> and I have to wonder if someone isn't trying to play the market in
> some way by manipulating news.
>
> I remember the screams for a small low-cost machine - the space the
> mini filled. It wasn't quite what people wanted because it wasn't easy
> to upgrade but it was an entry level Mac with a relatively low price
> point.
>
> Is that still needed or desireable? Where in the product lineup would
> a mini-like new machine need to fit? It's REALLY nice to have such a
> small form-factor. It can run headless and be administered remotely -
> which is quite attractive to a certain crowd. But is it the crowd that
> Apple wants/needs to sell to?

I have a 23 inch Cinema display and an Optoma projector -
I'd like a Mac mini connected to these devices and serving as a  
dedicated media center in my studio


>
> Would a revised form-factor give them more flexibility? At what level
> of performance will a new mini rob sales from the Mac Pro?

I'd like a Mac Pro as well - for video and audio recording + editing

> I've always
> looked at the Mini as laptop without a display with all the tradeoffs
> that that implies.

I'm actually considering a laptop, but I would prefer a better  
graphics card than what we get in the MBs


>
> Geesh - rambling - I'll go out and hack weeds a while - but seriously
> does Apple have an eco-system need that needs a mini that makes
> economic sense?

has the mini been a failure ?  I've not seen reports

I know a lot of folks who've bought the mini as their first Mac -

they already had a monitor and didn't want to spend the extra bucks  
buying a laptop -- but maybe sales are generally weak ?


there are existing mac users who have bought minis and who want new  
minis -
we just want better ones than what you can buy today

how many buyers ?

> Would an "improved" form-factor help them (return of
> The Cube...bwaa haaa haaa)? Or maybe the original idea behind the mini
> didn't match their sales projections.

very possible

had they updated the mini last Fall (or since then), I'd have bought one
(I know others who would have as well)

but who knows -- maybe the projected numbers are not that strong ..
or maybe Apple is building a new box that just isn't ready yet

>
> But in the meantime one rumor site shouldn't instill sugh angst. Good
> discussion though. Thanks.

I think people are just expressing an interest in keeping the mini  
line going -- and improving it (unless Apple has something better  
coming out that will fill the niche)

that said, I'm still toying with an iMac or MB (if/when they improve  
the graphics) and making it my media center

I'm waiting for announcements around WWDC before making any decisions.

K