Apple Releases Mac Mini

cranesan writes "The rumors of Apple releasing a small PC are confirmed. The Mac mini can be found at Apple's website. As expected, the box uses a G4 processor. You can order one today; estimate 3-4 weeks shipping date. Base unit starts at $499."

Comments

Re:Headless Alternative for Less

[Tony Hoyle]

That's without a DVD-ROM or any Software except XP Home (the Mac comes with the full version of OSX not a cut down version).

So you've got to add:
XP-Pro (at least)
DVD-ROM
Quicken 2005
Office
Video editing suite

*then* start comparing prices.

Re:Headless Alternative for Less

[CommandNotFound]

This $500 Apple is still insanely overpriced.

True, but when my retired mother wants a new PC and also wants to get one of those digital cameras everyone is buying, guess which one I'm going to suggest? I'm going to suggest the $600 box that won't require me to sit in front of it removing spyware and viruses for an hour every time I visit (which I do now for my in-laws, which has decreased since I put Mozilla on that machine). I look at the mac as a Linux for the rest of them, and if it costs a few hundred more up front, so be it.

Reasoning for the mini

[magicsloth]

I love all the posts saying "This isn't a good deal." or "Dell did this last year." etc. That is missing the point. I think the Mac mini is kinda a crappy machine for a few reasons, but I also think that it will sell like hotcakes to the iPod users and people new to digital photography/video that Apple is targeting. From the website http://www.apple.com/macmini/ it seems obvious to me that they are targeting PC users who just got an iPod from a few things.

1) From the first paragraph on that page:

And yes, Mac mini will take advantage of your two-button USB mouse with scroll-wheel and your favorite USB keyboard. Just plug them in.

2) From the second paragraph:

Manage your music for iPod or organize and share your digital pictures with ease.

For the average /. reader these things probably aren't that nice (especially since they probably won't be easily user serviceable). To your 50 year old father who wants to edit some pictures he takes with iPhoto and listen to Jimmy Buffet on his iPod (maybe this is just my dad) this might be a nice machine.

Re:Headless Alternative for Less

[ParVox]

I am a VAR in the PC world and see this kind Dell pricing every day. The Mac mini is the first Apple product that I personally have ever wanted as it is in the same pricing arena at the PC products. This is about getting away from the 'Windows" world and it's viruses, and its spyware, and it's glitches. This Mac may do that. The PC pricing is well and good but don't forget to add a modem, antivirus etc. Otherwise you are toast. I make a good living fixing Microsoft issues that don't have to be there. The intended customers for that PC are home users. The kind of users that don't understand viruses and spyware. The new Mac may be the perfect computer for the home users that aren't geeks. If Apple is trying to increase market share this is a great way to do it. I put my money were my mouth is. My MiniMac (pinkie in the air) ships the 22th. Time to learn if this is the Mac to recommend to the question, "What home computer should I buy?"

Re:Headless Alternative for Less

[DrWhizBang]

This $500 Apple is still insanely overpriced.

GotApex? has a "headless Dell" on their site for $449.

This is not really a reasonable comparison. This Mac Mini is a super small form-factor PC. Try this:
Mini-itx system with Morex case

After I added the optical drive, upgraded to the 1200 processor/motherboard, upgraded hard disk to match apple, etc, I came in around $730. And that's for a PC with shared video (unichrome) that is still over twice the size of the Mac Mini, running WinXP, and looking about as attractive as a big warm turd. The Cappuccinopc web site has some PCs that may be a closer comparison, but they are also more expensive and include Intel Extreme video.

If someone out there made a 6.5 by 6.5 by 2 PC with a real video card and slot-loading dvd drive for 499, I would be all over it.