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Will Mac mini Lead the Charge to Smaller Desktops?

Posted by michael on from the half-a-league-onward dept.

elecngnr writes "Maybe size doesn't matter. ZDNet has a story about how the Mac mini may shift consumers away from the larger tower style desktops to smaller ones. Other computer makers, such as HP, have so far been unsuccessful in marketing small computers to consumers. However, Apple does have a history of leading the charge in paradigm shifts in certain aspects of consumer products (e.g. GUI's, color changes, the iPod, and the list goes on). It is also important to recognize that they have been wrong at times too (e.g. the Cube, the Newton, and the one button mouse). Time will tell which list the Mini will belong to."

3 of 1,084 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by garcia · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Firewire and USB2 give the expandability of peripherals, and they're bundling video and sound chipsets that don't suck. RAM and internal drives can be upgraded (although the optical drive would be a trick I'm sure), so that leaves the cpu and mainboard. Non-geeks aren't going to attempt to upgrade those.

    Firewire and USB external DVD writers are not supported natively by iDVD and you have to use a third party "patch" to get it to work. Doesn't seem very useful there.

    As far as RAM and internal drives being upgraded... Yeah, you can, but you void your warranty and it takes two putty knives and some good luck to open the case. Not exactly what I would call easy.

  2. Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by garcia · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    His point being, Apple have supposedly specifically said that opening the case will not void the warranty. He was asking for a reliable source to confirm this rumour.

    I want a valid source (in writing -- not quoted from some phone conversation with an Apple rep) that says that no matter what you do when you open that case (including breaking the clips) you won't void the warranty.

    Why would you create something that is so difficult to open?

  3. (One-button mouse = failure) = Bullshit by phillymjs · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Anyone who thinks the one-button mouse is a failure has clearly never tried to talk a n00b friend or relative who bought a cheap Windows PC through troubleshooting it over the phone.

    The conversation usually goes something like this:

    You: "Okay, now right-click on 'My Computer' and choose 'Properties' from the menu that pops up."
    Them: "I clicked, but it just made the little picture go dark. I don't see any menu."
    You: "No, no, *right* click on 'My Computer.'"
    Them: "What do you mean, 'right-click'?"
    You: "Right-click, as in 'click the right mouse button.'"
    Them (completely astonished): "You mean it does something else???"

    ~Philly