Will Mac mini Lead the Charge to Smaller Desktops?

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Will Mac mini Lead the Charge to Smaller Desktops?

Posted by michael on Thursday January 27, 2005 @03:46AM 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."

20 of 1,084 comments (clear)

No by Anonymous Coward · 2005-01-27 03:48 · Score: 3, Funny

People like big things. Big TVs, big SUVs, big houses... big computers. Size still matters. I bet if they started selling room-size computers again, people would be buying them.
1. Re:No by Leo+McGarry · 2005-01-27 04:37 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Unfortunately, technology has not yet allowed Apple to hook the 30" Cinema Display up to the Mac mini. So the possibility of combining the largest computer monitor in the world with the smallest Mac in the world is still just out of reach.
One button mouse flamage here by rjrjr · 2005-01-27 03:48 · Score: 4, Funny

Let's get this out of the way right now. Please make all your valuable n-button-mouse replies to this post.
1. Re:One button mouse flamage here by geoffspear · 2005-01-27 03:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I don't see how anyone can possibly operate a computer with only 3 buttons, 1 of which is a tiny clickable scroll wheel. My mouse has 18 buttons, and I couldn't possibly do without any of them.
  
  --
  Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
2. Re:One button mouse flamage here by Geoff-with-a-G · 2005-01-27 04:44 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I don't see why anyone needs more than one button. I don't even use a keyboard. The computer is in binary anyway, I just tap the data in with my one-button. It's a much simpler interface, really.
Re:One button mice... by Anonymous Coward · 2005-01-27 03:57 · Score: 3, Funny

God will you people PLEASE come up with something more original to pick at Apple with than the One Button Mouse. They obviously weren't THAT wrong about the one button mouse, they still use them. And they like it!

God, will you people PLEASE come up with something more original to pick at Microsoft with than the poor security implementation of Internet Explorer. They obviously weren't THAT wrong about the poor security implementation of Internet Explorer, they still use it. And they like it!
Re:HDD sizes by moonbender · 2005-01-27 04:04 · Score: 1, Funny

No, a lot of people don't do that, geeks rip their entire CD collection to their HD.

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Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
Re:The One Button Mistake by Anonymous Coward · 2005-01-27 04:27 · Score: 5, Funny

Every time I sit down at my Mac to work with Maya, the first thing I do is plug in a three-button mouse with scroll wheel

Maybe you should leave the three-button mouse plugged in. That way, you wouldn't have to keep plugging it in again every time you sit down.
Wow by delmoi · 2005-01-27 04:32 · Score: 2, Funny

Someone needs to just say it: Apple got it really really really right this time.

And I'm sure the first one to do it, too!

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ReadThe ReflectionEngine, a cyberpunk style n
Re:One button mice... by pclminion · 2005-01-27 04:46 · Score: 4, Funny

The one button mouse, or rather glidepoint, drives her nuts. Not the glidepoint itself (she loves that), but the single button that forces her to memorize somekey+mouseclick to do basic things the rest of us do with the right mouse button and, in the case of us Linux/*BSD folks, the middle mouse button.
Let me get this straight. She's unwilling/unable to memorize how to use one key, which is the same key on all Macs, in all applications, at all times? The key which has been used for this purpose since the beginning of Mac history?
Your girlfriend has a serious learning disability.
Re:Maybe by Anonymous Coward · 2005-01-27 05:01 · Score: 2, Funny

Dont you mean if the mini/micro-atx market didn't sell well, Mac woudln't of copied them?

Who the fuck is Mac?
Re:Mini Macs are a good thing... by HerculesMO · 2005-01-27 05:02 · Score: 3, Funny

Point taken... I'm not a dumb fucker though... I'm an arrogant one. Get it right!

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The price is always right if someone else is paying.
Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by Moofie · 2005-01-27 05:05 · Score: 2, Funny

"third party "patch" to get it to work"

You mean like the "drivers" you need to get your "hardware" to "work" on other operating systems? Wow. What ever are people going to do?

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Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by Moofie · 2005-01-27 05:17 · Score: 4, Funny

DAMMIT! STOP ruining people's RANTS with your FACTS!

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Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
Re:What is your point? by advocate_one · 2005-01-27 05:20 · Score: 2, Funny

just try using a single button mouse when you've only got one hand then... just try...

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Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
Rabid PC User Response by EaterOfDog · 2005-01-27 05:37 · Score: 2, Funny

Move along, nothing to see here! It's not upgradable! Apple is dying! The iPod costs too much! BTW, could we get OS X for the X86?

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Crushing my karma one post at a time.
Re:The One Button Mistake by David+Rolfe · 2005-01-27 05:39 · Score: 2, Funny

Holy shit Jesus I'm looking at one and I'm a lefty. Here's the news flash:

When you type with both hands, your right hand is over, typicically, "jkl;". This is like 3cm away from the modals. So -- IN THE REAL WORLD the ACTUAL layout of a keypad and navigation keys really aren't relevant. I can't believe you brought this up as your defense "oh there's a keypad on the right". Stfu, it's obvious I'm talking about the lower right of the typing area. Christ.

So, to be fair, I can see this would be an uncomfortable position for those rare typists -- that you are a member of? -- who touch-type with home keys: asdf 456+.

Wow. What a waste of breath, you troll. I've never been pushed to respond like this. Thanks.

--
Read Heinlein's 1953 Revolt in 2100, now more than ever.
Re:The One Button Mistake by Anonymous Coward · 2005-01-27 05:46 · Score: 2, Funny

What the fuck? The single-button mouse is a good idea because it's easy to switch with your own? wtf?
Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by Vollernurd · 2005-01-27 06:37 · Score: 3, Funny

Let's see...

"5) Do not eat Mac Mini."

Huh?

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Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by Anonymous Coward · 2005-01-27 10:59 · Score: 1, Funny

Contrary to popular belief carrying a Powerbook around does not make you smarter, more attractive or more creative.

There's a popular belief that carrying a Powerbook around would make me smarter, more attractive and more creative? Sweet!

Speaking as a pretentious little fuck, I could really use one of those, so people will believe I'm smarter, more attractive, and more creative. That would rock. Thanks for selling me on it. I'm off to the Apple store to buy my way into a life of fun, high-paying, creative jobs for smart people and lots of sex!