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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."

6 of 1,084 comments (clear)

  1. Re:eh? by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 4, Informative
    You can plug a Microsoft Intellimouse with scroll wheel into a Mac OS X machine, and it works perfectly. What people get tired of is the implication that the Mac OS is LIMITED to one button. Multibutton support is built into Mac OS X, and before that you could buy any mouse with umpteen buttons, install the driver, and click away happily. Apple simply provides a one button mouse, but you can use multibutton mice no problem.

    Now I agree with the argument that maybe Apple should offer a better mouse out of the box, but, well, mice are pretty cheap.

    --
    --- Ban humanity.
  2. Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by sgant · · Score: 5, Informative

    You won't void your warranty by upgrading your RAM by yourself.

    I'm not an Apple guy and even I notice many people like you who enjoy spreading this FUD around. I mean, come on. Hack about it's power or low system specs or anything else, but don't spread FUD like this.

    It's more effective to go after real issues and not create un-true ones.

    From another site:

    I spoke with the product manager for the Mac mini today to clarify a few facts.

    1. Yes, it will boot headless, meaning with no display or video device connected, enabling you to have what I like to call an iServe.
    2. While it is strongly recommended that you only have an Apple Authorized Service Provider crack it open and install RAM, hard drives, Airport and Bluetooth, it will NOT void your warranty if you do it yourself. As is standard operating procedure, however, anything you break while attempting anything on your own is not Apple's responsibility and will not be covered under warranty. I think that is pretty much common sense.
    3. Airport and Bluetooth can, in fact, be added after purchase. AirPort Extreme card and Bluetooth module attach to the Mac mini's motherboard via a special connector and will be sold together as a kit for $129.mac mini insides
    4. RAM is the most accessible upgrade once you get the case off. That much is clear from the picture.
    5. All upgrades other than RAM are not as accessible, but accessing them won't void your warranty, with list item #2 above in mind.

    --

    "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
  3. Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by Cecil · · Score: 4, Informative

    So the question is, why hasn't anyone invented this yet?

    Psst. They have.

    Flat panel with built in computer... check.
    Wireless capability... check.
    Plays music, connects to Internet... check.
    Bluetooth Wireless keyboard... check.

    --
    Random and weird software I've written.
  4. Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by Cylix · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not true...

    Let's take Dell for example.

    I had a friend worried about performing a RAM upgrade so he decided to call Dell and ask. Turns out, his warranty is only void if he upgrades the motherboard or processor. (I'm asumming the case would have to stay the same too).

    When it comes to PC's... most companies understand the case will get cracked. In fact, I usually recommend dusting every six months... do that with the case sealed.

    --
    "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
  5. Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by berj · · Score: 4, Informative
    No, you don't. Or at least that was the predominant interpretation last time I looked. Got any reference to back that up?

    Umm.. how about straight from the horse's mouth (er.. keyboard):

    http://www.apple.com/ca/macmini/specs.html

    Look at footnote number 5 down at the bottom:

    Memory upgrade must be performed by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

  6. Re:Form factor had nothing to do with it for me... by jht · · Score: 4, Informative

    When they say that, they are saying that if you buy an Apple memory upgrade that's the only way they will sell it to you. However, if you feel like installing your own memory in the system, you will not void your warranty by installing the third-party memory provided you don't break the mini when doing so .

    That's an important distinction. Once you've installed the memory, that memory is not covered by the Apple warranty, and if you break the mini while installing it you can void the mini's warranty. But let's say you install your own 1GB DIMM and all goes swimmingly well. Then, a couple of months later, the hard drive dies.

    That hard drive repair is covered by Apple's warranty. They have to - there's a handy law that says so. But if the DIMM you installed is causing the Mac to crash, well, you better hope your RAM provider gave you a warranty for the DIMM - because Apple won't replace it (duh).

    --
    -- Josh Turiel
    "2. Do not eat iPod Shuffle."