Will Mac mini Lead the Charge to Smaller Desktops?

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."

Comments

Apple wasn't wrong with the Newton

[quigonn]

They were just too early and the right hardware wasn't available yet (i.e. the 20 MHz or so ARM CPU they used was too slow), but the user experience was superb, e.g. the way of deleting text (simply cross it out) or setting the current time (draw the watch hands on a clock).

Apple's mouse

[TraxNet]

I'm quite happy by using Apple's one button mouse :P

TraxNet
http://traxnet.asidesoft.com/

May I direct you to

[TheConfusedOne]

Hush MCE Fanless Media Center Edition 2005

Definitely a case designed for media center applications. Too bad about the price I guess ($2,600).

As for the SFF PC's aside from the Shuttle ones the concentration was on the tiny boxes for corporate use.

Here's a mini-ITX system that comes pretty close. info