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Was the Mac mini Intended to Have an iPod dock?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the sure-why-not dept.

RMH101 writes "Was the Mac mini originally designed to have an integrated iPod dock? The Register has an article that appears to suggest it was. This opens up the option of homebrewing your own dock into a mini for yourself..."

2 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Y'know, its still about $150 too much... by owlstead · · Score: 0, Troll

    Well, you can get a perfectly fine PC from Dell including screen for 578 euro's, the same amount that the Mini goes for if you count in the additional memory.

    If you order online you get 512 MB of RAM, 80GB hard drive, DVD drive, CD-RW drive , 15" flat panel, mouse, keyboard and of course a 2.6 GHz Celery processor. This is currently including transport costs.

    So, yes, the Apple is nicely priced , but you still need to see the benefits of the style, the os and the silence. Otherwise, you can get much better deals.

  2. Re:Y'know, its still about $150 too much... by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 1, Troll

    "Mmmkay. The Mini comes with about $200 in software which makes the hardware about $300."

    Bullshit. If that were the case, then you could call the $400 emachines PC "$200" because it includes Windows XP and Microsoft Works, a "$200" value.

    If you buy a Pizza and it comes with a free DVD, the Pizza doesn't cost less. It's still the same price.

    The Mini comes with iPhoto (similar to Picasa on PC, which is free), iDVD (similar to Sonic or other software included with most PCs), iTunes (free for PC), and iMovie (similar to Windows Movie Maker, also free).

    The only app included with the Mini that's not included with most PCs is GarageBand. You can argue that the Mac apps are better, but claiming that their inclusion effectively lowers the price of the Mini is pure crap. Any way you slice it, it's still a $500 computer. And you can get a computer, monitor, keyboard / mouse, and printer for $400. It may not have the same GPU, or be as compact as the Mini, but it does the job for 95% of people who simply want to surf the net, read email, play some tunes, look at / send photos, and type documents.

    "Oh, and go look on ebay sometime for used computers. Compare the Macs to PCs, and then tell me if the initial purchase price was worth the extra couple of bucks."

    The resale value of both is pretty abysmal. 700MHz iBooks go for around $600; similar-age PC notebooks go for around $500. It's not a huge difrerence.

    BestBuy.com is selling an eMachines system - computer, monitor, and printer - for $330 after rebates:

    Celeron D 2.66GHz
    256M PC2700 DDR
    60GB 7200rpm HDD
    CD-RW
    Mouse, keyboard & speakers
    17" Flat CRT
    10/100 Ethernet

    Compare the Mini:

    PowerPC G4 1.25GHz
    DVD/CD-RW combo drive
    256M PC2700 DDR
    40GB 5200rpm notebook HDD
    10/100 Ethernet

    Compared to the eMachines, the Mini:

    - Has a better GPU
    - Has a DVD drive
    - Has FireWire
    - Has iPhoto / iDVD / iMovie / GarageBand instead of Picasa (free) / Sonic MyDVD / Windows Movie Maker (possible advantage depending on use, though you're not going to be burning DVDs on either)

    Compared to the Mini, the eMachines:

    - Is $170 cheaper, not including keyboard/mouse/monitor/speakers
    - Has a faster CPU
    - Has a faster and larger HDD
    - Has more USB ports
    - Is more expandable