The Mac Mini is not "unopenable". It requires a putty knife with a beveled edge. Many PC cases require a screwdriver. Do we call those "unopenable" because it requires a fairly common tool? My Powerbook, on the other hand, requires a torx screwdriver to get at the HD. It was less than $2 at Sears. It wasn't easy to get at the HD, nor was it extremely difficult. But you don't hear many complaints about laptops being "unopenable".
Judging from the comments from Golias, and others, who have already received their Minis and opened them up, it's not difficult, just different than rotating some screws in a counterclockwise direction (Northern Hemisphere).
I've recently started to get into bolo ties, but I've been having trouble with finding quality plaques on line. You don't happen to have any links to places that will sell them online, do you? Most of what I've seen online is crap.
You'll actually see a performance gain if you keep your media clips on a separate drive from the system and application. There is a bonus if you have more than one machine, in that you can move the HD to whichever machine you want to work on.
However, that 32 MB of video ram should be more than adequate for tiger. Saying that 64 MB will be insufficient for tiger is either ignorant or trolling.
I'm just curious, but do you have a way to back up your music? Of course, if all your music is from ripping your CD collection, than the answer is obviously yes, the CDs are the "backup", and the question is moot.
You might have read where I posted this elsewhere, but hang on to that 256 MB stick. Put it into a static free bag, label the bag, put it somewhere safe, and remember where you put it.
If you ever need to troubleshoot, it will come in handy not only because it is known good RAM but because it's known good RAM on that machine. God forbid that the 512 MB stick ever go bad, or that Apple updates the Mac Mini firmware to a stricter spec, but if these ever happen, you'll be very glad you saved that stick.
On the other hand, if you sell it, you'll get what? $10? $20 at most?
You'd have to look it up, but floating around somewhere is a Steve Jobs interview where he talks about wanting to hire what he called A level people - the smartest people who were passionate about their work.
I think this translates into their target market as well. They want A level customers, people who care about receiving a quality product with quality service and are willing to pay for it. I don't think the Mac Mini changes this, it just opens it up to more A level people in terms of affordability.
I'm sure a lot of B level people (people who want quality and service, but have low limits on what they'll pay) will sneak in, but I also think that many of those will realize that they're really A level, that what Apple offers is worth the price.
C level people are only concerned about price, never about value. They'll always try and grind you down and their never happy with what you provide anyway. And they'll drop you in a second for a lower price, even if they're getting lower quality. I'm sure there are people who have their own businesses that know what I'm talking about. The smart and successful ones know how to cultivate A level clients while shedding the C level ones.
Yes, these are generalizations, and yes, obviously I'm an elitist. =)
Maybe I'll just pick up a Mini and transfer it's guts to the cube...
My first reaction was: but then you'll lose the ability to upgrade the CPU or the GPU, but then I realized, you could do this indefinitely. Every time you needed to upgrade, you could just pop in the guts of the latest mini rev.
Dude. Take a deep breath. It's just slashdot. It's just drinkypoo talking out of his ass, which is something slashdotters do from time to time, even a nice guy like drinkypoo.
But whether or not drinkypoo is a nice guy is beside the point. The point is, don't let the bullshit bother you too much. Get up and get a drink of water, pet your dog, stretch your legs. Don't make me worry about you. =)
I have not a single doubt that there are quite a few companies working on this right now. It's just a matter of designing the case to fit and finish.
In fact, I bet you'll be able to get an empty case any day now, and stick in whatever drive you want.
What would surprise me, at least slightly, is if Apple began manufacturing and selling such an accessory. They've been out of the external HD business for quite a while.
I think this is a circular argument, though... because Mac development houses won't port games that require insane amounts of horsepower.
Also, with certain exceptions, most Mac ports of games come much later than the windows release. So by the time we see any particular game on the Mac, chances are that the hardware has caught up.
Similar to a band releasing a demo, professionals in the movie industry (DPs, editors, directors, actors, etc.) have reels that they use for self marketing. It's practically required unless you're at the very top. A reel is in some ways equivalent to a resume (although often used in conjunction with a resume).
These reels used to be on VHS or sometimes 3/4 tape once upon a time. Now they're on DVD.
Initially, this will be embraced by those who want their reel to stand out. Eventually, everyone will use this, and those that don't will look less professional.
It is pretty fascinating how much heat a rumor like this generates, not just on slashdot, but across the web in general. And I don't think it can be completely ascribed to to fanatics (of which I am one). In general, I think people are more curious about what Apple will do next, though not necessarily specifically interested in when a G5 PB might be released. If this wasn't the case, then stories like these wouldn't have such legs, and major news outlets wouldn't be taking their cues from sites like Think Secret (in the case of the Mac Mini rumor).
Whatever else you might say about Apple, you must admit that their products and their brand have captured the public's imagination. They might have a small marketshare (however you want to define that) but they have a disproportionately huge mindshare.
It might be between 6k and 12k US$ with all the trimmings. High end pro video can get quite expensive to mere mortals. On the other hand, $12k for a video production company working on the high end is peanuts.
You probably already know what I'm talking about, Leo, but for the edification of others, take a look at this video capture card for only $2499!
It's quite possible that his company also purchased through a VAR, which can substantially increase the price up front, but can have many advantages down the line. The VAR might be bundling software, so the cost of the software might be reflected in the price range he gave. Have a look at this VAR turnkey system. I'm using Pro Max as an example, because I've been a customer in the past, and I think they're one of the better, if not the best, of the VARs in the pro video market and they've been doing it for a long time.
Slashdot Mirror
The Mac Mini is not "unopenable". It requires a putty knife with a beveled edge. Many PC cases require a screwdriver. Do we call those "unopenable" because it requires a fairly common tool? My Powerbook, on the other hand, requires a torx screwdriver to get at the HD. It was less than $2 at Sears. It wasn't easy to get at the HD, nor was it extremely difficult. But you don't hear many complaints about laptops being "unopenable".
Judging from the comments from Golias, and others, who have already received their Minis and opened them up, it's not difficult, just different than rotating some screws in a counterclockwise direction (Northern Hemisphere).
I've recently started to get into bolo ties, but I've been having trouble with finding quality plaques on line. You don't happen to have any links to places that will sell them online, do you? Most of what I've seen online is crap.
You'll actually see a performance gain if you keep your media clips on a separate drive from the system and application. There is a bonus if you have more than one machine, in that you can move the HD to whichever machine you want to work on.
It's not clear if they're going to make the BT/AE kits available to the general public or only to certified techs,etc.
The base set up doesn't have antennae for either BT or AE, so you do need a kit for the internal modules. You can't just plug in an AE card.
However, there are lots of USB solutions for both BT and for the equivalent of AE (802.11G), if you don't mind external devices/dongles.
If you didn't get BT or AE as a BTO, you should be able to order it and have it installed at an Applestore or at a reseller, if one is near you.
And despite what my husband thinks, I don't actually play WoW while cooking.
Heh.
Does he not play, or has he become jealous of you leveling up without him?
However, that 32 MB of video ram should be more than adequate for tiger. Saying that 64 MB will be insufficient for tiger is either ignorant or trolling.
I'm just curious, but do you have a way to back up your music? Of course, if all your music is from ripping your CD collection, than the answer is obviously yes, the CDs are the "backup", and the question is moot.
Weren't people loading linux onto audreys and doing this, too?
You might have read where I posted this elsewhere, but hang on to that 256 MB stick. Put it into a static free bag, label the bag, put it somewhere safe, and remember where you put it.
If you ever need to troubleshoot, it will come in handy not only because it is known good RAM but because it's known good RAM on that machine. God forbid that the 512 MB stick ever go bad, or that Apple updates the Mac Mini firmware to a stricter spec, but if these ever happen, you'll be very glad you saved that stick.
On the other hand, if you sell it, you'll get what? $10? $20 at most?
You'd have to look it up, but floating around somewhere is a Steve Jobs interview where he talks about wanting to hire what he called A level people - the smartest people who were passionate about their work.
I think this translates into their target market as well. They want A level customers, people who care about receiving a quality product with quality service and are willing to pay for it. I don't think the Mac Mini changes this, it just opens it up to more A level people in terms of affordability.
I'm sure a lot of B level people (people who want quality and service, but have low limits on what they'll pay) will sneak in, but I also think that many of those will realize that they're really A level, that what Apple offers is worth the price.
C level people are only concerned about price, never about value. They'll always try and grind you down and their never happy with what you provide anyway. And they'll drop you in a second for a lower price, even if they're getting lower quality. I'm sure there are people who have their own businesses that know what I'm talking about. The smart and successful ones know how to cultivate A level clients while shedding the C level ones.
Yes, these are generalizations, and yes, obviously I'm an elitist. =)
You might be right, but a less cynical option is that it is currently sitting in someone's in-box, and we'll see an updated list sooner or later.
Maybe I'll just pick up a Mini and transfer it's guts to the cube...
My first reaction was: but then you'll lose the ability to upgrade the CPU or the GPU, but then I realized, you could do this indefinitely. Every time you needed to upgrade, you could just pop in the guts of the latest mini rev.
Goddammit!
Shutup shutup SHUTUP!
Dude. Take a deep breath. It's just slashdot. It's just drinkypoo talking out of his ass, which is something slashdotters do from time to time, even a nice guy like drinkypoo.
But whether or not drinkypoo is a nice guy is beside the point. The point is, don't let the bullshit bother you too much. Get up and get a drink of water, pet your dog, stretch your legs. Don't make me worry about you. =)
I have not a single doubt that there are quite a few companies working on this right now. It's just a matter of designing the case to fit and finish.
In fact, I bet you'll be able to get an empty case any day now, and stick in whatever drive you want.
What would surprise me, at least slightly, is if Apple began manufacturing and selling such an accessory. They've been out of the external HD business for quite a while.
I think this is a circular argument, though... because Mac development houses won't port games that require insane amounts of horsepower.
Also, with certain exceptions, most Mac ports of games come much later than the windows release. So by the time we see any particular game on the Mac, chances are that the hardware has caught up.
It would be interesting to see this information compared to total articles posted by an editor to come up with a batting average.
Then we could start a fantasy slashdot league, pitting teams of editors against each other. =)
But how well does inkjet ink hold up in the dishwasher? I don't want to send my discs to the dry cleaners.
I think you and the grandparent poster have just revived the tape back up industry.
Similar to a band releasing a demo, professionals in the movie industry (DPs, editors, directors, actors, etc.) have reels that they use for self marketing. It's practically required unless you're at the very top. A reel is in some ways equivalent to a resume (although often used in conjunction with a resume).
These reels used to be on VHS or sometimes 3/4 tape once upon a time. Now they're on DVD.
Initially, this will be embraced by those who want their reel to stand out. Eventually, everyone will use this, and those that don't will look less professional.
I guess that qualifies, since analog thumbs still count.
OMFG!!!11
http://switch.atdmt.com/action/goatse
The Jonathon Ives designed liquid cooled iCheesgrater has been part of the Apple line up for quite some time now. It can even play MP3s.
It is pretty fascinating how much heat a rumor like this generates, not just on slashdot, but across the web in general. And I don't think it can be completely ascribed to to fanatics (of which I am one). In general, I think people are more curious about what Apple will do next, though not necessarily specifically interested in when a G5 PB might be released. If this wasn't the case, then stories like these wouldn't have such legs, and major news outlets wouldn't be taking their cues from sites like Think Secret (in the case of the Mac Mini rumor).
Whatever else you might say about Apple, you must admit that their products and their brand have captured the public's imagination. They might have a small marketshare (however you want to define that) but they have a disproportionately huge mindshare.
Maybe you should sign up for one of those Chocolate Mac Minis.
It might be between 6k and 12k US$ with all the trimmings. High end pro video can get quite expensive to mere mortals. On the other hand, $12k for a video production company working on the high end is peanuts.
You probably already know what I'm talking about, Leo, but for the edification of others, take a look at this video capture card for only $2499!
It's quite possible that his company also purchased through a VAR, which can substantially increase the price up front, but can have many advantages down the line. The VAR might be bundling software, so the cost of the software might be reflected in the price range he gave. Have a look at this VAR turnkey system. I'm using Pro Max as an example, because I've been a customer in the past, and I think they're one of the better, if not the best, of the VARs in the pro video market and they've been doing it for a long time.