The Mac Mini

[bascule]

Starting at $499 for a 1.25GHz G4-powered version, it's ridiculously badass, and so small:

[TheCotMan]

Starting at $499 for a 1.25GHz G4-powered version, it's ridiculously badass, and so small

This is the future. No expansion. Few upgrades. You buy buy what you want now, dispose of it in 1-3 years and buy again. Works well in refresh rates for operational expenses and eliminates more hardware support techies "in-house."

Past: disposable cpu. Don't repair.
future: disposable computers. Don't repair

[renderman]

I can actually see a use for this for myself.

Can't hurt to learn OSX, might as well be a cheap little box I can stash away when not needed.

[bascule]

This is the future. No expansion. Few upgrades. You buy buy what you want now, dispose of it in 1-3 years and buy again. Works well in refresh rates for operational expenses and eliminates more hardware support techies "in-house."

That's the present where I work. When someone's desktop breaks, we surplus it and buy a new one. With the Dell SC420 selling for $200-$300, buying replacement parts just doesn't make sense, considering you can get a newer, faster system for the cost of repairing an old one that might break again in the future.

[TheCotMan]

That's the present where I work. When someone's desktop breaks, we surplus it and buy a new one. With the Dell SC420 selling for $200-$300, buying replacement parts just doesn't make sense, considering you can get a newer, faster system for the cost of repairing an old one that might break again in the future.

We nearly eliminated our in-house shop (hardware techs) about 3 years ago. However, we relied upon 3 and 5 year extended warrantees on parts for simple replacement. (No diagnosis beyond phone calls to Dell.) Where you are, is where we are going.

[TwinVega]

They unvailed a new flash based iPod as well in their little shindig today.

[allentrace]

I once usedc to be very cynical when it came to Apple but lately I am begining to see the light. Plus they have the damn niftiest packaging of any company.

[LosT]

Keep in mind that OS X needs 512 or more to run *well* - so tack on at least $79 for the 512 upgrade...(for the mini)

LosT

[skroo]

They unvailed a new flash based iPod as well in their little shindig today.

MacMini: good idea, something Apple's needed to do for years.

iPod Shuffle: good idea, poor execution. All the other $99 MP3 players have a display; despite knowing that lack of one is meant to be a selling point, I really think it's going to bite Apple's ass in the long run.

[TwinVega]

I'm going to MacWorld tomorrow, and had considered buying the new iPod, but then I checked my bank account and realised I was going to Shmoo Con....
No Shuffle for me.

[astcell]

By the time I was done with accessories I was up to $952.

[ch0l0man]

I'm not a big MAC fan but their designs just rock. And this new box is awesome.

[astcell]

The iPod shuffle holds 240 songs, yet there is no LCD screen to see what to choose next.

[bascule]

By the time I was done with accessories I was up to $952.

Hmm, $736.00 for:

• 1.42GHz PowerPC G4
• 512MB DDR333 SDRAM - 1 DIMM
• 80GB Ultra ATA drive
• SuperDrive

+ $29.99 for an Apple keyboard from MacMall

Brings the approximate total to $766 with student discount. Not too shabby.

Includes 3 months support and 1 year hardware warranty. I figure after that if anything breaks I'll just turn to eBay for replacement parts.

[KeLviN]

a student priced mac designed for ikea consumers?! they Will sell lots of them... lots and lots....


and i would expect a headphone with lcd controls to be released for the new iPod soon.... similar to: this, except with an lcd....