[DM-MUG] Fwd: Re: [MacLaw] Mac Mini

[Matthew Wheeler]

My counterpoint response to Mac Mini. I'll call it Mini Mac (MMac).=20
Don't misinterpret, I like the little guy, heck, I've ordered one. I=20
just think there are details that I'd like not to be glossed over. The=20=

MMac is VERY WELL positioned, and it takes a fine tooth comb to root=20
out the real vs. perceived differences when compared to the iMac. This=20=

is what I've come up with over a day of conversations and research=20
about the MMac.

>> I can come up with about 10 different uses for this besides a simple=20=

>> computer. At $500 it breaks the psychological price point barrier so=20=

>> that every kid in america who wants an imac will be able to convince=20=

>> their parents to buy them one

Yes, this will make a good entry-level box for owners of current=20
accessories and peripherals, those who have low hardware demands.=20
Parents will have to be truly suckered not to realize that a=20
similarly-spec'd iMac G5 (which is way faster) is nearly the same price=20=

($140-ish more). If you include DKM (Display, Kybd, Mouse) components,=20=

the extra for the G5 is worth it to those who want a faster single unit=20=

and more--albeit still limited--expansion. I agree, though, that it is=20=

a psychological market that Apple has long (always?) ignored.

MMac advantages over iMac: 3-year AppleCare is $20 less. Base unit is=20
portable. Fits in stereo cabinet. Can be bought sans DKM. Monitor=20
options are plentiful. Slightly cheaper. Others mentioned in previous=20
post (removed for brevity).

iMac advantages over MMac: Single unit. Faster G5. More and faster RAM.=20=

5X greater bus speed.  Better video. Larger base HD. More inputs and=20
outputs. MMac GLARING home theater omission--NO optical audio out! Big=20=

deal-breaker for 5.1 DD or DTS output from DVD.

>>  a wall mount for the imac mini.
>>
Umm, why would you wall mount it? It's got lots of cables, you need to=20=

get to the CD drive and inputs, and thanks to Apple's removal of a=20
certain key on the keyboard, you'll need to reach the power button on=20
the back.

>> Still another use=85 buy a bunch of imac mini=92s, connect them all, =
add=20
>> the appropriate software (someone will have to write it - but I=20
>> predict it wont take that long) and suddenly you have an imac mini=20
>> super computer.
>>
It's called distributive computing (or clustering) and it already=20
exists (See http://www.apple.com/xserve/cluster/). You'd have to have a=20=

few Mini's to match the raw power of a dual 2.3GHz CN Xserve, and I=20
suspect the software and manpower to set this up would be a little=20
better spent towards even a single CN Xserve. You'd spend $2750 (with=20
10-client license of X Server) for 3 MMacs nearly equalling the actual=20=

GHz (but not true speed) of a single Dual Xserve at $3000. Also, there=20=

is a significant throughput problem on the MMac vs. any other Mac, the=20=

bus speed is a tenth of the Xserve CN. I could go on...

>> By not including the monitor, Apple has really opened up the things=20=

>> you can do with OS X. There are some downsides to the imac mini - the=20=

>> airport card and probably the RAM are not user installable. As time=20=

>> goes on, there will be ways around this (maybe even as simple as=20
>> taking it to your local apple store) and people will figure out how=20=

>> to do it.

The MMac is a Good Thing=99 and I welcome it. It will make a nice=20
practice server and may even find its way into my "digital life" but=20
I'm going to keep my Cubes which (and it sounds strange to say this)=20
are more expandable. It will be interesting to compare the two=20
products--a stock MMac and a modded Cube. More news at 11.

Matthew