The Mac Mini

If you haven’t seen the new Mac that Steve Jobs introduced at MacWorld, go check it out. I’ve been reading some of the sites that are covering the announcement. There are many positive and excited comments flying around. It seems Apple has finally broken the Mac-basher’s argument that the machines are too expensive. Those Mac-bashers are still doing their best to bash this machine. Since price isn’t a problem now, they have decided to focus on the features that are available on the Mac Mini. I’ll respond to a few below.

ISSUE: “The graphics card is crap. RESPONSE: This machine is meant to be an entry level Mac. This is not a high level gaming machine. Otherwise it wouldn’t cost ~$500. This machine is for email, web, tunes, and photos. If you want a gaming machine, buy an Alienware box for $4000.

ISSUE: “There is no microphone port! How will I record sound? RESPONSE: If you were serious about recording sound you wouldn’t use a microphone port. Anyone who does any real recording uses a USB or Firewire peripheral. I, for example, use an M-Audio Fast Track USB.

ISSUE: “There are only 2 USB ports! The mouse and keyboard will take up both slots! RESPONSE: Apple sells keyboards that are wireless (bluetooth). The wired keyboards have 2 USB ports in them. That frees up at least one USB port for you to plug in a USB hub. They run about $15. Look into it.

ISSUE: “Why is there only 1 Firewire port? How is that even useful?? RESPONSE: If you weren’t an idiot you would know that Firewire devices can be chained. Just like SCSI… only faster and better. You can chain up to 63 devices and you don’t need a terminator. Technically you only need one port. Once again, this is a bargain machine. Use your head.

ISSUE: “This thing is going to be locked tighter than fort knox. I’m sure you are going to be able to get in but not without the thing falling apart into a million pieces. RESPONSE: You’ve clearly never opened a Mac. They are put together extremely well. Ask Matt about taking apart his Powerbook. Putting a new drive in this thing will be simple. What I would worry about is a heat problem. Placing a 300 gig drive in this machine may cause some overheating. Caveat emptor.

ISSUE: “Why not put a TV-in port instead of a modem port on this machine?? RESPONSE: Macs, out of the box, work as fax machines and not everyone has broadband or even access to broadband. That’s why. Not everyone on the planet wants, knows of, or has the know-how to configure their own PVR. Fax is more important to a $500 machine than PVR capabilities. Look for add ons if you want a PVR or just buy an X-Box and use MythTV.

Summary: I’m tired of Mac-bashers doing their best to find anything wrong with what Apple does. If Apple created the perfect machine, a machine that was cheap, and a machine that could be expanded, the bashers would still complain that they can’t run MS SQL Server or some stupid crap like that. These people are the same ones that complain that iPods don’t play WMA files. Instead of seeing something for what it is, they see it as not what they want it to be. Pessimism about something you don’t understand is the lowest form of ignorance. Coincidentally, this same type of pessimism happens in politics all the time. sigh

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4 Responses to The Mac Mini

  1. matt says:

    Yeah, go ahead … ask me about taking apart my Powerbook 😉 Upgrading would have been a piece of cake. Everything you need access to is readily available upon removal of the top case. The transfer of EVERY piece of the powerbook to the new bottom case was a different story. I was a mess. Ask Bridgey 😉

    I’m impressed with the Mac Mini. It really seems like they’re targeting, among other interested Mac user wannabes, the iPod generation of Windows users that want to switch but don’t want to fork over a ton of money for a high end machine. Good work Jobs.

    I’m also impressed with their notice regarding the iPod shuffle. They’ve warned you not to eat it (Reference note #2 at the bottom of this page) since they’re comparing it to the size of a stick of gum – only more fun. Don’t want any of those unfamiliar with the iPod breaking their teef 😉

  2. cindy says:

    If I had children, I would give them the iMac Mini. I don’t have children, so I won’t give them the iMac mini. I would however like a iPod Shuffle for myself. It’s a flashdrive! Sooooo cool! Tim and Lisa and I were just discussing the ups and downs of both of these products. We all agree with everything you have said, Dave. And we also agree with Matt on the idea that Mac is marketing to the iPod generation. The thing comes standard with an 80g harddrive! If that isn’t meant for music, I don’t know what is.

  3. cindy says:

    Oh, should I mention that my desire for an iPod Shuffle is based solely on its randomness? I mean, all the other stuff is cool but it is random! We all know how I love randomness.

  4. Tadbot says:

    “If you want a gaming machine, buy an Alienware box for $4000” Rogar that. Mine’s yellow, to match my car (er, vice versa). The iPod shuffle isn’t for me, but it’s a nice idea for those people who think 1gb of music is enough. 🙂 Probably good for replacing those thumb-drive keychains at least.

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