Along with the iWork productivity suite (“Pages”, a word processor with style) and the Shuffle Flash-based iPod, Apple introduced the Mac Mini: a small Mac Cube: 1.25/1.42 GHz G4, combo drive, 40/80 GB drive, fw/usb/ethernet/modem ports. This is the most affordable Mac ever, starting at $499. My Take: Very nice product, but I am dissapointed because it does not have Line-In and Mic connectors! The Mac Mini web pages advertise the product in conjuction to iLife big time but GarageBand feels pretty useless without such connectors! There is always the iMic of course, but hey.
Apple Introduces the Mac Mini
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
This is about a million times better than “iHome”. Smaller, only 2.9 pounds, and with a DVI port. Starting at $499! And it runs OS X!
All you “I’d get a Mac if it was cheaper people” better go out and get one of these now… it’s awesome!
A headless mac smaller than the cube.
The “rumours” were right after all. Apple’s PR machine works best by keeping things under wraps so that a mad frenzy of speculation is built up without them having to spent a cent on advertizing. Genius.
sooo getting one asap (the mac mini) 😀
i guess we should applaud eugenia for her crystal ball work and forecast of the apple cheapo.
this is very cool. I hope it sells.
for me, asap
Apple.com is down right now. Anybody have a link to a mirror?
I am speechless.
This will be an interesting year.
http://www.apple.com/macmini/
Apple.com is getting beaten up pretty badly.
A size that can discretely fit in aliving room. Everything including WiFi and 3D graphics. That is impressive for the price, and very attractive.
Now…. it could also compete with game consoles… that could be interesting.
Anyway, a great product. When will PC makers do the same ?
http://webpages.charter.net.nyud.net:8090/mattman7/mini.jpg
eom.
I just hope they will not sell it for £500 + VAT, and will apply a more realistic exchange rate. Otherwise, it won;t be cheap in Europe.
http://images.apple.com/macmini/images/designstack20050111.gif
This is a better and cheaper option for me now.
just wow.. i cant express how i really feel.. 😀 😀 😀
this is the 2nd kewlest thing since… peanut butter
woot! I’ve never had a mac before, I’m going to buy one as soon as i can get the australian apple store website to load >_<
this thing kicks butt. I am so getting one right away. This will work great as a music/file/print server for my mac household.
I’m thinking of getting one of these to use as a PVR. Does anyone know of any good OS X programs for this purpose, something along the lines of MythTV?
I hope the hard drive is easily replaceable, it would be nice to switch for a large HDD.
Unrelated, but funny:
“Do not eat iPod shuffle.”
€ 499 in Europe.
It’ll be an even better deal for me with the academic discount…
Apple website is down…too much trafic?
€ 499 in Europe.
where ? what URL ? 🙂
I like that it has the options to burn, wifi and bluetooth if you want.
Also the flash iPod is one cool toy.
How powerful is that processor. is it as sluggish as a Celeron or more like a P4 ?
It’s as fast as the powerbooks right now, i think.
The G4 1.25 is what’s currently in the eMac and was in the “old” G4 iLamp iMacs. It’s acceptable, let’s put it that way.
it is on the bbc news site at £335.
sorry though, I wouldn’t touch it
What hard drive does it use? Just asking for RPM and data transfer rate. 2.9 pounds. I am still speechless. My laptop is 7 pounds. I can use it in my car and in my house.
It comes in 2 models.
1.25GHz/40G and 1.42GHz/80G, the store is down right now though.
Apple also released a flash based iPod for $99 or $149
That is ausome!
Welcome back Apple.
I use a P4 1.8 GHz machine as a desktop at work and I have a Powerbook 1.33 GHz G4. The G4 is faster at somethings (like compiling C code, myMATLAB code) and the P4 is faster at others (Java stuff, some media encoding). The differences aren’t that great and for all intents and purposes, I think they’re pretty much equal.
I’m going to happily plunge deeper into debt to get one of these. I can’t stand Microsoft, Linux is a huge pain in the ass and all of my favorite OSS apps are cross platform. Maybe this will finally create enough competing marketshare that a monopoly will no longer be required to create standards.
Really, really nice, and I’ll get one. I wish they’d put in a better video card though, with a bit more memory, like the radeon 9700. A minor gripe though. This will sell like hot cakes.
I am so buying the 1.42ghz model, this thing is beautiful. I have always wanted to try Apple, but yes like many others say I could not justify the price point. Now I can! My pc which is kickass by the way winxp sp2 and it has never crashed by the way will become my full time entertainment pc hooked up to my tv. If I fall as in love as I think I will then I will upgrade to a G5 by the next half of next year and give this one to family to get them hooked as well.
Yep, the Dutch site confirms it:
http://www.apple.com/nl/macmini/
Finally a more appropriate european price. Although I won’t buy one (maybe if they make a G5 version next year), I think this will be a huge success (like the original iMac sales boost).
From the UK/ROI Apple Site
Mac mini starts at £339 (UK) / €519 (Ireland)
Gotta save a few dollars (pounds in my case) and get one. This looks soooo fine.
Ha! I’m a linux user, and I may buy one of these. But you can guess again.
I think it’s great value for money. No i’m using linux, why not to try macox also?
While I think this a great step for Apple and the Mac line of computers, I pointout a few flaws:
1) I do not see an audio-in (microphone) port. So much for speach-to-text.
2) Only 10/100 Ethernet? By now this should be 10/100/1000. Apple used to be ahead of the pack in this regard, but recently all their new machines have fallen back.
3) Firewire 400, but not 800? I really don’t get this at all. It can’t possibly cost red cent more to support, especailly since Apple co-owns it.
4) If they’re serious about Bluetooth then it needs to be standard. Otherwise forget it. Bluetooth is supposed to be dirt cheap to support too, so that’s not a good excuse. Another nail in Bluetooth’ coffin, I guess.
5) Is $500 really a good price for this hardware? Not really. A $200 XBox or PS2, easily modded to run Linux, is just as good for most purposes. Or build you own mini-ITX PC for just over $300. Granted the Mac OS X is nice, but is it worth the difference? Drop this little M&M another $100, then my money might talk Mac.
>>You can kiss linux good-bye now…
Why? You mean in the desktop. Linux is not competing for Macs but PCs. Plus, Windows runs in PC. OS X in PPC. Linux can do both. Damn that is an operating system. So if you should say ” kiss IBM-PC good-bye now”
PS: MS should start porting windows to PPC. This thing is hotttttttttttttttttttt.
<i?5) Is $500 really a good price for this hardware? Not really. A $200 XBox or PS2, easily modded to run Linux, is just as good for most purposes. Or build you own mini-ITX PC for just over $300. Granted the Mac OS X is nice, but is it worth the difference? Drop this little M&M another $100, then my money might talk Mac. [/i]
THis is not a fair comparison. The price of game consoles is subsidised by more expensive games than on PC. They sell you the box for cheap so you will splash on games.
FYI: with education discount in, $479/$579.
And in my earlier post, I wasn’t saying guess again about buying one. I will most likely. I was saying guess again about kissing goodbye to linux.
-b
499.00 USD is about 265.649 GBP according to xe.com
Why then does it show the price as £339 on the apple Uk ebsite (www.apple.com/uk)
This seems like a con!!!
It is about $140 dollors more expensive than the US.
What a joke!!!!
Apple, what a rip off!!!!
Does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade the video to a more powerful card? For me, everything but the Radeon 9200 looks fantastic… I really don’t like powerless graphics cards.
Those ipods really seem all nice.
Especially that new flash player.
_But_ as long as they aren’t going to support ogg’s I won’t buy one!
Is it so hard to include that too..
“You can kiss linux good-bye now…”
I like their hardware a lot, nothing else. I can install either Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Mandrake or Yellow Dog.
>>5) Is $500 really a good price for this hardware? Not really. A $200 XBox or PS2, easily modded to run Linux, is just as good for most purposes. Or build you own mini-ITX PC for just over $300. Granted the Mac OS X is nice, but is it worth the difference?
Please, you can not compare a fix XBox with this thing. I am a linux fan, but this thing ahead of the pack. 2.9 pounds get out here.
Your points are well taken, except for the last one. The Mini Mac is not meant for the build-your-own crowd.
a 200 or xbox or ps2 modded to be a computer….are you even serious? That would make nothing more than a hobby toy.
this computer is much more for $500 than your comparable name brand $500 pc, with their ‘integrated video’ and poorly integrated components slapped together in some cheap feeling case.
No, this is a good value computer, although, in my personal opinion they should include a keyboard and two button mouse. I mean, usb keyboards are not that hard to find, but really, it feels cheap to leave them out.
I absolutely cannot justify buying this machine, though…being the owner of a powermac g5 already. I wish I could…I want to buy one, its crying out to me, but I’ll just have to remind myself, I already own a faster mac.
I am sorry Transami, but I don’t agree with you. To bring the price down, you need to cut down on features that not everyone needs. Bluetooth and FW800 and Gigabit ethernet are NOT features that most people need. However, cutting on the one-two dollar connectors for Line-In and Microphone is a big mistake and misleading, exactly because Apple is ADVERTISING the product in conjuction to iLife! Other than this point, I have no problem with the product at all.
I’ve been running a family website on an old iMac for a while now. It runs nice an quiet and I’d love to spend more time in OSX but it’s a bit underpowered on my current system.
Not any more. I hate to say it, but for the first time ever I’m thinking of dropping BeOS in favor of the mac mini. If GarageBand is a good replacement for 3dMiX then it’ll probably be goodbye BeOS.
For those of us who’ve always said we’d use OSX if the price to entry were cheaper, here’s a chance to put our money where our mouths are. I’ve got mine ordered. January 22nd can’t come fast enough!
Modding an xbox or ps2. Yeah, mod one of those, slap on netbsd and send your daughter off to college. This is competing in the low-end plug ‘n play market. Keep that in mind.
And I’m not even an apple owner… yet.
-b
This is a great day! I can’t believe it!! I mean, we were all expecting something, but this?? It’s amazing!!!
I definitely want one!! And I’ll get one even though it is missing a couple features…
As others have posted, I’m quite puzzled by the lack of a mic in jack.
Also… It would have been nice if they included gigabit ethernet and 64mb instead of 32mb video.
Other than those three things, it’s perfect!! I’ll still get one even if it doesn’t have everything. I’ve always wanted a Mac and now I can finally afford one!!!
I’m just wondering what kind of memory it uses? Taking into account it’s form factor, I’m thinking it uses a sodimm?
I also want one of those iPod Shuffles!! That would be cool!
Apple has definitely come out with some nice products today. I know I definitely wasn’t disappointed. I can’t wait to get down to the Apple store and check this them out in person!
Let us all not forget, European Pricing includes sales tax, which more often than not is more in the UK than the US. So, lets take 499 + 8.625% Tax (about $50). Not a scam..
No more than usual. If you add VAT to £265 it comes to £312, and they’re trying not to let the weak dollar hurt them too much.
Go find me a $500 pc with 1g network / 800 firewire and built-in wireless, then will talk.
P.S. Ever here of usb mics?
If only this had come out 8 months ago when I built my last PC…
If this is a successful product for Apple then I will almost definitely switch in 1-2 years when I’m ready for my next computer (and have the cash!)
Just what we all have been asking for.
Ok. It’s a nice machine. In fact, what I’ve wanted for years — a new G4 cube for less money! The Radeon and tiiiny hard dink are a bit cheap and make me think to just hook up keyboard, mouse (already there) and TFT to my iBook instead, but, hey, it’s a cheap Mac!
The only question, which sadly NOBODY has commented on (because no one has one, maybe) is NOISE!
I’ve had an iMac G4-800 for about one week in the past — noisy. The eMac suppusedly was even much worse! So I hope this beast is more in the Cube or iBook region noisewise, especially if you count in that it’s almost the same specs as an iBook!
And the new el-cheapo-iPod might even tempt me, despite lack of Ogg support — it could only hold a tiny part of my music anyway!
if garage band is really your thing, you can always pick one of these audio interfaces for about $60
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua1x.html
Mytek converters these are not but they are on par with most the digital audio cards (echo, maudio) that people are using at home.
Eugenia – I’m guessing the reason why there’s no mic line is because with the new version of GarageBand, most people wanting to record (for music, at least) will use a USB adapter and take advantage of the mutiple channels (8) you can record while using GarageBand.
That would be my guess, at least.
Considering that we’ll be able to walk down to an Apple store, pick this thing up, take it home, plug it in and not have to dick with assembly or anything, this thing is a great value, even compared to something like a mini-ITX box.
This is going to be a great little machine. A mini appliance computer for the masses.
Yeah, the Amiga is back! Only it’s called Apple
.
Guys, I do not agree. Not everyone is a pro! There are other uses to Garageband too.
>if garage band is really your thing, you can always pick one of these audio interfaces for about $60
But what if I am an amateur musician, or I want to simply convert my cassette’s or LPs, or simply connect my HiFi system to the MacMini? I can’t! And WHY do I have to pay an extra $40 or $60 bucks to get this (standard everywhere else) feature, when it would have costed Apple ONLY TWO BUCKS to include them in the first place?? Their sound card supports it, it’s just that Apple decided to not include the connectors!
I am telling you people, not having the LineIn/Mic connectors on the Mac Mini is a TERRIBLE OVERSIGHT on Apple’s part for many people, mostly because these connectors are dirt cheap, while useful to many many people.
C’mon people, you might as well be asking for RAID support.
As far as wireless, you should read the tech specs:
AirPort Extreme option (based on 802.11g specification; IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi certified)4; internal Bluetooth module available as build-to-order option
Sure, it’s not built in, but it’s there if you want it. They’re trying to cater to the eMachines crowd, not the Alienware users.
On the apple homepage it’s written “— all whisper-quiet”. Since the specs are very similar to an iBook I guess it will be really quiet.
About the missing bluetooth: on the bottom of the apple page you can read “Enchanting Enhancements”: “Surf wirelessly with an AirPort Extreme Card installed in your Mac mini. Or configure your Mac mini with internal Bluetooth to use wireless keyboards and mice.”
I think these two things are really must-have enhancements. With bluetooth you have all your mobilephone connections you need (and that is pretty cool on mac: icq goes to “on the phone” automatically, itunes stops playing, etc), you may use a bluetooth headset – which is much more comfortable than using your old microphone – and maybe this is the reason why there’s not micro plug on the device.
> A $200 XBox or PS2, easily modded to run Linux, is just
> as good for most purposes.
Thats the dumbest thing i ever heard. You can’t have tried to run OpenOffice and Mozilla at the same time on a Linux-running XBox, or attempted to run OpenOffice alone on a PS2. IF you had you would notice that both are complete and utter rubbish as a Linux desktop computer for the masses.
The XBox, as a general desktop machine is complete sh*t (yes i do own and use a Linux-running XBox), and the PS2 isn’t even an option due to it’s tiny main memory, expensive Linux kit and Linux’s total incompatibility with the new ‘slimline’ model.
If the XBox was as good as the Mac Mini, why doesn’t everyone already have a Linux-running XBox in their living room>? Theyve been available for years now.
Oh wait. Its because noody wants a sh*tty, half-assed Linux ‘solution’ with no software, no decent support for their peripherals, and an incredibly complex setup and maintenance regime, along with zero people who know can help them when something goes wrong… when they could have a useful computer for a few more dollars.
As for 10/100 instead of 1000, no standard bluetooth, firewire 400, audio in port – you can pay more and get all those features from another Apple product.
As for your ‘but it doesnt have XXX’ complaints…
Nobody in the real world can saturate a gigabit ethernet segment with anything resembling a ‘home’ or ‘desktop’ workload, and nobody even has decent gigabit infrastructure in the home or small business space (and no, that $50 10/100/1000 switch you bought at the local store) does *not* count.
Firewire 400 instead of 800… Right, and where are all these Firewire 800 peripherals that are scattered all over the desktops of home and small business users?
If you want it, you can get it in another Apple product.
Bluetooth is useful to a minority of users, and that minority can configure the machine with it, if they want it.
The IMac Mini is a lowend machine for users with lowend requirements. Want something else, buy something else.
Whats the problem?? Choice is good for the consumer.
So I see Apple has released iWork:
http://www.apple.com/iwork/
What’s funny is this name was already in use by two different other products:
IGG Software’s iWork (now iBiz):
http://www.iggsoftware.com/iwork/
And Sun’s iWork:
http://www.sun.com/aboutsun/iwork/
I smell a lawsuit at some point…
Okay I do not know if this was said previously or not(did not read all fifty-seven posts). But I will say of the whole “I would buy a mac if it were cheaper” thing, I think alot of people mean they want a cheaper G5 system whether Imac or Power Mac.
But this is very awesome and I hope Apple sells a ton of these bad boys. The only thing I don’t understand is no dvd burner?!
I can’t believe you are serious. Anyway, onboard audio inputs are usually noisy in my experience. The edirol is completely worth the improved audio.
Didn’t some company make a USB mic? That’ll solve the problem of lack of audio-input. Would be nice to have it by default, but it’s not the end of the world.
Quote:
this computer is much more for $500 than your comparable name brand $500 pc, with their ‘integrated video’ and poorly integrated components slapped together in some cheap feeling case.
Are you saying the graphics card in the mini Mac is not integrated? Poorly integrated components? To quote Lev in the movie “Armagedon”: “Russian components, American components… all made in Taiwan!” Integrated components are always a risky thing, Apple’s kit isn’t any better. I’ll give you the “cheap feeling case” argument though. That’s completely personal taste and preference so it is true.
I am not 100% sure, but on the iMac the mic is built in the system and its not visible from anywhere. I am assuming thats the same case with the mac mini.
It will most likely be called Asteroid.. and you’ll be able to plug anything into it. Firewire interface..
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/audio/apple-aster…
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/audio/apple-aster…
keep an eye out..
I’m getting one ASAP.
The iMac flat panel series has a little hole on the screen itself and that’s where the mic resides. This made sense, your face is usually closer to the screen than the base that houses the rest of the core components, such is the case of the miniMac.
If there is such a thing as a USB mic, your Apple keyboards have 2 USB connectors at the top and on either side, that plug it there and you’re set.
a 200 or xbox or ps2 modded to be a computer….are you even serious? That would make nothing more than a hobby toy.
this computer is much more for $500 than your comparable name brand $500 pc, with their ‘integrated video’ and poorly integrated components slapped together in some cheap feeling case.
No, this is a good value computer, although, in my personal opinion they should include a keyboard and two button mouse. I mean, usb keyboards are not that hard to find, but really, it feels cheap to leave them out.
I absolutely cannot justify buying this machine, though…being the owner of a powermac g5 already. I wish I could…I want to buy one, its crying out to me, but I’ll just have to remind myself, I already own a faster mac.
That’s the same position I am in!
Put together a PC on newegg.com with much better specs for $475.14 including shipping costs.
Much better. Agree. 500$ or even more is price I woud be prepared to pay for PS3 and not for this miniMac?… about 150$ or even less? Maybe.
no dvd burner?!
I believe you can pay extra for that as an option. Also, keep in mind that market for this machine. DVD-Burner is nowhere near a standard feature.
-b
>I can’t believe you are serious.
Why, do you see me laughing?
>Anyway, onboard audio inputs are usually noisy in my experience.
Yes, but it’s BARELY hearable! As I said, we are not all pros! We just need some basic functionality, and onboard sound cards are more than good enough. 99% of us, do not need these noise-reduction $40-$1000 external pro sound cards. We just need a cheapo line in, a line out and a microphone jack. Like 99.9% of all the computers feature today, that is. Why is this so difficult to understand, and WHY prompt the reader to buy external USB solutions (that eat up a usb port btw), while for the needs of MOST of these people, the TWO DOLLAR connectors (one dollar for each connector) would have done the job just great?? Why? Please, be objective, don’t let any Apple love cloud your judgement here. To me, it is clear: Apple had a MISJUDGEMENT about the mic/line-in issue on the Mac Mini and I can’t wait to see a fixed version of the hardware in 6 months from now. In the meantime, I can’t forgive them this error, because they keep advertising the iLife/Garageband vigorously with the mac mini!
> Yeah, the Amiga is back! Only it’s called Apple
Not so:
1) at the time it went on sale, Amiga 1000 was top notch technology
2) there were plenty of games for the Amiga
3) there was at least one floppy drive ;o)
I’ll definately get one, but I think I’m going to wait for Tiger first. It’s “coming soon” as well, and dropping another $129 on the OS doesn’t make a lot of sense for my new $499 computer when I’ll be able to get it “free” after it ships.
So, I’ll wait for it. Let them run out, come out silently with the mini mk 2, avoid the exploding batteries or other horrors.
But it IS nice!
SuperDrive for $90 more
Great ! i want one, i plan to trow my pc for a mac :}
Yeah, I’ve heard of USB mics – ever tried recording decent sound through one? The kind of sound you’d *want* to use GarageBand? Heh.
I remember seeing an ad/video from some famous musician on apple’s website talking about how great his powerbook was, and os x, bla bla. The powerbook doesn’t even have a mic in, and the ibook has neitherc (line or mic)!
Ok, these aren’t what you’d use in a professional environment, but I’m just an amateur musician, and having both a line/mic input on my laptop would seem to be common sense. I mean almost all x86 laptops have both of these.
“Nobody in the real world can saturate a gigabit ethernet segment with anything resembling a ‘home’ or ‘desktop’ workload,”
Of course not, but they certainly *can* saturate a 100Mbit connection, which is the point at which a 1000MBit connection would give you an advantage. The sustained transfer rate on a decent 7200RPM hard disk is roughly 50M*BYTE* per second, i.e., 400Mbit, or four times faster than a 100Mbit connection (rather more once you factor in the overheads).
To the person who asked this question – they already did. The system is clearly in the style of Shuttle-type PCs, for a start (though it’s much smaller, which is nice). You can also build or buy extremely tiny mini-ITX PCs. Finally, may I direct your attention to:
http://www.oqo.com/
and:
http://www.dynamism.com/u71/index.shtml
just, er, don’t look too hard at the prices
Sorry. But my PowerBook (G4 17″) has a line-out and mic-in. But it also has an integrated mic, so you don’t even need to use an external one. And the sound-quality of the integrated one is pretty good…
Perhaps it is an oversight on Apple’s part but do you not think that you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill here? I mean, is it really “unforgivable”?
Especially considering that Apple are aiming this product at people who probably won’t have a need for a line in. This is just a means for Apple to expand their install base. It’s a pretty good deal here, even if the product doesn’t suit your needs.
wrong. my ibook has a built in mic just like the imac does.
Powerbook, iMac, eMac(IIRC) and ibook.. none have line ins for mics. Not a show stopper for me.
Basically this thing is a lot like an iBook in terms of specs. I run my G4 1ghz iBook with 768mb RAM (mini mac is upgradable to 1gig as well) as my primary machine for graphic design, coding and web development and it’s great. This mini mac is no doorstop.
Quote:
this computer is much more for $500 than your comparable name brand $500 pc, with their ‘integrated video’ and poorly integrated components slapped together in some cheap feeling case.
Quote: Quote: Are you saying the graphics card in the mini Mac is not integrated?
I mean video memory and main memory are not shared. It’s all about words, as you mentioned, and I could have been clearer. Even video on a card is integrated in the sense that its included with the system. All I am saying, is this machine has a dedicated graphics process with its own memory, and that is much better than the el-cheapo boxes with their shared memory schemes.
As a ‘ high end ‘ pc user (which means i at least don’t have rollinghills.bmp as my background wallpaper) I am astounded by what apple has managed to cram in such a small box. And I have a good couple of weeks to raise the money to get mine.
Just a question. I currently have a dlink wireless g router and a small home network, would an airport card in this box be able to speak to that device or would i need to toss it for an airport router?
man o man.. I am getting one of these
Be honest, the microphone is not the most important thing. I can’t even remember ever putting anything in the line-in at all! I use a microphone yes, but it’s the one in my iSight! This thing has FireWire 400 (800 has a different connector and I haven’t seen much for it yet anyway) so an iSight is very easy to connect.
Your USB keyboard (that music thing) is also easily connected and used with GarageBand. Only if you sing or play quitar you need to go and by an USB microphone or the iMic.
Cool machine all together!
the powerbook has a mic, i have a powerbook and i skype with my parents all the time thru the built in mic. i am guessing the mic is built into this box if not, USB here i come.
PS I will order a mini mac for my wife and get a seperated memory upgrade from a local store. the memory it uses is DDR 333. Now to all you saying blah bad machine, blah slow, blah i can get better, blah whatever: This box is 16x16x5cm big… please PLEASE show me a machine you can build for 500 USD (or euros) that comes close to that size ans specs….
I own a powermac a powerbook and i will buy this one too. Why? no i am not a zealot, hell i have a debian server and a gentoo workstaion here too. No, i want one cuz i can rely on it, its small, and the software included is a very nice fit for my wife and the NORMAL home user.
airport extreme is just normal wireless it’ll work fine, although I’ve seen some routers have needed firmware upgrades to work with apple, but if there is a problem it wont be on the Macs side
This is a LOW-END consumer box aka targetting the Walmart eMachine sick-of-Windows98 crowd. These folks don’t know USB from a hole in the wall. Apple has now introduced a Mac that these mere mortals can buy and use. Sure you could “hack an XBox and put linux”… wtf can you name a few moms and grandpas who would need to? This is a joe-shmo Mac for the masses! And, to put all the non-sensical spec questions to rest, HERE. Read this:
256MB PC2700 DDR RAM standard. Upgradeable to 1GB.
40 to 80GB hard drive
Slot-loading Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) standard. Optional SuperDrive DVD-RW/CD-RW available.
2 USB2 ports. Go buy a Mac keyboard and get two more ports free.
1 400Mb Firewire port. How many joe shmos have FW800 devices?
10/100Mb Ethernet. How many Joe Shmos have a gigabit switch in their trailer?
AirPort Extreme option (based on 802.11g specification; IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi certified)4; internal Bluetooth module available as build-to-order option
Software: Mac OS X version 10.3 “Panther,” includes Classic environment, Mail, iChat AV, Safari, Sherlock, Address Book, QuickTime, iSync, iCal… iLife ‘05 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand), AppleWorks, Quicken 2005 .. some games. All the UNIX stuff is already included like Apache, SSH, FTP, IPFW, etc etc
It’s 2 inches tall and weighs only 2.9 lbs.
Go buy whatever USB keyboard and mouse you want. Chances are you just have to plug it in and it will all work right away with no drivers (typical Apple fashion!)
DVI output; VGA output (adapter included). Use any monitor.
airport and airport extreme talks flawlessly to my DLINK WLAN Router. so you souldnt have a problem
I doub’t that there are any differences on apple’s airport extreme cards, and we haven’t encountered any problems with our iBooks/PowerBooks in any WLAN. So your dlink really should be no problem at all.
> Use any monitor.
… except my Apple-built 21 studio flatscreen, which has the now-abandoned ADC plug. Supports a $99 Wal-Mart special, but not a $1k+ Apple monitor bought scarcely a year ago.
Oh, well. I’d use it with something cheap, anyway. And it’s a nice-looking little computer. Hope it sells like all hell.
A friend of ours bought us a Replay TV for X-Mas. I’ve been wracking my brain wondering how I’m going to get the files off of it* and on to my mac upstairs since my video capture widget (an external formac) wants a G3 800 processor, and none of my laptops are that powerful.
Score! Hell, if I want to spring for it, I can even edit video & burn DVDs right there in the living room. (I can buy a teeny tiny LCD to hook up to this thing dirt cheap.)
And, that setup will be so small it will fit into the cabinet under the TV and not bother my DH.
And finally, if nothing else, I can surf the web on our TV downstairs. ~sigh~ 50 inches of OSX ~sigh~
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* Unless there is a quick and easy way to get the files off via my home network.
Does anyone know if the power supply is internal or external? There can’t be much room left inside, can there? If it is external, is it a gadget that is almost as large as the Mac? This can be important if you’re thinking about moving it around…