Forums | MacLife

Jim6009 wrote:

Speaking for the schools that still use Macs, canceling both the 17" iMac and the Mini would cause serious financial pain-unless of course some new version if the eMac shows up.

I'm thinking cost wise dropping the 17" would translate to a "meet you halfway there" price drop on the 20". Or they'll offer a similar model with less features.

Mr. T wrote:

Some would argue that the TV is the mini's replacement, but I hope that's not true.

Maybe they're going to introduce a monitor with an AirPort card built in that connects wirelessly to your AppleTV (or create a second AppleTV that's more like a Mac Mini that would cost more), and have people use it as an AppleTV and their computer.

But then again that's probably pure crazy talk.

As far as I can tell the Mini has never been anything but an elaborate, customer funded demonstration of Apple's lack of interest in the low-end market. The artistry of getting wannabe low-end customers to pay premium prices for a sub-basic system is tear-jerkingly beautiful.

NAG wrote:

About education, remember Apple usually sells a different line to schools that isn't available to the general public.

That really hasn't been true for years. The eMac was the last EDU only Mac and that was taken mainstream. You have to go all the way back to the "Molar Mac" G3 All In One to find a truly EDU only Mac.
Apple would have to create a new EDU line if they were going to go that way.

NAG wrote:

Pariah, do you work at an educational institution and get emails from Apple about this sort of stuff?

Um...Ya dont need to have any special connections to know that Apple doesnt have any "secret" EDU only Macs.
They just don't.
Now they certainly offer bulk purchase deals and such but it's all the same Macs we can buy.
Now back in the BSJ (before Steve Jobs) Apple had a stpid complicated lineup with a fair number of special EDU models, but that is ancient history.

ScifiterX wrote:

You do realize your needle is stuck & NAG works at a university in Washington.

Needle...

Hey, if Apple does have an EDU line that I have somehow not heard of I would be interested to hear about it.

What the gun-toting priest said.

And as far as the needle comment goes you've slipped in your "'Steve Jobs...' *zwip*" "'Steve Jobs...' *zwip*" "'Steve Jobs...' *zwip*" loop. We're all aware of your opinions on him and you repeating them aren't going to make them any more or less true.

Wow...talk about being in the minority.

I use a a CoreDuo mini at work. It was a replacement for my Windows box that was flaking out daily. I requested a Mac, and since I already had a nice keyboard, mouse, and 20" monitor, a mini worked out great. Since then we've added a 2nd Mac user at work, this after seeing me with a mini.

Use the mini for publication production, audio editing, video editing, lite graphics (Photoshop), and I have to run Windows for several apps. I don't really experience any slowdowns, hangups, or quirks; the graphics are fine for what I do; the mini doesn't feel "slow" at all; and it networks seamlessly with the work Exchange server and I haven't had any issues with it at all.

I guess I'm not a "Power User" in terms of Macs. I'd love to upgrade my iBook someday when I have the money, but it works great & I have zero complaints about my mini at work.

I like the mini so much I too am considering one as a "home entertainment" hub. It's easy to upgrade the HDD and add some RAM, and I don't need to run CS3 or FCP or anything like that on it at home. I have a nice TV already, and it'd be cool to surf the web & stuff in my living room. For me, a Mac mini is a great value...especially because I don't need an LCD, higher-end graphics than a mini can offer, or 16GB or RAM.

Guess everyone's "needs" are different. I'm a fan of the mini now, and would be bummed out if it's discontinued.

Last edited by BearsFan34 (2007-05-26 2:42 pm)

BearsFan34 wrote:

Wow...talk about being in the minority.

I use a a CoreDuo mini at work...

I wonder if all the people that hate the Mac mini have actually used it. I too use a Mac mini at work every day, and it's a fine little computer. I honestly have a VERY hard time beliving that Apple would remove the Mac mini and not put anything there to replace it.

lord funk wrote:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/05/24/closing_the_book_on_apples_mac_mini.html

This is some seriously lame crap.

*Prepares the party decorations*...hmmm i'm gonna need lots of booze for this party...*Grabs BevMo card*...i'll be back later with the good stuff...then we can put this coaster of a computer in it's cold dark grave where it belongs!!

*Places Cube Forever, Mini Never bumper sticker on car then drives away celebrating*

NightCougar_37 wrote:

*Places Cube Forever, Mini Never bumper sticker on car then drives away celebrating*

Drives away? From what? The forum?

kman wrote:

Did anyone even read the article?  Nowhere does AI imply that it is anything other than speculation.  It's not even a rumor.  They're not citing secret sources or anything, just making a guess and analyzing the status of the Mini.  Most people on this and the AppleRumors forum seem to think it's a done deal.

Therefore, it comes as little surprise that sources, for whom AppleInsider holds the utmost respect, are now pointing towards the mini's impending demise.

We all know to take even this with a hunk of salt, but they do cite a 'secret source.'

PackersFan34 wrote:

I like the mini so much I too am considering one as a "home entertainment" hub.

I agree, and I'm finally in the market.  And I'm also in the minority because if Apple DOES release the headless iMac, unless it's at the same price as the mini I'm still going to get the canceled mini.  Because for watching movies, I don't need all the extra crap.  I'll spend even the $100 saved on more HD space, or something.

The current laptop drive ceiling is 250 GB, which it was just raised to. Even the currently more expensive SSDs, which exceed 10K RPM desktop drive performance, are currently limited to 160 GB for a 2.5" configuration. 3.5" drives yield a ceiling of 750 GB HD / 512 GB SSD.