Apple and its ‘blind’ Mac
p2pnet.net News View:- Apple boss Steve Jobs told Macworld attendees the new, ‘blind’ Mac mini is aimed at Microsoft Windows PC users who may be thinking of getting away from MS.
“We want to price this Mac so that people who are thinking of switching will have no more excuses,” the Seattle Post-Intelligencer quotes him as saying.
He’s right about people wanting out of Windows, but wrong about suggesting his cheap Mac is a serious alternative.
Actually, it’s little more than the latest of several cheap computers, all of which come fully equipped, unlike the new Mac.
The $500 Mac mini doesn’t have a monitor, keyboard or mouse. A car with no wheels and no starter, in effect, isn’t much of an option. And the fact remains that the money splashed on a basic Mac would buy a superior PC running Linux, say.
“Apple has been trying for years to persuade them to buy its computers,” says the story. “Its success has been limited, with Macs still hovering around 2 percent of the worldwide personal computer market.”
The story points out the cheapo Mac’s input ports will let “most” PC users use the keyboards, displays and mice they already own.
Perhaps. But to go any further, they’d still have to buy over-priced Apple gear to replace some (most?) of the software and devices they’ve already paid good money for.
Steve will not, however, have to worry.
iPod will keep Apple afloat for the time being – especially with the virtual ink being lavished on all things Apple by the adoring mainstream media – and Bill and the Boyz will maintain their dominant position. For the time being.
But the appearance of Apple’s cheapo, wheel-less Mac and not-so-cheap display-less iPod may have a significant side effect.
They may drive other manufacturers to produce product to compete, and that’ll be good for everyone.
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See:-
switching – Microsoft Notebook: Mac Mini may chip away at Windows, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 17, 2005
January 17th, 2005 at 4:14 pm
wheel-less? yes. but also virus-less and trojan-less.
when symantec and even microsoft itself comes out with weekly warnings about exploits that can allow malicious html in an email or web page to execute arbitrary code on my windows box; turn it into a ddos bot or even completely reformat my hard drive… well, i can imagine why people would want to get away from windows.
so, to use your car analogy: would i buy a car with no wheels if the other option was a car, with wheels, that might explode randomly? you bet.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:26 pm
I think that you are missing the whole point. As an iPod mini owner with a Dell, obviously, I want to switch. The Mac mini offers a perfect alternative to buying an iMac, or PowerMac for consumers like me. If I were to spend the same money on a “superior” PC running Linux (as you suggested), I would not be able to sinc my iPod, or even install or run iTunes…. how could that be considered an alternative to spending my money on a mac mini? I don’t fault you for liking Windows better… I did once…
January 17th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
First off, how do you come up with the word ‘blind’? The geek community has been clamoring for this ‘headless’ computer for YEARS. And here is the reason why…
Many of us have an old PC (or more thna one) sitting around that is no longer serving a useful purpose. The monitor, keyboard and mouse are still useful though. I, for one, am happy to have the option to get a Mac without having to pay for a monitor, keyboard and mouse that I don’t need.
Applause to Apple!
January 17th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
Clearly, the mini is no bargain. Especially since for another few hundred bucks you can get an eMac or a G4 iBook with integrated Wi-Fi. Both come with a monitor, a keyboard and a mousing device. If you want a Mac, the mini isn’t much of a deal at all. And if you want a cheap computer, a PC is still the way to go. I’m guessing Apple will have 3.5% of the market by the end of the decade…
January 17th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
Is it the cost of the hardware (which is what the story suggests), or replacing ALL the software? That is what stops me changing. MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver …. Boy, that soon adds up to some serious $$!
January 17th, 2005 at 4:34 pm
Carracho. Acquisition. XFactor. Poisoned.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:40 pm
I believe the outlook for the Mac mini is much more promising than the article suggests it ought to be.
It’s true that the $500 spent on the least expensive Mac (ever) could also buy a fully functional Intel-based system – a system with all its parts in place – and that such a system running Linux would be more than a match for the Mac mini. But … a person with the chops to work with a Linux box is not the target audience, nor is it more than a significant minority of those who buy low-end PCs.
The low-end PC buyer is not likely to be hung up on any sort of expensive software. Maybe they have Office, or Word, more likely Works or its equal. They get that with the mini – its equal. They get a choice of browsers – more than most PCs offer – and a Mail program that eats Spam for breakfast. And a great movie editor, a great music player, a great music creator, every Unix tool in the book, and no known problems with malware. OK, Linux is pretty good against malware, too, but the Mac offers a greater library of top quality games than Linux can claim – just nothing like what Windows has on offer.
Oh. A keyboard and mouse can be bought for maybe $50 (total) and a monitor costs as little as a hundred – should you not have one left from your previous system. And Apple may not tell you this, but if you want to do anything interesting then you want the $75 RAM upgrade. That’s up to $250 over and above the cost of the naked mini. The 70,000 pieces of malware are unavailable at any cost.
OK. It isn’t perfect. It isn’t always as low-cost as it might seem. It isn’t anything close to a supercomputer. It has a much smaller game catelog than WIntel systems brag of. But, remember that you’ll have to replace every bit of software when you replace your Win’9x machine anyway. Remember that your last PC was never touted as a supercomputer. That the best games DO make it to the Mac. That the mini has the software built in that 90% of non-gamers need – plus IE, which they don’t.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:41 pm
Oh, and MSJ and the Serial Box. There–now you can get a Mac.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:42 pm
You don’t get it. You never will. This device will sell in fantastic numbers despite the hatred that you and p2pnet (and lots of other linux snobs) seem to have for this computer.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:44 pm
There will be crow to eat by the author of this little piece of nonsense. Just watch, this little “blind” mac take on some eyes. This thing is going to scream. Windows is used by most folks in the computer world, but it is because most folks do not know anything about computers. Macs are for those who want to get some work done and who do a wide variety of work rather than just playing video games. PCs are for those who go cheap, and end up paying a whole lot more. The mini Mac comes with some very excellent FREE software, leaving the price of the computer at about $200.00. Wow! What a steal. No PC on earth will come in at that price with the quality that is built into the Mac. Yes, there will be crow to eat, but the author will not want to eat it, so he will continue to make up the stories he has made. But the enlightened will love this new little Mac. I want 10 of them.
)
January 17th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
I own an iBook and a G4. And three PCs running Windows. And not a single Linux box. And you’re the one who doesn’t get it. Dipshit.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:52 pm
This seems stupid. It really has to do with the fact that Apple has a PC-compliant version of panther, but is not allowed to release it.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:52 pm
I’m investigating the Mac Mini because I’ve had enough of Windows’ crap security and ever increasing bloatware and activity I don’t control. I used to be an evangelist for Microsoft software but today I feel I’m on the wrong side. Apple is where MS was when I started promoting Windows and MS Office in 1990. I will use the Mini to connect to my Windows setup and make the evaluation for myself. The cost of new MS Office and Photoshop software will be well worth it. It was the cpu cost that mattered most and from what I’m reading the OSX comes loaded with software anyway.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
I would go PowerMac G5 myself, as an alternative. Problem remains: These things are about 40% overpriced. As for the blind Mac, I’d replace my whole office’s desktops w/ them and continue to run Exchange for email. It may very well happen in the future, but Apple *HAS TO* lower it’s pricing ! NOW!!
January 17th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
There’s no “PC-compliant” version of Panther.
http://developer.apple.com/darwin/
January 17th, 2005 at 4:57 pm
Much like the computer you are typing on, you have a virus. If you can not look at the big picture, you should not speak (It makes you sound stupit). Lots of americans have a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and oh yeah a broken PC. Now the equation goes, if you take all listed above and minus the broken PC and a new Mini Mac, what do you get? A computer which will actually work. I will be the first to say there are switching cost involved. I am ashamed to say I was a former Windows user, and it did cost some coin to switch over to Mac. But now that I have, there is one major difference. My computer actually works.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
Ya, you said it…”a cheap computer”. Why would a person would want to run security-flawed Windows (the operating system on top of the operating system)? The design of both the hardware and operating system on a Mac is so superior they don’t even play in the same ball park. If you don’t mind downloading daily security patches and still risking a virus or malicious html destroying all your hard work, by all means, Windows is for you.
Once you go Mac, you’ll never go back.
January 17th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
You’re right–Macs come loaded with nice software. Don’t expect no security issues or no problems however:
http://secunia.com/product/96/
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464
I own two Macs. They’re nice, but they’re far from trouble-free.
January 17th, 2005 at 5:02 pm
Wow, its like if you make any kind of suggestion that the Mac isn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread all these people get very offended. That’s scary. It’s just a computer people. No one solution is perfect. Windows issues are legendary, and I don’t think the Mac or Linux are perfect solutions either. I wish Apple luck with the mini, but I think it’s 2 years too late. The 800 pound gorilla in the room isn’t Microsoft, it’s Dell… Apple taking on Dell is not a pretty sight, iPod or not..
just my 2
January 17th, 2005 at 5:05 pm
This drivel was obviously written by one of W’s speech writers – filled with innacuracies and inuendo. “2.5%” should have read “3.5%” of the world market. “Cheapo” MAC is just too, too obvious.
And don’t forget your existing keyboard, mouse, monitor and just about eveything else is usable thanks to the free – included “adpaters”.
Get over it kid….now even you can afford a MAC!!
January 17th, 2005 at 5:07 pm
As a Mac/Windows user, here’s my take: Both OS X (Panther) and Windows XP (Professional) are great operating systems. Both are extremely easy to use. Both are very secure if you take the time to set them up right and keep them patched (and yes–Apple DOES release security patches. Plenty of them). It’s all a matter of personal preference. I work on my Mac most of the time, but I would never consider using it for business (QuickBooks for Mac SUCKS). On the other hand, my wife HATES Panther and would never consider using one of my Macs for anything.
Neither one is “better”. They’re different–that’s all.
January 17th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
Yeah-yeah, and Elvis is still alive.
Please, for $500 I can pick up a box and load any of a number of distros of *nix or Windows OS’s and still run legacy software.
Do that with whatever “Kitty-Release” of BeOS ops sorry I mean OS X and not have to reboot into OS 9.
Is a Mac a good computer – sure, since they are now forced to keep up with the WinTel hardware like DDR and AGP video cards, are Macs better – nope – just quirky.
I’ll take Windows or *nix any time over proprietary hardware and ripped off OS’s.
January 17th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
Wow. That extra 1% of nothing makes all the difference…
January 17th, 2005 at 5:13 pm
Maybe you are right, maybe you need to do some homework. I found out that Adobe has a cross-platform sidegrade offer where it costs very little to get the Mac version of Photoshop:
http://forums.afterhoursconsulting.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=119
Maybe Macromedia and Microsoft have similar programs?
January 17th, 2005 at 5:16 pm
“If you don’t mind downloading daily security patches and still risking a virus or malicious html destroying all your hard work, by all means, Windows is for you.”
And if you don’t mind a poorly-written installer or a poorly-written OS erasing all your data, Mac OS is for you:
http://www.macnn.com/news.php?id=10446
http://news.com.com/Panther+glitch+erases+some+hard+drives/2100-1045_3-5099878.html
January 17th, 2005 at 5:19 pm
I’ve been on a Mac for 10 years and never lost a file or a hard drive to an OS problem. Can you say the same thing about your windows machine?
January 17th, 2005 at 5:21 pm
A lot of bias in this rather clumsy article. The mini may not be your machine, or you may have an undying loathing of Apple/Jobs. But for the larger majority of people who don’t like to throw the baby (functional k/v/m) out with the bathwater (wintel tower), the prospect of the Mac mini is mighty attractive. I’m a windows user, but at the end of January, I’m going to give Apple a chance.
And if my Nokia could play audiobooks, I’d have nothing to do with an iPod Shuffle — but as a portable book player, that thing is already on order. Hey – it even works with this dog of a Dell when the Dell isn’t fighting the spyware. That’s the last time I let a drugged out slacker tell me what to do, dude.
January 17th, 2005 at 5:23 pm
Yes–I can say that about my Windows machine. As a Mac user, I wish I could say the same thing. I recently lost 100 gigs of mp3s from a FireWire drive plugged into my Mac. DiskWarrior was unable to recover the drive. I got the files back by throwing a 1394 card in my Windows box and using Windows recovery software to scavange the files.
Macs are great. They’re not perfect. And sometimes they totally, utterly suck. Just like Windows.
January 17th, 2005 at 5:28 pm
One thing I hate about Apple: The mini has no PCI slots, so all upgrading must be done via USB. And one of the USB ports is for your keyboard and one is for the mouse. So there are no available USB ports unless you buy an Apple keyboard or a powered USB hub. Stupid design decisions like that are what keep me from falling in love with my Macs. They’re nice, but they’re not THAT nice…
January 17th, 2005 at 5:28 pm
Earth to Steve Jobs: Not This Way.
Chopping parts off a racehorse might lower the price tag, but at what Cost?
The Total Cost of Ownership is the key. With a Wintel box, the customer has to pay & pay & pay all along the lifeline of the unit. With a Mac, you pay most of the TCO up front & just use the thing henceforth.
Educate the world and hold fast to the high ground, Steve! End Users as a group aren’t as stupid as they once were. The *depth* of stupidity is getting worse (e.g. Bonzi Buddy, MSMessenger, ActiveX Wallpaper, voting by Party), but the *breadth* is diminishing somewhat.
Before you know it, paying the entire cost of ownership up front will make perfect sense to Ma & Pa Kettle, working *with* the PC instead of *ON* the PC will be de rigeur, and the horrors of Windows will be more like a recollection of a collective nightmare than a crappy User Interface masquerading as an unfinished OS.
Or all the intelligent people will get forced Ritalin doses, the User community will get more stupid, and there will be no one bright enough to use a Mac anymore anyway. “How am I supposed to use a mouse with just one button??” Either way, cutting off your IO to spite your competitor’s UI is not the answer.
Ferret
January 17th, 2005 at 5:33 pm
Yeah, that 129 bucks every year for the newest OS hardly bothers me at all. I can stick with Jaguar, but of course support is limited (like no Safari upgrades if you’re not running Panther, no iLife, etc.) On the other hand, Microsoft just released SP2 for XP and Windows 2000 is up to SP4. No charge. They’ll even mail you a CD for free if you don’t want to sit through the download.
Apple nickle and dimes you to death. Minor tweaks and service packs masquerading as “new” versions is why most businesses don’t use Macs.
January 17th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
Yeah, that’s pretty stupid. You HAVE to have a powered hub or no printer, no Mbox, no nothing. Wow. You can’t even plug in your new iPod Shuffle. That’s hilarious, in a pathetic sort of way. Why didn’t Apple think of that? Or maybe they just don’t care. Seems like they just want to get your money…
January 17th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
You’re still missing the point. OK, people who really use MS Office broadly or use Photoshop won’t switch. But LOTS of people use their computers exclusively for the internet, basic word processing, photos, and music. Period. All of which can be done without buying new software. Linux (which I consider “politically” far superior to Mac or Windows) is just too hard for those people.
The Mac mini gives THOSE MANY MILLIONS of computer users a great opportunity. Additionally, those people don’t need much power. They would be fine with processors manufactured 4 years ago. The Mac mini gives them all they need, in a sweet little package that isn’t overly pricey. It also gives them a much better browser: Safari puts IE to shame.
(BTW, I’m a PC user. [Though I use Firefox in lieu of IE, as you might expect.] I have recent Mac experience primarily because I’m the tech support for my parents’ two Macintoshes.)
January 17th, 2005 at 5:43 pm
I love how Apple promotes this as “take it out of the box, plug in a monitor, a mouse and a keyboard and you’re good to go.” Oh, yeah, and run out to the store for a powered USB hub because now you don’t have anywhere to plug in your printer. Oh, and if you’re a PC user, you may need a new printer because many aren’t compatible. And a scanner.
Other than that, it’s a sweet deal.
January 17th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
Before You Buy A Mini:
- Check to see if your printer, scanner, etc. are compatible–many aren’t.
- Consider where you’ll plug them in.
- Take a good, hard look at the cost of software upgrades.
- Consider the price of an Airport card vs. a nice, cheap PC-compatible wireless NIC. I bought a Trendnet card for 15 bucks at newegg for my PC. The cheapest I’ve found for my G4 is 75 bucks. That’s for a PCI card. The mini doesn’t have any PCI slots…
- If you still want one, compare to an iBook or an eMac before you buy.
January 17th, 2005 at 6:24 pm
Well, I’d guess that they’re anticipating that most users will be using an Apple keyboard that you can daisychain 2 devices off of.
January 17th, 2005 at 6:25 pm
They want you to buy an Apple keyboard. The margin on the Mini is razor thin. They are banking on the fact that OSX is so much better than Windows that your next computer after the mini will be a G5 that addresses the above problems. Apple realises that there really isn’t much of a difference in performance between a 1 ghz G4 and a 2 ghz G5 for the average user (both will display websites and email very quickly). In order to make different systems they always artificially cripple the lower end of the product line. If you don’t like it but do like OSX you can always build your own, just like with a PC.
January 17th, 2005 at 6:56 pm
Cool as it is, there is still the speed issue. I love the mini, but man I need some speeeeeed, and this squished G4 laptop isn’t going to cut it.
January 17th, 2005 at 7:16 pm
When the system only costs a “few hundred bucks,” “another few hundred bucks” makes a big difference when I’m looking at trashing my kids’ Dell and replacing it with a Mac mini. Heck, even if I didn’t already have a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, I could get all three on Craigslist for under $30 total. If I want “Wi-Fi” I can spring for the upgrade when I order the mini from Apple; if I don’t want it I don’t have to pay for it.
It’s not a panacea for Apple’s marketshare problems, and I’m sure they don’t expect it to be, but it really does open up a huge chunk of the market where they’ve had no offering in the past. For the first time ever, I can justify buying a brand-new computer for my kids instead of handing down my old one when I upgrade. (After their frustrations with the Dell and a couple of Toshiba laptops vs. all their trouble-free hand-me-down Macs, I would never even consider inflicting another Wintel PC on them, at any price.)
In fact, I’m debating whether it might even be worth sacrificing the mobility of my old PowerBook to have a newer system at that price…
January 17th, 2005 at 8:02 pm
you have really got to be out of touch with the world of high tech in the year 2005, if you think that a PC printer and scanner doesnt work with a mac. fact is all consumer printers and scanners are crossplatform, as are most devices. this isnt 1996, and apple isnt about to go out of business. the newton no longer exists, and Mac OS 7.5 is not the mac standard. with the adoption of industry standards like USB and Firewire, almost anything can work on anything, most of the time without extra drivers(atleast on the mac).
as for the article, the average joe is not going to replaec his virus striken windows dell, with linux. its just not going to happen. dont get me wrong, linux is a great OS, but its going to be a looong time before linux is embraced by the consumer industry, if ever. Mac OS X with is UNIX underpinnings provides all of the benefits of Linux, with the ease of use and software compatibility of the mac. as for software, sure, there is less software on the mac. having said that, MS and Adobe and Macromedia and all the software youll find on a consumers computer have mac versions. besides, a mac out of the box comes with software for doing almost everything with it already (iphoto, itunes, imovie, idvd, safari, mail, addressbook, ichat, ical, garageband, etc.). so for someone with a PC, he can throw that tower out the window, and get a mac mini, while still using his present keyboard, mouse and monitor.
January 17th, 2005 at 8:24 pm
This new mac is not aimed at people buying their first computer, it’s aimed at people who already have a windows PC, monitor, keyboard and mouse but are fed up with them. With this new mini, the consumer only has to replace their cpu. The person can use their old monitor and even their windows mouse and keyboard that they already own. They don’t have to buy apple.
January 17th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
It’s funny to see the linux club with their panties in a bunch. I am sure you were just as upset about 8-track/cassette beta/vhs laserdisc/dvd dvd/divx scandals. My suggestion is to actually go out to an Apple store, and touch it. I am pretty sure it won’t bite.
January 17th, 2005 at 8:36 pm
I agree completely. I also think that this is a good value for just the reason you stated: People can shop around to get cheaper peripherals. This keeps the price low. It is also a better value in it’s class because it is so small, My desk is already cluttered, I have no problem with a smaller computer. The way tech has been moving in the past handfull of years it doesn’t make since to me to keep updating hardware my old PC. By the time I add a new video card, ect. I am getting close to the price of a mac mini, and my PC is still slower in benchmark tests despite what the numbers read. Another way to look at the car analogy is this: would you rather be forced to buy a car with expensive alloys (that you may not like) or one significantly cheaper and choose your own wheels?
January 17th, 2005 at 8:45 pm
Once upon a time I to was nieve and thought that windows was a viable alternative to mac. I have since managed a computer lab at a universtiy, and have found that the macs just keep running, while the PC’s, which have different software sets, need constant maintenance. It is even a bigger headache whenever an update come out, because it has to be tested to make sure it doesn’t lock up any of the applications. We have had very few problems with our macs, and besides the ocasional clean-up of old files they have been running video applications without a rebuild for about nine months. I have yet to see a PC in our lab last an entire quarter, let alone over three. The quality of the product is probably enough to convince people to switch over and buy the mac mini. This is good for apple, because when they upgrade these users will have been so satisfied it is very possible that they will buy higher end boxes next time. Fo me, the numbers speak for themselves. Why not choose a stable Unix based box over an overpatched and insecure windows toy?
January 17th, 2005 at 8:51 pm
Photoshop, Dreaweaver, MS Office, and many other programs run excelantly on machintoshes. I believe that Photoshop has always been a mac app, and I use Studio MX at work from macromedia. For 75% of the world Apple offers everything anyone would need. The other 25% have software that they can’t use on the Mac platform but still need. nuf said.
January 17th, 2005 at 8:53 pm
Apple has an excelant set of driver for most printers adn scanners. Far better than Windos right out of the box… The odds are you don’t even need any other drivers, unless you have a non-brand name and obscure product. Even then the mac might run it.
January 17th, 2005 at 8:58 pm
Exactly!!! It was a Apple system that got me into Linux. I used Macs at work, learned some Unix and then found out I could use the same knoledge at home if I just installed Debian… Apple is everything I hope Linux becomes.
January 17th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
Well, have you ever had any problems with this? I didn’t think so. Before you go quoting obscure problems that probably took you all night to find, buy a mac mini and get used to OSX, windows will have successfully copied them by the year 2020, and you can complain about then next crazy technology that you computer doesn’t have then. By that time your mac will probably drive you to work.
January 17th, 2005 at 9:19 pm
Wow! I feel so stupid for buying Macs all these years. Why didn’t I just go out and get that Chevy Cavilier or Kia Sephia as well rather than spending all my money on something better.
January 17th, 2005 at 9:35 pm
I don’t know why so many people view the Mac mini as a replacement for the Wintel box of choice. With a KVM switch (under $20 on ebay) you have both a PC and a Mac. Each has strengths and weaknesses. The Mac mine, for the first time, enable Windows users to ADD the Mac strengths to their arsenal of fun and productivity tools. No one has to throw out anything they currently own, and that’s the beauty of the Mac mine. Don’t Switch, ADD!
January 17th, 2005 at 9:51 pm
- Check to see if your printer, scanner, etc. are compatible–many aren’t.
Every one I have used since Jaguar has been native out of the box no install neccessary. Always safe to check though, but if it is made by HP, Epson, Cannon, Lexmark and it is USB it is a safe bet that it is.
- Consider where you’ll plug them in.
Get a free USB hub after rebates from Offic Depot/Office Max. No big deal, there great to have.
- Take a good, hard look at the cost of software upgrades.
And then enjoy being able to actually run it.
- Consider the price of an Airport card vs. a nice, cheap PC-compatible wireless NIC. I bought a Trendnet card for 15 bucks at newegg for my PC. The cheapest I’ve found for my G4 is 75 bucks. That’s for a PCI card. The mini doesn’t have any PCI slots…
If you don’t want to pay the price for an airport extreme. Go for a USB based D-Link dongle that will work on a Mac for around $40. Plug it in to the USB hub mentioned above.
- If you still want one, compare to an iBook or an eMac before you buy.
They may be a good option as well if you don’t allready own a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The mini will not fit everyone. Personally I plan on buying the 20′ iMac G5. But I am considering the mini to replace my Dell at work.
January 17th, 2005 at 10:09 pm
Speaking as a longtime PC user, there’s no way I’d ever consider buying a Mac unless the prices became TRULY competitive. That means a complete computer system with all the necessary accessories at a price that is competitive with a Windows machine.
Switching over would be enough of a hassle…having to replace all the software I rely on for everything I do, having to re-learn how to do everything I now do instinctively from scratch, etc. Geesh…who has the TIME for that???
The one time I tried to use a Mac, it was so confusing that I decided I wasn’t interested in every trying again. I don’t understand wtf is supposed to be so much better about them, and I’m sick to death of the elitist attitude displayed by many Mac afficionados. I worked with a guy once who thought he was too good to use a PC and kept muttering that the only thing they were good for was to be boat anchors. Well, excuuuuuuuse me, but my PC does everything I need to do just fine. I tried to get him to explain WHY Macs were (in his opinion) better, and he couldn’t even do that. *rolls eyes* Pardon me for not being impressed, lol.
I know I’m not the only Windows user who feels this way. If Apple wants to win over people like me, I think they’re going to have to make it as easy AND as cheap as possible. Until they’re prepared to do that, they can take their supposedly SOOOOOOO superior machine AND their elitist attitude and stick it where the sun don’t shine, as far as I’m concerned.
January 17th, 2005 at 10:15 pm
It’s clear that whoever wrote this is not too bright – like most widows enthusiasts. Ever notice how new inovations happen FIRST on Macs and then a lame attempt to copy them is made YEARS later in Windows which never quite work right? Then, when these new inovations do finally come out in Windows, ignorant Windows devotees are always there to proclaim how briliant the lame Widows attempts at stealing Mac innovations are.
As for his comment about purchasing a “superior” pc – What an oxymoron that is! There is nothing superior about any pc running windows. I use Linux too and it’s way better than windows – but still a far cry from th simplicity and elegance of the Mac OS. I STILL prefer my 7 year old Mac G3 to my 6 month old pc with 3GHZ CPU- the old Mac outperforms the PC in everything.
January 17th, 2005 at 10:37 pm
And that’s the key… the software. If iLife was available on PC, I would get it -and then maybe I would be satisfied with my pc. But it’s not, it’s completely mac, and right now that alone is a good reason to make the switch. But compound it with the security issues, compatibility problems, and overall user “unfriendliness” of the pc world, and this little pc has a chance to change everything. Apple is all about simplicity of design, form following function etc. Most end-users don’t want to screw around with software, they want to accomplish something with the software. That’s something that the pc world hasn’t figured out yet. I spend too much time screwing with settings, and not enough time doing what I wanted to do in the first place, and that’s why I’m making the switch back to the place I never should have left- the mac.
January 17th, 2005 at 10:39 pm
I am a Mac user from way back, and I have been using a PC for years now. I have wanted a new Mac for a while now, but could not justify spending $1500 or so. I already own a great 17″ flat panel display and a USB keyboard and mouse.
This unit is perfect for me. I know just how fast it is and am glad to regain my desktop area with the tiny case.
Bill and boys have not been inovative in years. I hate PC’s but, have used them because they were cheap.
This is a great moment for people wanting to try a Mac.
I don’t know who the dumbass who wrote the article, but he must be a young, ignorant, gamer punk.
Regards,
January 17th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
Ever notice how Mac users are condesending whiny knowitalls.
If Apple has the superior hardware and software then why do they hold such a small market share?
I’ve used Macs at work for years and they are terrible for business applications. 99% of the test and programming machines in my lab are PCs. Believe me, my ignorant moron of a boss would have Macs doing their job if it were possible. Macs just don’t cut it for serious tasks.
He swears by Macs but like most Mac users, he knows little about the technical aspects of the hardware he uses. He can’t even set the thing up to get on the internet. He’s owned 2 IBooks in the past 3 years because they either blow up or fall apart. The IMac I use in the lab has lost files countless times. We now back up to a PC with RAID. The same PC that’s outlived the IBooks.
And as far as this dope saying his G3 outruns his 3gig PC….he needs to learn how to use a PC and get rid of all the crap that using processor time while he’s trying to use it. My 3gig PC blows all the G3s and the G4s away in our office.
Get a clue and quit your whining!!
Macs are great machines if used for what there intended for, Apple applications. It’s almost ridiculous trying to compare PCs to Macs. Each has it’s strengths and weaknesses, and each has it’s cheering section. For me….keep your Mini, buy small, think small, stay small.
January 17th, 2005 at 11:02 pm
see, typical condesending asshole Mac user. Remember that Mini is only running 1.4ghz while real Macs are running faster CPUs. It’s a nice toy.
January 17th, 2005 at 11:07 pm
Speaking as a young ignorant gamer punk, I dislike Windows just as much as I’m baffled by Apple cultists.
And as for Linux, although I’m right behind the open source concept, I haven’t tried the OS, something I’ll remedy in the near future by installing it on one of my PC hard-drives. I’ll be working with a friend of mine in Ottawa who’s a Linux aficianado. Between us, we’ll running a daily p2pnet diary of our experiences as an expert, Russell, tries to show a technical idiot, me, how to get Linux up and running.
I’d also be glad to try a Mac of any kind from the stand-point of an ignorant gamer punk who’s never used one before —- but my curiousity doesn’t play to the tune of $500 – or more.
Cheeers!
January 17th, 2005 at 11:19 pm
Perhaps you’re unaware that you can infact run Windows or Lynix OS’s on a Mac. As for only running only Apple applications- perhaps you need to get a clue dude! Much of the better software is FIRST developed on the Mac and then ported to Windows, except fo Microsoft which only clueless people would ever use for anything.
January 17th, 2005 at 11:42 pm
Horrible, poorly thought-out article with abominable logic… it appears as if the author based his thought processes more on prejudice and misplaced anger than on actual consideration.
I’m a hard-core PC user and haven’t owned a Mac since 1994. Still, I’ll probably buy a Mini just for kicks. For young professionals $500 is little to pay for a very cool toy – and everyone I know either has three sets of monitors and keyboards sitting around, or can “borrow” that many from the overflowing storage closets at work with no one noticing.
With everyone already walking around with an iPod, I think we can be pretty sure this Mini is going to end up selling extremely well as an iPod accessory.
It’s pretty clear that the author of that article either needs a girlfriend or a swift kick in the head.
January 18th, 2005 at 12:02 am
You ever run Windows apps on a Mac? They are prone to crashing and don’t quite work correctly….maybe because they’re supposed to be run on Windows!!!! I wasn’t disputing where the software developed from you peared shaped twit! we all know that Microsoft rips everybody off.
You’re yet another example of condesending asshole Mac users!!
January 18th, 2005 at 12:19 am
I own 75 macs. My business runs mostly OS X Panther. There are a few older machines running Mac OS 9. All of the Macs work consistently great. Very, very few problems. Easy to train employees, network, network to printers, share files, and no virus problems since we’ve been using Macs which was 1989. Any computer could have a problem here and there. Macs have far fewer than the Windows alternative.
January 18th, 2005 at 12:23 am
There are other accounting programs for the mac besides Quickbooks. Why does your wife hate Panther?
January 18th, 2005 at 12:25 am
“W’s speech writers”????? You are an idiot dude!
January 18th, 2005 at 12:34 am
“Personally I plan on buying the 20′ iMac G5. But I am considering the mini to replace my Dell at work.”
Good idea. I always buy my own work computers too. Duh.
January 18th, 2005 at 12:38 am
You Mac fans are so goddamned naive and so proud of it. I think that’s what makes you so adorable.
January 18th, 2005 at 12:39 am
You might as well talk to Mini rather than talk to a Mac user….you get the same answer. In their defense O/S X is based on a superior O/S than Windows but that isn’t saying much.
However their less than 10% of the market doesn’t do them any good since the other 90% is driven by Windows and it’s related software/hardware. As long as you use mainstream “important” applications you’re ok. But maybe you like to play with stuff….good luck it’s all Windows. We ALL know Windows is insecure, unstable and whatever else Mac users want to claim. But the bottom line is Apple’s products are overrated, overpriced and are just too good for the other 90% of the population.
Less than 10% looks like crap anyway you look at it. Now if Apple is smart they will actually get their pricing in line….eventually. If they do that then you’ll see a stampede of PC users switch. Applications will increase for the Mac and software makers will probably adopt switchover programs. I still have to see positive proof that they have the superior machine….less than 10% says otherwise.
January 18th, 2005 at 12:40 am
Q: Why don’t Macs get viruses?
A: They don’t need them.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
January 18th, 2005 at 12:45 am
…that’s because noone besides Mac users want to have anything to do with Macs. They don’t need them.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
January 18th, 2005 at 12:47 am
I have used both Windows and Macs for years. The Macs are better in practically every way. It sounds like the first poster in this thread barely gave it a chance. Try it for a month and I guarantee you won’t feel the way you do now. Maybe you’re just to cheap or stubborn to accept that you made the wrong choice in computers in Windows. You’ll never know what your missing unless you give it more of a chance dude.
January 18th, 2005 at 12:48 am
uh…prone to crashing? Sure sounds like every Windows machine I’ve ever used. What’s nice is when they do crash (because they are still running on Microsoft WINDOWS), the Mac OS is still just fine. As for pear shapes, they look far more like pears on a Mac than a Windows machine.
January 18th, 2005 at 12:51 am
You’re full of crap dude!
January 18th, 2005 at 12:51 am
Having purchased OS X 10.3.0 over a year ago, I am now using 10.3.7, paying nothing to get there, and getting revamped versions of Safari, iCal, iTunes, GarageBand, Address Book, Mail, more verbose Network & system options – the list goes on.
Apple may not send them out, but my OS didn’t critically NEED any of the updates either – nothing was crashing unexpectadly, nor were any third party devices, software or otherwise causing conflicts. Beside a monthly security patch (always lower than 1MB to ’sit through’ downloading), Apple’s updates have only expanded on functionality, not an inherent lack of it… unlike the SP’s i keep HAVING to install on my windows box two metres to the left, in order to feel confident having it positioned on my LAN with a continuous high-speed connection.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:10 am
I got in a fight with a Mac user once….I beat the crap out him with his own IPod. Then shot him in the thigh just to watch him squeal and flop around…he called me a young, ignorant, gamer punk. Oh wait….I was playing GTA San Andreas.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:21 am
1.4 ghz is still fast. Fast enough for the target audience tool boy.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:23 am
that’s true….monkeys and morons don’t know the difference.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:25 am
There are plenty of used macs that you can pick up very cheap for you to test out. Look around on the net or your local computer store or newspaper. It wouldn’t be nearly as fast as a new machine but would give you an idea of why people who use macs love them so much. Maybe then you’d find a way to afford a new or newer mac.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:27 am
You are a tool. I’d like to beat the crap out of you.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:29 am
That was so funny I forgot to laugh. Loser!
January 18th, 2005 at 1:30 am
bring it you fairy mac user….the only thing you can beat is in the middle of your fist.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:31 am
nice comeback….you out of first grade yet?
January 18th, 2005 at 1:35 am
it was more than fitting to the original post.
January 18th, 2005 at 1:36 am
name the time and place you fairy!
January 18th, 2005 at 1:40 am
I was just looking at SARC and MacAfee, O/S X has no viruses to date…cool. There’s some poeple very busy somewhere trying to change that though.
January 18th, 2005 at 2:00 am
Every USB keyboard I have seen has two USB ports on it so you can plug the USB mouse and another device into the keyboard, taking up only one USB plug on the computer for three devices.
Yeah, there’s a slight chance that someone’s USB printer and/or scanner may not be supported by OS X. In my experience working in a mixed platform environment and in helping over 2 dozen people switch, I have run into no incompatable USB printers and one incompatable USB scanner.
There’s a much higher chance that someone’s Windows box is infested with malware.
January 18th, 2005 at 4:37 am
Aww, macs can have issues… but not often. I have had to rebuild many windows systems, and have lost endless amounts of data. I no longer use the system hard drive for data on windows computers. I administer a computer lab at a university by the way, I just thought I’d add that before you told me I didn’t know computers.
January 18th, 2005 at 4:45 am
Amazing that you think of Apples OS as “ripped off”. You need a history lesson. Apple innovated early desktops and was soon copied by MS, if you don’t believe me you can check your newspaper archives and read about the lawsuits.
January 18th, 2005 at 5:45 pm
you truly are a moron…run along now back to your Crapintosh and continue jerking off to your grandiose flights of fantasy. Believe me I’d like nothing better than to step on you like the P.O.S you are.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Hello, tnx for your precious post about firewire usb hub, well done!