Comments on: Apple launches new Intel Mac Minis, iPod Hi-Fi

Mac maker introduces two new Minis with Intel chips and a speaker system that CEO Steve Jobs says is of home stereo quality.

[xxtrashcanxx]

That was lame. like we say in german, Wazu?

I was very excited. But, these products are lame. Now I have to wait
tille April 1st. Ekscuse my Englisch.

[keyboard55]

A theory...

... OK, really a *hypothesis.* Could be that Apple was tentatively
set to announce additional products today. They probably
figured that a MS event attempting to "steal the thunder" was at
least a possibility, and thus had a contingency plan to hold back
on certain products. Since MS did exactly that, they put plan B
into motion. Again, this is only a hypothesis...

BTW, Apple DID low-key this event. As others have pointed out:
most of the HYPE of this event was generated by media, pundit-
wannabees, etc. The whining, criticism, etc. is-- in my mind--
self-inflicted punishment resulting from unwise expectations.

Watch for the 30th anniversary event...

[thomusvoo]

im gonna go cry

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
a boom box
some cases
and a bumped price mini?
thats all.....
WEAK

[jfalkingham]

ok, now when are the ViiV minis coming out?

Thought this would announce a mini that is going to be a home media center....

http://70.84.186.131/content_images/idf_images/goldengate4.jpg

[darrius3365]

re:

Apparently, this Mac mini and virtually all Macs (and Vista PCs) will have media center capabilities. However, I do not believe Apple plans to participate in any Intel marketing programs (like Centrino Mobile Technology, ViiV, Intel Inside), though their computers will use the same processors and do the same things the PC counterparts will be able to do.

[Don Key]

When is the REAL announcement

I'm a Mac FREAK and this was super, super, lame. An overpriced speaker? A new MacMini which is $100 more? What happened to the $500 dollar Mac? Oh well.

I think of it this way, sometimes you are walking your dog and he takes a crap. You look in your pocket and realize that you don't have any bags. At that point, you think to yourself "oh well, I can't win them all"

[Thrudheim]

Mac mini

The base model mini did pick up built-in wireless networking and
Bluetooth, which were add-ons before. Also has: much faster
processors, Front Row and the remote, 2 more USB ports, digital
audio out, and 20 GB more hard drive space.

On the downside, integrated Intel graphics. Still, on the whole, it's
worth the extra $100.

[John Goecke]

Has Apple Lost It?

I know that Apple needs to focus on getting the new Intel Macs out,
but is anyone excited by it? Plus who has been dying for an Apple
stereo? Hasn't everyone already figured out how to play their iPod
on their current system.

[monkeyhouse]

Anti-Apple-Climax

Ok, new mac-mini's, fair enough. Fun? Exciting? Not so much,
they don't really do anything new and with no native Tivo-ness
going on, it's no media center. The inflation in price reflects
their new found power, so why not market them to people that
would need this increase in speed. Playing music and watching
photo's and videos (which they're plugging) doesn't need this
extra power and makes it look way over priced. The PC
alternative, doesn't look so attractive to me now... not until a
price drop!

New speakers...pish. If you really care about good quality sound
that much chances are you'll own or want to own a good set of
hi-fi seperates, which you can plug your iPod into and do a
whole lot more with too, rather than blast your wallet with this
purchase.

$5 piece of cow skin + Apple logo = $99 iPod case. They're
really aiming for the more money than sense crowd now then.

Your turn Microsoft.
(Though whats happening on 1st April?)

[webdev511]

Isn't that the truth

Yes, Mac Mini's are still nice machines, more than enough features and power for for 95% of all non gamers. Dual boot OSX and Vista would be the best of both worlds (provided Vista isn't bug riddled still needs a service pack to be truly complete).

Ditto on the iPod HiFi. If you want REAL hi-fi, and not just hi-fi in name, Apple shouldn't be your first stop. Of course marketing means more than real world performance, go figure.

Intel graphics

Ummm.....64mb of video ram? They have to be kidding. Seems like
a big step backward, but I guess they had to skimp somwhere to
keep the price down.

[mofo111]

64mb of video ram

I'm using a PowerMac G5 with two 20-inch screens right now. The
videocard installed in it? A GeForce FX 5200 with 64 Mb of VRAM.
So 64 Mb is perfectly fine for routine work, which squares nicely
with the target customers of the Mac Minis.

[naterandrews]

Re: Intel Graphics

It is a step backward. I only hope that the new iBooks dont have Intels craptacular graphics, but mostlikely will

[darrius3365]

re:

Yeah, I have Intel integrated graphics on my PC and I can't play any games...(mine you it is 4 years old now, but couldn't do much back then either)...

[originalbitman]

Mini Video

From MAc FixIT:

The GMA950 uses "Dynamic Video Memory Technology" (DVMT)
to support up to 224MB of video memory; system memory is
allocated where it is needed dynamically. It has 64MB of DDR2
SDRAM of its own, shared with main memory

Still, on paper, the GMA950's specs best those of the Radeon
9200 card used by the PowerPC-based Mac mini. For instance,
the GMA950 claims 1.6 billion pixels per second vs. 1.1 billion
pixels per second for the Radeon 9200. And the GMA950
includes a 256-bit graphics core running at 400MHz while the
Radeon 9200 uses a 400 Mhz 128-bit core.

Again, benchmarks have yet to be recorded, but we wouldn't be
surprised if the new Intel-based Mac mini's integrated graphics
performance exceeds that of the previous PowerPC-based
generation with a separate graphics card for most tasks.

[mwaldyke]

Re: Intel Graphics

No, Intel graphics is not very exciting. But be real, people. You're not going to get a hot gaming machine for $599 or $799, from Apple or from anyone else. If you want a fast processor and 256 MB of DDR3 VRAM, you're going to have to pay A LOT MORE, and you're going to have to put it in a much bigger box (with a bigger power supply, bigger cooling fans, bigger everything). This machine is very well designed for the job it is intended to do.

And no, it is not a step back. The early benchmarks make the graphics out to be more than twice as fast as those of the G4 Mini. Doesn't seem to be a step back to me.

My $.02.

[tlite722]

yaaaaawn...

classic example of apple overhype and the fawning media following them with ultimately ho hum results...

[J_Satch]

re: yaaaaawn...

Kind of reminds me of Geraldo Rivera opening Al Capone's safe years ago! LOL

[Stan Johnson]

Unbelievable BORING non-news --- Apple hype at its best

Apple hype at its best

[open-mind]

Unbelievably boring stan-johnson post

Apple hating at its best

[rfelgueiras]

Wow, what's with everybody!

Apple never promised anything other that new fun products,
and that's what they delivered. Anything you guys are mad at is
because you all over hype anything they call call attention to.
Apple never said they were after the Tivo market, never said they
would release a new iBook, what do you guys want!?! Seriously!
Did they rent out a convention centre? Did they Send out an
invite saying they were changing the way you view television?
No. They are new products that Apple thought needed more
explaining then just posting on the website and a PR release.
The mini looks awesome and I like the new feature in front row
(I'll be upgrading) and the HIFi sounds like it has some killer
audio reproduction. Nothing was promised, so you can't feel let
down. Stop putting so much weight behind rumors. Also, they
sent out emails. They didn't take out full page ads in the Times
or buy air time during "24", so how did apple over hype?

[thomusvoo]

true

i thin kwe were just expecting something..... better.

[Stan Johnson]

one word

BORING

[Sir Limey]

What's with Apple

Wow just what I really needed a piece of leather for $99. Come on Apple, branding is cool until you start ripping off your base of supporters. It's not what was promised but how little was delivered. Seems that evverything has been done before by 3rd party suppliers and cheaper too..

[hemen thacker]

Total boring.

Why would anyone like to hear about the hardware updates which isn't anything new. They could have announce it last time. PC users can do it on fly buying it from outside.

Who would like to buy a 100$ case for 145 $ nano? its crazy. The speakers sound interesting but price to statisfaction ratio will be a big deal.

[indrakanti]

Unbelievable!!!!

$340 for iPod Hi-Fi. For crying out loud...over prices Bose SoundDock costs $299! I doubt anybody in their right mind would pay $340 for a boombox. But then, if your are in your right mind your are not a fanboy.

[oli666]

What did you expect?!

Seeing as Apple's 30th aniversary is coming up then why would they release a new ipod or anything BIG today? really, what did you expect?

[Yet Another Mark Johnson]

Can I get Windows XP on that?

I wonder how hard it would be to load Windows XP on the Intel Mac Mini. I've been looking for a small, very quiet (preferably fanless) PC with gigabit ethernet for awhile now. This might work, but I have all Windows software and won't be switching to another platform.

[darrius3365]

re:

This doesn't help, but there is a (start-up?) PC company that is making computers in the same size range as the Mac mini.

[Bob Brinkman]

you may be able to find a solution here

http://www.logicsupply.com.

[rcrusoe]

Re: Can I get Windows XP on that?

Check Google in the next few days. I'm sure someone will have some instructions on how to downgrade the system to XP. My question would be why?

The OS is the reason people buy Macs, their hardware is a bonus.

If you just want to run XP, buy a Dell. If you want XP on high quality hardware, buy Alienware.

[J.G.]

Macs use OS X

There may be emulation software down the road, but, for now,
Mactel computers are OS X only. As they should be.

[shoonbassjp]

PC, small as MacMini and fanless

this parson asked for PC able to run XP, quiet, Gigabit Erth
http://aopen.jp/products/baresystem/mp915-b.html
cant find item in ENG page of the same company HP
im sure ordering through JP using just English is possible

[capfan12]

ho Hum...

Intel Mac Mini, nice machine overall, will the price increase defeat its purpose?

Ipod Cases: Big **** deal, like that has not been done before, you can get a nice leather case for a lot less then 99 bucks, 10 bucks leather 89 buck apple logo

Hi-Fi system, again big **** deal, I have a Bose surround system and a high end reciever, why would I pay 3xx bucks for this? ok so its portable on batteries, so what if im outside im not expecting the greatest sound in the first place.

[J.G.]

Bitchin' and whinin'

ME, you usually keep it short by just saying anything Apple does
sucks. Why the full paragraph? A person who would buy a Bose
sound system would also buy the new Apple sound system. You
are either insincere or a liar.

[grossph]

Who Hyped this?

You are complaining how lame this announcement was and that is should have been more. it was not apple who made this a big media event. It was the MEDIA that made this a big event. Remember this took place in a small room with limited invitations. It was not suppose to be a big deal.

So would everyone quit whinning....if you think apple should come out with this product or that product...well then build it yourself if you think it is so easy.

[indrakanti]

You are wrong

"it was not apple who made this a big media event."

In fact it was Apple who made this a big thing by sending a mysterious invitation to the press.

[assman]

Whats wrong with you guys

i never believed those retarded rumors people were putting out. ipod video or apple tablet? the patent was JUST accepted! how could you expect the product to come immediately after the patent? no, ill say either the end of the 4th quarter or 2007.

all this over-hype about an announcement that was clearly not big news. if it were huge new products, they would have made it public and not just secretly to the media. the public wasnt even supposed to know about this announcement.

this announcement was leaked to the public by the media but apple never intended this to happen. wait until next macworld

[darrius3365]

re: Patent

The patent does not necessarily have to be applied for before the product release. So, Apple could have releaed the touch-screen device today if it wanted to...

[Christopher Hall]

Hideously ugly Hi-Fi

Honestly, who would be caught dead with that thing in an office, living room, or kitchen? It's a disgustingly massive, completely spartan, totally non-Apple design they should be ashamed to put in their product lineup.

I can only hope Ol' Jobsy's flogging the design engineers as I write this.

[assman]

the hi-fi was the best announcement today

it looks to be the highest quality all-in-one ipod speakers
available. i think it was absolutely excellent of apple to go high
quality sound instead of skimpy cheap tinny speakers like most
every other accessory maker did.

kudos to apple for going for big heavy GOOD sound!

[ewelch]

As if...

You people aren't thinking.

What makes you think groundbreaking stuff would be released
today? Especially after Steve Jobs started the event talking about
"mid-level" stuff.

And why would they possibly release groundbreaking stuff now,
half way through a quarter, especially when their 30th
anniversary is 32 days away? (April Fool's Day.)

I would expect more to be announced on their anniversary.

[Ryusuke78]

It's good to see...

...that some people use their brains. I mean, people actually thought they were going to announce a VIDEOGAME system? As much as I'd love to see an aliance between Nintendo and Apple, I don't believe it would happen.

[mozart11]

Your kidding right?

That's it?

A friggin leather iPod case?

Yeah I know the mini and boom box.

That's it?

I know I enjoy the Apple mystique. But I can only imagine how
the tech press feels schlepping all the way to Apple
Headquarters via a mysterious invitation? I know as a consumer
how I feel. That's it? A friggin iPod case?!

I can only assume Jobs is giving Gates the opportunity to shine
today with whatever he's announcing. Unless it's a leather case
for carrying around your Windows install cd!

The financial markets, consumer markets, music markets and
film markets as a whole have been looking as Apple/Jobs as the
innovators and visionaries of the tech sector leader for the
future of technology innovation. They lost a lot of credibility
today in my opinion. Calling an event and summoning the press
to them for a truly non-event amazes me. And I bet everyone
else too. As the stock fell almost $3.00 so far.

I'm an Apple devotee. But a non-event is damaging to Apple and
the leadership they've earned the last two years.

Stop stroking your ego Steve with the ability to make the press
jump. You introduced nothing today. These items are a press
release at best. But in reality these products should have just
shown up in the Apple store and marketplace.

A friggin leather iPod case. I got mine on eBay for about 10
bucks each. Yes for my 40 gig, 20 gig, mini, 30 gig video, 60 gig
video and shuffle ipods. So yes I am a Mac person. Always will
be. But today is a shame. or sham?

[J.G.]

Welcome to the real world

DM (Dyspeptic Man), it is not Steve Jobs' fault you prefer to buy
also rans at a discount from eBay. Those of us who prefer
quality believe the three items announced today live up to
Apple's reputation.

Apple promised 'fun' items and delivered. No rational person
really believed it was going to produce peripherals for the Game
Boy or a rival for the Tmobile Sidekick. People who held
unrealistic expectations should blame themselves, not Apple.

I also am not expecting Yahoo's subscription service to suddenly
become iPod friendly or Microsoft to co-brand a new Apple
product, either. That is because I'm realistic person. Reality,
more people should try it.

[sanenazok]

These products are so "FUN"!

I also remember watching the PBS Nightly Business Report which stated that Apple stock went up slightly in "anticipation" of new products.

Wow these are so FUN!!! Let's generate money for stockholders.

Guess it'll be that much harder for the media to care about Apple if this happens once or twice more.