1. They work better. Macs might not crunch bits faster anymore, but they more or less crunch them fast enough for 80% of the people. So hardware differentiation (internal hardware) is less important, as system integration and software have become the key differentiators in creating computers that save the user’s time. Both in less time to maintain, and in less time needed to use the tool to accomplish the user’s real objective.

2. They are smaller/lighter for the same level of computing power. People want smaller systems, both for mobility and for space in the house. (Apple hasn’t release a subnotebook because the market hasn’t shown a real need for a smaller (but not pocketable) device with less computing-power and with a cramped UI for general computing needs.)

3. They look better.

Macs do have a lesser collection of software, but the software it does have is some of the best. And as more software moves to Web standards, this becomes less and less of a issue. But if you’re in some small niche market, the Mac is not for you.

dont get me wrong. i am a die-hard apple loyalist, ever since the first computer i touched was an LC475.

but i find it silly (although apple had little choice) to go with intel in the first place. and sacrifice Firewire 800 (where is it now) and Firewire on iPods (there, another win for Intel). One of the key things that had excited me once was the ability to use iPods as Firewire drives. i will never be able to love a Mac as much as I have till now. there is little difference in today’s mac hardware from one from Dell. or Sony. Or Toshiba. Why should any new convert try an Apple notebook versus a Windows one, especially since Windows has more choic e of available software and better compatibility with PDAs, Mobile phones, wired as well as unwired? why should Apple’s technology map be dependent on Intel’s own plans, which will be common with the windows one.

why should i buy (apart from the fact that i am a loyalist) a USD 800 Mac Mini for a media device vs a Windows solution? especially since Windows is getting surprisingly better by the day…

i know i still would. but i do hope apple finds more computing customers as well as consumer electronics customers.

all the best for apple’s plans.

I was outlining the lack of innovation in the mini compared to pricing. It shows that Apples waits to suck every penny from a product. Then sluggishly add another extended product with a small feature set difference when the hardware in fact already supports the business structure, in which a large community would want as a host of options that is worth the money.

As I said before Apple is complacent with the revenue and love the proprietary business structure. With their lead and plan they will put up a good fight in this market and will only grow as the number shows. Let’s not however forget that “we” the consumers… the cows to the Apple milkers, if we aren’t fed good hay (products), we naturally will pump Apple the exploiters shit, in other words rants and negativity. These are the things which make you lose a crowd easily as a company, so with the new products like the mummifying leather case and the doombox this is on the road where not everyone will hate. But the word spreads as fast as a tornado wind and breezes negative gossip, and just as fast as Apple gained the note for innovation they could lose the edge to someone quickly. So let’s hope they make that “i” for innovation in the next show.

I for one would love to run my own company and expand my vision, I just turned 22 so I have a lot of time, but vision is all about dreams. Patience is not passive, it is actively holding in concentrated strength which is the companion of wisdom. I have been into the business field for young a 4 years, 2 years professionally. From a techie hobby kid to a mature business nature minded person as my peers may add. But that is neither here nor there, I just love to hear you guy’s comment, it really is good conversation. Hope to hear from you again mark and Om, later!!

CyKiller

That said, Apple’s vision does not include a PVR – at least not one that records from the TV. So don’t expect it. And why would anyone criticize the low-end product for lack of innovation and lack of features – where does that ever happen – and the mini already is innovative in its small footprint. Criticize the MacBook Pro or the Mac Pro (when it’s released) for those reasons.

Finally, the mini is not intended to be a server or even mobile; yeah, some people might use it that way, but that’s not Apple’s intent or vision for it. Did Steve mention either of those words in the context of the mini? If it’s not Apple’s intent, then why would they provide options along those lines? Read between the lines of all of Apple’s product line and all that Jobs says. Apple’s vision is that “the server” is not in the living room – it might not even be in your house. That’s the reason for Bonjour. And when the time is right, for a future version of iTMS and .Mac (or whatever it will be called at the time).

It gets tough being Steve;) He speaks, and people hang on to his “every word,”…and even SNL makes a parody of these product introds.

The only other person who gets so much attention from their every utterance is the Federal Reserve Chairman.

Personally, I’d like to see the standalone DVR. Nah, a DMR, with a name cool enough for the Earl of Elegance.

Let’s go with the pricing, we have 2 Intel versions respectively priced at $599 and $799 which is quite sad. Just to note the Mac mini ships without a keyboard or mouse and the upgrades are over costly offered in wired or wireless keyboard and mouse sets with a small difference between the 2 versions. Yet again another price scheme, “hey why get the wired for $78 when I can get the wireless for $99?” My point is everything that Apple sells is just outrageous in pricing. They are collecting 52% from the iPOD video hardware for example, and you still have a proprietary service oriented applications that simply is killing the competition in downloadable media. This should be nothing neither new to anyone nor surprising of that matter from the pricing standpoint. We should criticize Apple on the lack options and innovation in design other than the processor before price matters.

It would have been simple enough to add a lot of needed or wanted features which brings options (accessories). It makes us ask, where are? – - the PVR and the server feel to make the home entertainment complete and the ability to be integrated with already home owned devices, and I am talking about capable devices not proprietary. – - the mobile feel to it for even business purposes, where I can go on a trip and I can slide a wireless WAN card in it and use my integrated wireless to share access to my co-workers, this supplies multiple team on the road for a cheaper method and places the mini in a business fashion as well. This makes me ask Jobs and Apple “WHERE ARE” these optional features, where are the resources going if you’re not providing us with innovative useful products. People are simply sick of this and it needs to change.

But I guess now the next questions to be asked is, where are the competitors?

Dude, you need to hold a Tech blogger dance-off.

That’s kind of a silly thing to ask. You act as if they can’t do both at the same time, or that they have something to do with each other.

All the hype was fixated on the iTunes movies/iPod video/living room video/TV aspect, which was always more likely to be 30th Anniversary (big thing!) or Sept/Oct (Christmas thing!). But, today Apple put into place the next step: photos and video can now be wirelessly sent to Front Row. And the Hi-Fi increases the likelihood that there will be an Apple TV in the future.

This Mac Mini a killer for someone who wants to try a Mac for the first time (this is Apple’s target audience), or, ironically, for someone who wants to run server based applications without the cost of an Xserve. Did you know that Apple blesses the Mac Mini to run Mac OS X Server but they do not bless the iBook or Powerbook or MacBook to do the same?

I don’t know if I would classify this as “fun stuff”…fun stuff would be a tablet that everyone has rumored they are working on. Now, that is fun stuff.