Fresh from the Apple Tree

Color me bleh over the latest gizmos from Steve Jobs. The iPod Shuffle seems a sensible expansion of the fetish toward those peripatetic souls for whom even a iPod Mini is far, far too bulky. OK there, I suppose.

But the Mac Mini will require a stop at an Apple store for some poke around time to be able to tell just what it can and cannot do. For example, it looks like you cannot rip out the modem and stick your own wi-fi card in the sucker. And a modem? Why?

Comments

[Warren]

Jeff,
I agree. As one who loves Apple and hates MS, life since 1997 (in 96 us Mac users were still laughing at Win95) has been a continual exercise in renewed hope and disappointment.

[dead_elvis]

Yeah, the iPod shuffle reeks of exploiting the iPod brand name. But the Mac Mini is a nifty little machine. I think it'll be a hit. When thinking about what it can and can't do, just think of it like any other low end PC- It's not a gaming rig, but for typical home and office use it'll be a perfect malware-free solution.

As for the modem, not everyone has broadband. But when the modem goes, I'm sure Apple will be the first to get rid of them.

Hey, Choice for *half off*? It was free not too long ago! I was about to subscribe!

[Jarod]

REPORTER #4
How do you respond to the charges that you're out of ideas? Has Norville Barnes run dry?

NORVILLE
Not at all. Why, just this week I came up with several new sweet ideas. A larger model for the
portly. A battery option for the lazy and handicapped. A model with more volume for
hard-of-hearing. Oh, I'm earning my keep!

[Nathan]

You can slap a wi-fi card in it, be it an Apple Wi-Fi card or as USB dongle, which makes it no different than any other Apple product currently available (with the exception of the Powerbook, which has a PCMCIA slot).

[Chris Adams]

There's a very simple reason for the modem - this is a low-margin product with a very tight design margin so they're keeping the costs down by not having to manufacturer and support multiple models, particularly since a modem must cost only a few dollars by now. Small laptops tend to have the same sort of limits for similar reasons - the engineering margins are tighter than the savings would justify - and the Mac mini looks like a laptop without a display or battery.

As for the wifi card it really makes more sense to buy Apple's AirPort card simply because of the OS integration; if you did want to add a third-party card, though, it's *much* better to use a USB device since PCI card designs tend to have miserable reception because the antenna usually ends up being on the wrong side of a metal case.

[Warren]

I count only two USB ports. One of which MUST be used for mouse/keyboard. No front mounted connections (even for headphones)! And upgrades like adding bluetooth require handing the thing over to your local authorized dealer.

[PintofStout]

The Hudsucker Mini?

[Mark Borok]

Warren-

OSX was a disappointment? I know it's got some drawbacks, but still.

Personally I'm more interested in iLife '05 and the new version of GarageBand. Nothing bleh about an 8-track recording studio for under $50.

[dhex]

except that it's kind of shitty.

not bad to fuck around with, from what little i've seen, though.

[Tim Higgins]

PintofStout,

You know, for Supremodels!

[Warren]

Mark,
Yeah, OSX delivered both renewed hope and disappointment. To be fair, I was mostly disappointed that it didn't live up to my hopes.

[clarityiniowa]

Boy, I dunno about the Mini. I think it's too little too late. The original Imacs were supposed to be the low-end PowerPCs, then Emac, after Imac became their flagship all-in-one high-style desktop machine. It seems Apple adds on to its low-end every few years just to make it look as if they're sympathetic to the low-income consumer when they've really always been after the gourmet, splash of syrah with lunch, artsy-fartsy market.

I love IPod, but there are almost too many models to deal with now. I don't see this filling a niche, except maybe somebody whose 128 meg. Rio just gave out.

[Nathan]

Warren,

Ever heard of a USB hub? They're pretty cheap. You can also add bluetooth via USB dongle (just like you can add WiFi via USB dongle). Are they "perfect" solutions? No, but they're doable.

[clarityiniowa]

What I would LOVE to see from Apple is a home stereo/video hard-drive component based on IPod, with a built-in Airport Express base station, controllable both from a remote and from the Mac desktop using a version of AirTunes. I out my Mac audio through a Bose Wave radio and have a Bose Acoustic Wave hooked into my Mac with an Airport Express base station. It occurred to me years ago that an Apple/Bose collaboration could do some incredible things for home entertainment.

[clarityiniowa]

Interesting, though, that, like EF Hutton, everybody pays attention to Apple's Next Big Thing, no matter what it is. When was the last time anybody wrote any breathless purple prose about Dell's latest tech offering?

[Pavel]

The behavior of Mac users and that of cultists is indistinguishable in a lab setting. The shuffle just further makes the point.

[Doc]

Thinking about getting the mini for my non-computer savy parents. The modem if fine for dialup net connection (heck, that's what I use at home) and also if you'd like to fax directly from your mac.

Question is for mom and dad...is it worth hooking up the old monitor to a mini mac or getting them an emac?

Anway, go to slashdot.org for your mac/pc bickering. 🙂

[clarityiniowa]

Pavel - Maybe, or are WinDoze users the cult? They seem to suffer from what psychiatrists term "flat-affect," are fascinated by the colors beige and gray, and seem extremely happy with what they are given by their leaders whether it actually works well or not, or actually does what they'd like it to do...

[Warren]

The behavior of Mac users and that of cultists is indistinguishable in a lab setting. The shuffle just further makes the point.

I wont dispute the cult like nature of Mac users (sometimes I think it's the only thing keeping the brand afloat), though I do insist that there are legitimate claims of superiority for Apple. However, I don't see how the shuffle "further makes the point".

Nathan,
Point taken.

[Nathan]

Doc

I guess it depends on how simple / cheap you want to make things.

Going for the Mini:
* The price of the Mini + decent monitor (including 17" LCDs) + keyboard + mouse + speakers

[Ironchef]

Clarity I can never find anyone of the Windoze cult, are your defensiveness just reinforces the fact that Mac users are a cult.

Just because we use pc's does not mean we're slavish fans to M$. I use Mozilla where possible, and only stick to WinXP for games.

[Nathan]

er... so much for using <'s in my post... lets try again.

Doc

I guess it depends on how simple / cheap you want to make things.

Going for the Mini:
* The price of the Mini + decent monitor (including 17" LCDs) + keyboard + mouse + speakers < = the price of an eMac
* Assuming the monitor is an LCD a very lightweight system (the eMac is a bit of a heavy beast)

Going for the eMac:
* All in one solution is nice (less wire clutter) and it all matches (includes Apple keyboard & mouse)
* eMac screen is really nice (probably better than any 17" $200 LCD/CRT you'll find)

[Doc]

Thanks Nathan!

[Andy]

clarityiniowa:
You hit the nail on the head. A 512MB MP3 player is hardly news. Iriver (along with Creative and tons of others) had these out for a while. I guess the price point is killer ($99 for the 512MB model) and that's what makes it news.

[clarityiniowa]

Ironchef - Let me introduce you to a new concept: HUMOR. I don't give a ruddy rat's rump what box one uses. Are you happy with it? Great!

Actually, I think it's whatever one grew up on. I'm a former teacher, current writer and musician. Mac's are just more natural to me; a much more human appliance. Does that make me a cultist? Fine if you think so, but, so what?

[clarityiniowa]

Andy - Hmmm, I may be warming to the thing, actually. My IPod and my old Rio each take a beating, mostly because of their bulk. The idea of a keychain mp3 that plugs directly into USB like a flash memory device appeals to me. Haven't shopped for anything new in awhile, does anyone else have anything with the same features for less?

[Ben W.]

Woah Reasoners and Reasonettes, you people should stick to politics. If you people made political arguments like this, you'd be as bad as the freepers.

The "you're a cult" argument is a mindless distraction from a true evaluation of the company's products. Plus the original post is pretty uninformed. Jeff, you can find the answers to your questions on Apple's website: "Wireless: AirPort Extreme option (based on 802.11g specification; IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi certified); internal Bluetooth module available as build-to-order option" http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html

Those of you who are economically minded, which should be most of you, should know that the computer will lower the cost of switching for those who already have a monitor and keyboard or who just want to use it alongside their PC. It also gives a relatively low-cost alternative to those of us in the younger generation now lusting after Macs thanks to experiences with the iPod.

I'm an electrical engineer who grew up on windows and I find OS X to be fundamentally better. Going into specifics would take too long, but basically I can do more in less time with less frustration (after the initial learning curve, of course)

This, btw is the reason the $500 Mac Mini is such a steal. OS X and iLife are unmatched in the PC world, I know because I don't yet own a Mac and have to cope with what's available on PC.

As for the iPod Shuffle, there are 2 features that set it apart. 1 is the price-point, the second is the simple user interface, both on the player and in iTunes.

[clarityiniowa]

Ben W. - An extremely well-reasoned post, and I agree. Thing that concerns me with the Mini is that, if you're familiiar with Mac history at all, you know Apple has gone the pitching-to-the-low-end route before, and it rarely works. What actually happens is, us Mac guys of modest means take the opportunity to give our old machines to the kiddies or donate them to the local Senior Center, and glom onto a Mac with more up-to-date features and horsepower at a lower price. I'd love to see Mac gain market share with this clearly more economical and flexible model, as it might give them incentive to bring their entire product line down in price some, but it never seems to work that way.

[Mr. Nosuch]

Best Internet security appliance for PC user?

Mac Mini.

Buy one, get a keyboard/mouse/video switch, and watch your problems with malware and viruses almost completely disappear, while keeping your Windows box clean and fresh.

And then you can tinker with those nice iLife apps as a bonus.

[Matt]

That price is pretty good. I don't think I could build a mini-itx system for less than that. When I graduate I think I'll treat myself to one.

[dhex]

there are mac cultists out there, really. they're like scientologists.

not every mac user is a cultist. ZOMG. and i'm almost sure not all the cultists are mac users.

osx is quite nice - it's what i'm using as i type this. but my personal life is dictated by financial constraints which don't include spending a grand and a half on what is the nicest monitor i've ever seen, so...

[Rhywun]

watch your problems with malware and viruses almost completely disappear

Or buy a router/firewall for your Windows network for less than $50 and get the same result.

[Pavel]

I wont dispute the cult like nature of Mac users ...However, I don't see how the shuffle "further makes the point".

I simply refer you to this Wired piece on the topic.

Given the fact that there are identical just-as-good players on the market, among other things, there is little besides cult brand loyalty to explain this kind of behavior.

I should add that I'm not arguing for the superiority of any one brand or another. I'm just pointing out that the "loyalty beyond reason" that all marketing strives to instill finds its ideal platonic form in Mac users.

[Matt]

They should have put an audio jack and USB ports in front, like this one. It would be fun, though, to get a hold of an empty MiniMac case and build a PC from it. Install linux with a OS X theme, you'd hardly notice the difference. Except for the crappy user experience.

[GoodTimes]

Yikes, A router/firewall provides protection for only a percentage of the total security holes in windows. The current major hole in IE only requires you to visit a site that has the exploit on it. Your firewall will happily let it through. Even advanced firewalls aren't anywhere near 100% effective removing incoming e-mail viruses either. For a Windows user it's a big battle and one that is constantly fought if you're dilegent.

[jeff]

I'll admit - I had ZERO interest in flash based mp3 player until Apple made one. Now - it's a must for my workout! I'm insane.

The mini is a decent machine at a good price. No AUDIO IN though - can't use garageband to it's fullest on it.

BTW - MacMall is INCLUDING a free keyboard and mouse according to their latest spam.

[dead_elvis]

" No AUDIO IN though - can't use garageband to it's fullest on it."

Good point, they obviously think you should buy a USB/Firewire audio interface. Which, though it is extra money, it should be noted that said audio interface will be much higher quality than whatever crappy built-in sound would have been thrown in there.

"Install linux with a OS X theme, you'd hardly notice the difference. Except for the crappy user experience."

One of my favorite sig lines I've seen on bulletin boards:

"OS X: because making UNIX user friendly was easier than fixing Windows"

[Rhywun]

For a Windows user it's a big battle and one that is constantly fought if you're dilegent.

Sorry, I should have added "and download a free virus scanner such as AVG, and a free firewall such as ZoneAlarm". Obviously I'm no security expert 🙂

BUT isn't it the case that Windows users experience the most problems because they are the most numerous? I.e. nobody targets Macs or Unix because there are so few users.

I might add that as an (at best) minimally careful Windows user for about eight years now, I have NEVER had a virus or any other security problem (knock on wood).

[Jeff A. Taylor]

Ben, I saw that but it still does not exactly answer my question. Can I DELETE the modem and ADD wi-fi IN PLACE OF THE MODEM. Nothing I see says I can.

I've ripped the modems from my Win boxes to open up space for more firewire slots, etc. If the Mini is permanently wedded to a modem, it is not a deal-killer just disappointing.

And clarity you are exactly right about Apple missing out on the digital media center opportunity. A networkable unit built to interface with home theater/consuemr electronic equipment -- as opposed to REPLACE them -- is still a crying convergance need.

[quasimodal]

When was the last time anybody wrote any breathless purple prose about Dell's latest tech offering?

clarityiniowa, exactly when has Dell every done something innovative in the least, and when has anything they've produced looked like anything but a product that looks like it should sell in Walmart (cheap and shoddy).

[quasimodal]

...I can never find anyone of the Windoze cult, are your defensiveness just reinforces the fact that Mac users are a cult.

Ironchef, you must lead a sheltered life or you're seriously demented; I know lots of Windoze cultists. Go look on slashdot for even more.

And for your comment only stick to WinXP for games shows that you're probably the latter, why don't you use an exlax-box? It's a hell of alot cheaper than any shit pc.

[dhex]

let the feces tossing begin!

[Rhywun]

I know lots of Windoze cultists. Go look on slashdot for even more

Errrrr, Slashdot *is* full of cultists, but not for Windoze....

Personally, I stick to Windows because it's the best all-around platform for both programming, which is what I do for money, and games, which is what I do for fun. No other platform comes close.

[clarityiniowa]

New from the cult desk, courtesy of the Wired piece link to earlier: "Kolb shouldn't worry. On Jan. 22, Apple will begin selling its new Mac mini, Jobs' other big announcement of the day. With the Mac mini priced at $500, Kolb will probably have to swim his way through a sea of Mac buyers."

This is the first time I've ever read a statement like this about an Apple product in Wired. I'm getting cold shivers.

"More Kool-Aid, please Mr. Jobs, ."

[quasimodal]

Or buy a router/firewall for your Windows network for less than $50 and get the same result.

Comment at January 12, 2005 01:42 PM

Sorry, I should have added "and download a free virus scanner such as AVG, and a free firewall such as ZoneAlarm". Obviously I'm no security expert 🙂

BUT isn't it the case that Windows users experience the most problems because they are the most numerous? I.e. nobody targets Macs or Unix because there are so few users.

I might add that as an (at best) minimally careful Windows user for about eight years now, I have NEVER had a virus or any other security problem (knock on wood).

Comment by: Rhywun at January 12, 2005 02:46 PM

For one thing, firewalls will not stop all attacks and the majority of fools that own PCs wouldn't have a clue about setting one up properly, especially a $50 one. Same goes for the software solution you "recommended.

And Windows users experience the most problems is caused by the shoddy design of the OS, it has far less to do with the number of users, though the deviants do tend to gravitate to the MS platform because of said shoddy design.

I also find your claim that "NEVER had a virus or any other security problem" to be quite unbelievable. Your PC is probably infected right now, it's just that it's infected with something you're unaware of, that is an non-malignant virus or other "feature". Ahh, to be in the land of the clueless.

[Rhywun]

Ahh, to be in the land of the clueless.

I am not even going to dignify that with a response.

[dead_elvis]

Just to clarify, not to add to the Mac/PC wars, but OS X is not more secure simply due to low market share. It is designed from the ground up, as Linux is, as a modular, compartmentalized OS. A problem in one area is fixed (or exploited) with no effect on the rest of the system. Windows is a jumbled mess of interconnecting parts, which apparently makes it much more difficult to track down and fix holes.

[dhex]

to totally throw gas on the fire:

quasimodal demonstrates quite ably the mac cult mentality. maybe mac users are more intelligent, but in my 10 years or so of experience, the main difference is having twice as much money to spend on a computer.

personally, had i to pick an operating system, osx would win on looks and the awesome F11 screen jumpaway action. but windows 2000 is still the roxorz at home. both are about as stable - figure one system freeze every two months or so, so far.

[dhex]

gizmodo totally hits it:

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/iProduct.gif

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/AppleHaters.gif

[Chiznibitz]

Those posters are freakin hilarious.

Also, it's funny that people keep saying "mac cultist" like it's still 1996 when apple had absolutely nothing to offer and people still bought macs.

Anyway, saying Creative's $3 MP3 player has better specs than iPod is like saying that Kenny G's latest album has more tracks and is more musical talent than Eminem's. Who cares? iPod is cool, and, if people can get an iPod shuffle for $100, that's what they'll do.

[zombyboy]

I"ll be buying both the new iPod shuffle and the Mac mini.

The iPod shuffle will serve me better than my current 256 meg flash-based MP3 player for the following reasons: it will play Apple Music Store purchases, it can be loaded via iTunes either through my laptop or my desktop systems (one is XP and one is OS X), and its interface will be much easier to deal with than the buggy and touchy interface on my Virgin-branded MP3 player.

I didn't want a hard drive based player because I'm afraid I'll kill it by dropping it when I work out, so extending the brand this direction is a great idea to keep the brand and sales from going stale inasmuch as people like me are going to be lured in when we otherwise would have watched from the sidelines.

I'll by a mini because I don't play games on my computer, I don't do 3d rendering on my home box so I don't need the latest, fastest processor, and because I wanted to upgrade to something newer and faster but wasn't willing to shell out $1000 bucks for it. I wouldn't have bought a new computer until, at best, next year because I don't _need_ a new box. I'll buy the mini because I _want_ a new box and can more easily justify this one.

Could I get a slightly cheaper new Win box? Sure, but why would I want to do that when I could be happily using OS X instead for just a little bit more?

Here's to Apple for managing to make computer products that I actually want--the Windows box that I own was a matter of necessity, not desire. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the laptop that I've got: it does what it's supposed to, I've had minimal problems with it, and using it isn't _bad_. Using my OS X box is a pleasure even for work, using my XP box is more utilitarian in feel.

[Akira MacKenzie]

I talked to my co-workers about the Shuffle this morning, but they seemed not be too hot about the idea for two reasons: 1) the lack of any sort of display to let you know what track you're listening to 2) even 1 Gig is not enough room for their music collections.

I'm debating whether to invest in a full-fledged iPod, or one of the Shuffles. First, however, I need to get my XP laptop functioning again.

[Matt]

I'm not thrilled about the whole sealed-case thing meaning you can't add RAM or a bigger hard drive without taking it to a service center, but otherwise this mini-mac sounds like a nice little box. I've been meaning to get a new Mac for a while now, but until now they've been obscenely overpriced for what they deliver. But even after adding the ludicrously-priced RAM upgrade and a USB hard drive, this box is still within spitting distance of what one pays for a PC. And "spitting distance" is good enough, given the sparse quantity and low quality of video editing (the primary job of my hypothetical new Mac) tools for Linux.

As a second (or Nth) machine for somebody who already has another desktop computer, or alternatively as a computer you can give Aunt Tillie without forever chaining yourself to a life as unpaid tech support for her and it, I'd call this a good buy.

[clarityiniowa]

I talked to a certified Mac guy at my local CompUSA last night. His take on the Shuffle is that it is built to serve some particular behavioral needs that IPod currently doesn't. Mostly the folks that strap their mp3 to their arm and take it running, to the gym, etc. for whom a harddrive unit with lots of buttons is too fragile, and who don't tend to have their entire music collection on their portable player. Rather, these folks prefer just to have newer downloads with them. That, and the price point of course, are apparently the marketing angles the shuffle represents.

[SirRob]

I could not live without my iPod. As someone who dragged hundreds of pounds of vinyl albums around, I still find it fascinating to have every second of music in your shirt pocket. My pod does not do well on the treadmill with the bouncing and sweat and heat. I am tempted to get the little shuffle just for the gym.

I am also quite tempted to get and run a minimac through a KVM switch and share my desk with the linux server. i already have a nice monitor, so why not? I was saving up for the G5 chip, but am reevaluating if I really need the horsepower. There has never been this pricepoint for a mac so this is new territory.

FWIW, I have 2 linux boxen, 2 Win, and 3 OSX machines all peacefully coexisting on the household network. Each OS has it's strong points and the kids move among them naturally without harboring ill-will towards one platform or another as is commonly heard in forums when anything mac comes up.