Cult of Mac: a blog about the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone - and the people who love them

30 comments

I hear what your saying about the mini’s disk space, but its a little unfair. The time machine can fit a TB because its smaller guts allow for a 3.5inch desktop drive to be used, but the mac mini has a stack of guts compared and can only fit a 2.5inch drive. Saying that, 2.5inch drives are up to 500GB now and apple doesn’t even give that option which is silly.

Why they haven’t taken on blue ray in any of the models kinda evades me… silly again.

Gus, on March 4th, 2009 at 12:37 am

I respectfully disagree 100%

BluRay: Makes up about 5% of retail movie sales right now. The vast majority of those sales are going to PS3 owners who probably won’t spend another $600 on a Mini. Projected growth of BR is only 100M disks worldwide — which equates to approximately a 3% increase in the US. (CNET) That means at best Apple can compete for a couple million new customers at 3-4X the price of a stand alone player and 2x the price of the PS3 which also plays games.

Hard Drive Space: Gotta increase the dimensions. The TC is mostly an empty box with a tiny PCB. The Mini has stuff in it and uses a 2.5″ HD. At best they could do 250GB (maybe 320GB now? definitely not 1TB in 2.5″) USB storage probably makes more sense. (easier to upgrade/expand)

DVR: TIVO isn’t exactly breaking sales records doing the exact same thing. (with a decade head start and much higher brand recognition) There’s also the many problems involved in producing this type of product — mostly things like SDV, lack of VOD, and the impending Tru2Way standard. (not to mention the crazy CableLabs certification process)

HDMI: Sure, why not. I can agree with that.

So I don’t think Apple’s missing out on anything. It’s certainly a device some people want — they probably also want an Apple Tablet. The problem is there’s basically no reason to believe it would be a successful product for Apple which is probably why they haven’t done it yet.

Sinister Joe, on March 4th, 2009 at 12:51 am

I agree with the Blu-ray sugguestion. I would surely buy one.

Parka, on March 4th, 2009 at 12:54 am

You’re right in 100%!
Mac mini should be a living room computer, not personal desktop.

eman, on March 4th, 2009 at 2:08 am

I have to agree about the continually mis-pitching of the Mini. I frankly can’t see how it financially stacks up anywhere but as part of a media centre and even less so now due to the price increases. I’m in the UK and could run off 10 names of friends who’ve been waiting in some cases for over 8 months to get the new Mini and will now likely look towards Dell to get their next fix. It’s price is inflated and feature set stingy. I wonder if this is a intentional push for Apple to increase sales of portables or to milk what they’ve perceived as a pent up demand for upgraded models.

Sadly i feel all the new products bar the Pro really miss the mark and do little to tempt prospective new buyers.

Matt Edwards, on March 4th, 2009 at 2:31 am

It’s designed for switchers. Not Mac users.
If you put BluRay in it, people will use it instead of the AppleTV and not buy content from iTunes
It doesn’t need a big hard drive, it’s for switchers
It won’t get DVR software because then people won’t buy content from iTunes
It won’t have HDMI because then you won’t buy an AppleTV to buy content from iTunes…
Do you get the feeling there’s a common thread here that you in the media either miss on purpose to generate clicks or just miss.
There’s a reason Apple has $30 billion in the bank.
They sell stuff through iTunes…..

Pmoes, on March 4th, 2009 at 2:53 am

I could not agree more. Like many people I use one in my living room now, but I’d instantly replace it with the one you are suggesting Apple make. Apple usually “gets it” but in this case they seem oddly blind to a big opportunity.

gear, on March 4th, 2009 at 3:03 am

I would agree in regards to the mini. But I think you’ve missed the bigger picture. Why sell one box that does both desktop and living room, when you can sell two? I think most of your required list will soon show up in an updated AppleTV (along with a bunch of new partnerships and services). I’m guessing that Apple wanted to roll out all of these computer-related products first, and then do a larger media push for the new and improved TV box.

Patrick Smith, on March 4th, 2009 at 4:24 am

I couldn’t agree more, and it’s exactly what I’ve been going on about for about the last year or so. In fact, all they really have to do, is upgrade the mini to have BluRay (under the new, simpler license), and then combine it with the Time Capsule and Apple TV into a singe new product, the MacBox. It’ll be the must-have gadget in every lounge.

Adam, on March 4th, 2009 at 4:32 am

I agree with all of the above. I’ve been holding out on buying a BluRay player in hopes that one would get added to the Mac Mini. I’m using MCE now with my TV, it’s my last remaining PC in the house and I’d love to replace it with a Mac Mini.

Christian, on March 4th, 2009 at 5:32 am

BluRay licensing didn’t get simple until the multi-vendor agreement a few weeks ago, too recent to affect these machines. Even when simpler, it still may be too expensive to license. Apple wouldn’t jump until BluRay market share tops 40% or more over DVD. Meanwhile, Warner Media is toying with introducing the Chinese HD format, since BluRay sales are so weak, starting a whole new round of format wars. By the time all this happens, the market will be comfortable with broadband downloads (which I think is Warners’ plan), therefore: Built-in BluRay based Macs are never gonna happen. BluRay as part of AppleTV, maybe, but not likely at all. AppleTV is about networking stored media, not sharing removable media. Ultimately, they’ll want you to stream big video and buy(collect!) small video/audio. Movies won’t initially cost as much, but you’ll pay a small handling fee each time you watch them.

MonkeyT, on March 4th, 2009 at 7:37 am

I think this article falls under the “I want it, therefore it’s a good business idea for Apple” category.

1) How much do you think this blu-ray, and larger hard drive supplied, etc. Mini would cost? A lot of people think the mini at $600 is too expensive already.

2) Apple already sells the much cheaper Apple TV ($230) as a “living room computer”. It doesn’t do everything you want it to, but it’s being positioned to do everything people will want it to when optical devices are a thing of the past, iTunes has a dominating video, TV and music library for sale, and high-speed broadband access to the internet is ubiquitous. And don’t forget the price point, I don’t think the market is there for a $600+ living room computer.

Daniel Knapp, on March 4th, 2009 at 7:53 am

For $599 you gotta be kidding…

It’s a great computer and don’t believe the BS that it is basic. I know because I am using one.

AdamC, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:03 am

I’ve got a Mini as my media center and the trick I think Apple are missing is in the software, not the hardware. Yes, HDMI really ought to be built in but even with all the hardware tweaks you suggest the poor user is still stuck with Frontrow unless they’re prepared to get their hands dirty.

None of the media center apps for OSX seem to do everything my old Windows Media Center machine did, and that was far from perfect. Frontrow can’t get the iPlayer or Hulu. Plex and Boxee can’t get my iTunes library (or not easily, at least). None of them integrate with EyeTV properly. I’ve hacked together a system that works well enough for me but it’s a million miles away from being consumer-ready.

Mike Stenhouse, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:09 am

Hope better sense prevail whie pricing these newline up in Asia

Kurien, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:13 am

Like Sinister Joe, I totally disagree.

My Network Media Tank blows any Mac mini into the weeds when it comes to video playback, and it’s under $250.

Until Apple embeds a Sigma Designs SMP8634 chipset in a Mac mini or AppleTV, it cannot hope to compete in the video playback arena. It plays full 1080p files over HDMI without a hiccup – ones that my current 2.16 GHz Core Duo 17″ MacBook Pro gags and sputters on. A dedicated media playback chip will blow away a general-purpose CPU & nVIDIA 9400M GPU any day of the week.

As for the DVR aspect, maybe for cable viewers but for us DirecTV and Dish folk, the tuner has to be specialized to receive satellite signals anyway so it makes most sense for us to have the DVR function in that same STB device.

Oh, and BTW – as Sinister Joe said, Time Capsule can take 1 TB disks because it uses 3 1/2″ disks, not 2 1/2″ disks like the Mac mini does. I think 2 1/2″ disks top out at 500 GB currently.

Riot Nrrrdâ„¢, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:14 am

Spot on, I’ve been contemplating a mini for the living room since they were released, but they’ve yet to get the specs/price point right.

Jay, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:32 am

My basic beef with the mini is that it should simply have all the same options as the iMac. Desktop drives (bigger, faster AND cheaper) and real graphic card options along with the cheaper integrated graphics. I’m not asking Apple to do some new tech here, just a complete iMac lineup in a Mac mini-ish form factor. Sure it would have to be slightly larger to include desktop drives, but an inch or two bigger wouldn’t hurt the tiny form factor.

The day the new mini was introduced at $799 for the top end, I found an iMac refurb on the Apple store for $849 with better video, better hard-drive and it comes with a keyboard and mouse. Why can’t Apple offer that option without the screen for a little more competitive pricing?

Synthmeister, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:47 am

I’m sure your beefed up mac-mini would be fabulous under the TV machine. But I already have a fabulous under the TV machine – it’s a mac mini.
OK, so it’s a mac mini with bigger hard-drive, maximum RAM, an audio cable alongside the DVI-HDMI lead, and a Miglia eyeTV diversity feeding into the fantastic eyeTV PVR software. It does everything you asked for except Blueray. But then (because I like to enjoy my living room rather than have it dominated by a weighty, energy-sapping plastic & glass monster) I only have a 37″ LCD and Blueray is something I don’t need. Don’t think I’ll be getting my wallet out just yet.

ChamFan, on March 4th, 2009 at 9:23 am

From iPhone
All comments above are valid. I wonder how the computer/TV dilema will be solved. If you have desktop then you substitute cables for mini or use Apple TV. The author’s view is valid to replace redundent pieces:monitors ESP. Why not a 42″ screen to surf,etc? Why separate space for computer, etc? Nothing really fits all together now. Real issue is HD content. Essential. Mini as desktop with new cinema display just dumb: buy iMac! Gotta love idea of mini– but it only makes sense as a desktop IF you already have primo monitor and KB. B.Line: gotta have disc supplied HD content OR real broadband source. It will be awhile.

Mac, on March 4th, 2009 at 9:37 am

Disagree. It is so wrong. The mini is just a no frills mac, my company just recently replaced all the PCs with mac minis (to everyone who doesn´t need a laptop or a more powerful machine. it is perfect as a no frills desktop station.

All the things you mentioned wil just make it less desirable for the intended audience. (no frills mac experience). I’d go as far as to remove the optical drive…

YOU and enthusiasts are not the target market for minis

Rafael, on March 4th, 2009 at 11:39 am

The Mac Mini IS indeed a home entertainment solution. It doesn’t need to be marketed or sold as one. It’s just what they are used for. I don’t know anyone that uses their mini at a desktop. They are ALL connected to televisions!

- Forget integrated Blu-Ray. if you really want Blu-Ray buy an external player.
- If you want HDMI, a readily available Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter will solve your connectivity issues.
- External hard drives are cheap and available as big as your storage needs require. Oh, and did I mention that they are cheap.
- Purchase a USB HDTV tuner solution from Elgato, (for example), and you have a very nice DVR.

BeachDude, on March 4th, 2009 at 11:52 am

DVR will never happen in the Apple world unless they can find a revenue stream going out of it… Otherwise it would canibalize iTunes.
If I can record broadcasted content, why pay for it on the iTS?

Daniel, on March 4th, 2009 at 1:11 pm

I have to admit I was expecting BluRay this time round too. I’ll buy one if and when I can use it in the living room.

Whether or not the Mac Mini is the solution to the ‘Apple in the living room’ challenge I don’t know, but clearly Apple TV is NOT the answer. Indeed, iTunes doesn’t seem to be the answer either with Hulu, Netflix etc. making the true inroads into the living room.

I say Apple should buy SageTV put some GUI designers on it, re-built it on top of the Quicktime architecture, and give us a real living room machine (mini or not).

How is it that Apple, the company that founded itself on computers that do ‘pretty pictures’ rather than just crunch number — the company that revolutionized the music industry, has been massively outpaced by M$ in the living room? Windows 7 Media Center is a pretty slick and impressive piece of software. Watching Netflix on demand on my xbox360 is my new favorite procrastination.

scavenge, on March 4th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

Here, here! I agree 100%. The Mac Mini should be what the apple TV never can be, a central hub for your living room. Add in a blue ray drive, HDTV tuner, HDMI port, the ability to pump out the music/movie in 5.1 surround and along with a small software tweak you have the product everyone would want in their home. Sure all (or at least most of these things) can be added on after but it sort of defeats the apple mantra of simplicity. A true multi-media Mac Mini seems like such a no brainer that I can’t understand why Apple doesn’t do it already. Microsoft sort of did it with their multi-media version of Windows XP but with a giant ugly machine that no one in their right mind would want sitting in their living room.

Wake up already Apple, recession or not I would snap a product like this up in a heartbeat.

Michael, on March 4th, 2009 at 2:28 pm

I have a Mac Mini hooked up to my entertainment system. I have also installed Boxee. I don’t get it. I also have an Apple TV w/ the Boxee hack, which is a much better solution. As far as Blu Ray, you get a quality player for less than $200 now, why fight it?

Macmissionary, on March 4th, 2009 at 5:30 pm

While I agree that the mini is a missed opportunity, I’m bit sure if it’s in the living room. Personally I think a living room box would need to be a completely different incarnation, maybe more similar to an AppleTV (would be great if it acted as a switcher as well). While I think that I can figure out how it would work and can deal with the certain level of user unfriendliness, I know that a lot of people wouldn’t, including my partner. I think that a dumb box for the living room is a better approach…it doesn’t need to be underpowered, but a full-fledged OS is a bad idea.

I think that it should be a tactic to gain market share during the economic down turn. If it were in the netbook price range I think people would bite and people could get hooked to MacOS and want to upgrade when the economy picks up. From Apple’s perspective I can’t really see it eating away at the iMac market if they keep a close eye on it’s processing power…relatively capable but not super powerful.

Better yet if the mini could have a dual-mode existence… than after upgrading to a better Mac it could be used as an AppleTV.

BK, on March 4th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Others disagree with you but I’ll call you an idiot!

Why add these features to the mac mini? If anything, update the AppleTV!

Take3 could have SATA drives and the new Nvidia chipset for 1080p decoding and still hit a $199 price point. The mini was updated and the entry level is $600 before you add more for HD and BluRay.

Speaking of BluRay (which Apple could add external via USB 2), what is the benefit to Apple or the consumer? BluRay is just now starting to take hold and still only has a few thousand titles, while at the same time iTunes is starting to pick up and has about a thousand HD titles of it’s own. It seems to me, Apple’s money would be better spent pushing studios to get their content onto iTunes.

As for the bigger HD, this comes from a misconception about what AppleTV is, it is a delivery device. Something you will have multiple of in your house. It needs to be inexpensive. What you are looking for is a media server and I hope Apple is working on one, but for now any Mac or PC running itunes will serve just fine.

What about DVR. This is the most clueless comment I hear. Your computer can be a DVR that feeds AppleTV. Apple could forge alliances with cable providers to allow for access to their DVR’s. But Apple can’t add anything to the DVR space because the content providers have too large of an advantage. This is why TiVo is going to die even though they have the best freaking software on earth. Nobody will pay $12/month extra for a DVR when the cable providers DVR is good enough and free.

Which brings me to HDMI which the AppleTV has. Someone could probably add it to the mini with a displayport cable but who cares, AppleTV is your content delivery device.

Doug Petrosky, on March 4th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Doug has the best understanding of the bunch – well done!

Dan, on March 5th, 2009 at 12:13 am

What about a 7200rpm drive option. That certainly would help for playing 1080p video.

Camperton, on March 6th, 2009 at 12:42 am