Hadn't noticed anyone really mentioning these on the list yet, so thought I'd gush over the new arrival (sorry Mactown, I couldn't help myself and ordered one 3 or 4 weeks ago).
It arrived last night, so obviously unpacking the box, marvelling at the usual apple box-design, setting it up and playing were all a much higher priority than actually eating. I won't even bother to mention that it's nicely packed, you guys wouldn't believe me if I suggested it wasn't, suffice to say it comes in a tiny box with a little handle, lots of snug fitting and not much else. After unpacking, I found myself with a couple of CD packages (duly ignored), a power cable, a transformer/power-supply, the mini itself and an adaptor for attaching a monitor. The already prepared USB happy-hacker keyboard (http://store.yahoo.com/pfuca-store/haphackeylit1.html), USB laptop mouse (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2146,CONTENTID=4986) and 15" LCD screen were attached and the unit turned on. Nothing happens. This appears to be a common problem with Mac Minis. They're so quiet and self-effacing that you don't realise that they're on and booting. Especially as the power-button is on the back, so you're not looking at the tiny light that comes on. Once I'd gotten over my necessary bout of stupidity (and I did the exact same thing again this morning at work) I went through the usual OS X post-install process and entered my info etc. I bought the base model, so no wireless/bluetooth/large-hard-drive/memory/la-dee-dah for me, a mac mini in its purest form. Compared to my G4 400mhz Powerbook, it was more than fast enough, so if anyone has any worries that they're crappy toned down machines, fear not. Once I'd copied my mp3 collection over, I was starting to wish I'd bought the 80gig hard disk upgrade though :) Not content with the evening spent setting the box up just how I like it, I took it in to work this morning. I repackaged it in the box, grabbed my keyboard and teeny mouse and off I went. Apparantly end of year bonuses are close, so now was the perfect time to dangle an Apple toy before everyone and mention the very affordable price. My first sale came a few seconds after it left the box. I'm not sure if it was the packaging or the mini itself, but colleague #1 immediately decided he had to get one. He's a musician who has long yearned for a Mac but lacked the funds. The second sale came moments later. My boss asked to see it, weighed it in his hand, and decided that it was the perfect way to stop his wife screwing his Windows box up. Ka-ching, I need to be on commission. Sale 3 was a sweet one, one to relish. When the very-Microsoft colleague took a look at it running and uttered the immortal phrase "I need one". Sale 4 came a bit later. VP of something or other, a gadget freak, walked in and thought it looked quite nice. Obviously admiring the apple logo, the sleek sheen, perhaps wondering if it was a USB drive or something. "No, it's a computer"....pause for look of incredulity...."500 dollars"....longer pause for look of complete incredulity....."it's very nice"....nod of dumbfound agreement. Now, I didn't here the necessary words by which you hand your soul to Steve Jobs ("I need one"), but his eyes spoke for his mouth. After that, sales dried up. It's probably telling that all 4 of the above have an iPod, and no one else in the building. There's something very worrying about how well Apple have understood their market :) The graphics designer desperately wants one, but can't afford the software he'd have to buy to get up to speed (Photoshop, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Illustrator etc). The unwilling pilgrim from customer services who stopped by to ask a question didn't really believe it was an actual computer. While she was wrong, it was a good judge of how far to trust the developers :) A possible hint of a sale for one of the DBAs, a hard-core linux fan who is sick of adminning his wife's Windows box. Anyway, the machine is for me to use at work, and because of the small size I'll probably put it in my bag each night and take it in each morning. While it's at home, Carrie will be playing with iMovie, iPhoto and others on it before we buy her her own one (with most of the upgrades probably). It'll be a little under a 1000, but as she really wants a G5 it'll be a big saving. It's tempting to buy one as a make-shift home entertainment center. Put all our mp3's on it and attach it to the DVD's amplifier. Maybe put mpeg's on there too and play back to the TV. Rather than buying a G5, I'll end up with 4 or 5 mini's. Welcome to the world of disposable computers :) Hope the ramble wasn't too long. Hen | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be February 22. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>
