A poster over at Slashdot claims that he spoke with the Mac mini team leader, who said that the Mac mini has had the best ever launch for a Macintosh computer.
Although I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this post, it does make sense. The Mac mini has received the most interest I have ever observed for a Mac product, not just from Mac fans, but from everyone else too. Furthermore, The Mac mini is not only outselling all other computers currently sold by Apple, it is even outselling the iPod at the Apple Store. And while Apple had stock on hand immediately after the Macworld Mac mini launch and was able to deliver units out to customers within days, demand has far outstripped supply and there is now a 3 week backlog. Target has removed the mac mini from its website, stating that they're sold out and have no idea when they'll be able to get stock back in. And the current number one selling desktop computer at Amazon is... you guessed it... also the Mac mini.
The Mac mini is an unmitigated hit. The DigiTimes claims that Apple has contracted Foxconn to produce over 100000 Mac minis per month, but I suspect that will be well over that number.
By the way, that same Slashdot post includes an interesting story from the Mac mini team leader about how the size of the mini was chosen. Apparently the engineers were asked how small they could make the mini. When they came up with their smallest possible size, they were told to make it one size smaller. :)
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Ars Technica releases PC -> Mac switcher guide
Ars Technica has released A mini-guide to Mac OS X for new Mini owners. It's a guide to help PC users who have recently become Mac mini owners to become a little more acquainted with their new machines. However, since it a general guide, there is good information in there for anyone using a Mac OS X machine. Recommended.
PowerBook updates coming soon
Internet sites are reporting that the PowerBooks have all been end-of-life'd. This seems to be true, as there are now 3-5 and 7-10 day delays for shipping of the PowerBooks from the Apple Store, while the iBook, iMac, eMac, and PowerBook all have same day shipping. (This is good to see, since it means the 20" iMac G5 and the dual Power Mac G5 2.5 GHz are no longer in short supply.)
The end-of-life status of the PowerBook means that new PowerBooks will likely appear in early February. It is unclear what the specifications of the next PowerBooks will be, but it is widely expected that they will get G4 MC7447B speedbumps, to 1.5 GHz for the 12" and 1.67 GHz for the 15" and 17".
However, The Inquirer reports gaining access to a document that claims the HyperTransport Consortium has a design win with the PowerBook. If true, this would suggest the existence of a PowerBook G5, although it could just be a prototype which may appear later (or not at all).
It is also curious to see "apple_g5_powerbook" mentioned in the source code of the Apple PowerBook page. However, for all we know, it could just be a jokester web designer messing with us. :) The other reference to "sosumi" suggests that just might be the case. ;)
[Update: 2005/01/27]
Apple has now changed the source to "apple_g4_powerbook".
The end-of-life status of the PowerBook means that new PowerBooks will likely appear in early February. It is unclear what the specifications of the next PowerBooks will be, but it is widely expected that they will get G4 MC7447B speedbumps, to 1.5 GHz for the 12" and 1.67 GHz for the 15" and 17".
However, The Inquirer reports gaining access to a document that claims the HyperTransport Consortium has a design win with the PowerBook. If true, this would suggest the existence of a PowerBook G5, although it could just be a prototype which may appear later (or not at all).
It is also curious to see "apple_g5_powerbook" mentioned in the source code of the Apple PowerBook page. However, for all we know, it could just be a jokester web designer messing with us. :) The other reference to "sosumi" suggests that just might be the case. ;)
[Update: 2005/01/27]
Apple has now changed the source to "apple_g4_powerbook".
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Mac mini easy to disassemble
One of the biggest issues with the new Mac mini is Apple's statement that the memory is not user upgradable. Unfortunately, if one buys the Mac mini configured by Apple with 1 GB RAM, it is very expensive because of Apple's high memory prices.
Fortunately, it appears that disassembly of the Mac mini is a relatively simple process. All that is required is a thin putty knife, and some care. Once the Mac mini is disassembled, there is easy access to the memory slot.
Furthermore, some Apple reps have suggested that Apple may still honour the Mac mini's warranty if nothing is damaged when memory is installed by the user. That is good news, since third party 1 GB RAM DIMMs are a lot cheaper than what Apple charges, and 1 GB is often necessary for those users wishing to use the Mac mini for more than basic web surfing and office applications.
One might guess that within a few weeks, some enterprising soul will be selling cheap flat tools specifically for this purpose.
Fortunately, it appears that disassembly of the Mac mini is a relatively simple process. All that is required is a thin putty knife, and some care. Once the Mac mini is disassembled, there is easy access to the memory slot.
Furthermore, some Apple reps have suggested that Apple may still honour the Mac mini's warranty if nothing is damaged when memory is installed by the user. That is good news, since third party 1 GB RAM DIMMs are a lot cheaper than what Apple charges, and 1 GB is often necessary for those users wishing to use the Mac mini for more than basic web surfing and office applications.
One might guess that within a few weeks, some enterprising soul will be selling cheap flat tools specifically for this purpose.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Mac mini: Outselling 4G iPods, appeals to enterprise
Although it is too early to declare the Mac mini an all around success, early signs for Mac mini sales are very positive. The Mac mini is now the number one selling computer at the Apple Store UK. Not only has the Mac mini dethroned the iMac G5 as the best selling Mac computer, it is even outselling the fourth generation iPod.
The iMac G5 is now the second best selling computer, which indicates to us that iMac G5 sales are still relatively brisk, enough to top sales of the popular iBook laptop. While it may be that a small amount of cannibalization of iMac sales may be occuring, it appears the Mac mini has opened up a new market for Apple at the low end, and overall Mac market share will increase. Led by the iMac G5, Apple sold 1.046 million Macs last quarter (2005 Q1), and 3.29 million Macs in the 2004 financial year. Now with the Mac mini, Apple could sell well over 4 million Macs in 2005.
We earlier had discussed the implications of the Mac mini for enterprise. Since the release of the Mac mini, other sites have been thinking along the same lines. The inclusion of a headless low priced Mac into Apple's lineup makes the Macintosh platform that much more attractive to enterprise customers, and this should provide yet another significant boost to overall Mac sales in 2005.
The iMac G5 is now the second best selling computer, which indicates to us that iMac G5 sales are still relatively brisk, enough to top sales of the popular iBook laptop. While it may be that a small amount of cannibalization of iMac sales may be occuring, it appears the Mac mini has opened up a new market for Apple at the low end, and overall Mac market share will increase. Led by the iMac G5, Apple sold 1.046 million Macs last quarter (2005 Q1), and 3.29 million Macs in the 2004 financial year. Now with the Mac mini, Apple could sell well over 4 million Macs in 2005.
We earlier had discussed the implications of the Mac mini for enterprise. Since the release of the Mac mini, other sites have been thinking along the same lines. The inclusion of a headless low priced Mac into Apple's lineup makes the Macintosh platform that much more attractive to enterprise customers, and this should provide yet another significant boost to overall Mac sales in 2005.
Xserve G5 2.3 GHz may point to low power G5 for PowerBook
Apple released the Xserve G5 2.3 GHz two weeks ago to the general public. What many have overlooked about this machine however, is the mention of its power specifications, namely a maximum power utilization of 55 Watts per CPU. That is significant because it suggests that the G5 used in this new Xserve may be a lower power version of the 970FX. When the first G5 Xserve was released last year, its 2.0 GHz G5 had the same 55 Watt spec listed in Apple's marketing materials.
It seems that IBM is now finally getting the G5's power utilization under control, and if true it's possible that a G5 PowerBook may be released sooner rather than later. IBM has hinted in the past that a 30 Watt 1.9 GHz laptop G5 part was doable, but that newer versions of the 970FX (like in the new Xserve G5 2.3 GHz) were required to achieve this goal.
The DigiTimes has said that the PowerBook G5 is due in 2005 Q2, and the existence of the 55 Watt 2.3 GHz Xserve lends at least some credence to that prediction. Unfortunately, the DigiTimes does not have a history of accurate predictions about Apple releases.
It seems that IBM is now finally getting the G5's power utilization under control, and if true it's possible that a G5 PowerBook may be released sooner rather than later. IBM has hinted in the past that a 30 Watt 1.9 GHz laptop G5 part was doable, but that newer versions of the 970FX (like in the new Xserve G5 2.3 GHz) were required to achieve this goal.
The DigiTimes has said that the PowerBook G5 is due in 2005 Q2, and the existence of the 55 Watt 2.3 GHz Xserve lends at least some credence to that prediction. Unfortunately, the DigiTimes does not have a history of accurate predictions about Apple releases.
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