Event of the Year 2005

Best comments on "MacMini launch"

Robert McMahan:

The mini seems to me to be a stealth product. So many other Apple products are getting all the "buzz" but I think it is the mini that will be the key to bring the computer into the living room and home entertainment — the foundation for a Media Center done right! It is the beginning of what will bring about the common acceptance by the "average Joe" of the new home entertainment paradigm — internet, movies-on-demand, time shifted video & TV programs, music, computing & computer games, and who knows what else all brought together and controlled by one elegant, powerful "box" connected to HD TV, stereo, and speakers distributed around the house. It will also make Apple the behemoth, the juggernaut in home computer and entertainment! Apple "may" never re-gain much of a foothold in business(although I suspect it probably will) but it will gain the full acceptance of home users and become the defacto standard, the preferred machine instead of Microsoft.

David Karl:
Wow! Apple has entered the low cost market. The next thing you know, Apple will get tired of IBM diverting PPC chip designers to work on the game console variants and will switch to using Inter processors.

Chuck Watts:
The macmini is the biggest thing since the ipod to actually attract windows (80% of the computer market) to the Mac os. Given the commoditization of windows machines, prices for basic windows machines have been driven to extremely low levels and the mini is the only thing that gets the mac os close to those levels. Further, the usb interface with immediate peripherals allows it to operationally replace windows machines with an ease that will also attract switchers. When the mini/media center emerges, the significance of the macMini will be evident to all.

John J. Budacovich:
Made the Mac platform available to customers who would have never considered it in the past.

Daniel Parent:
We waited so long for a headless Mac. Now, everyone can have a Mac!

Elizabeth DeBoer:
This is a tough call MacMini, Video iPod and Intel in that order.

Chris Griego:
The event that will turn out to have rocked the Macintosh world the most has been the launch of the Mac mini. It really doesn't make much difference to most people when there's a change in processor or a newer iPod and a new OS is released almost yearly.
The Mac mini on the otherhand is the most significant switch in Apple's strategy since the original iPod launch. This is Apple putting its foot down and saying, "you can make high quality computers that look good and make money while being inexpensive." Apple has consistently targeted those who demand more from their computers than most, and the Mac mini doesn't change that one bit. What has changed is that more people are demanding more from their computers while not laying out for high powered equipment, and Apple has answered that call.

Don Schaper:
The Mac mini was, without a doubt, the most significant event of 2005. It took basic laptop components and put them in an elegant little box; at a price point that forever shattered the impression many had that Apple computers were overpriced. Most importantly, it started a new line of Apple products; which will evolve over the next several years into an affordable computer / media center. It represented Apple deciding to branch out from their normal product lines of recent years and create new markets with style and substance; for the Mac mini moves Apple into the living room. In five years, the debut of the Mac mini will be seen as a pivotal point in Apple's long-term plans - as important as the debut of the iPod / iTunes revolution was in its time.

Eddy Walet:
MacMini launch was like a pre-shock that already made many non-Mac users aware of the Macintosh, resulting in a much wider audience for Apple going to Intel. However, it was Tiger itself, not the move, that got the attention (from potential users; not the media).
Personally, though, that Apple is going the direction of consumer electronics rather then going into business computing deeper is shocking, because the latter could really have rocked the Macintosh world as many still look at compatibility with their office equipment when deciding what to use at home.
None of the above would be the right choice as they are all mere trembles that forcast a really rocky period and I expect januari to be an interesting month.
However, the most upset I got from reading all the message about "Intellectual Properties" from dimwits going after working products created by Apple instead of coming up with anything have decent based on their own ideas.

Steve:
Lowered the cost of switching for millions. Innovative packaging. Easy to buy.

Don McAllister:
Brought Apple to the PC users attention and started the big switch

Bob:
The size of six cd cases, yet it can do so much more!

Steve Kruse:
The Intel's aren't shipping yet, the Nano and videos are cool but expected, Tiger is just another step in Apple Evolution, Boston what???, MacMini is shipping, small and freaking cool. It's the one

Marcus McDaniel:
I would have to say that the MacIntel announcement would come in at number two because although it was quite shocking it was not the most significant. The Mac mini has thrust the Macintosh into the living room and better positioned it to compete along side Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft in the battle for American living rooms. All of the others announcements were shocking and some even baffling but the Mac mini release was definitely the most significant.

Rodney Hunt:
A basic cheap mac for the masses and one that I want to get into our business as cash registers.

Denis Sun:
The MacMini gave us a glimpse of what Steve Jobs might have in mind for the future of Apple computing and the future of digital media.

Max Lewis:
Although the Intel announcment may be most significant, the Mac mini launch in January was definately the greatest. It has inspired hundreds of different mods, ranging from simple case modifications to sticking a mini in your car! It has also inspired many Windows users to see what it's like on 'the other side'. For just $500 they can get a Mac mini and use their existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It is a truly great product from Apple, and a very good idea. This one wins my vote!

Larry Rosenthal:
Apple goes to Intel will be the big ticket impact item when its rolled out. Right now - just buzz. iPod innovations - especially video! - were huge, but not Mac specific. MacMini, however, is converting sheep into shepards like nothing the Macintosh world has ever seen.

Eric Shepherd:
The Mac mini is huge (so to speak) in that it brings a whole new group of people over to the Mac universe, and it lets us long-time Mac users stock up on more Mac goodness without breaking the budget (or our desks).

Michael Garner:
This event has and will continue to open previously locked doors behind which scores of switchers were being kept from the beauty that is Macintosh. Welcome, Switchers!

Katie Floyd:
The MacMini has the potential to become Apple's "next iPod." The iPod had already gained wide popularity and while the introduction for the nano and video iPods will help, Apple has already won the hearts and minds of digital music consumers. The MacMini gives Apple the opportunity to reintroduce the Macintosh to consumers who have chosen PCs for their affordable price. Especially if the MacMini also evolves into a "digital hub for the living room" you can expect to see many more current PC users take interest.

David:
I would have said Intel, but it hasn't happened yet. The Mac world will get rocked next year from that.

Adam Dachis:
I think this year was actually kind of bad for the Mac, but for me the most exciting thing was Macworld January. I was excited about the release of the mini a lot and of the orchestra jam pack. The shuffle was also very exciting.

Tom Neale:
The Mac Mini opened up the Mac platform to a much wider user base. Many more people now see the Mac as an affordable alternative to Windows, The days of "Macs always cost more than Windows computers" are now officially over.

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