Friday, January 21, 2005

Apple Marches On?

From tech wonk Robert X. Cringley, an explanation of what the Mac mini is really for: "Movies." "It is simple to say that Apple hopes to repeat with video the success it already has with iPod and iTunes." Read the whole piece for the full story, which includes some clever dot-connecting that's probably beyond anyone else in the pop-tech world. The only thing missing is any speculation about where the iPod - specifically, the much-rumored video iPod - would fit into this scheme...

(Thanks to Matt for the link.)

1 Comments:

Gordo said...

I know, based on numerous examples -- the most recent of which was the introduction of the we-won't-do-flash-based-iPods-iPod-Shuffle -- that Apple is known for reversing its stated course when, and only when it's ready, but I tend to believe that they really don't see a big future in video iPods.

The Mac Mini *is* a video iPod -- if you're going to watch a full-length movie away from home, you're gonna watch it on a screen bigger than whatever you could cram onto an iPod. Like, say, a laptop screen (Apple sells a couple models). Headed to a friend's house? Just grab the diminutive Mac Mini off of your coffee table and carry it to a friend's house. If they've got a screen (one of Sony's HDTVs, natch), you're in business!

Maybe this theory makes sense of why Apple is touting the Mac Mini's portability -- if you really want a computer that moves, you buy a laptop. But if you want to watch movies somewhere other than your living room, you just need a screen and a very portable video player.

Enter Mac Mini, stage left.

10:42 PM  

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