they call that a small footprint. I've seen cinder blocks with a smaller footprint then that.
BTW. Love the boycott badge.
As a Certified Apple Whore™, I become automatically enchanted with absolutely everything Apple does. Historically, this kind of blind devotion has been repaid, because everything they do is new, unique, classy, and better than most of the other crap in the market.
So when I had read that Apple was having some kind of media event today so they could unleash some cool new toys, I was understandably excited. Well, both excited and terrified, because Apple gear is usually pretty expensive, and I don't have extra cash laying around.
Turns out I needn't have worried. All the hype was for an upgraded Mac Mini computer and something called the iPod Hi-Fi.
Whoop-de-f#@%ing-doo.
The new iPod Hi-Fi has cool potential, EXCEPT IT'S NOT AN IPOD!! It's just speakers for your iPod. In fact, without an iPod plugged in, it doesn't do anything at all. So why call it an iPod when it's not and confuse everybody?? Beats the heck out of me...
It would be different if it had a massive hard drive inside and could act as a wireless repository hub for your music, video, and data... but it doesn't. It's a boom box accessory with a remote control. I might be at least a little excited if Bose hadn't already come up with a more elegant-looking solution that costs $50 less and doesn't have your iPod awkwardly sticking out the top. It's called the Bose SoundDock...
So when Apple asks "who better to design the ultimate stereo system for iPod than the folks who designed iPod itself?" I'm guessing the answer is Bose, who has a heck of a lot more experience designing small-footprint sound systems than Apple does.
Kind of sad really. I wanted my big-screen video iPod.
Can't say I'm that impressed with today's announcements, though I'm biased having only bought my Mac Mini 6 months ago. Though it's good to see that it now comes with 4 USB ports and a line-in port.
Bearing in mind my Mac is hooked up to my stereo and it has all of the same music on it as my iPod, the iPod Hifi really does not appeal to me. And as you say it's huge.
Actually, I've only ever read bad things about bose products in the hi-fi press, all style and no umph, lots of rolling bass if you attempt to crank it up and all that. But hey, look at that apple thing, even if it had the best sound in the world i still wouldn't want it, I'm a traditionalist, I like my left and right speakers to have a bit of distance between them!
To be fair to Apple, this was a low key affair anyway. It was the gadget blog community that hyped it up.
Posted by MRKisThatKid on February 28, 2006 | Reply
Say, speaking of iPods, I have a question for you - what kind of case do you have for your nano (assuming you have a case)? Would you recommend it? I'm having a helluva time finding one to suit my needs (I think I'll be taking this EZ Skin back), but then I'm insanely perfectionistic.
Posted by Alexis on February 28, 2006 | Reply
I buffed out all the scratches on my iPod nano with some BRASSO polish and then bought a clear plastic sleeve that sticks to it that I found at the Apple Store. It's not as pretty as a naked iPod, but it sure looks better than all those scratches did. :-(
Rob: I guess that the iPod Hi-Fi is small compared to an entire stereo system... but it does ONE THING. I just don't see the value in it, particularly when it's not as sexy as Apple's other products.
Adena: That's what I thought too. Though, the Apple unit is bigger, so maybe it's got better sound... I don't know. My neighbors would complain with either option, so I guess I'll never know! :-)
Neil: I rarely use more than two USB ports, and one of those is always a keyboard/mouse, so that's not anything compelling for me. It's almost as if the Mac Mini is trying to be a good option for a media center, but does very little that you'd need a media center to actually do?
Nicole: I'm self-certified as a Certified Apple Whore™ so feel free to certify yourself. :-D
MRK: True that the hype was not generated by Apple... but still disappointing that they are releasing things now that underwhelm so badly. They need to EXCEED the hype to remain "Apple" in the eyes of the faithful... and they're not really doing that lately.
Sandra: SEE... any of those options would have been more exciting than what we got!
Ben: You'd think that Apple would have had some cool docking mechanism that would suck your iPod into the unit using magnets or something. Just jabbing it on top seems to clunky and un-Apple.
Couldn't agree more about the mac mini, it could be so much more just with the addition of some rudimentary parts and little software. And, why the heck isn't there a 7200rpm option, even your powerbook has a 7200 speed drive, so surely a mini has room. I'm sure apple are holding the mini back in certain quarters so not to overshadow their other products. Also, is it me or have the prices shot up?
Posted by MRKisThatKid on February 28, 2006 | Reply
As a Certified Apple Whore™ myself, I have to admit that today's announcements were pretty dismal.
Now, some of the new features of the Intel Mac mini were pretty cool, like the audio in, optical support, the ability to max it out at 2gb RAM, 4 USB 2.0 ports (nice if you are not into USB hubs, although my Belkin looks pretty slick next to the mini) and the Front Row support. But the price turned me off ($800 for a mini seems more than I would want to spend if I still needed to add a monitor, keyboard and mouse). Plus, the lack of any DVR funtions would have been nice.
I really have nothing to say about the iPod Hi-Fi. Bose already had the option on this and if they are worried, they shouldn't be, $50 less and it looks nicer. And I can pretty much guess that it sounds just as good or better.
Posted by ChillyWilly on February 28, 2006 | Reply
Yeah, the event was kinda dissapointing, but then agian, the mac mini is the bottom line computer. I think I will have to hear the iPod HI-Fi before I make judgment on it.. but the biggest dissapointment.. the apple cases.. at $99
Posted by dave on March 01, 2006 | Reply
ChillyWilly: Any benefit to the Mac Mini upgrades are totally blown by the weak-ass video and lack of PVR functionality for the media-hub they are positioning it as (Front Row doesn't cut it alone). Want to really impress me Apple? Add a video-in port. The $100 price jump certainly isn't making it more attractive to me either.
Dave: I don't know if hearing it would be enough for me because of how it looks. A big white box with dopey handles that has your iPod poking out of the top? I might pay $350 for a cool-looking Apple speaker dock but, for that kind of money, this thing is lame (it had better sound REALLY good). I'd pay $200 tops. The leather iPod case is so embarrassing as to be comical... it's not even a case, really, because you have to pull out the iPod to use it... that makes it a "glove" or a "sheath" or something.
Kevin: I don't hold much sympathy for any e-tailers stupid enough to lower prices based on what Apple MIGHT do. They're on their own there. :-)
Why did Apple bother to hold a "special event" if an expensive speaker dock, Mac Mini price-hike, and overpriced leather iPod glove were all they had? All this did was diminish the buzz that their next truly cool product is going to get.
Or maybe that's why they did it? So much easier to meet lower expectations. :-)
I was hoping the mini might have some PVR recording options.
That and a standard hard drive (that I can expand) might get me to get one...
Yeah the standard hard drive would make it a little less mini, but I could live with that...
Posted by Gary LaPointe on March 01, 2006 | Reply
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