Counterfeit Girl Scout Cookies

For her birthday I got my girlfriend a new Mac Mini. This is an exciting product in my opinion and I think that it fills a crucial gap in the PC market that is currently underserved. I see a convergence on the horizon, but my vision does not quite fit with those that I have come across in mainstream media so I will lay it out here for you.

Several years ago we saw all the forecasting about the t.v. set top device or the network PC, if I remember correctly Larry Ellison of Oracle was big into these, but I think at that time software was pushing the demands of hardware systems to quickly to allow for the creating of anything that would appeal mainstream consumers. In other words someone that wanted to buy a computer and have it be useful for more then 18 months.

Current computer hardware is more then capable of running the bulk consumer use applications with lightening speed.
I consider the "bulk of consumer applications" to be:

• web browsers
• iTunes
• DVD playback
• MS Office
• Photoshop
• Dreamweaver
• p2p software
• e-mail
• Internet video (read: porn and humor)

The biggest performance issues currently facing the average computer user are being cause by Internet Malware. Things like Spam, pop-ups, adWare, Spyware, trojans, etc. Your average user on a WinXP machine with a broadband connection has a pretty solid change of having his computer become 100% useless shortly after connecting to the Internet for the first time. In fact it is getting so bad that the government is taking action.

Being know by my friends and family as a "tech guru" I have the good fortune of fielding support calls at least once a week on various topics, but in the last year I have been getting more calls from desperate users bogged down by Malware and stuck as to how they can get their computer to work well again. These callers are not computer illiterate or new users, most have been using computers for 10 - 15 years and are well educated, but they don't have the time to keep up all the latest exploits and hacks because they have other demands on the time and unlike me computers are not their passion and hobby. To them the home computer is for leisure and entertainment.

It is naive to say that the Mac OS is immune to spyware attacks and viral infection, but at this time Apple has a solid head start on Malware due if not to robust software design than to relative obscurity in the marketplace. This is a major advantage that is growing in strength every day. Just look at what is it doing for the growth of the Firefox Internet browser.

The new Mini Mac is also an elegant piece that fits nicely into an environment where the traditional computer does not look at home. Now longer are you confined to OfficeMax computer furniture to tame your computer space needs. Now that old fashion students desk that has been passed down from your grandparents has more then enough space for you LCD monitor, Mac Mini, and wireless keyboard and mouse. If you are a early adopter or tech head this sort of thing does not matter much to you, but to many people the simple esthetics of their computer hardware matters quite a lot. On need to look no further then the iPod to see this dynamic at work. There are numerous MP3 players that are comparable or superior in feature set to the iPod, but none comes close to the sleek look and feel.

The biggest issue that I see for the Mac Mini comes from the monitors. Apple monitors are some of the nicest around, but they are not for the faint of wallet. The most affordable display offered currently by Apple is the Apple Cinema Display (20" flat panel) for $999.00. This is likely to induce some serious sticker shock for someone who intends to set up a 100% Apple, Mac Mini system. I know the Mac Mini works with any PC monitor, (my girlfriend uses a 15” ViewSonic VG150) and that you can get a nice LCD for less than $300, but you can’t get one from Apple.

Using the Mac Mini to simply replace the main computer unit of your average PC is a painless process as it comes with the correct monitor adaptor and Mac uses the same USB connections for their keyboards, printers, mice, etc. Simply unplug you PC, swap in the Mini and you are up and running.

I think that Apple has made a good move with the Mini and if the waiting list for them at the Glendale and Santa Monica Apple stores is any indication then I look forward to having the investment I made in Apple last year continue to grow.