Our Take on Apple's Upgraded Mac mini and iBook G4 Lines
The base $499 1.25GHz Mac mini now simply gets 512MB RAM in place of 256MB, essentially a $75 saving. We don't know if the additional 256K on an entry level consumer computer is actually needed but Apple suggests 512K minimum for running Mac OS X 10.4.x so it's consistent. We'll find out but, hey, it's free so no one is going to complain are they?
The next level $599 1.42GHz Mac mini does even better as a result of the upgrade. It gets a free additional 256MB RAM, free AirPort Extreme card and free Bluetooth module over the previous $599 model and looks like the real value model even though it loses the 56K modem. The $100 over base now not only buys a 14 per cent faster G4 CPU and 40GB of additional hard drive space but AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth as well while giving up the modem. If you need the modem, it's only $29 but then why would you pay for AirPort Extreme?
The top level $699 1.42GHz Mac mini gets everything the $599 model has plus a SuperDrive. $100 is a minimal premium for Apple's DVD burner. Now a fully loaded Mac mini with 20" Cinema Display is a more reasonable $1,498 or $1,556 with mouse and keyboard. It now takes $243 more for the comparably-equipped but much faster 20" 2GHz iMac G5 at $1,799.
Wow, that was easy to go from $499 to $1,799! We are certain that Apple is hoping many shoppers will do just that.
The new iBook G4s all get a scrolling trackpad and a Sudden Motion (drop) sensor to protect the hard drive along with CPU speed, RAM size and graphics speed bumps plus built-in Bluetooth 2.0.
The 12" iBook G4 continues to get only a combo optical drive--there's no DVD burning at 12" unless one moves up the 12" PowerBook G4. Still, for the same $999 the 12" iBook G4 gains a faster 1.33GHz CPU, 256MB more RAM (to 512MB), faster ATI 9550 graphics and Bluetooth 2.0, a real bargain.
The 14" 1.42GHz iBook G4 with all the new goodies also comes with a SuperDrive for only $1299 so it is $200 less than its slower non-Bluetooth immediate predecessor. That's a significant change--substantially more capability for substantially less money! A combo optical drive is a BTO option for $100 less.
The new Mac mini and iBook G4 models offer significantly more capabilty at the same or even less price point depending on model. The most dramatic change is that the faster and more capable iBook G4 line now tops out at $1,299 for a standard configuration instead of $1,499. [Bill Fox]
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