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Jason Says:

With the silver color of the mini, it would be very easy to make translucent skins that would turn it into just about any color you would want. Yes, anodized aluminum is cool, but I would rather see them working on upgrades and new products over putting time into the color. If keeping it one color helps keep pricing lower, which it does in many aspects, let it remain. The cheaper it is, the more chance others will give it a try.

As far as the keyboard and mouse go from Apple - they are nothing more than a joke. The new keyboard is nothing more than a dust, dirt and grit magnet with its open bowl design. Yes, they look good brand new, but try looking at them when they are used, whether it be in a home or a school lab environment. They end up looking like a trash can with clear sides.

As far as Apple mouse design, whatever. They create an operating system that was designed for two to three button use and force users to do funky finger stretches in order to use functionality that Windows and Unix users do with relative ease. Simple can be great, but it has to be functional and then have good form to match.

There is a good reason why companies like Logitech have great followings - they have great designs and for the most part great implementations with those designs. Apple throws together a clear shell, some white keys and because its followers bow down before it, think it is the greatest gift to computing since the mousepad.

Sorry to be the negative person, but for a company that does such and incredible job at things, settling on sub-par products for things that so crucial to an effective environment is just plain silly.

Oh, by the way… How many fail to realize that they don’t get USB 2 speed if they plug into their keyboard. Hmm, for all of those new iPod users out there that are required to have a USB 2 port, well, guess what? You either have to use the port on the machine, if there is a spare, or you are going to have to purchase another card, just to use that iPod. Brilliant.

Posted on March 29, 2005

nhmacusr Says:

Jason,

There are no iPods that are USB2 only.  The iPod shuffle works fine in a USB 1.0 slot and the other iPods all still work with firewire, so whatever.

OS X is designed for a one button mouse.  There isn’t anything I can’t do with a single click or a single key stroke with a click.  In reality, I am much slower on windows and Unix where they have too many contectual menus to deal with.

If you want a color Mac mini look here:

http://www.colorwarepc.com/

Posted on March 29, 2005

hmurchison Says:

Jason

Wow man tell us how you “really” feel. 

Single Button Mouse - The reason why Apple has done this for years is a UI design theory that most UI choices should be available in a menu or one button click away.  Look at PCs and how they toss items in the right click menu as proof of their theory.  Righ Click isn’t really intuitive until you get used to it.  However I think that today people can handle two buttons and rumors are that Apple is going there.

I don’t really care that Apple has a nice mouse or not. I want to see a vibrant 3rd party market.  I’d rather see Apple keep their accessories basic.  There’s no need to compete with Logictech or MacAlly too hard.

Sometimes things are done for reasons beyond spiting customers.

Posted on March 29, 2005

les moore Says:

The colored iMacs look horrible with the white keys

Posted on March 29, 2005

Sam Levin Says:

Dennis,

Your multi flavored (colored) Mac mini are here:

http://www.colorwarepc.com/products/select_macminib.aspx

Posted on March 29, 2005

ken Says:

The main problem with colors is inventory control and that is a major problem for retailers.  The most popular colors go fast that the others are left in the dust.

Now, what might work is some bright 3rd party supplier making color tops that could be interchangeable. That could be a rather profitable business and allow Apple to do their own thing.

As for the Apple mouse, I actually use it, along with a 4 button scroll wheel mouse.  I’m finding that I prefer the Apple mouse in tandem with a PowerMate from Griffin Technology for most apps.  The only time I find the 4 button mouse useful is when I am doing a lot of cutting and pasting, but then I also use a keyboard with a cut and paste button.

Posted on March 29, 2005

Jason Says:

Good point, nhmacusr. I guess I knew that it was firewire, but when a use first gets the iPod, it is what comes in the box first. Unfortunately, a lot of the retailers are neglecting to mention to Mac users to purchase the firewire cable kit, so I apologize for being short-sighted on that.

Computer users today are a heck of a lot more savvy with technology than a decade ago. Back then, people were still learning what and how to use a mouse. Today, though, it is a completely different landscape, and considering that Apple is trying to get people to switch, most, if not all switchers, have been working with a two or more button mouse. That was kind of my point, but I suppose the tone of the first posting overshadowed the rest of the content. For that, I apologize.

The people that are developing the color kits for the Mac mini, wonderful job. The colorware kits look wonderful. It is a great start to making them into full-blown presentation machines and / or kiosks.

Posted on March 29, 2005