Why Save the Mac Mini

[SimPLsol at aol.com]

Bill,
For $1300 you could have most of the Macbook features and a better keyboard, 
a mouse, and a much larger monitor. And then, when you decided to upgrade, you 
could get the then current Mini for $599 (hopefully by then $499) - not 
another $1300 - and keep your good keyboard, mouse and monitor.
I'm not saying the MacBook is bad. It is certainly not. Some people "need" a 
portable (I use a 17" PowerBook for both travel and desktop use). Some people 
need an XServe. But the Mini fills a unique niche that portables don't; for 
one example, as a headless server. And lets not forget the ability to have a 
spare Mini or two. Judy Perry (signer # 963) offered some other compelling 
reasons I had not considered. Thank you, Judy.
Of course a more contemporary Mini is desirable. I believe we'll get one - or 
there will be no Mini at all. If Apple thinks there is interest in the Mini 
they will release better models, if they think there is no interest in this 
particular form-factor they will drop it.
I see many benefits to the Mini form-factor. So, I think it worth a small bit 
of time to vote. Apparently others agree; in a little over a day the petition 
has been signed over a thousand times. I am especially gratified to see so 
many luminaries from this list on the petition.
Bill, please bear in mind, the petition allows for upgrade suggestions as 
well as an overall vote on the Minis fate. Check it out:

www.petitiononline.com/macminsa/petition.html

Be counted. Only   8993 votes to go...
Paul Looney


**************************************
 Get a sneak peak of the 
all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour