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Was the Mac mini Intended to Have an iPod dock?

Posted by CmdrTaco on Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:18 AM
from the sure-why-not dept.
Technology (Apple) Technology
RMH101 writes "Was the Mac mini originally designed to have an integrated iPod dock? The Register has an article that appears to suggest it was. This opens up the option of homebrewing your own dock into a mini for yourself..."
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Was the Mac mini Intended to Have an iPod dock? 25 Comments More /

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  • Homebrew Cases (Score:5, Insightful)

    by BlueThunderArmy (751258) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:22AM (#11813024) Homepage
    Given some of the homemade cases I've seen, I suspect tinkering with the Mac Mini to give it an iPod dock would make it a bit less "mini" and considerably less stylish.

  • I may be easily asmused... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Digital Warfare (746982) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:25AM (#11813046) Homepage
    But did anyone else notice the convientley placed R2 and D2 ?
    It would a good to have this dock as optional, but that will be in the next flurry of updates?

  • Not an iPod doc (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Fished (574624) * <amphigory@gm a i l . com> on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:27AM (#11813066)
    I don't think this was for an iPod dock. This guys is basing that conclusion on the fact that it's got firewire connectivity. But we should recally that Firewire was originally mostly used for video connectivity, not iPods, and Firewire is still more-or-less the standard for connecting video cameras and tuners digitally. The logical conclusion is that this bus is not here to support an iPod, but some sort of video hardware ... like, say an HDTV tuner card?

    This ties in nicely to the way that the mini seems tailor-made to be a media-center PC. If some sort of tuner card were plugged into this slot (say in a "Mac Mini Media-Center Edition" or something) you could plug a mini into your TV and be basically set with the ultimate convergence box.

    That's my opinion, anyway. Be looking for a Media Center version of the Mini soon.

    • Re:Not an iPod doc (Score:5, Interesting)

      by harrkev (623093) <kfmsd.harrelsonfamily@org> on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:46AM (#11813248) Homepage
      Neat idea, but I recently read a review stating that the Mini (at least the base version) lacked the processing testicular fortitude to be a full-blown media center. Plus, it does not have the storage to be a server (unless you upgrade the HD) Anandtech Review [anandtech.com] It still has some potential, but it does not seem to be designed for this role (at least without some serious upgrading)

    • Re:Not an iPod doc (Score:5, Informative)

      by Fahrvergnuugen (700293) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:55AM (#11813323) Homepage
      Apple has already reaffirmed that they have no intentions of making a media center:

      from MacWorld [macworld.com]

      Media Centers and digital video players

      Oppenheimer articulated Apple's current philosophy when it comes to "media center" computers -- PCs designed to work in the living room as a component of a home entertainment system, recording video, playing back music and more. While Oppenheimer admitted some consumers may be interested in media center PCs and that a Mac mini might be suitable, he said that "most customers" would prefer to have a more powerful computer in their office or den and leverage wireless networking to stream content to their home entertainment system.

      As a practical example, Oppenheimer pointed to AirTunes -- a feature of iTunes that works in conjunction with Apple's AirPort Express wireless networking hub. The AirPort Express features an audio jack that can connect to the home entertainment system using a mini jack or a digital optical cable. Music can then be streamed from the computer playing iTunes to the stereo.

      The iPod won't be getting video capabilities any time soon if current players are any indication, said Oppenheimer. Today's crop of portable media viewers are too bulky to carry as comfortably as the iPod, yet have screens he said are too small to enjoy a movie the same way you would on a TV or laptop. "Our view is that they've failed in the marketplace," said Oppenheimer.

  • Coralized link (Score:5, Informative)

    by panum (161455) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:27AM (#11813068)
    Use Coral proxy [coralcdn.org] to avoid slashdotting the poor site [nyud.net].

    -P

  • iPod Docks (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:27AM (#11813069)
    Don't the different iPod models have different docks? So you could have a one-size-fits-all dock, but when you put a mini in it, there would be a gap around the edges, and Apple just wouldn't let that happen.

  • Sorry it was the price... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by garcia (6573) * on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:28AM (#11813076) Homepage
    Whether the Firewire feature was dropped from the first incarnation, or was put in place ready for the Mac's next revision isn't clear. However, early rumours surrounding the so-called "headless iMac" that was to become the Mac Mini, did indeed mention an integrated iPod Dock, fitted to help encourage Windows-using iPod owners to switch to the Mac platform...

    I'm sorry but what made ME (as a "PC" user) to switch to the Mac platform was the price. $499 for the base model is 100% perfect. I have said it here before (and I am saying it again)... Once Apple created a computer that was reasonably priced I would purchase one and I did.

    It's nice that it runs cool, near silent, and that it is snappy for what I use it for (with 512MB) but it's super nice that it was priced right.

    I don't own an iPod and I likely will never own an iPod so the iPod dock wouldn't make me switch. I highly doubt that PC users would switch just because of an iPod docking feature.

    YMMV.

  • That's where you plug... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:28AM (#11813077)
    ...the reality distortion field generator, duh!

  • I think... (Score:5, Funny)

    by eobanb (823187) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:28AM (#11813078) Homepage
    ...more importantly, I noticed that Safari was using much more memory than Firefox when I had both open. Therefore, certainly we must ask ourselves, "is the Mac mini preferring certain programs over others?"
  • A great deal of people are buying iPod's these days. If more of them would buy mac's too Apple's market share for personal computers would greatly increase. I'm sure they originally put the dock idea in the low-cost model to attract these windows iPod buyers but the purists at Apple fought to keep the box cheap, simple, and clean.
    Also, since I have karma to spare, with I googled for mac mini ipod dock I got a picture of this crazy contraption [hackaday.com]. Just thought I'd share.
    - Cary
    --Fairfax Underground [fairfaxunderground.com]: Where Fairfax County comes out to play

  • In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:31AM (#11813101)
    "Microsoft intended to fix bugs in Windows?" All the signs are there, the half done architecture and comment code stating "To be enabled in Longhorn."

  • Yes, But Killed Early On (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:41AM (#11813206)
    I had the opportunity not too long ago to speak with someone at Apple that worked on the Mac Mini project and I asked the same question as it had been speculated on a lot by the rumor sites. The answer was yes, it was considered early on in the project but killed because they didn't think that it would work aesthetically along with the possibility that it could interfere with the wireless performance of the Bluetooth and Airport antennas that are located on the top of the case.

  • I know what it is (Score:5, Funny)

    by akheron01 (637033) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:46AM (#11813249) Homepage
    Pfffft, that's not a dock, it is quite obviously a Diagnostic Port [folklore.org].

  • It will be in the 2nd version of the mini (Score:5, Interesting)

    by hsmith (818216) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:49AM (#11813274)
    Apple has the best selling philosophy:

    Sell version 1 w/ minimal features
    get everyone hooked
    release version two with extensive features
    profit

    look at the shuffle, the chip has the ability to recieve FM, they will add a screen and FM tuner in 1-2 versions to bump sales up. brilliant.

    • Re:Flexibility is good (Score:5, Insightful)

      by DenDave (700621) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:34AM (#11813133)
      If it it is to be a "shove-in" dock then it would be a bit nonsensical and un-aesthetic, imagine a mini with a white ipod dangling out of its left side..

      Nah..

      An extra connector is always a charm but a slot for your pod? hrmm.. considering future changes to the form of the ipod I wouldn't go there. The 60gb is thicker than the 40 and the pod mini... ugh just forget about ok? fugeddabaatit ok?

      • Re:Redundant? (Score:5, Funny)

        by Otter (3800) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:42AM (#11813211) Journal
        I'm the first post, and my post is 'redundant'?

        In fact, the moderator was correct -- you managed the rare feat of an entirely redundant first post. Particularly impressive given that the blurb is only three sentences long!

    • iPod dock for next gen of Sawtooth G4 (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Lev13than (581686) on Tuesday March 01 2005, @11:46AM (#11813250) Homepage
      or perhaps... the mac mini 2 is intended to have an ipod dock.

      This got me thinking - my Sawtooth G4/400 has an internal Firewire port [lowendmac.com]. Clearly, the designers intended the next generation of G4s to have integrated iPod docks.

      It's not uncommon for features to get added early in the mobo manufacturing process because it's cheap and relatively simple. This is probably an example of Apple doing a CYA 12 months ago and then abandoning the idea (whatever it was - dock or something else).

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