Mac Nano

[MLeepson]

I was thinking of the design similarities between the Mac Mini and iPod Mini. Take a look: (Images courtesy ilounge.com and apple.com;Click to enlarge)

I kinda noticed that the top of the iPod Mini looks very similar to the top Mac Mini, as does the whole design of the Mac Mini. (except for the click wheel, of course) But as you all know the iPod Mini evolved into the iPod Nano, so I think that Apple will change the Mac Mini into something like a Mac Nano. (but it won't be as thin as a pencil )

 

[headhammer]

[snip] I think that Apple will change the Mac Mini into something like a Mac Nano. (but it won't be as thin as a pencil )

never say never. if anyone had said an ipod could be pencil-thin before the nano had been released, there'd have been a mob of sceptics to shoot them down before you could say "the mini had it coming"

also, consider how thin the apple tv is, and that it can run os x. yeah, at this stage the apple tv is a really, really basic computer if you do that (that gets really hot on the top) but still... it's a computer.

i like the way you think.

 

[MLeepson]

Thanks

I remember when Steve Jobs introduced the Nano, it was literally pencil thin.

 

[neven]

I don't think we'll see a Mac significantly smaller than the Mini, just as we won't see an iPod (with a screen) smaller than the current Nano. At some point, you gain nothing by miniaturizing and you make interaction with the device awkward. The Mini has to house so many ports and an optical drive, and you can make all that only so small before you're running into problems.

In any case, is anyone bothered by the size of their Mac Mini? Does it take up too much room? It's already a ridiculously tiny computer, and all the complaints I've heard are about a weak CPU and difficult upgrading. Miniaturizing would contribute to those, not solve them.

It's much more likely that the Mini will be allowed to go gentle into that good night. It will be missed, and iMac sales will go up. If for no other reason, then because it doesn't fit into Steve's magical grid of consumer / pro / desktop / notebook computers.

Regarding the name - Apple would almost certainly not name it "Mac Nano". I think we get carried away with these types of naming "conventions". Before the Shuffle came out, the expectation was that it would be called "iPod Micro", continuing the theme. Ipod Mini and Mac Mini are the only products I can think of that were named in such a predictable way.

P.S. At less than 7 mm thin, the first iPod Nano was thinner than a standard pencil

 

[lofight]

good idea, i would make like a sort of brushed metal mac nano like the mac mini with a screen like the G4 atached above it with a very good stand or something, my idea for a the iMac G6

 

[thesdx]

also, consider how thin the apple tv is, and that it can run os x. yeah, at this stage the apple tv is a really, really basic computer if you do that (that gets really hot on the top) but still... it's a computer.

That makes an interesting point. I don't think the Mac Mini will be pencil thin anytime soon, however, it could look much like the design of the Apple TV.