YS2003 said:
Mac mini is a good marketing strategy as it broadens the potential customer base while maintaining somewhat high-end feel for the rest of the line ups.
Good point, but I think that the Mac mini is seen as the solution to three different needs:
I believe Apple's original plan for the Mac mini was as you describe - an entry-level system aimed at switchers, students and those on a tight budget.
But as soon as people saw the design for the Mac mini, they wanted to put it in their living room and use it as a home theater component. Home theater isn't really compatible with budget and Apple seem to have shied away from the HT market so far (with minor concession on digital audio in the latest model). As many have speculated, it could well be that Apple has other plans in this area.
Finally, the small form factor computer itself has started to demand a premium. On the one hand, I am surprised that more manufacturers haven't jumped on the bandwagon and that we aren't seeing Dell, Acer, Sony, etc. mini PCs. On the other hand, perhaps the PC manufactrers have been stung slightly by the lackluster performance of Tablet PCs and aren't willing to take another risk just yet; plus it may be that getting the design and costs right is actually really difficult and Apple have just made it
look easy. Either way, I think the popularity of the Mac mini coupled with the low spec. and high price of the AOpen MiniPC is partly to blame for the slight price increase with the current Intel Core versions of the Mac mini.
Can Apple continue to let the Mac mini lead three lives, or do they need to intraduce new product(s) to take over one or more of these roles?
