03/01/2006, 11:10am, EST

Wednesday, March 1st

Analyst comments on Apple event

American Technology Research senior analyst Shaw Wu today commented on Apple's recent announcements after attending the company's special event on Tuesday. "At first, we felt a little underwhelmed with the product announcements," Wu said. After more careful thought, however, the analyst concluded that Apple is making less apparent progress in building a broader digital entertainment portfolio. Wu believes the Mac mini has evolved into a competitive compact digital entertainment center with faster Intel processors, and said that the new Mac "screams connect me to a TV" with the included remote control, multiple networking options, DVD burner, enhanced FrontRow software, and more robust display options. Commenting on the new Mac mini, Wu added that "we find its price point at $799 a little steep. In addition, we would like to see Apple add more features in the future, including PVR recording capabilities which would arguably make it the most powerful digital entertainment center in the market."

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dave a

Mini can't be mediacente

03/01, 11:40am, EST

And here's why --

PATHETIC HARD DRIVES

slow notebook hard drives maxing out at 120 GB cannot deal with the amount of video you need to make the Mini a serious video machine.

I'd really trade the Bluetooth and remote control I'll never use for a slightly larger case with a full sized hard drive. We're talking what, an inch and a half?

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ebeyer

Mediacenter..

03/01, 11:47am, EST

What's needed is a new EyeTV-like product that sits just under the MacMini that is a PVR-tuner with a huge bloody hard drive. Find a way to neatly integrate that with the MacMini and FrontRow, and I think it would really take off.

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SolarMedia

Small solution

03/01, 12:30pm, EST

Offer Firewire 800 on the box, and speed will not be an issue for being a PVR. But, obviously being in bed with Intel shows there is little desire to do anything with Firewire except what is absolutely necessary.

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ATPTourFan

eyeTV

03/01, 12:30pm, EST

i agree, that would rock... notebook hard drives don't always suck, but they are putting 5,400rpm drives in the mini... the higher density on the notebook drive platters has closed the gap somewhat between 3.5" and 2.5" drives, but I see what you're saying.

It's really the capacity that is the negative point with those drives. The drives can easily handle the shuffling of bits in real time.

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wjdennen

Delayed RDF Effect

03/01, 12:41pm, EST

Steve has perfected the "delayed reality distortion field effect."!

case in point:

"At first, we felt a little underwhelmed with the product announcements," Wu said. After more careful thought, however, the analyst concluded that Apple is making less apparent progress in building a broader digital entertainment portfolio.

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jstephe

RE: Delayed RDF

03/01, 1:04pm, EST

Actualy what you are seeing is a reality check. If they reported thay they were realy underwhelmed, there stocks would take a hit, and in reality that would be bad for them so after looking at there portfolio the products are all good every one should be happy and jack up the stock price. :)

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eldarkus

baby steps..

03/01, 1:07pm, EST

Lets keep in mind that Apple is infamous for making baby steps in new markets. Just look at the history of the iPod/iTunes.. they took it one small step at a time. iPod, iTunes, more iPods, iTMS, more iPods, Photo iPods, Front Row, Video iPods, Mac Mini with Front Row... (I think the order is correct.. may not be 100% accurate)

Just wait, it all will come together!

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jayparry

PVR capabilities

03/01, 1:10pm, EST

Notebook hard drives now max out at 160 GIG, but yes the price is high and the specs are underwhelming on macmini.

Apple will not do a PVR type device because that precludes using the Itunes music store. Apple says you should pay for every show on ITMS, not copy your programs off the airwaves on to your hard drive where you could potentially copy/distribute illegally.

However, if they DID ever want to do a PVR they should buy TiVo and implement their elegant software into front row.

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bsaxton

Mini will NEVER have PVR

03/01, 1:36pm, EST

They can't put a PVR on the Mini - they are too dependant on the iPod and its video content providers to risk losing the privders' business. If you put a robust PVR system, like Tivo, on the Mini, it would elminate the need to buy content from iTunes and thus NBC/Disney/MTV/etc. don't get any money, pull out of iTunes, and leave Apple looking stupid. Apple will leave PVRs to 3rd party folks. And soon, it won't matter because all TV will be digital and encrypted and we'll all be at the mercy of the Networks until someone starts filing anti-trust lawsuits...

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ibugv4

those notebook drives..

03/01, 1:42pm, EST

would work for 99% of the people who would sink $500 into the unit. TiVos do have 7200rpm drives, but early modls had 5400rpm drives. I know notebooks are like 4200rpm or there abouts, but it won't matter... the idea is easy of use, not lightening fast. The iPod, hard disk that is, is by no means FAST at starting to play a song. The Nano and Shuffle outshine it, along with all other flash players ... but those who are content whores don't care about the 3 second delay between play and hearing music, they've got 30,000 songs to chose from. Apple's Americanized more more more mentality is making me a lil sick.

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