shownotes_20060301

Opening
  Opening Music
    Music is Say Anything by Manda and the Marbles
    Mandaandthemarbles.com
News
  New Intel Mac Mini
    1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo ($599 USD) with CD burner and 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo with and Dual Layer DVD burner ($799 USD)
    1.5 has 60GB and 1.67 has 80GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard disk drive, but clicking "Learn More" on the store page says all mac Mini serial ATA drives are 7,200 RPM
    Both models have 512MB PC2-5300 DDR2-SDRAM (2x 256) and are expandable up to 2GB.
      Motherboards feature dual channel technology that allows you to utilize the bandwidth of two modules at the same time.
      To maximize memory performance, it is recommended that memory SO-DIMMs be installed in pairs.
    Intel GMA950 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory (Minimum graphics memory usage is 80MB, but may vary depending on graphics needs)
    4 USB2 Ports (1 Firewire 400), Gigabit Ethernet, SPDIF and Bluetooth and WiFi standard.
    Base prices are $100 more than G4s, but features all total at least $100 in "upgrades" (Bluetooth, WiFi, 512MB RAM and an 80GB hard drive)
    FrontRow (now with Bonjour support) and IR Remote
    Apple claims a 2x and 4 x speed increase over the G4s respectively
    G4 Mac Minis are no longer on Apples site. May find them with 3rd party resellers. I would expect prices to come down a bit soon.
  iPod Leather Case
    For 5th Gen iPod and Nano
    $99.00 USD
  iPod HiFi (Boombox)
    $349.00 USD. Looks like a "bread-box". Basically a large white rectangle with handles on the corners and an iPod dock. Some reports said it looked like a center channel speaker
    iPod Dock connector with support for all docking iPods.
    Auxiliary input for older iPods and Shuffle or other 3rd party players and devices.
    Runs on D batteries as well as AC power. And will charge iPod from either power source.
    IR Remote and can use the iPod display to show "large" album art (iPod update soon?).
    Can attach to an Airport Express ($129 USD) via a Digital cable and use as an all digital WiFi speaker system
    Why no video out connectors? Can attach the Apple video cable to the top of the iPod, but that would destroy the look
    I heard these sound better than the Bose System, but it seems like a crowded space. Bose, JBL, Altec-Lansing and others. Also Dock solutions Apples own iPod Dock, DLO Dock, Belkin Dock, Griffin TuneCenter. Plus the AirPort Express.
      Also question the need for high fidelity as most peoples music collections are compressed audio and MP3s in many cases.
Feedback, Comments and Commentary
  Final thoughts and reactions
    My immediate reaction was disappointment
    Are we becoming victims of our own hype? Not every announcement is going to be ground breaking
    I do think Apples latest offerings are a bit overpriced. Is good business as they know early adopters will buy no matter what.
    Would really have liked to see the Mac Mini prices stay the same or actually go down. Apple needs systems to counter the "Apples are too expensive" camp to get more switchers.
    Why no DVR. I dont want to believe it, but Apple may never do a DVR Mac. They want you to buy TV shows and movies, not record them.
Closing
  Visit the website
    Show notes.
  Keep emails coming. More audio comments
    maccast@gmail.com
    206-222-2788 (20-MACCAST-8)
      PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
    MacCast Forum
  "Brighter Day" by Derick Dahl
    Artist web site
    Buy music from Derick Dahl iTunes