Apple
An interesting and aggressive slate of new stuff from Apple this year.
- Loud and clear, Apple is saying, "We're not scared of Microsoft anymore." iWork says, "Word can no longer kill us", and the Mac Mini is cleverly planned to cannibalize aging Windows installations. It's not very useful if you don't have a monitor and keyboard handy, but if you're not happy with your Windows box, it's almost an impulse buy.
- The Mini is interesting for schools with aging computer labs. If you've got a roomful of aging Windows machines, it's a thought.
- Small is big. A selling point for the Mini is its 6"x6" footprint.
- UI minimalism reaches its natural extreme in the iPod Shuttle. No UI.
- It's working: the Apple store is jam-packed
- I know, because I just iChatted an overseas TEKKA writer for reaction to the news, and the writer wanted a shuttle -- not more money -- for their next review.