Is this Apple's way into the business world?

[alfredo]

http://www.apple.com/macmini/server/

There’s a whole server in there.

What is Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server?
Exactly what you’d expect — a Mac mini specifically designed to be a server with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server preinstalled. Instead of a SuperDrive, there are two 500GB hard drives that give you all the power and storage you need to help your group work more efficiently than ever.

What can it do for you?
Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server is designed to help you communicate, collaborate, and share information. It’s perfect for any small business or group — retail shops, doctor and law offices, classrooms, design studios — you name it. Now you can have your own server that supports email on Mac computers, PCs, and iPhone. Sync and share calendars and contact information. Access and swap files securely, and at lightning speed, between Mac computers and PCs. Easily create full-featured wikis and high-quality podcasts. And automatically back up all your important data.

[Touchdown]

1. AT&T network ops is transitioning to Windows from UNIX.

The rest of the company is on Windows. The Sun systems are too expensive and they want everybody to be borg like and use the same thing.

All of the applications we use had to be translated to Windows though. It took years for this transition. Apple has made servers in the past, and it would've been so easy to just use these little guys instead of a crappy HP box. None of our in house work applications would have to be translated, since OSX is UNIX anyhow.

But I'm a nobody in this company. I don't know shit. "Shut up and get back to work! You're not done yet? ... And remember. We care!"

[alfredo]

2. That may not be the market Apple is targeting. They seem to want the

small mom and pop shops. It's inexpensive, easy to set up, has very liberal licensing, and energy efficient.

[struggle4progress]

3. No built-in router, right?

[alfredo]

4. A $99 Airport Express could do that.

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

[TommyO]

5. Considering the Mac Mini finds it way into server farms in it's previous incarnations

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/10/24/informed_players_say_apples_mac_mini_still_kickin.html

This is a good move for Apple, and for those wanting an inexpensive, OSX-based server.

[alfredo]

6. Is Apple in the early stages of reworking the workplace? Will it be small, light,

and hand held?

[TommyO]

7. Considering they grew the iMac into a 27" LCD

I think they're taking a multi-pronged approach. Powerful all-in-ones for home that support their mobile products. Personally, I'm very interested in what Apple could do with a tablet, I love my iPod Touch, but for some things it's just a wee bit small.

[alfredo]

8. A iPod touch with twice the size screen and the ability to run more than one

app at a time would be fine with me.

[TommyO]

9. Same here! My Touch does everything I need it to do

Including functioning as a remote for my AppleTV and my TiVo, browsing is a bit tiresome on the small screen for sites not optimized for for the iPhone/Touch, and I use both the Kindle and Barnes and Noble apps to read (mostly free) books, so a bigger display would help that out immensely.

[alfredo]

10. I've been thinking about the touch, but the constant scrolling is

a concern, and that my 65 year old eyes may not tolerate much reading/browsing.


I've been using the B&N reader on my Mac Mini. I get Gutenberg text and convert them to PDB's using PorDiBle to convert the files.

http://www.loghound.com/pordible/index.html

[alfredo]

11. Slashdot on the Mini Server. Some interesting comments.

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/09/10/20/1833228/Apple-Blurs-the-Server-Line-With-Mac-Mini-Server?art_pos=30