Target taking Mac mini pre-orders

In a move that says, "Yes, the Mac mini is for real and we intend to sell a lot of them," Target.com is now taking pre-orders for the Apple Mac mini.  The two models available include $499 1.25Ghz and $599 1.42Ghz models, the same confugurations and pricing you'd get from Apple.com or one of their stores.  You might be able to save on shipping from Target, but you won't be able to order a build-to-order machine (many people will most likely want to add Airport and Bluetooth).  Also, don't expect Target to have them before Apple does.  Just a warning.

[Grandpa @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Take 10% off with this coupon code:

TCTENJANUARY

Teh cheapz!

[Keith Jenkins @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

This is just the news that I was hoping for. And only a couple of days after the N.Y. Times linked Apple and Target together in an article, Behold the Artful Price Tag, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/garden/20appl.html!

Smart design and good pricing rule...at least for today!

[John Waller @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

http://www.johnwaller.org/macmini/ ... I'm taking hot pictures for pre-orders :)

[JasonC @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

This isn't at all surprising news since Target.com is run on the backend by Amazon.com (which is also taking pre-orders). The real news will be if/when Target sells these in-store.

[Jeremy Holloway @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Is Jobs on the board of Target? Or is it The Gap?

[MilfC @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

I've been using Windows systems at work and at home for a long time now and only have Windows based software available.

I think the Mac mini looks great and would be a fun gadget to play with but exactly what software comes with the machine? I understand there's OS 10.x but is there anything else?

Is there a viable option to having to replace all my software? Will the Mac mini run Virtual PC? Thanks.

[Saint Zany @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Mac mini comes with OSX and iLife application (which includes iMovie, iTune, iPhoto, and maybe more). Also it comes with few gadget applications as well as Safari, Apple's own browser. You can get Microsoft's Internet Explorer and buy Microsoft Office for Mac (if you really have to). There are open source apps you can get for free or near free because OSX is based on UNIX/BSD core. Too many to list but there is an open source Office applications, not 100% compatible with Microsoft office documents but close..

Check out apple.com for more applications info.

It will run VirtualPC but just keep in mind that it will be slow. You don't want to run it unless you absolutely have to. And you don't want to run it for anything other than mundane tasks, that is no gaming!

Hope that helps.

[Van Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Steve was on the board at Gap; he isn't anymore.

If you put more RAM in it, it will run Virtual PC acceptably. I used Virtual PC to play SimCity 3000 on my (almost) three year old iMac G4; to my surprise, it ran very well. No lag in the game play. (I am about to break out my old copy of Total Annihilation and see how that goes - it should play well, also.)

It comes with iLife '05 - new versions of iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, iDVD and GarageBand. You can use iDVD with or without a SuperDrive, but the SuperDrive will make it much more useful. It comes with AppleWorks (a Microsoft Office compatible application) as well. Also, Quicken, a few games, WorldBook maybe, Safari (Browser), iCal, iChat, iSync, and a handful of other, useful tools. It comes quite full-featured - most everything you need out of the box.

You really won't have to buy much at all, and if you just want to play with it, probably nothing. AppleWorks will open and save Office documents. You could also buy iWork for less money than Office if you wanted. The majority of the software you will want will be free, or at least cheap shareware (Acquisition, MPlayer, etc).

If you need any help, feel free to ask.

[jorell @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

I've been using PC's for 25 years or so and consider myself and expert. (CCIE, MasterCNE, MCSE, EIEIO) I used to rag on macs all the time. I just got a dual 2.5ghz G5 for christmas and let me tell you, I'm sold. This thing just works, no tweaking, no spyware, no crap. It works! You know what I mean? I mean it friggin works all the time! You can actualy get work done with this thing. Oh and the 30" Cinema HD is a nice addition too :)

[Proph3t @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/?r=14235436

Free one :) Willing to pay $5 Paypal for completed referalls.