Opening the Mac Mini

Dad (Roger Born)

In case you did not see it yet or it gets slashdotted…

(This video is the first known opening of a new Apple Mac mini! WARNING! This is not a pretty sight!)

LINK HERE

Chris (Born)

————-

Chris,

THANKS! I forwarded it to the guys at MyMac.com

Dad (Roger Born)

PS BTW, the video has the coming apart sounds, and they are HORRIBLE! (grin)

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Guys (MyMac.com),

Forward this to anyone you think has the bandwidth to view the video

This is someone taking apart the mini with a spatula! Run it with the sound on – because it really sounds horrible! (grin)

Roger (Born)

PS This is slashdotted elsewhere..

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Gang (MyMac.com),

Here is the first blogged pictures on the web of someone receiving and opening their new Apple Mac mini from the shipping company.

http://www.hitormiss.org/2005/01/20/unpacking-my-mac-mini/

Nice Apple packaging too.

Roger (Born)

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Dear all (MyMac.com),

We are still on a learning curve here, and this helps clear the underbrush about such odd things as Media Centers.

The mini will make an excellent one, but it needs some tweaking yet, and perhaps a real one is coming from Apple in a year or less.

In the meantime, this is an excellent article about the mini and Media Players.

http://engadget.com/entry/1234000460028138/

Enjoy!

Roger (Born)

———————-

Dear all (MyMac.com),

Interesting, all the new ‘old’ Mac mini sites that are showing up!

Here is another one –

http://macminiforums.com/forums/announcement.php?f=19

These guys are giving away several minis with various configurations, all for a simple registration. I wonder if they buy their own, or if Apple supplies the goods? I also wonder how many new hits we would get if we ‘decided’ to give away a new Mac mini?

Regards,
Roger

PS (Mini? mini? – why did Apple NOT capitalize their mini? My English Teacher wife is having fits over this one!)

—————–

Roger,

>>Mini? mini? – why did Apple NOT capitalize their mini? My English Teacher wife is having fits over this one!

Ask BMW.

J. (John H. Farr)

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Roger,

Asking this of the CEO that can’t spell McIntosh, can’t capitalize NeXT properly, and doesn’t know grammar, “think different(ly)”?

David (David K. Every)

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David,

As one who comes from a part of the world where we still speak ‘proper’ English (ahem) I beg to differ on this one. It could be claimed that this is a lapse in punctuation but not grammar for, clearly, the intention is: think ‘different’. This is an acceptable idiom (and as the modern trend is towards using as little punctuation as possible, I think the lack of specific punctuation is acceptable), e.g. ‘think big’. In other words, it is WHAT you are supposed to think, not HOW. We are being exhorted, not to think differently, but to think that Apple is different.

Therefore, they can spell ‘mini’ without an initial cap if they want to (heh heh).

Carmel Glover

—————–

Carmel,

Geeze. I feel strip searched by a grammer cop from the land of Oz — where
they put rubbers on their pencils, eat swede’s, think 7Up is a lemonade, and
don’t know the difference between an entrée and an appetizer. 😉

Jingoes, I’m not trying to be a stickybeaked wog, giving you an earbash, but
this has been a fun ghinwag. Hooroo.

David K. Every

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David,

>>Geeze. I feel strip searched by a grammer cop from the land of Oz

😉

>>– where they put rubbers on their pencils

I thought they were born like that.

>>eat swede’s

Who eats swedes? (watch that apostrophe!)

>>don’t know the difference between an entrée and an appetizer.

Only in the US is the main course called (illogically) an entrée

>>Jingoes, I’m not trying to be a stickybeaked wog, giving you an earbash, but this has been a fun ghinwag. Hooroo.

Translation please.

Carmel

PS Yes, it was fun.

——————
Carmel,

>> — where they put rubbers on their pencils.

> I thought they were born like that.

Ooops. I guess they are. The first try was “put rubbers on their cars and
pencils”. But I guess pencils are birthed with erasers, and I think
rubbers=tires (tyres) is an older phrase.

>> eat swede’s,

> Who eats swedes? (watch that apostrophe!)

I like turnips. (Wife’s a vegetarian — we eat all sorts of veggies) 😉

And I’m lousy with apostrophe’s. (An evil invention devised to make me look illiterate).

> Only in the US is the main course called (illogically) an entrée

Actually, since it means “entering” I suppose appetizer makes more sense.

The British side of my family (my Dad’s side) all mocks “bathroom”. The comment I hear is, “I’m going to the toilet, I’m NOT going to take a bath!”. I prefer, “got to go to the bog”, myself.

I still don’t get “taking the piss” [out of someone]. What do I look like, a urologist?

>> Jingoes, I’m not trying to be a stickybeaked wog, giving you an earbash, but this has been a fun chinwag. Hooroo.

> Translation please.

As near as I can tell, I said: [Surprise], I’m not trying to be a [meddling] [foreigner of middle-Eastern decent], [talking incessantly], but this has been a fun [chit-chat]. [Later]

David (K. Every)

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David,

>>but this has been a fun chinwag. Hooroo.

I liked ‘ghinwag’ better 😉

Carmel (Glover)

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Carmel,

So now you’re even correcting my edits! ;-P If I wanted that kind of
scrutiny, I’d ask my wife to read my work. 😮

David (K. Every)

————-

David,

My apologies, David. You struck me on Get an American Day (third
Wednesday of the month). At any other time, I’m all sweetness and
light.

C (Carmel Glover)

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Carmel,

It may be the third Wednesday of the month for you, but in France (or most
of the rest of the world) it is any day that ends in a ‘Y’ (in English). 😉

David (K. Every)

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David, Carmel!

SACRE BLEU! YOU TWO SHOULD BLOG THIS THREAD!

eet ezz whaanderfal stauuff, no?

Roger (Born)

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All (MyMac.com),

Here is yet another one opening his first mini

http://www.ultrasparky.org/

R (Roger Born)

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Roger,

http://www.origamiboulder.com/

Is he really serious? If not, he does it brilliantly.
In any case, the text is hilarious.

Eolake Stobblehouse
_____________

LATECOMERS ENTER THE SCENE:

Roger,

>> (Mini? mini? – why did Apple NOT capitalize their mini? My English Teacher wife is having fits over this one!)

Because Apple never studied English obviously. Remember: Think Different!

Any English teacher was overheard saying “Think Differently!” And ‘i’ in iPOd was not capitalized either. There are many examples. However, I think Apple is capitalizing on the mini just fine! (Sorry for the bad pun!)

Owen (Rubin)

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Carmel,

>> Asking this of the CEO that can’t spell McIntosh, can’t capitalize NeXT
>> properly, and doesn’t know grammar, “think different(ly)”? (David K.E.)

> Therefore, they can spell ‘mini’ without an initial cap if they want to
> (heh heh).
> Carmel

Is this like Ebonics Carmel?

Owen (Rubin)

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Carmel,

>> don’t know the difference between an entrée and an appetizer. 😉 (David K.E.)

> Only in the US is the main course called (illogically) an entrée (Carmel)

Obviously, many are confused by this, as seen in a quick Google search to
define the word entrée:

Definitions of Entree on the Web:
1} Main course dish. 2} Not the same as an appetizer.
lifeintheweeds.tripod.com/lifeintheweeds/Jargon.html

(fr.) – an introduction, a march-like piece played during the entrance
of a dancing group, or played before a ballet. Usually in 4/4 time. [back]
dirk.meineke.free.fr/glossary.html

The main dish of a meal.
www.frugal.8m.com/Kitchen/Glossary.html

Light dish usually served between the courses at dinner.
www.hc.cc.tx.us/homepages/tony/food/cookinghintsandtips/definitions.htm

the principal dish of a meal
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

the right to enter
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

entrance: something that provides access (entry or exit); “they waited
at the entrance to the garden”; “beggars waited just outside the entryway to
the cathedral”
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

the act of entering; “she made a graceful entree into the ballroom”
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

You would think though, that an “entrance” part of the meal would be first
given the root of the word!

Owen (Rubin)

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Roger,

> this is an excellent article about the mini
>
> http://engadget.com/entry/1234000460028138/

If you want to discuss “media centers”, count me in. I have designed
several, produced two, was on a number of standards committees (including
one at Microsoft) which covered media centers, made a living for 12 years in
digital TV and cable, designed set tops, and was the lead researcher for
Paul Allen on broadband, digital TV, and media centers for a while.

In my opinion, the mini is NOT even close to a media center, lacking, among
other things, a tuner, ANY video in or out, real HD output (DVI does not
really count, but works, but I am talking RGB or similar), and has no IR
remote control. No to mention it needs a real MPEG sub-system for PVR
functions so the computer can continue to do media stuff while recording or
playing back video.

Maybe later, but this is not it in my educated opinion.

Owen (Rubin)

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David, and all,

It’s not at all like Ebonics, you ignorant American ;-p

(Oops … what day is it?)

Delete the above.

Restart: It’s not at all like Ebonics, Owen dear.

Carmel (Glover)

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Owen,

>>You would think though, that an “entrance” part of the meal would be
first given the root of the word!

You would, wouldn’t you?

And so it is in logically-minded societies. entrée = dish served at dinner before the main course.

Thus, in an Australian menu, you might find ‘Appetisers’ … which simply get the mouth ready for the meal, ‘Entrées’ as first course, then Mains (or something that means the equivalent). Less pedantic establishments might lump the appetisers and entrées together.

C (Carmel Glover)

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Carmel,

Hobbits have it right!

No messin’ ’round wid “on-tries” and “appet-tizers” No sir!

It’s:

Breakfast
Second Breakfast
Elevens
Lunch
Afternoon Tea
High Tea
Dinner
Supper
Late Night Brunch

. . . and Snacks in between!

(of course the above was from memory from the movie LOTR, but then I “might” have added to it at bit!)

Roger (Born)

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Russ,

>> For those of you who may be interested, go to and download the QT video of how to quickly (and I do mean quickly) open up the Mac mini case with a putty knife…

Russ Walkowich

The procedure in this video is actually the Apple certified way to disassemble the Mac mini. They recommend use of a Putty knife, 1.5 inch (38mm), flexible blade and rubbing it down with sandpaper for 2 minutes before prying the mini open.

Adam Karneboge

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Adam! (Karneboge),

I find this hard to believe! There should at least be some kind of tool . . .

You mean that kid behind the counter at the Apple Store?
The one who used to change my oil, last week?
The one that is now CERTIFIED to open my new mini?!!

I *HOPE* these guys have the decency to do the deed BEHIND closed doors, or at least out of eye and earshot of the customer! The sounds made opening this mini on the video are HORRENDOUS!

Roger (Born)

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Roger,

Believe it or not, it’s true.

Adam (Karneboge)

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Adam!

Wowser!

An Apple Tech doing that in front of a new Apple Mac mini owner will cause that poor soul
to faint! – especially using that Ace Hardware putty knife!

Not cool, IMO. I’d rather do it myself, I think.

Roger (Born)