Posts by Stephen Moll

it is...

"patently ridiculous"

In case you hadn't noticed...

All of the current Mac Mini models, desktop and server alike are without an optical drive.

An external optical drive is an optional extra.

Now seeing as the desktop model doesn't have an optical drive any more, this would suggest it might be possible to fit a second drive, in fact one of the build to order options is to have both a 750GB rotating drive and and a 256GB SSD.

Ha! Ha! I get it!

April fools!

Not the smallest...

The Fit-PC2 is HALF the volume of this machine at 313cm^3. This thing is 628cm^3, so how can it claim to be anything like the smallest PC?

I would like to see:

Either...

(1) A micro-gas turbine generator module that can be installed in the boot for extended range, or a power-trailer.

(2) Electric motorway lanes, where a pantograph arrangement is available in some lanes on major motorways, like the M1, M6, M8, so a e-car can get onto the motorway under its own power, and then extend a pick up, to draw power for the cruise along the main motorway sections of the journey, and perhaps even recharge as well.

SSD are not failure proof.

Whilst the reliability of SSDs is in no doubt higher than that of HDD, and with MTBF figures orders of magnitude higher than HDDs, this shouldn't be a surprise. Don't be fooled into thinking that SSDs are failure proof though. Their MTBF figures whilst extremely high are still finite, and storing important data in more than one place will still be as prudent in an all SSD world as it is now.

You say that the new MacBook Air doesn't need backing up, I'd say it does, just as much as any other portable device. OK the flash might go on seemingly forever, but what happens if the user drops it, or simply leaves the thing on the 3:15 to Edinburgh?

Also, I have bought countless flash based devices over the years, and not all of them worked out-of-the-box, and not all those that did work at first, still work today.

So whilst most of us would agree that storage density and sizes will continue to increase, portraying flash based storage as infallible and not requiring backup is a bad message in my book.

It has another problem...

VMware is partnering with Teradici to embed the protocol used for its PC over IP chipset into ESX server. So unless VMware are intending to keep the existing RDP protocol in place as well, these devices may be seen as VERY late to the game.

Too fussy and lacks elegance...

If the sketches and graphics on Gizmodo are anything to go by, MS are making the same mistake with their stores, that they make with their packaging. Anyone remember the spoof video where a Mac packaging box is MS'ified?

There is far too much 'noise', clutter and information going onto the walls. This looks like it will divert attention from what should be the main focus of customer attention, that being the machines on show. I always thought that was the main point of an Apple store, not to stare at the walls, but simply get hands on with the kit and play with. The kit can then sell itself.

I reckon...

that this isn't about the Mac Mini at all, and is more likely an update to the Apple TV.