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General discussion

Finally, somebody with a clue.

Feb 28, 2006 12:20PM PST

Discussion is locked

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Here here!
Feb 28, 2006 12:26PM PST

What he wrote in the article is exactly the reason why I am excited about the Mini. Now I'm one step closer to having my own digital media experience in the living room.

-Terry

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Almost, but not quite...
Feb 28, 2006 1:20PM PST

If it were a DVR as well, it'd be a great idea - and I'd be buying one. That's what disappointed me about this - Apple came SO CLOSE to announcing an extremely cool product that'd capture the living room (as MS has been trying to do), but didn't quite go all the way.

That last step is so obvious that you have to figure of course Apple's going to do it, which actually makes me want this Mini *less*, on the chance it's not part of whatever DVR solution Apple comes up with.

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A question worth asking
Feb 28, 2006 2:16PM PST

And I'd like to know the answer as well. But I have to consider that if it is an easy step, it would have been taken already. I HAVE to believe that Apple is working the deals that will be necessary to ultimately make this product as turnkey as the iPod-iTunes integration.

Apple succeeded where others failed by actually approaching the content providers as a ''friend'' and convincing them of the soundness of the business model that might actually curtail illegal downloads. Just provide good product at an affordable rate and maybe people will actually pay for it.

You can't just turn the Mini into a Tivo without the service being there. Otherwise, your computer is just a manual recording device. Not a true DVR. Is the service the iTunes store? If so, you can bet Hollywood is afraid of having a DVR so closely integrated with a computer - the device they seem to fear as the evil tool that steals all their stuff. Apple has to convince them.

But really... you can see all the ducks lining up (to use the phrase again) with the IR remote on the mini, the audio support, a DVI port, a crap load of USB ports... I see where it's headed. Just try and remember what Apple does: INTEGRATE software and hardware. They don't just throw technology at people like Microsoft or Dell. They expect them to be able to use it all well together.

-Kevin S.