Comments on: The New Mini http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-new-mini technology, gaming and gadgets Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:41:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: talkrhubarb http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/comment-page-1/#comment-20927 talkrhubarb Thu, 02 Mar 2006 23:10:33 +0000 http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/#comment-20927 It's £509 without VAT at 17.5%. That's makes the difference large but not nearly so huge. You're dead right about the extras though. £70 for a bluetooth mouse and keyboard seems a bit steep to me. And by the time you beef up the RAM you're not far away from the cost of 17" iMac. But that's not the point of the mini. It's small, silent and unobtrusive. It kind of loses that appeal when there's a plethora of alternative metal boxes dotted round the room. It’s £509 without VAT at 17.5%. That’s makes the difference large but not nearly so huge. You’re dead right about the extras though. £70 for a bluetooth mouse and keyboard seems a bit steep to me. And by the time you beef up the RAM you’re not far away from the cost of 17″ iMac. But that’s not the point of the mini. It’s small, silent and unobtrusive. It kind of loses that appeal when there’s a plethora of alternative metal boxes dotted round the room.

]]> By: Lewis http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/comment-page-1/#comment-20926 Lewis Thu, 02 Mar 2006 19:43:24 +0000 http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/#comment-20926 If you mail order something in the U.S. and it comes from out of state, then there is no sales tax. In my experience, most U.S. companies will not ship overseas (here be dragons). In some ways it makes sense, there are all kinds of customs and excise issues with doing that. Even when you are buying in the U.S and getting things shipped to a U.S. address many sites will not accept your credit card billing address information. Often it is impossible to enter your postal code correctly as the “zip code� field on the form only allows digit characters, this prevents the transaction taking place. One site I tried to use wanted me to scan some photo I.D. with my address on it, as well as both sides of my credit card. I don’t think handing out that much info to someone you have never met is a very smart idea. So told them I would take my business elsewhere. In my experience Amazon is one of the best sites to use for this kind of thing. If you mail order something in the U.S. and it comes from out of state, then there is no sales tax. In my experience, most U.S. companies will not ship overseas (here be dragons). In some ways it makes sense, there are all kinds of customs and excise issues with doing that.

Even when you are buying in the U.S and getting things shipped to a U.S. address many sites will not accept your credit card billing address information. Often it is impossible to enter your postal code correctly as the “zip code� field on the form only allows digit characters, this prevents the transaction taking place.

One site I tried to use wanted me to scan some photo I.D. with my address on it, as well as both sides of my credit card. I don’t think handing out that much info to someone you have never met is a very smart idea. So told them I would take my business elsewhere. In my experience Amazon is one of the best sites to use for this kind of thing.

]]> By: Graham http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/comment-page-1/#comment-20925 Graham Thu, 02 Mar 2006 13:57:08 +0000 http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/#comment-20925 I reckon, given the current debacle that is my Philips PF9986 Component input, I'd be up for buying a mini. If I had the money. Of course, I'd also have to buy a DVI switch box which would add even more money. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your perspective) I don't have the money for either. :) The 360 is hopeless as a media center because it limits you on the formats you can view (transcode 360 is hopeless). XBMC is still the king, but it can't output over VGA or DVI and my TV currently has issues with component, even though component supposed to be fully supported! Yes. I'd go for it. :) PS. It does support a remote control right? I reckon, given the current debacle that is my Philips PF9986 Component input, I’d be up for buying a mini. If I had the money. Of course, I’d also have to buy a DVI switch box which would add even more money. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your perspective) I don’t have the money for either. :)

The 360 is hopeless as a media center because it limits you on the formats you can view (transcode 360 is hopeless). XBMC is still the king, but it can’t output over VGA or DVI and my TV currently has issues with component, even though component supposed to be fully supported!

Yes. I’d go for it. :)

PS. It does support a remote control right?

]]> By: Ian D http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/comment-page-1/#comment-20923 Ian D Tue, 28 Feb 2006 20:43:55 +0000 http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/#comment-20923 Everything is Thatchers fault, no? Although I wouldn't be staying where I am if it wasn't for Right to Buy. I'll get me coat. Everything is Thatchers fault, no? Although I wouldn’t be staying where I am if it wasn’t for Right to Buy.

I’ll get me coat.

]]> By: Ricky Dee http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/comment-page-1/#comment-20922 Ricky Dee Tue, 28 Feb 2006 20:37:06 +0000 http://www.iand.net/archives/2006/02/28/the-new-mini/#comment-20922 Remember that US prices never quote the local sales tax as it varies from city to city, County to County and State to State. San Francisco, the home of Apple, levies 8.5% tax which takes the real price up to $867 which is £495. Still a rip off though, but won't stop me lusting after some shiny new kit. I blame Thatcher ;-) Remember that US prices never quote the local sales tax as it varies from city to city, County to County and State to State. San Francisco, the home of Apple, levies 8.5% tax which takes the real price up to $867 which is £495. Still a rip off though, but won’t stop me lusting after some shiny new kit.

I blame Thatcher ;-)

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