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Mac mini won't be big with business
No big switch to small is beautiful yet, says analyst

By Jo Best

Published: Friday 14 January 2005

The "most affordable" Mac it may be, but according to one analyst, the newly launched Mac mini won't be the key to a PC-to-Mac cavalcade and is especially unlikely to convince businesses.

Gartner analyst Martin Reynolds said in a research note that software issues will hamstring the growth of the stripped-down machine.

"To be widely adopted by businesses, the Mac mini would require more available software. Windows has become such a pervasive part of the computing culture that business users who are accustomed to the Microsoft operating system will not likely switch their allegiance.

Nevertheless, the small Mac does have some elements to woo the CIO. "The portability and small size of the form factor of the Mac mini will likely appeal to business users... and [it] will likely keep the Mac interesting to those few businesses that do use them," Reynolds added.

Although the Mac mini "will not cause a significant shift away from the PC", according to the Gartner analyst, its lifestyle focus could see Windows users snapping it up as a media player to sit alongside a conventionally used PC.

The report also added that to configure the Mac mini with desirable extras would see the Mac's little brother move from bargain basement to penthouse personal computer.

"The base unit is priced low, but adding memory for a total of 1GB, a faster processor, a recordable DVD drive, wireless keyboard and mouse, and internal wireless will drive up the price to more than $1,300," the research note said.