I have to agree with Mr Cringely, I think the Mac Mini is a delivery platform but there is something missing….
Bob Cringley recently suggested that the reason for the Mac Mini’s existence was to provide a platform for delivering films over broadband to HDTV. We already have something in the UK called HomeChoice that does the SDTV version of this (the Mac Mini looks like a HomeChoice box too!).
Blessed though the Mini is, there is the small matter of sound of course. The Mac Mini is limited to only two analogue audio channel outputs which would be fine for Dolby Pro Logic sound, however if the target user has a $20K HDTV plasma screen (they aren’t in the UK yet!) hanging in their living room you might expect him (or her, but probably him – a ‘her’ wouldn’t spend $20k on a TV, ‘hers’ are far too sensible and do not normally do that kind of thing), to have at least Dolby Digital if not some form of THX. However there is no optical out on the Mini which precludes all forms of normal digital connection i.e. Optical or Coax.
Perhaps this is what the long rumoured Asteroid is intended for and not GarageBand after all or are Apple just ahead of the game and planning for Firewire based audio?
The FireWire trade association list a number of high end surround sound amps with built in 1394 interfaces There is a very interesting white paper on their site here about just this, so FireWire may be the future to replace those ToS Link fibres we all know and love.
Time will tell I guess so look out for an Apple media event around July – August. This will give the dust around Tiger time to settle, 10.4′s h.264 media system will be vital for this strategy.
I think this will be another occasion where Apple will set the trend. Interesting times.
P.S., I am not spreading rumours here, just speculating on future products. As far as I am aware I have not divulged any information not in the public domain already. You really have to be so careful these days!