First, let me say that I don't think Apple plans to discontinue the Mac mini, as I think Jobs & Company realize that there's a need for a (relatively) inexpensive, entry-level Mac. There may be some overhauling of the baby Mac, but I think it will be around for awhile.
However, if Apple did ditch the Mac mini and really wanted to think different they might look at the Zondu PC, a tiny Linux-based PC that runs on low power, is silent and has no hard drive or optical drive. The catch? You have to rent online storage.
According to [url=http://news.com.com/2300-1042_3-6197110-1.html?part=rss&tag=6197110&subj=news]CNET[/url], the [url=http://www.zonbu.com/home/]Zonbu PC[/url] easily fits in your hand, and initially costs $99 -- with a two-year subscription for online storage that costs between US$12.50 and $19.95 each month.
You can buy just the PC for $249 with no storage agreement -- and no storage. And you can cancel the subscription at any time. The Zondu PC has six USB ports, 512 MB RAM + 4GB flash-based local storage, graphics up to 1400 x 1050 (16 million colors), hardware graphics and MPEG2 acceleration, PC-compatible ports for keyboard and mouse, and built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet. It's about the size of a modem and weighs about two pounds.
Do I think Apple will ever release a sub-$300 Mac? Naw. But imagine revived Cube (the Cube mini?) with a Zonbu PC-like set-up using a revamped .Mac for the online storage. Such a system would only run basic apps for tasks such as word processing, surfing the Net and email. It wouldn't even come with iLife; for that you'd have to buy a beefier Mac. In other words, the Cube mini/Mac mini mini would simply be a "starter Mac."
Hey, it could happen. I just don't think it will.
