Inspired by a recent conversation with Pilky, who is buying a new Intel iMac 17”, let’s debate the Intel Mac mini, the (non-Intel ) iPod Hi-Fi, and the Intel iMac.

Prices for baseline w/out discount or tax or warranty:
iPod Hi-Fi = $349
Mac mini = $599
iMac 17” = $1299

Assuming you already have some iPod, hopefully not a tiny nano or mini, but rather one with the biggest available screen the iPod Hi-Fi will provide you at least average sound---better if you use AIFF---and it will be completely impossible to see what song is playing.  That’s where I’m lost.  You need to sit close to an iPod to operate it because it is normally hand held. 

I’ve used the iPod connected to a dock and speakers for two years and it’s always been inconvenient, although less so now with a remote.  You’re always blind even on a playlist you are familiar with. 

The iPod Hi-Fi has the same exact flaws.

Now when we use an iMac, and I have one, with Front Row you have the best experience.  You have like eight times the screen size and its vivid.  You could do the same with a Mac mini hooked up to a [HD]TV.

Remember the Mac mini’s slogan BYOKVM (Bring Your Own Keyboard, Video, and Mouse) has not changed.  You pay extra for all the peripherals that normally come standard with the iMac.  I’m not going to price out the difference because you can use many brands and quality of peripherals with the Mac mini especially if you have spares.  I’ll assume you don’t because I’m being conservative.  So there’s more money you have to lay out...and don’t forget the speakers. 

You can plug the iPod Hi-Fi into the Mac mini or the iMac too via toslink.  The sound quality will be transmitted with minimal loss but the setup will be bulky.  I can you see putting the Mac mini on top of the iPod Hi-Fi but where will the screen go?  That defeats the purpose of a tiny mini-ATX form factor because you’ve created a big, wide, fat tower now.

Don’t forget the brick, for power, from the Mac mini that iMac doesn’t have.

In summary, the iMac is a complete deal and costs just $350 more than the other two Apple products.  For the money you get what I discussed in one elegant package and nothing extra is needed.  Anything more is an upgrade, including a new iPod Hi-Fi but I wouldn’t recommend the clutter.  Instead buy more RAM and if you can install it yourself save big.

P.S. Most important of all is how cramped the inside of the new Mac mini is.  One day, and this is a good thing, the Mac mini will be one backwards compatible wireless platform and inside consist of one or two chips beside the logic board just like an iPod.  It will be on its way to appliance simplicity in and out and that is the ultimate way to make the power of computers universally accessible---just truly eliminate the KM and use speech recognition or mind-reading and also integrate it into a ring so its not something you notice.  Don’t forget to have it powered by the sun and your motion so you can get your fat ass outside.