Mac Mini Server - the Talk of the Town (oh, & Apple Stepping up!)

I was immediately drawn to the Mac Mini announcement from Apple last week. The Mini has always been a great server for small business, a number of our customers have been using them for years.  Still, prior to the most recent Apple announcement, it felt a rogue act. It seemed like more of Apple being passively interested the Enterprise.

But when I saw Mac Mini Server announcement, and then Apple's offer to send small businesses an evaluation copy of Snow Leopard Server, I was excited.  This is Apple not just paying lip service to Business.  It's more than a footnote in a Stevenote (Philnote).  This is Apple not just stepping with a cool Business product, but marketing too.  As we have all seen, when Apple marketing gets behind things, BIG things happen.

Danny O'Brien, writing for the Irish Times made a comment in a recent article on the new Mac Mini Server that struck a chord with me.  He pointed out that this appears to be "one of the few times when Apple has followed what it has seen its customers do with its hardware, instead of dictating to them what they should be doing."  Could it be that the tide is turning?  Apple in the Enterprise IS happening, I am happy to see Apple advancing the cause.

There are already plenty of Mini Server users out there.  There is a company, macminicolo.net, dedicated to providing Mini server for businesses in their Colocation center.  Talk about commitment to a product.  These guys have even set up a helpful page for those considering setting up a Mini Server for the first time.  How sweet is that?  Have ANY question about Mac Mini servers?  Just go to http://www.macminiserver.com/.  This company is impressively all over this emerging market.

If you are interested in doing analysis on a Mac server as an option, Apple Insider has a terrific comparison of a Mac server to a generic PC server, in honor of the new Mini server.  My favorite plus on the Ben Franklin is the $460 Windows Server requirement, providing only five server users.  After that it's paying CAL fees to the piper (MSFT).  Can you say "dis-incentive for growth"?

Additional resources are out there on the benefits in general of a server, if you are so Mac inclined.  TUAW, The Unofficial Apple Weblog, has some helpful thoughts on Mac Mini server benefits.  Squidoo has a Mac Mini Server Guide, with lots of resources.

And let me not forget to mention the lovely video compendium that Apple has put together in iTunes to help get the user up to speed on the Apple Server.  You really do get the "MyFirstServer" kind of feel here, as described in TechWorld post on this Mini developement.  Lot's of sources trying to educate the potential masses.

Where there is this much talk around town, and around the Blogosphere, it's a good indicator that there is something happening here.  Apple stepping up is showing a toe in the commitment water.  It's Apple in the Enterprise!

Comments

[wallyton]

The results appear positive for the Mini. It seems to be doing well, and enjoying success, right along side that "more sexy" iMac. It's a great business tool, and as this article shows, a great deal for small business:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/08/apples_new_mac_mini_server_surprise_with_strong_sales_start.html