But here’s the problem with that argument. Most of us that are being critical of Apple today are being
critical of the products themselves. We’re more disappointed in an ugly "Hi-Fi" boombox that lacks
many of the most basic features of a standard boombox than we are about Apple not releasing a tablet or new video iPod.
We’re disappointed that Apple, a company renowned for its innovative products, would release a product that’s
so…well…not innovative. It’s an overly expensive Pod dock with speakers. It doesn’t even sport the one feature that
would truly make it unique–a Wi-Fi connection to make it interact with wireless streaming music.

The Intel
Mac minis are a little better, but we’re not happy about the price increase. Apple wants to market the mini as both an
entertainment center and an entry-level Mac, but is pricing it out of the accepted range for either market. Not to
mention that it’s lacking crucial features required by both markets. Any decent media center will have PVR
capabilities, which this does not (without attaching a product like El Gato’s EyeTV 500). And the integrated graphics
chip in this thing is going to make it a poor candidate for PC switchers who are expecting at least reasonable graphics
performance. Real world tests will eventually prove whether the supposedly new and speedy Intel chips will be able to
compensate for the lackluster video capabilities in these models, but we’re not holding our breath.

And
don’t even get me started on the leather iPod case. One hundred dollars for a protective case for a video iPod that
makes you take the iPod out of the case to watch a video or use the controls? I’m just as much as an Mac fan as the
next Apple-logo-wearing guy, but this is just ridiculous.

That the products released today are underwhelming
isn’t the fault of our admittedly overhyped expectations, it’s the fault of the underwhelming products being released.
The bottom line is that Apple’s not being very innovative with these products, and we should be allowed to be critical
of them. Saying that it’s the Mac fan sites that are at fault for instilling unreasonable expectations just isn’t an
argument that holds much water.