“We don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk.” So said Steve Jobs, during his surprise appearance on yesterday's earnings call. Remember January 2003? Analysts forecast nothing but price cuts because of the economy. CNET leaked a rumor about a slim, portable multimedia device. Jobs unveils instead: A $3,299 laptop with the biggest screen ever. Now, Jobs says Apple doesn't know how to build a sub-$500 computer that isn't junk. Haha! Of course he knows how. Which is about to crack: The $499 price point, or the piece-of-junk legacy hardware in the current Mac Mini? I vote both. (Photo by mark_b)

Paging John Gruber! Apple's Mac Mini, which CNET once dubbed the harbinger of a "petite-PC revolution," may soon be replaced by something newer, better and inevitably smaller. [UPDATE: Yes, Owen edited in a stupid CNET quote, "petite-PC revolution," which I obviously wouldn't type even while drunk. Bear with him a few days, because Denton just made him lay everyone else off. But Owen, I warn you: Gruber doesn't miss a thing.] Jesus Diaz at Gizmodo reports, "Two major retailers in Europe have confirmed to me that they can't afford any more of the little computers. While this could signal an updated model coming in, they have been told by Apple to expect no more of it. Their impression is that—once again—the Mac Mini may be dead dead DEAD for real." Why do I have the gut feeling these two leakers have been hacked by Apple PR? They'll keep their jobs, but will need to submit to Gizmodo under new names.