mini tools

C|Net recently posted a story claiming that the $499 Mac Mini is composed of only $283.37 of parts and manufacturing costs. That's quite a mark-up, although that's always been Apple's game. Whether it's the original all-in-one Mac or the iPod scroll wheel, Apple places (and earns) a premium on design. The Mac Mini, described as "one of the most cutting-edge systems iSuppli has ever dissected," is a nice continuation of that tradition.

But what really caught my eye was a comment orphaned near the end of the article, seemingly tossed in at random:

Analytical teardowns are one of the few jobs at research firms that require pliers.

Obviously written by someone who's never had to deal with fielding vendors.