Apple’s latest Mac Mini desktop computer comes at a premium and bears higher component costs due to the Mac Mini’s use of parts designed for mobile PCs, according to a dissection conducted by iSuppli.

The entry-level version of the new-generation Mac Mini carries a bill of materials (BOM) of US$376.20, which increases to US$387.14 when manufacturing costs are added. This low-end model of the Mac Mini is priced at US$599, reflecting the relatively thin BOM/manufacturing margins generated by Apple’s PCs in relation to its lower-cost consumer items, specifically the iPod line, iSuppli noted.

The total materials and manufacturing costs reported in iSuppli’s teardown analysis of the new Mac Mini mirror only the expenses for direct materials, manufacturing and basic tests. Not included in this analysis are costs above and beyond the material manufacturing of the core device itself including the cost of intellectual property, royalties and licensing fees – as well as those expenses not already included into the per component price, software, software loading and test, shipping, logistics marketing and other channel costs. (continuare…)

Quanta

Taiwan-based notebook makers Quanta Computer and Inventec are expected to benefit from Hewlett-Packard’s (HP’s) recent increase in notebook orders, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.HP recently increased its annual notebook shipment guidance for 2009 from 34 million units originally to 38 million units, an increase of around 12%.

Don’t look now, but Acer—yes, that Acer—is on the verge of unseating Dell as the second-largest PC maker.

Acer’s rise to the number two spot behind Hewlett-Packard was fueled in part by netbooks and other low-cost PC models, as well as what people in the biz call “vision” as it pertains to introducing new PC features months before the competition even knew consumers wanted them. The souring economy has helped too, notes the New York Times, as consumers were naturally inclined to reward PC companies that could sell them cheaper hardware. (continuare…)