So fine I really wanna make you mine

On Friday evening at 5:45 p.m. the Apple store at the CambridgeSide Galleria was packed with people. In one corner of the store, people pushed forward to peer over each others' shoulders while others flagged down the floor managers to ask what all the hoopla is all about. The answer: "The new iPod mini is being released at 6 p.m. tonight."

At the stroke of six, the mini music player enjoyed a more magnanimous welcome to the world than most newborn children. Fanfare played over the store's music system as the minis were wheeled out from the back and customers eyed the cube-shaped boxes hungrily. Unfortunately for some, iPod minis were only available to those who had one already reserved by name -- or early-birds who were able to secure tickets.

Mac fans have been abuzz over this latest addition to the Apple family. The most telling difference between the mini and its bigger brother is the mini's beautiful colors. The mini is available in five metallic hues: blue, pink and lime green for those who want to make a bold statement; silver and gold for those who want something a little more chic.

After the striking colors, the most noticeable difference between the mini and the original iPod is its smaller size. The mini is a compact version of its bigger brother; it is smaller in both physical size and in storage capacity. At 3.6 ounces, nearly half and inch smaller in both dimensions and a hair slimmer, the player stores 4GB of songs -- far fewer than the original. Despite the smaller size, the mini comes equipped with all the same features as its counterpart. The player is almost as versatile as a PDA with features such as a clock, calendar, contact list, and various games. Like the full-sized iPod, it can also be used to store and transfer non-music files.

The original iPod is available in 15GB, 20GB and 40GB models.

Fans of the mini don't seem to be too put off by the music player's more limited capacity. "It depends on what you're looking for. My wife and daughter want a mini because it's small and cute," said Bob, one of the floor managers. "Storage capacity comes second in this case."

This sentiment was echoed by customers in line. "I can't live without it, I can't work out without it, I've been waiting forever and ever!" iPod mini enthusiast Marie McRae said. "I first saw them at Macworld [product expo] and wanted to steal one, but then I thought that I should probably wait."

While many customers walked out beaming with their minis cradled under their arm, others were not completely satisfied. "I actually made three reservations for the gold one: one under my name, one for my dog, one for my neighbor," McRae confides. "But I'm still stuck with the silver!"

Silver is the default color of the player and the color most "walk-in" customers received. The Galleria store only received three machines in gold and already has an extensive waiting list for the shade.

This time around, Apple is targeting consumers who do not place such heavy emphasis on storage space. "Even when we released the bigger iPod, there was a market for something smaller size-wise," said Greg, a floor manager. "There are people who simply don't need 15GB of space for songs."

Indeed, the fact that some mini purchasers already have an original iPod speaks to the fact that the two music players have been developed with two different purposes in mind. While the larger iPod speaks to the tech-geek side of buyers, the mini quenches consumers' ever-present weakness for something super sleek and stylish.

Compact technology comes at a cost, however. The price tag on the iPod mini may cause many to think twice about purchasing the player. At $249, it is only slightly less expensive than the 15GB iPod, even though the mini has a quarter the storage space of the larger iPod. The two-year AppleCare Protection Plan costs an additional $40.

Ultimately, the choice between the full-sized iPod and the mini boils down to what function the customer places more value on.

The iPod mini is now available at the Apple store at CambridgeSide Galleria for $249. Students and educators will receive a $20 discount with a valid student ID. Store representatives recommend calling in advance to request a hold.