Apple Drops Free 30-Day Trial Offer For Mac Mini

Apple Computer dropped its free test-drive offer for the Mac mini less than 12 hours after it first posted the deal late Tuesday. Apple did not return calls requesting an explanation for the quick drop.

On Tuesday, Apple posted a banner on its Apple Store site touting a "Mac min Test Drive" that offered customers a 30-day trial of any of the three mini models, along with an optional keyboard and mouse. If customers weren't satisfied with the machine, they could return it, no strings attached.

"We’re so confident you’ll love your new Mac mini, we’ll let you test drive it for 30 days with no risk. If you decide you don’t want it, we’ll take it back," Apple's ad copy read.

Although the deal was to run through Oct. 31, Apple yanked it Wednesday with no explanation given on the e-store site. In its place, Apple inserted a 120-day no-interest offer for its higher-end iMac line.

Apple introduced the Mac mini line in January 2005, and beefed up the family's memory as recently as late July.