Ranking high on the way-cool scale, the Apple Mac Mini is a compact but powerful desktop computer system many friends of mine are raving about. Yes, it’s now old news (the Mini came out in early 2005) but the specs have kept up with the times and the tiny footprint is still very attractive. What seals the deal? A price starting at under $600.
The first thing you notice about the Mac Mini is the minimal “case”, if you can even call it that. With dimensions (in inches) of 8.7 x 8.6 x 5.4 and a shipping weight under 10 lbs, there’s a lot going on in a small package.
Mac Mini
What are the specs? Start with a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Add 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM (expandable to 2 GB), a 80 GB SATA hard drive with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and a slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. Finish with a FireWire port, 4 USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet and built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11g) and the small package suddenly looks much, much bigger. One reviewer wrote
This little Mac CPU is perfect for people who want a powerful but inexpensive CPU without the frills. Just 2.5″ high and 6.5″ square, it fits almost anywhere: on a desk, in a drawer, on a narrow shelf. The unit comes with a Mac SuperDrive for burning and playing DVD/CDs, a remote control, BlueTooth technology, the iLife Suite (iPhoto, iTunes, Garage Band, Photo Booth, iMovie, etc.), and the newest OS X Leopard (on CDs, not installed.) That’s it. You have to buy your own keyboard, mouse, monitor, and anything else you’d like to add.
For the most part, people rave about the OS, footprint and speed of the Apple Mac Mini. The two cons I’ve consistently found were i) the power button is in the back and hard to find and ii) upgrading the RAM is difficult. Honestly, that’s it? A quick search turned up this Mac Mini RAM Upgrade article so it seems available resources can cure at least one of those negatives. *L* ok, upgrading the RAM does involve a putty knife.
For those looking to break into the Apple world or simply want a small, powerful desktop, the $595 Mac Mini appears to be a clear option. Pair this machine with your Apple monitor, keyboard and mouse of choice and you have everything that makes Mac great at your fingertips.
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7 Comments
I don’t know if I’d include an Apple monitor. The cheapest one is still around $700, so the Apple Monitor + a Mini would wind up costing more than an iMac, which has an excellent display and a faster CPU.
If you have a monitor already or get your monitors at Wal*Mart (and I’m not being sarcastic here - you can get a 20″ monitor for under $300), this can still pencil out OK, but I think anyone considering the Mini should also take a careful look at the iMac.
D
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm. Permalink.
you can get a 20″ monitor for under $300.
I totally agree
March 24th, 2008 at 9:03 pm. Permalink.
Like David said, I too would rather go for the iMac for sure.
There are some good deals on the iMac here in the UK at the moment.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:38 am. Permalink.
[...] just 190 x 280 x 170 mm, it’s just a bit bigger than the Mac Mini. The system does not ship with an operating system, hard drive, processor, RAM, keyboard or mouse. [...]
June 14th, 2008 at 1:18 pm. Permalink.
yeah…id agree imac is real sweet for the deals at the moment .
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 am. Permalink.
Simply stupendous ….the Apple imac air book , do check it out
June 26th, 2008 at 5:52 am. Permalink.
Hey has anyone heard apple stores have opened up at Pakistan and Sydney !
June 27th, 2008 at 6:36 am. Permalink.