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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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Home computers have now been on the market for around 20 years. As they’ve become more than just number-crunching machines, our requirement of them (as users) has grown from simple completion of tasks to integration into the fabric of our lives. Think of the ugly beige boxes you had to buy back in the 80s and 90s… then came the iMac, which started us down the path of “pretty” computers that looked nice on our desks. This trend has continued with computer system manufacturers like Alienware, who feature slick outer shells and light up interiors. But there are also those desktop systems that truly seek beauty in their design and simplicity in use. Enter the Sony VAIO VGC-LT17N All-In-One Desktop - a 4.5 star rated computer that’s as much a piece of art as it is a powerful computing platform.

Sony VAIO All-In-One

From first glance, you can tell this is more than just an ordinary box. The all in one design merges the motherboard into the beautiful 22-inch LCD screen. What results is a computer you can hang on your wall that looks like a nice picture frame when turned off. But will you ever turn it off? Since it includes an integrated TV tuner and remote, this system truly can become an all-in-one solution for your home or home office. In case you’re wondering, the wireless keyboard and mouse communicate with the main unit via Wi-Fi LAN, virtually eliminating ugly, hard wiring.

So what about the specs? The VGC-LT17N uses a 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor with 4 MB L2 cache for power. This is complemented by a 320 GB hard drive, 2 GB installed RAM (with 4 GB max) and up to 358 MB of vRAM through the Intel GMA X3100 graphics card. There are five USB ports, 1 FireWire, 1 PCMCIAs slot and even a 56K modem if you feel like going old school. Being a Sony, it also features a multi-format Memory Stick reader, a Secure Digital memory card slot and support for Gigabit Ethernet wired networking built in. (Sony just loves those memory sticks…) It ships with Windows Vista Business which, honestly, appears to be the only reason why anyone who purchased the VAIO VGC-LT17N complained.

The reviews are excellent, with owners quoted as saying “flawless”, “easiest setup ever” and “absolutely the best” and freely giving 5 stars out of 5. Those who were skeptical were won over by the ease of setup and boot time, the beauty of the 22 inch screen and the overall execution of the all-in-one computing goal.

I’ve checked the price through our shopping system, which is $1,661.68 + FREE shipping. Since the total weight of this machine is around 35 lbs, I’d say the free shipping offer trumps the slightly-lower price seen when you search Google for the VAIO VGC-LT17N.

See Also:

• BizRate reviews
• ZDNet’s information on the VGC-LT1N
• Sony All-In-One info on Retrevo
• PCWorld’s pricing roundup

It’s hard to pass up a capable PC at under $250. The uses are almost endless: a print server, web server or thin client are just a few. Enter the refurbished eMachines T5082 - for just $249.00 USD, this box boasts a P4 3.0 GHz Processor, 512 MB DDR2 RAM (expandable to 2 GB) and a 160GB hard drive. Even at this low price, it comes with a licensed version of Vista Home Basic, a 16x DVDRW Multi-Format dual layer drive and 15-in-1 Digital Media Manager.

Take a look at the eMachines product summary and you’ll see this retails for $399, so it’s a good deal at $150 off. Browsing the web, CNET.com has a few user reviews of 8, 8 and 5 out of 10. Yahoo Tech gives it 4 out of 5 stars, so you know it’s a quality buy as well as a cheap one. An important note: for Windows Vista, 512MB is not much memory at all. I would definitely recommend upgrading for any serious application around your home or office.

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Psst, hey buddy… want an used Apple computer for cheap? I mean really cheap - under $200.00. Yes, yes, they’re perfectly legal.

If you’re willing to go with a used machine and limited drive space, our catalog’s section featuring Apple computer systems has nine desktops at the cheapest price I’ve ever seen for Macs: just $149-$189. Here are a few examples:

• Power Mac AGP G4/50 - priced used from $169, this is a system with 512MB RAM, a 10GB HD and OS 9.2.2 installed.
• iMac G3/400 - for $159.00, you can get one of Apple’s most popular computers. Perfect for kids. 128 MB of RAM ; 10 GB internal drive; internal CD-ROM. OS 9.2.1 installed. No keyboard, though. Ugh.
• Apple iMac DV - there’s only one of these systems available at $177.77 right now, and I think this is the pick of the low-cost list. It’s one of those friendly, one-piece units but it’s loaded with features: 400MHz G3 Processor, 64MB RAM, 10GB Hard Drive to start… Here’s a great features assessment.

Pros and Cons: While these aren’t this year’s models, each of these has plenty of power for every day computing tasks. As I’ve said in previous posts, the small hard drive should not be a major black mark simply because external storage is so fast and cheap. For those worried about these being used Apple computers, I did note that some distributors (like that of the iMac G3/400 listed above) provide a limited warranty with the purchase, so that should provide some quality assurance. It is curious that these sale models come with the OS installed, but they do not include the OS install discs. Since you Apple guys always talk about having a superior OS, the install disc shouldn’t be a deal breaker, right?

The major advantage these used Apple computers give is that they often include the monitor (for under $200). You can get new PC systems for under $400 through Dell™ Home and, of course, there are PCs available for this price without a monitor, but that’s only if the Mac OS doesn’t matter to you. Is there a certain satisfaction in being part of the Cult of Mac? Maybe so…

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This week, I thought I’d post a basic article on buying a new computer. Without delay, here are the top considerations:

• Mac or PC? What’s used in your office? If you’re a very basic user or perhaps a graphics pro, you’ll want to shop for something with an apple on the front. If you are like over 90% of the rest of the world, stick with a PC with a processor from Intel or AMD.
• Enough RAM? If your new machine comes with Windows Vista, make sure you’ve got at least 2GB of RAM. Importantly, consider whether the new system can be expanded beyond 2GB; with new applications rolling out every day, it’s a good idea to be ready with available space. In my opinion, RAM is far more important that processor speed in buying a computer.
• Hard Drive Space? Are you a media mogul? Meaning, do you download lots of videos or take thousands of high-res photos? If so, look for at least a 120GB drive. The good news is that storage is so cheap, if you have to, you can settle for a smaller drive and just add another one on later.
• Price Include Monitor? This is one of the reasons why I like Dell™ Home
  computers - the great deals they have usually include a great monitor in the bargain. Conversely, if you already have a monitor sitting around that you’re happy with, you can find good deals on base systems through discount retailers like www.pcmall.com
  and TigerDirect.com.
• Buy Refurbished? I know, I know - buying a refurb machine isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But if you’re buying a second computer or a box for one of your kids to learn on, consider a refurbished desktop from a major manufacturer like IBM or Compaq. These reconditioned computers often include a full factory warranty.

So that’s it, quick and easy rules of thumb for the novice computer buyer! What am I forgetting? You tell me!

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