Apple Mac Mini User reviews

By Rich Brown, CNET.com on 12/01/2005

More Apple reviews , RRP: AU$799.00

The good:

  • It's very small
  • It's very cute
  • It's a low-cost Mac

The bad:

  • Baseline model is a little bit too baseline
  • Expandability woes

The bottomline:

As an introduction to the Mac world -- or as a second Mac -- it's hard to fault the Mac Mini, as long as you plump for a few optional extras that really shouldn't be optional at all.

Buying choices:

Users' rating:

10/10

Tags:

apple | desktop | mac | mini | pc


15/03/2005, 10:24 AM

Give me a Mac over a PC any day!!!

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15/03/2005, 10:23 AM

The current version of Mac OS X is way beyond Longhorn

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15/03/2005, 10:14 AM

inexpensive, yet fast!

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Bennopia
12/03/2005, 12:44 PM

I'm impressed

As a PC consulant I am constantly exposed to clients who have to endure spyware and virus attacks. This insidious software takes advantage of ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer so there's no real way of stopping them...which is why I use Firefox (no way am I going to expose my PC to spyware threats)!

I used Macs many years ago and was impressed with their ease of use. I switched to the PC world because I knew that I would make much more money in the PC support business - no one does in the Mac support business!

My wife needs a new computer as her old PC is getting long in the tooth. Although she is computer literate she doesn't have the level of skill required to combat all these nasty threats - then again most people don't! So I am seriously thinking of getting one of these mini Macs for her.

It runs a newer version of Office than my Windows XP laptop does (2004 versus 2003), is cheap and doesn't require hours of endless toil ensuring that its security has not been compromised. I like it!

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09/03/2005, 05:49 AM

Excellent computer

OSX is much better than Windows XP

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01/03/2005, 09:33 AM

Awesom all in one package, and I get to keep my LCD monitor...

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22/02/2005, 12:35 PM

the Mac Mini is mini, it's quiet, it's capable, and fun.

'm very pleased with my basic Mac Mini 1.25mhz/40GB. I got the last and only Mini from Fry's a week or so ago as a replacement for a slowly dying HP PC. My original plan was to simply put the Mac in with the existing display and trackball but using an Apple keyboard since my PC keyboard is PS/2. The trackball (Logitech) worked perfectly from the get-go, but I ended up getting a new flat panel display. I stumbled (also at Fry's) onto the 17" Sharp LL172A-W, which matches the Mini and keyboard, and has an outstanding picture, and a three-year warranty. It also sold for $350 with a $100 mail-in rebate!! Sorry Amazon, I couldn't wait...

After hitting many Mac-related websites, I decided that more memory was in order. If you buy a Mini, get the 512MB option if possible. It's only about $75 and is well worth it. I sent away to Crucial.com for a 512MB module ($78 + tax, free shipping) and received it today, three days later! After watching several videos that are floating around the net on how to open the Mini case, I took my paint scraper in hand and popped it open this afternoon. No problem, though if I were to do it again, I would use two paint scrapers, one on either side, and pry simultaneously.
Anyway, I've now got 512MB and netsurfing seems to be faster, though that may be my imagination. I'm going to put the old 256MB module into another PC.

Years ago, I started with a Mac II - after many Macs, I shifted to WIN95/98/XP because of work. Now I'm happily going back to a Mac. If you're doing the PC-to-Mac shift, I'd recommend getting a good Mac OS 10.3 Panther book. The documentation that comes with the Mini is MINImal. Amazon has some good choices, especially, the "Teach Yourself Visually" series.

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Andrew Munster
09/02/2005, 11:59 PM

A great LITTLE Computer

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Suzy
03/02/2005, 01:34 PM

An Apple A Day!!!!

My iMac is 4 yrs old.
I have never had Viruses, Worms, Invaders of my space, and the only Bug is the Bug game that came with it, which kids just love to play.
Others talk about their PC troubles I have no Idea what they are talking about.
It is like comparing a Beautiful Hardcover Book, Quality Paper, Author's Signature, with a cheap paper back, abridged version, half the story missing.
The Evolution and Natural Selection (Darwin and the Big cats Jagua, Panther, Tiger etc) makes anything Apple/Mac the best ever. Thanks Heaps

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VikingBrad
02/02/2005, 10:17 PM

Worth switching for

I used Macs 5+ years ago and have used WinPCs ever since. This will make it worth coming back. Can you use my old PC monitor, keyboard & mouse and have a great silent PC that will do everything my PC can do.
(Except play games but thats what I have an Xbox for)

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