Apple Mac mini review

Apple needs an entry level ...

I cannot understand why Apple does not understand the importance of having an affordable entry level machine to boost the market share of its OS. Get people started and they'll see the benefits and upgrade to more powerful machines.
Apple should loose the DVD drive and halve the price, then we'd be talking.

By JohnAHind on 23 Jun 2010

Thank God for an honest review

Fanboys delight in spending money on shiny trinkets, the rest of us would prefer that Apple offered an affordable Mac so the OS landscape is broken up a bit. If more machines were running OSX it would be harder for virus writers to infect a large number of machines with one bit of code. But Apple would rather concentrate on making themselves ever more rich, rather than give a shit about the bigger picture.

By windywoo on 23 Jun 2010

I must agree

I want to get to know the OSX system but the cost just to learn and experience is far too much for just testing and learning, if it was cheaper we could have 2 more accessible Operating systems (discounting linux here as i am talking consumer wise)

By Deathtaker27 on 23 Jun 2010

Cheap entry to OSX

for Windy and Deathtaker27: you don't need to buy a new Mac to get a flavour - or even do serious work - on OSX. Look on EBay for a model called the 'eMac' - they were meant to be educational, and they are basically a first-gen macMini in a big case with a tube screen. You can run all but the last release of OSX on one, which means it will surf sites and run software; I've been seeing them offered for between £80 - £150. To dip a toe in the water, it's hard to beat that (though my last OSX *server* machine cost me £40 - it's a dual 866 and OS X *server* v 10.4 was another £35...

By Steve_Cassidy on 24 Jun 2010

Not just stereo...

The Mac mini outputs full 5.1 surround sound, either via HDMI, mini Display port or the optical digital audio out port (stick a mini-TOS Link cable in the "headphone" socket.

That said, the prices are way too high. I'm buying laptops for work with Core i3, 4GB RAM and a 15" display for less than Apple are charging for the basic Mac mini.

If it came with a mobile Core i3 or Core i5 and 4GB for that price, I might accept it, but it is just way over priced.

I have a 24" iMac, which was cheap when I bought it - I specced it against a normal PC with a 24" monitor, with my lecturer discount, it was 5% more than a normal PC. But the prices in the rest of the industry sank and Apple kept their prices the same.

The only "bargain" at the moment is the 27" iMac, which costs about the same as a decent 30" display, but you get a complete Core i5/i7 computer thrown in "for free".

The rest of the range is hideously over priced.

I was looking at getting a new laptop and wanted a 17", 8GB and Core i7 QM. Unfortunately Apple don't do anything with that spec, they only do the dual core Core i7 - and that cost more than twice what I paid for a very nice Sony Vaio...

I like Apple kit, but I'm not willing to pay double for it... A real shame, as OS X is very nice, but Windows 7 is within a hairs bredth of OS X in terms of usability, there really isn't much between them these days and it is mainly down to mood as to which OS I use.

By big_D on 24 Jun 2010

Thanks for that good point about audio channels - I've updated the review to make things clearer.

By DarienGS on 24 Jun 2010

Misunderstanding?

I wonder if Apple hasn't deliberately priced their base model so high in order to drive users to the Mac Mini server, which is an astonishingly good bargain by any standards. Of course you're talking more savvy users, but those are the kind that buy the Mac Mini in any case. The server version is ideal for families as well as small businesses. It's just a thought...

By MadaboutDana on 24 Jun 2010

mini

why make it then?

By delturner1 on 24 Jun 2010

Market share...

perhaps Apple don't want to increase it?

By kingjulian on 24 Jun 2010

Across the board price hike

Apple seem to be determined to hike *all* their prices at present. The recent refresh of the Macbook Pro range saw them make a long overdue move to i5 (for some models), but it was coupled with a £200 increase in cost!

It seems they expect customers to pay more cash just for the privilege of no longer having to buy hugely outdated technology to use OS X. Strange policy...

By wizball on 24 Jun 2010

Maybe we're wrong?

Like many others, I'd like to own a MacBook Pro, and I'm lucky enough to use Macs at work. Lime many others too, I can't afford to spend that much.

But given that Apple is the most cash-rich hardware company, I wonder how we can say their pricing policy is wrong? It's not exactly as if they're struggling to shift their boxes ...

By luca_leonardi on 25 Jun 2010

You don't need an eMac to learn OSX (though it is a good idea.) Just down load BSD....

By rocketdog on 28 Jun 2010