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A compact home computer aimed at first-time Mac users.
We’ll admit up front that we have liked the Mac Mini for some time. It’s not the most powerful computer in the world, or even the cheapest, but it’s neatly designed and it works extremely well.
This latest version of the Mini looks identical to all its predecessors. It measures about 15cm square and just 5cm high, so it really doesn’t take up much space.
The only real change for this model is that Apple has replaced the former's Intel Core Duo processor with the newer Core 2 Duo. The £499 version of the Mini reviewed here runs at 2.0GHz, and has 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard disk and a DVD burner. It also offers wireless networking, and a Firewire interface that will allow connection of a camcorder for video-editing.
To help out with such tasks such as video editing, the Mini also includes Apple’s excellent iLife software, which includes iMovie for video, iDVD for creating DVDs, Garageband music software and iPhoto for managing digital photos. The iLife suite is powerful but very easy to use, making the Mini a good choice for people that want a versatile multimedia computer that can handle all your digital photos and video work.
The 2.0GHz processor is powerful enough to handle most tasks from simple web browsing to video-editing. The computer's only real weakness is that it uses a rather cheap Intel GMA 950 graphics chip that isn’t very good for handling games. Still, for the non-gamers the Mac Mini is powerful enough to cope with most other tasks.
There’s also a £399 version of the same computer, with a 1.83Ghz Core 2 Duo processor. That’s still powerful enough for most home users, but this model also lacks the DVD burner and only has a relatively small 80GB hard disk, so it offers poorer value than this one.
The other thing to remember about the Mac Mini is that it does not include a monitor, or even a keyboard and mouse. Apple’s intention with the Mini is that people buy it as a cheap upgrade from an older computer, so they can continue to use the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. New buyers will have to supply their own, or fork out for Apple's branded versions.
If you’re on a really tight budget, then there are cheaper PCs available. However, the £499 version of the Mac Mini is an attractive and versatile upgrade for people who might want to replace an ageing PC and try out a Mac for the first time.
Vista compatible: No
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Our verdict
Good points Attractive and compact design Good software bundle Bad points Poor 3D performance for games No monitor, keyboard or mouse Overall A little pricey, but the software bundle and attractive design will appeal to many home users.
£499
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Correction: The Mac mini IS Vista compatible
All current Apple Macintosh computers are Windows and Linux compatible. And there are a couple ways to achieve this: Dual boot or virtualization. Please correct that information on the bottom of your review.
Posted by Pedro R, 24 Aug 2007
True, but...
Yes, the Mini can run Windows - see http://www.pcw.co.uk/2195753 for instance - but not without some hassle, especially for novices. And they, after all, are the users at whom Apple is aiming the Mini.
Posted by Computeractive magazine, 24 Aug 2007
Hassle?
Hassle installing Windows in the Mac Mini? Use the Boot Camp software included in OS X and it is easier than installing it on a PC.
Posted by Melangell, 24 Aug 2007
Vista, peripherals
I have 2 Intel Minis (the 1.83GHz new one) and the older 1.83GHz one with the DVD burner.I also have a PPC mini so you can imagine I like them. I had and still have a nice AMDx2 based PC. So, I have easily run Vista on both Intel Minis. Boot Camp makes it easy and I have used Parallels to install Vista (that for some reason was slightly harder, but I did get it- XP was easier). So the Mini is Vista compatible (even for a novice at this point). One of my minis shares a monitor, keyboard and mouse with the PC using a $25 USB KVM device. Neat, simple and inexpensive. The other mini uses my Sony HDTV (55") an dit is by far the best experience I have ever had with a computer. I purchased a $50 wireless nmediapc keyboard with a built-in trackball for it. I can use the Apple remote and Front Row to play music, movies, etc...I can browse the internet, check mail. word process, etc...all from the sofa. It's great. I actually would never go back to my desktops (I also have a 20" iMac) and I do not feel that Apple should bundle the mouse and keyboard.A wireless keyboard with a built-in trackpad or trackball would be nice though. I don't play 3-D games so the Intel GMA950 graphics are just fine. Don't forget there is a trade-off with heat and silence when putting in higher performance graphics. Apple did include gigabit ethernet which is great for streaming off the PC or Mac and the wireless G is just fine. The N wireless is in a state of confusion at this point and there's no fixed standard so we don't know what works with what. The 80gig hard drive is fine. 2.5" drives are expensive. The Mini is a pretty good value if you compare it to anything similar in the PC world (and you'll have a hard time finding one- there is an A-Open PC which looks nice but it is more expensive!). Anyway, nice review. I would have given it 4 stars, but... philip
Posted by pmcd, 24 Aug 2007
But boot camp isn't hassle...
Sure, you can't buy a mini (or any mac) with windows preinstalled, and virtualisation (as linked to above) can be complicated for novices, but dual-booting windows and os x is trivial using boot camp (http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/). You just run the boot camp assistant, put in a blank cd, take it out when it's done, put in a windows dvd, reboot, wait, install the disc you burned and you're done. Besides, the review is saying that the mini can't run Vista, which it clearly can, just like any other x86 computer that meets Vista's specs.
Posted by tomo, 25 Aug 2007
Windows on Mac
Actually, the toughest part of installing Windows on a Mac with Boot Camp is not the Mac side of the installation, but rather the Windows installation itself. Now, whether or not novice Windows users can install Windows is a whole separate issue...
Posted by David Kim, 27 Aug 2007
Bad points?
Bad points - no keyboard, mouse or monitor?? Am I missing something but isn't that one of the selling points of the mac mini that you can bring your own keyboard, mouse or monitor! Alternatively, you order them as extra.
Posted by jeff, 14 Dec 2008