Apple Mac Mini

Mini: adj. small in size and value.

Good things usually come in small packages, especially when they bear an Apple logo. Just think of the loveliness of the iPod. So with the Mac Mini having lots to live up to, the question is can it keep the tradition going?

The answer depends on what you're expecting from this pint-sized computer. If you're looking for a cheap machine with up-to-date specs, you'll be pretty disappointed. By Mac Mini standards our £590 unit occupied the high end, with a 1.42GHz G4 processor, 512MB of memory, an 80GB hard drive and both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi - but it certainly didn't have cutting-edge performance. In fact, it couldn't play a High Definition DivX trailer of Meet the Fockers - we expect better from a machine that costs nearly £600 without a monitor.

But the issue isn't really one of performance. This is not a product that's aimed at techies who want blistering speed to play the latest games. Instead, it's designed to appeal to those who have an iPod, and want something stylish to replace their old PC or Mac that they use for surfing the Web and updating their CV.

On that front, it's a winner. Used with the official £70 wireless Apple keyboard and mouse it looks stunningly minimalistic. Wireless is definitely the way to go, as it starts to look messy with lots of wires trailing out the back. The machine is incredibly quiet to use, quick and easy to set up and comes with Apple's top-notch iLife software pack.

In fact, there's a lot to like about the Mac Mini. It's just a shame that it's not quite as cheap as it first appears.

Posted by T3 Online on 2007-10-31