Apple Mac mini MB138LL/A (1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive) Reviews

• great little Mac

  
  By A2GFAJBY7MVHFK on 2007-09-21
  I bought this mini to replace a 1.42 GHz G4 mini that just couldn't handle my 6,000+ pictures in iPhoto anymore. It took 1-2 minutes before I could do anything in iPhoto after I opened it.
  When I got this machine, I immediately replaced the two 512 MB sticks with two 1 GB sticks that I bought online for about $35 each (much cheaper than Apple). I also had an existing 200GB external drive which is the same form factor as the mini and sits underneath it in addition to a Belkin USB hub (same form factor as well), since you can never have enough USB 2.0 ports.
  The machine is great and much faster than my old Power PC mini. iPhoto opens very quickly and I can immediately browse through all my film rolls, even with other programs, such as Safari and Eudora, running. I am glad I waited until Apple changed from the Core Duo to the Core 2 Duo, although I am not sure how much difference there is between the newer and older Intel mini.
  I also love the included remote for iLife. It's nice to be able to browse through iTunes, iPhoto, etc. without the keyboard/mouse.
  There are rumors that Apple will discontinue this little machine soon, but I hope they don't as it is a great buy for anyone who already has a nice monitor/LCD. I would like to get a 24" iMac but they are too expensive and I would much rather just buy a Mac mini and hook it up to a 20" or 24" external LCD since I don't like all-in-one devices (printers or computers).
  
  

• Pretty awesome for such a little guy.

  
  By A25DMZULPFMQRB on 2007-11-06
  I have a 3 year old powerbook and this cheap mac mini runs circles around it!! Even though it's completely low end, it's still fast enough to watch 720P HDTV and movies.
  
  I upgraded it with 3GB of ram (though you have to do that yourself, apple will only install 2GB, but 50% more ram makes it MUCH faster. (the max it will recognize is 3.3GB but you'd have to install 4gb for that.. so it's kind of a waste)
  
  You can EASILY hook it up to an HDTV through DVI-DVI, DVI-HDMI, or DVI-VGA. I do this when I download either a broadcast HDTV show or to watch a recorded show or movie from my cable box. You can record a digital stream to the mac mini through the Firewire connection of your cable box.
  
  I recommend getting an external hard drive, and just using the internal drive for applications.
  It seems to keep things snappy.
  
  Anyway, I bought this mainly because I need to do 4 illustrations at 4 feet by 6 feet, I used Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Corel Painter X all at the same time with documents ipen in each. I saved them as pdfs, and really never had to wait for any functions.
  
  Only 3D and Video apps take time to render, everything else in real time.
  
  So if you want a fairly inexpensive desktop computer (and understand you have to know a bit about computers to do any sort of upgrades) this is really pretty solid.
  
  

• Frustrating at first, but getting better

  
  By A3G4FEY5ULK04X on 2008-02-29
  Getting my Mac to work the way I want has been a little frustrating. First, I purchased the version with only 1GB of memory with the intention of installing additional 3rd party memory (what Apple charges for additional memory is nothing short of criminal). As I am a very old hand at cracking open PCs, I thought this would be a straight-forward process, but it isn't.
  
  First off, opening a Mac Mini on your own violates the warranty! This is an absolutely ridiculous policy on the part of Apple and harkens back to the days of the old Mac 128K. But I plowed on, and found myself stunned by what I needed to open the case: a spackling knife! I'm trying to upgrade a computer, not a house!
  
  Anyway, I get the case off, and am amazed at what a tight fit everything is inside. Things are even more cramped than in a notebook. The directions I found online on how to proceed at this point had me confused and concerned that I was about to convert this Mac into a $600 doorstop, but I finally found the screws I had to remove (note: they are the 4 black screws in the four corners of the mount that holds the Combo drive in place above the motherboard, after you pop off the WiFi antenna). CAREFULLY, I set the Combo drive aside, removed the old memory, and installed two 1GB modules I bought off Amazon from Crucial.
  
  I put everything back together, plugged a DVI-to-HDMI cable from the Mac to my hi-def TV, powered on and: nothing. Panic-stricken, I swapped the original memory back in place, and everything worked fine. Putting the Crucial memory in place: nothing. So I had bad after-market memory. I went back to the original memory, and I had a working computer.
  
  Setup at this point was almost painless. The OS found my wireless network, plus the wireless Apple keyboard and mouse I bought specifically for the Mini, without a hitch. Before I even knew it, I was wirelessly connected to my old laptop; I didn't even have to configure a connection! Neat.
  
  But the picture quality was sub-par. After a day, I swapped out the HDMI cable for a straight PC video cable, and plugged it into the PC port on my TV (fortunately, it had one). I finally found a screen resolution that worked and that was readable from across the room.
  
  However, I didn't have sound. There was a 1/8" headphone jack on the back of the Mini, along with a Toslink cable jack, but I didn't see anything resembling a stereo out jack. After a couple of days surfing the web, I decided that the 1/8" headphone jack must be a plain old unamplified stereo out jack. I used an old 1/8" stereo-to-RCA analog splitter cable, plugged it into the TV, configured the TV to accept the signal, and I finally had what I wanted: a secondary computer I could run from my living room without having a laptop melting its way into my groin.
  
  Now that I've got it set up right, I'm becoming increasingly happy with my purchase. However, the difficulty of upgrading the memory is just inexcusible. Laptops have a simple access port on the bottom where memory can be swapped out, and Apple should have put a similar port on the bottom of the Mini. That way, you could upgrade without cracking the case, and without voiding the warranty. And the case itself shouldn't require a spackle knife to open!
  
  

• Especially for those who like to customize peripherals (4+ stars)

  
  By A23GFTVIETX7DS on 2008-03-16
  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.
  
  Pros:
  
  -- This little guy is fast and reliable. The 1 GB RAM is good enough for most users, although you can expand to 2 GB. (See Cons.)
  
  -- Size. No more towers!
  
  -- Leopard is utterly fantastic. Make sure you take the "tour" to fully appreciate its capabilities and features since many aren't immediately obvious. It allows easy sharing of files within a network, wireless or otherwise, automatics back-ups to an external hard drive (purchase separately) that can be accessed according to a specific date and time, and in-network video conferencing (again, you have to supply the web cam.) My favorite feature is setting my computer to turn on at the same time every day so it's ready to go when I walk into my home office.
  
  -- The no-frills package allows users to buy their preferred size of monitor. Since monitors bought separately usually cost far less than what Apple charges, this ends up being a cost saver as well. The Apple keyboard works best with the Mac mini since there's a special key for ejecting CD/DVDs, but any keyboard will do.
  
  Cons
  
  -- The memory upgrade is not as easy as it should be. Look online for detailed instructions, including removing the Blue Tooth antenna. (Ignore instructions for the old version of the Mac Mini.) You'll have to take the unit partially apart to get to the memory slots. If you are at all intimidated by working inside a computer, get the extra memory pre-installed.
  
  -- The power button is on the back of the machine, while the Super Drive slot is in the front. This means that the unit must be accessible, both front and back, unless you set the system to turn on automatically. This is the main reason I cannot give this unit five stars.
  
  -- The Super Drive is noisy when it starts up.
  
  For people who want to keep their current monitor and other peripherals, the Mac Mini is an excellent and economical choice. If you need to buy all the accessories, the price can start to add up, and you might want to look at a different computer. Even so, the small size can be a huge bonus for those who are short on space.
  
  I love my Mac Mini, and I've never regretted purchasing it.
  
  

• Great standalone machine

  
  By ANS1JBFLGILMF on 2007-12-12
  This is my first ever Apple computer product that I purchased and used.
  
  The computer is really small and it sits on the corner of my desk. I put my office phone on top of it to hide it from view. The phone fits perfectly atop of the Mac mini. I have attached a Windows USB keyboard and it works fine. The windows logo key becomes the Apple logo key, and the alt key becomes the command key. I also attached to one of the USB port a 2-button w/scroll wheel optical mouse. It works fine, including the right-click. I never will understand why Mac users prefer a 1-button mouse, but I digress.
  
  I have a 22" monitor hooked up to my Mac mini. It is a 22" Samsung 225BW monitor with 1680x1050 resolution and looks nice. I think I read it can support up to a 24" monitor, however, don't taze me, bro!
  
  
  The model I purchased came with OS X 10.4 and it worked fine out of the box. I then upgraded to OS X 10.5 by doing a full install, which means it wiped out the hard drive and started from scratch. I have read people having some problems doing the upgrade method so I avoided that method.
  
  As a standalone machine, it works fine. Performance is fine for only 1GB of RAM. The network was easy to set up. My network printers were easy to add. Installing software is as simple as dragging-and-dropping.
  
  In conclusion, I still think the Mac is overpriced for the specs you get. For the amount spent on this machine, you could buy better hardware. With the Apple Mac mini, you are basically paying for looks, size, and support. For this I would give it 4 stars.
  
  I did have some Leopard OS problems, but I will post my Leopard OS problems on the Amazon Leopard OS review page since the little machine physically works fine.
  
  Thanks for reading
  
  
• The affordable Mac- forget the PC World forever!
  By AZ3ROTE64W65A on 2008-01-20
  This the Mac for those who don't have deep pockets. Ignore those PC geeks who say the graphics aren't the greatest, or that you can still get a PC for cheaper. The fact is: this is a MAC. It cost more because it's WORTH more! It's a better, faster, and more stable operating system, it's WAY easier to use, and is a high quality, long lasting design. And it's not so hard to upgrade either - search online for docs that will show you how. Hey - 99% of computer users don't need the latest high-end graphics cards, since the rest of use use computers for web browsing, MS Office, etc. Best of all with Macs; there's no adware, spyware, or viruses to ever worry about with Macs. NONE! No antivirus software or other system slugs to pay for and keep upgrading. And here's the real stab in the back for Windows fans: the Mac has a resale value down the road. What's an old PC worth? NOTHING! It's strange how some folks will gladly pay thousands more for a Lexus over a Chevy, but won't part with $200 more for a better computer that they will spend far more time with. I own two Mac Mini's (and have owned MANY Macs, and yes, PC's too). Take my word for it: This Mac is a great buy. Oh by the way - I'm also a Microsoft Certified tech. When I say "Windows sucks", I know what I'm talking about. I have to clean up Windows messes every day at work. It sure is nice to go home to my nice, friendly Mac every night. Oh by the way - to the clueless PC reviewer who wrote saying you can't use the Mac Mini with an HDMI display: so what? Buy an adapter. Most displays are VGA or DVI anyway.
  
  
• Outstanding Computer for the Money
  By A3H8WNELR7EZO7 on 2008-02-12
  I have been a Windows hacker for over 25 years. In that time I have owned many Intel/Windows based computers, several of which I built myself. But I always felt that Windows was a pain, not to mention unreliable. The latest Vista version is a perfect case in point. Hence my decision to invest in the 1.83GHz Mac Mini to see what the fuss with Apple and Leopard was all about. All I have to say is "Wow". This is one nice computer, especially with a couple of minor upgrades that I did myself in about 30 minutes (1G to 2G memory, 80G 5400 RPM hard drive to 100G 7200 RPM hard drive). Coupled with Fusion, which allows all of my critical Windows apps (Office for example) to run virtualized under Leopard, this little jewel is a very solid, impressive unit. It even fit right in with my home network consisting of three desktops, a laptop, and a home server. I will always use Windows for some complicated jobs, but for everyday use, I will be using this Mini and the accompanying Leopard. They are a pleasure to use. I only regret not having tried Apple sooner. If you are even remotely considering Apple, I highly recommend this unit.
  
  
• Don't upgrade to Leopard!
  By A1V7F7O5P8JS3D on 2007-11-09
  I bought this just after Leopard was announced and also bought the upgrade DVD. After upgrading to Leopard I could no longer log in to make changes, but I could use the computer. After a two hour call to Apple Tech Support I could no longer use the computer and they wanted me to re-install the OS and NOT transfer my old settings.
  
  Search around and you will see this is a known bug that Apple could have warned people about or made a fix for before it screws up the computer. Apple still refuses to take responsibility. Avoid Apple products unless you don't plan to upgrade.
  
  
• Old operating system
  By A1LYPQR1QHEWGS on 2008-01-04
  My review is not of Apple but of Amazon. They are selling a new computer with the old Tiger operating system. I called customer support to ask is it is possible to ship a new Mac with the new operating system and I got a guy in India who could only read me what is on the web site with no current or helpful information.
  
  
• Big Bang For The Buck
  By A2C8W47YTO1YXE on 2007-09-22
  I bought this item 2 weeks ago and just upgraded the memory to 3Gigs. I have a 160GB Ministack (same form factor) sitting under it which serves as an alternate boot drive and a Firewire/USB powered hub. The machine works great and is very silent. It takes up minimal space on the desktop. A great buy for switchers and new users as an introduction the Macs.
  
  
• Mac mini
  By ALV5B0EI504U5 on 2007-11-29
  After doing lot of research whether to go for Apple laptop or Mac mini.settled with Mac mini as the price was good.I would say it is really a good investment.Setup was very easy and got the Leophard DVD from Apple within a week and upgrade took less time.Only thing you need to have in mind is the Monitor which you are using should be DVI compatible then only you can get a better resolution.If you have a VGA monitor the resolution will be ok but not that great/
  
  Installed Microsoft XP using Bootcamp.Install was a snap.no issues Apple have given all the drivers needed to run Windows.Both works fine
  
  Pros:
  Light weight
  No noise
  Fits your desktop
  Easy setup
  Apple OS
  
  Cons:
  Installing Additonal RAM.It is a pain to open the box to do it.
  
  Overall if you are looking to switch to MAC from Windows then go for this.
  
  
• Great deal if you already have monitor, keyboard, mouse
  By A3UP8E5QJIWJKX on 2007-10-05
  Great Mac. Biggest drawback is lack DVD burner in low end model. It's 2007 and the difference in cost in combo vs. DVD burners is like 2 bucks. Other than that it's pretty darn good for basic needs. Forget gaming since it has no video card. If you don't have a monitor, keyboard, mouse--get a refurb iMac or MacBook instead.
  
  
• MiniMac Great Value
  By A1HMNYRROVXKLF on 2007-12-25
  Apple's miniMac, although not for power users, makes a great purchase for casual users and those who want to dedicate a computer to a specific purpose (i.g., TIVO type of service, a small network server, controlling lights and security in the house, as in interface between a Ham Radio and the whole world, home theater setup, etc.) Just be sure to purchase as much memory as possible! Windows and Linux can run on this computer in emulation as quickly as on a regular laptop PC. (I have found that VMware's Fusion is simple and almost foolproof! Parallels is more complicated, but it works well, also.) Disadvantages? -- Not enough USB or Firewire ports, and inability to connect 2nd monitor. Also, I wish the on/off button was on the front of the machine instead of the back, but that could be an advantage in some cases!. With Leopard as the operating system, the computer is quick and responsive and can do so much. But don't expect it to do everything as quickly as a PowerMac or one of the faster iMacs. It has it's limits, but they are very high, and the average user will not reach them for a loooong time!
  
  
• Converted PC User
  By ALDC5J446D4KZ on 2007-12-14
  The Mac mini is a great machine that actually works. It's performance is much better than my PC with similar specs (but much larger case). It has taken a little while to get used to the Leopard OS but well worth it. I can now do virtually everything I did on my PC, but much quicker. I would recommend it to anyone.
  
  
• Why get this when you can get an Imac for less?
  By AY1X1JGH4XZLU on 2007-12-11
  While the mac mini is a great little computer, the fact is you can canget an Imac with more features overall for less money.
  
  MacMini for $749 comes with 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard drive, Super drive, and 2.0 Core Duo processor.
  
  An Imac at $1194 gives you 2.0 Core Duo, 1 GB of RAM, and super drive. It also includes a 250 GB hard drive, built-in isight, keyboard and mouse.
  
  To make the systems equivalent you would need to buy:
  
  either replace internal drive to bring up 250 GB or add external 120 GB drive ($90)
  add 20 inch widescreen monitor - $250
  add Apple Keyboard and Mouse - $90
  add webcam - $75
  
  brings your total to $1299 for a similarly configured Mac Mini.
  
  My money is on the iMac.
  
  
  
  
• Display options limited
  By A2YHXGPCTENZY3 on 2007-12-16
  Overpriced considering the cheap/missing components. PC laptops have more features and include a keyboard and LCD display for less money.
  
  No support for HDMI so forget about using this with your huge flat panel TV's digital inputs. You'll be fighting over scan unless your TV happens to have DVI in addition to HDMI. Sure you can fall back to fuzzy analog if your TV happens to have a VGA input. And no, that $20 DVI > HDMI cable won't make it work.
  
  Only supports SINGLE link DVI. This limits monitor size to 1920x1200. DUAL link is the current standard, it enables additional pairs of wires within the same connector for use with the largest monitors.
  
  As of 12/2007 I wouldn't buy this as it will shortly either be discontinued or upgraded.
  
  
• Leopard is in the box
  By A8X6BM4EJFYBF on 2007-12-04
  this is my second mac mini. my first was one of the original g4 machines, three years ago. It is a beautiful little box, and has done everything i ever asked it to. I ordered my new one yesterday (12/03/07) and received it today (12/04/07) via the free shipping option. It was delivered UPS and was packaged very well. For those of you waiting for Leopard to be in the box there is no worry. The minis amazon is now shipping with a 10.5 disc in the box. I am looking forward to using front row and the included remote.
  
  
• Can't get a better deal than Amazon
  By A3OCM6RJVB74JM on 2007-12-10
  Amazon truly has the best deal on the Mac Mini. I should know because I went looking for a bargain on Ebay, and while I got an ok price, I failed to realize Ebay sellers are not authorized Apple resellers. Buying from an authorized reseller means that you can get the Leopard OS X upgrade for a minimal fee. And Amazon is an authorized Apple reseller. I'm stuck spending the full amount to get Leopard.
  
  To add further regret to my decision, the Ebay seller is taking a month to send it. Amazon has free shipping and I'm positive they'd beat that shipping time.
  
  Either way: viva la Mac!
  
  
  
  
• Great General use computer
  By A1I07CXVEAGDE8 on 2007-10-14
  Small foot print, versatile with enough power to handle most uses.
  You just have to realize this computer is not meant to replace a gaming rig or pump out 3D animation.
  
  I use my mini to transcode video, view the web, play WoW and as a media hub-tasks which it handles nicely. This machine is rock solid, the only time I have rebooted or shut the system down is to load updates to the OS which require it.
  
  
  If you need a general use computer for the web, some video stuff you can't go wrong with this. Gamers would be better served by a playstation 3, xbox 360 or $3000 alienware rig.
  
  
• Powerful, compact, elegant and quiet.
  By AGPCM2O0UCMTX on 2007-12-01
  This is another Apple product I'm very happy with. Everything I need in a computer is inside a small enclosure the size of a tissue box. What's more, it's very quiet and nice to look at. It's alot faster than I expected considering that it has just a 5400 RPM hard drive and that it doesn't have a very powerful graphics processor. Everything I've tried to run on it, runs fast. Browsing the internet and playing complex media files were a snap. And to my surprise, it can even run the graphics intensive Call of Duty 2 without any problems. The price is fair but could be a little cheaper. Other than that, I'm very satisfied with this fast little computer.
  
  
• Mac Mini... Just Enough
  By A18I3164IW4H23 on 2008-01-07
  We purchased this item as a friendly, manageable and stable upgrade for my mother. We wanted something that required minimal physical and virtual maintenance and the Mac Mini has been billed as that. The process was not without a few hitches, however. Although it was listed with Amazon as having the Leopard operating system upgrade option, it arrives with the older operating system. I had to call Apple who mailed out a (free) upgrade disk. Kudos to Apple, naughties to Amazon. Installation and configuration went forward with only a few hitches which patch download rectified. As for the hardware itself, its just as small and simple as billed and I only have a few detractors... it needs more USB ports (everything does) and I really wish it was user upgradeable; a quick glance revealed a warranty voiding tour de force to add more ram (Apple's ram and installation prices are criminal). Thankfully, it should be a while before we have to do that.
  
  
• Great little media PC
  By AVM6S1XR1YF4F on 2008-03-22
  I have been toying with hooking up a old laptop with Windows to my new HDTV screen, when the harddrive failed, I decided to try a mac-mini. I am very happy with the purchase, the integrated front row application lets you view pictures off of network drives, movies downloaded from Itunes and radio from Itunes. This was really killer, my wife has a home based business making purses and I created a picture show of her creations with music, this was the hit of the show.
  
  Pros: Small form factor, great software
  Cons: Could follow what the laptop industry has done, add more memory by opening up a small compartment, not breaking into the thing with a putty knife.
  
  One last note, I have been a Windows/PC user for most of my life, conversion to this OS is not that hard. The software can be a bit expensive, but you can run some of the opensource products without a problem.
  
  
• Nice machine for the money
  By A2NO6B3UY135ES on 2008-04-07
  Good Value. Could not justify the extra $200 for the SuperDrive model. For that money I bought an upgrade from 1 GB to 3GB, an external USB DVD burner and VMWare Fusion. The extra 170 Mhz and 2 MB of L2 Cache do not make it worth it to me. This is a neat piece of hardware. Quiet, small and fast. Makes a fine Windows XP machine too. Not real hard to upgrade the memory, just a little harder than it should be. If you've ever cracked open a PC case and putzed around, this shouldn't be too difficult. Just look at the various tutorials online and be careful. Also, I found a pair of 4" metal putty knives to be very effective for cracking this thing open, no scratches either. This is a good buy, but you may want to wait until Penryn model ships with X3100 graphics and new CPU socket for upgradability, this unit will never be any faster than C2D 2.33 GHz.
  
  
• PERFECT for new Mac user...
  By A30XHICAZRW9G6 on 2008-05-17
  Its small, its powerful, its a mac. Its perfect for new mac users that are trying to make the transition into the Mac World. Since it runs an Intel chip, I decided to install Windows XP and it runs both operating systems PERFECTLY! I connected it to my HDTV through an HDMI connect via DVI converter and the DISPLAY is INCREDIBLE! (No sound through that connection though, had to connect Mac to external speakers). I'm still in shock at the size of this thing; almost the same size as my external hard drive.
  
  
• Great way to go Mac on the Cheap
  By A3R6Q5O7MKG4FV on 2008-06-29
  Using monitors, keyboards, and mice I already had, my wife was pleased that she could go Mac at the price of an entry PC. I did upgrade to 2 GBytes of memory by spending $50 at Crucial.
  
  Adding memory is difficult. It may not have been worth the hours spent. You'll feel like a surgeon afterwards. This is why the 4 stars, not 5, were given.
  
  This Mac runs far faster than the Core 2 Duo PC's running at 2.2 GHz.
  
  
• Coolest MAC around!!
  By A8AGYCL89DZOV on 2008-07-14
  This weekend I picked up a Mac Mini (with the above mentioned specs..) after doing tons of research and truly looking at my overall needs. Originally my thought was to pick up a Macbook but after focusing on my needs and seeking a cheaper alternative to jumping into the MAC arena I decided to go this route. After being a PC user for many many years the thought of learning a new operating system seemed rather intimidating but having friends who have made the jump made the task seemed a bit less daunting..
  
  I spent many hours perusing You Tube for Mac reviews...everything from Macbook AIR..to PRO..to Macbook and eventually MINI. There's a lot of good informative stuff out there!! Also reading the reviews on this site and many other online reviews I felt I was armed with enough knowledge to finally visit an APPLE store and ask some intelligent questions. Fortunately I ran into 2 young sales guys who knew their product well and tried to be as objective as possible about the product they were selling...I got the feeling they were truly interested in making sure I understood the differences between Windows Vista and Leopard and spent a great deal of time showing me features in ilife and Leopard in general. This made a difference to me in that the APPLE store staff exhibited such "refreshing" professionalism. I think that in itself made a big difference in helping me make a decision to try APPLE products. Their support was top notch compared to the experience I had received in the past from other vendors.
  
  After I picked up my Mac Mini...set up was a breeze. I had a Dell 17" 1703 monitor that was formerly coupled to my Dell Dimension 8300 that I hooked up to with no problems. I had a made a decision to get the APPLE keyboard due to the Command features and the fact that I liked the way the keys felt and am glad. Dell speakers and a Logitech wireless mouse completed the set up and I was off and running! The OS booted up so quickly that I immediately thought I'll never be able to go back to VISTA again..LOL! And setup was effortless..wireless..email..all very intutive and painless. No wonder APPLE has so many people switching!
  Once everything was set up I was working within the OS within minutes and what's cool is on the APPLE website there are many informative video tutorials as well as written support that helps a lot.
  
  For video & pictures the OS recognized both my Sony digital & video cameras and I was able to download all my files seamlessly with iphoto and imovie. Here is where I can see the advantages of having additional memory but generally it wasn't too much of an issue..I will eventually upgrade my memory in the near future..
  
  Overall for the weekend spent acclimating myself to this amazing little computer, the experience has been pretty darn good! I still have much to learn and will follow up with a more detailed review further on down the road...
  
  But for first impressions I'm pretty happy! The bottom line is...look at your computing needs and budget and work within those parameters. You don't really need to pump out a couple of grand for an ideal APPLE experience..If you have a good monitor, keyboard and mouse..and are looking to change to the APPLE OS this would be the best and economical way to go!
  
  Updated 8-24-08
  
  Well after checking out some of my earlier reviews..I decided to update this one as I ended up bringing this Mac Mini back and returning it for a Macbook Pro. My decision was mainly because of the lack of video quality due to anemic memory and no dedicated video card. I ended up having to pay a restocking fee but I didn't mind it so much as I got what really wanted!!
  
  My review of my Macbook Pro will come separately..
  
  
• Worth it - and more
  By A13AS3UQO642QV on 2007-10-18
  VERY fast and capable CPU - perfect for us! We're using the Mini for videoconferencing between five of our offices. No other Mac would have been cost-effective (we're using DLP projectors), so we would have gone to PC's if not for this great little box. We have a big desktop Mac in our home office (several of 'em, in fact!) but the Minis handle the camera, iChat and projection duties in the branches, plus printing photos and other docs -- with all the advantages of a Mac. The iMac didn't have what we needed -- rather it had 'way too much more.
  
  
• Excellent
  By ASA6ZHB04LW9N on 2007-10-30
  Good value, and a real workhorse. Appropriate for the majority of computing needs, except for demanding graphic animation and exceptional memory hog applications. My use: business computing, large PDF manipulation, writing, browsing, music creation, playback, DVD, and an occasional game.
  
  
• Dealing with Apple
  By A1EE952DJ2GPGW on 2007-12-14
  The Mac Mini is a great product when it works. Dealing with Apple is NOT fun. Hours to get them on the phone to see about the disk drive which did not work at all even after a half hour with a techy. He was helpful but could not fix the problem. They would not replace the computer even though it was just out of the box since I had not bought it through their store. There answer was to send it to be repaired NO concern for an unhappy customer. Fortunately Amazon did care and sent out a new one right away. What a difference in attitude. Also I had to purchase a $100 adaptor from Apple to hook up the DVI connector from my flat screen monitor as this was not supplied with the computer. It is a large adaptor about 5x5 ins but is supposed to improve the picture.
  
  
• Walt from Dallas
  By A3AM4ZLOUK717L on 2008-07-22
  Apple Mac mini MB138LL/A (1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive)I have used a PC for many years: My first PC was a 1987 Zenith, the first portable on the market and a weighty 18 lbs: with DOS. I am on my 5th PC.
  
  Since this was my first Apple computer, a MAC Mini, I decided to spend the $150 for a 3 years tech-service and warranty.
  
  1) During research on Apple's website on the Mac Mini I noted that the applications in Leopard did NOT include a word-processor. I entered a search "word processor" but the only result was their iWorks an added cost option of $ 80. A friend who has an iMac told me the name of the software is "TextEdit". I was told at the Dallas Apple store that TextEdit is in fact part of the Leopard offering and was confirmed by an on-line chat. No where on Apple's website is a users manual listed. After I setup my Mac I checked out TextEdit and found it comparable to Windows WordPad: This was confirmed in a borrowed "Mac for Dummies." I have used Word-Perfect and Microsoft's Works & Word and expected that TextEdit was similar. Apple was too ashamed to list TestEdit in Leopard, but for a reason: When you get your Mac they have a sucker-punch offer for you: You get a free 30-day trial of their word processor. So, I gotta lay out $80 extra for their iWorks word processor. Not a good way to earn creditability with a first-time customer.
  2) During my telecom with a Tech, I was given instructions on how to install my Logitech wireless 2-year old keyboard/mouse which is designed for OS X. Some 20 minutes was spent on the installation process and the Rep gave up saying: Your keyboard/mouse can NOT be installed. We than installed my old hard-wired keyboard/mouse. So, now I have a $100 Logitech paper-weight. So far I have "lost" $100 on buying the Mini, and will need to spend another $80 for iWorks. Total now: $180
  3) When I visited the Apple Store for a second time, I asked what `preparation work' must I do to make my Works files capable of migrating to TextEdit. He said, and later confirmed by an Apple instructor, that I would need to change the code from ".wps" to either ".doc" or ".txt"
  I told the telecom Tech that I wanted to migrate some of my Works files, and told him about the scenario involving "change wps: to doc or txt" And he responded you need to call Microsoft for instructions on how to migrate "Works files." More $$ need to be added to my un-expected incremental increase of $180. Only once did I find it necessary to spend $40 for a Microsoft engineer's "fix" of my computer: money well spent. I told the Rep that I spent $150 for your Apple Care Protection Plan, which now is very apparent that I needlessly spent $150 for being told, "we are not capable of installing your OS X wireless keyboard/mouse" And "We at Apple are not capable of migrating your word-processor files, but for more $$ I could buy Apple software to accomplish this. On their website the following information is found: Copying the files from your PC onto external or removable to storage media and then use that media in your Mac to transfer the files to your hard drive. And, further states: If you don't want to install Windows and Boot Camp on your Mac, you can move just your Windows files to your new Mac and use them with Mac applications. This is a lotta Apple B.S. Again, I told 5 Apple "experts" that I only want to migrate some Works files and Pictures to iPhoto. After all this disappointment with Apple I did not find it worthwhile to talk about iPhoto. The Tech-Rep was pleased that I took the time to fill out two forms: "email account settings for my mac" and "My Mac Cheat Sheet."
  4) Notoriously absent from their website is any information regarding internet security software (Search), yet other companies offer it is for sale. My own Trend-Micro just announced the availability of Mac software.
  5) On my 4th startup, the keyboard & mouse would NOT function.
  
  So here is my tally of "$ 370 down-the-toilet," if I choose to keep the MacMini:
  $ 100 wireless keyboard/mouse: great software; + $ 80 iWorks; + $ 40 Microsoft Engineer; + $ 150 AppleCare." Bogus "truth in advertising" on website.
  
  -- unanswered is: Will I find in the future, a need to spend more money for Apple's internet-security ? Stay turned for an expected announcement from Apple on its new internet security software.
  UPS just picked up the MAC Mini.
  
  
  
  

• Apple iWork '08
• Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition
• Nero 8 Ultra Edition
• Windows Live OneCare 2.0
• QuickBooks Pro 2008

• Apple Keyboard Kit
• Apple Wireless Keyboard Kit
• Apple Mighty Mouse Wireless Kit
• VMware Fusion
• Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac ( 967664-0403 )