1.83 GHz Mac mini

No professionals give the Apple Mac mini anything resembling a rave review, but it does get consideration as the least expensive Mac you can buy. However, the price may be misleading because it does not include a monitor, mouse or keyboard. Additionally, it can't be upgraded after purchase. The most recent hardware changes improve performance. One major advantage is the mini's extremely small form, among the tiniest of any desktop computer. If you don't already own peripherals, consider the Apple iMac (*est. $1,500 and up), which integrates the computer's guts behind the 20-inch LCD screen and includes a keyboard and mouse.

Though the Mac mini was covered extensively when first launched, reviews following its last major upgrade -- which did boost performance considerably -- are sparser. The best reporting has been at Macworld and CNET. Additionally, user reports are helpful, especially those that have realistic expectations of what to expect from this diminutive desktop option. Amazon.com is the best place to read those.