Mac mini

Mac mini: Inexpensive if you have other components

If you want a new Apple desktop but can't spend $1,000, your only option is the Mac mini. The diminutive Mac mini has been refreshed for 2011 to include Thunderbolt ports and Intel Sandy Bridge processors, but some still question this computer's value. There are others, however, who say the Mac mini has evolved from being the also-ran option for the second computer in a household into a force to be reckoned with in its own right.

"The new iteration is now powerful enough to take over as that primary PC in your house," Joel Santo Domingo writes at PCMag.com, which gives the mini an Editors' Choice award. Plus, the 2011 Mac mini costs less than the previous version -- even with the new CPU and features.

There are three options available, including a 2.3 GHz model (*Est. $600 and up) . This configuration comes with a 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive and Intel HD 3000 graphics courtesy of the integrated graphics found in Intel's Sandy Bridge technology.

There's also the upgraded 2.5 GHz model (*Est. $800 and up) that most professionals review. This model ups performance by including not only a more powerful version of the Intel Sandy Bridge core processor, but also 4 GB of RAM and a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor in place of Intel's on-board graphics. Finally, the Mac mini with Lion Server (*Est. $1,000 and up) has a 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 4 GB of memory and dual 500 GB hard drives. Like the 2.3 GHz model, the Lion Server mini lacks a discrete GPU and instead relies on Intel's integrated graphics. All three models feature a Gigabit Ethernet port and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities out of the box.

On the back of the Mac mini you'll find a FireWire 800 port, four USB slots, audio in and audio out connections, an SD card slot and, most notably, a Thunderbolt port, which replaces the Mini DisplayPort on previous models. The Apple Mac mini has an aluminum unibody enclosure to match Apple's other computers, but it lacks one major feature found on the Mac minis that came before it -- an optical drive. "Just like the original iMac dropped the then prominent floppy drive from its desktops, the Mac mini (Thunderbolt) puts a stake in the ground and declares that you don't need an optical drive anymore," Joel Santo Domingo says at PCMag.com. The mini desktop also features an integrated power supply, so there's no power brick.

The Mac mini is sold on its own; you'll have to pay extra for a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Apple's sole monitor, the 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display (*Est. $1,000) , costs more than the mini itself. Components like the Apple Magic Mouse (*Est. $70) and wireless keyboard (*Est. $70) will also add to the price. However, if you have your own components, or choose to go with ones that lack the Apple logo, you can use them to keep the total cost down. If you intend to use the mini as a home theater PC (HTPC), your TV can take the place of a standard computer display. One caveat, however: Reviewers warn that thanks to the OS X Lion update, the scroll wheels on third-party mice perform differently than you'd expect -- scrolling away from you moves the page upward while scrolling towards you moves the page down.

The Mac mini's performance is good for everyday computing tasks, and the mini has no problems streaming video from Hulu and YouTube or playing a variety of HD video formats. Gaming is one area of weakness, although some mainstream games are playable at lower resolution or detail settings on the 2.3 GHz and Lion Server configurations. However, even the computer-crunching "Crysis" can be played on medium quality on the Radeon-sporting 2.5 GHz version. The mini runs quietly and stays cool, say reviewers, and the sleek design doesn't look out of place in a living room or media center. Reviewers also like that the RAM is easily upgradeable (up to 8 GB) via a round panel on the underside. Not all components can be accessed easily from that panel, however, and replacing the hard drive requires additional tools, although critics say that it's relatively simple to swap out for anybody with experience tinkering with computers.

The lack of an optical drive draws several disapproving comments, especially because many people use the Mac mini as a HTPC. The ability to swap out DVDs and Blu-ray discs is a major component of many typical HTPC experiences. "The mini still offers a single HDMI output, but its usefulness as a compact media center machine is pretty much obliterated by the lack of a DVD drive," Ray Aguilera writes at MacLife.com. Darren Murph at Engadget.com echoes the sentiment. "While we're able to forgive the mini for not having room for a TV tuner (internally, at least), the sudden and unwarranted departure of the optical drive is downright baffling," he says.

Like previous generations, some reviewers question the Mac mini's overall value, even with the price drop and increase in processing power. Ryan Paul says he dislikes two major aspects in his otherwise glowing review at ArsTechnica.com; the lack of an optical drive and the fact that you can't get a configuration that packs both the AMD GPU and a quad-core i7 processor. "Some users will find the lack of an optical drive too forward-looking, and may struggle to understand the benefits of the Thunderbolt port," Rich Brown says at CNET. "The new Mac Mini also offers suspect value compared with Windows PCs in the same price range." Meanwhile, several reviewers say that if you don't already own the peripherals needed to use a Mac mini -- namely, a keyboard, mouse and monitor -- your money would probably be better spent on an iMac, which comes with everything you need and starts at $1,200.