2.5 GHz Apple Mac mini

1. Macworld

Dan Frakes pens a long, detailed review covering every aspect of the 2011 Mac mini. He conducts extensive benchmark testing and finds that the 2.5 GHz mini vastly outperforms the 2010 model, especially in tasks that require heavy CPU utilization. He gives the diminutive desktop a 4 out of 5 star rating, but says that the entry-level iMac (*Est. $1,200) may be a more worthwhile Apple purchase if you need to buy peripherals for the peripheral-less Mac mini.

Review: New Mac minis Deliver Serious Performance, Dan Frakes, Aug. 3, 2011

2. PCMag.com

The Mac mini receives an Editors' Choice award from PCMag.com. Joel Santo Domingo says "The new iteration is now powerful enough to take over as that primary PC in your house." He reports significantly improved benchmark scores over last year's model.

Review: Apple Mac mini (Thunderbolt), Joel Santo Domingo, Sept. 22, 2011

3. CNET

The new Mac mini earns a favorable, but not enthusiastic, review from Rich Brown at CNET. He admits the 2011 model's CPU upgrade gives it a much-improved performance boost, but dislikes the lack of an optical drive and points out that the mini "offers suspect value compared with Windows PCs in the same price range."

Review: Apple Mac Mini (2.5GHz Core i5, Summer 2011), Rich Brown, July 20, 2011

4. Amazon.com

The Mac mini gets very favorable reviews from Amazon.com users; the vast majority gives the desktop a perfect 5-star score. Users love the system's performance, quietness and small form factor. They don't seem as disturbed by the lack of an optical drive as many reviewers are.

Review: Apple Mac Mini MC816LL/A Desktop (Newest Version), Contributors to Amazon.com

5. BestBuy.com

The Mac mini reviews at BesyBuy.com aren't quite as numerous as the ones at Amazon.com, but they are just as enthusiastic. Users say the mini is fast, silent and small, and the overwhelming majority one would recommend the product to a friend.

Review: Apple - Mac mini / Intel Core i5 Processor / 4GB Memory / 500GB Hard Drive, Contributors to BestBuy.com

6. SlashGear.com

In this spirited commentary, Don Reisinger argues that the Mac mini is still the best choice for a home theater PC despite its lack of an optical drive. He argues that the mini delivers a better combination of media and computing use than straightforward media streamers like the Roku player or Apple TV and says that many people already have devices in their living rooms that can already play optical discs, such as Blu-ray players and video game consoles.

Review: The New Mac Mini is Still Best Choice for the Living Room, Don Reisinger, July 21, 2011

7. PCMag.com

PCMag.com's annual survey is a good indicator of user satisfaction with devices from manufacturers. Although the mini's results aren't specifically cited, Apple comes out tops in every reviewed category, including percentage needing repairs, tech support strength, and overall satisfaction. However, writer Ben Gottesman notes that Apple users are less satisfied with their repairs than they were in last year's category, despite Apple's first-spot ranking in the category.

Review: Readers' Choice Awards 2011: Desktops and Laptops, Ben Gottesman, April 27, 2011