Apple Mac Mini

Apple really knows how to grab the headlines. When the Mac Mini was unveiled to the public in January, newspapers were printing actual-size photos of the thing just to show people how small it was. And, of course, it has the eye-catching but elegant design work that is the trademark of British-born design guru, Jonathan Ives.

But those of us with a cynical bent can't help pointing out that Apple has been here before. In July 2000, the company launched a similar ultra-compact desktop computer called the Cube. That, too, was a marvel of industrial design and itsy-bitsy engineering. However, it cost almost £2,000, which didn't include a monitor. Not surprisingly, the little Cube was a big flop.

So the real question about the Mac Mini is whether Apple has learnt from its mistakes with the Cube. Having finally had a chance to test one, we suspect it might just have it right this time.

Like the Cube, the Mac Mini has a relatively modest technical specification, and is sold without a monitor, keyboard or mouse. However, there are a couple of vital differences between the Mini and the Cube. For starters, the Mac Mini is even smaller, measuring a mere 2in high with 6.5in width and depth. It weighs just 2.9lb (1.4kg), so you can cradle the entire unit comfortably in one hand.

More importantly, the Mac Mini is much cheaper than the Cube. There are two models available. The basic £339 model has a 1.25GHz G4 processor (roughly comparable to a 1.6GHz Pentium 4), 40GB hard disk and 256MB of Ram. For £399 you can step up to a 1.4GHz processor and 80GB hard disk. Both models include a 32MB Radeon 9200 graphics card, DVD-Rom/CD-RW combo drive, two USB2 ports, Ethernet and Firewire.

The 256MB Ram is a bit miserly, but can be upgraded to 512MB for an extra £50. There are also various other add-on options, such as a wireless card (£49) or a multi-format DVD writer drive (£70), but the basic specification is - unusually for Apple - pretty reasonable for the price.

The thing to watch out for, of course, is that the Mac Mini is sold without a monitor, keyboard or mouse. Some critics have argued that buying these extra items will push the total cost of a Mac Mini up to almost £1,000. That's true, and first-time computer buyers will probably get better value by buying a complete system, such as Apple's own iMac, or a low-cost PC.

But that's not the point. Apple isn't aiming the Mini at first-time computer buyers, but at the people it refers to as 'switchers'. These are people who currently own an old PC and are starting to think about upgrading. They're looking for an affordable upgrade and, of course, they already have a keyboard, mouse and monitor.

If you have an ageing PC, the Mac Mini does represent an attractive and affordable upgrade option. The built-in Ethernet and Firewire ports, which may not be included in very low-cost PCs, mean you can plug in a DV camcorder or hook up to a broadband connection right away.

The Mac Mini also includes Apple's iLife software suite, which provides all the tools for digital photography, video editing and music making.

It's not perfect, of course. The 32MB graphics card is a real cost-cutting compromise, and there are no expansion slots to allow you to install a better card. The Mac Mini is never going to be a strong games machine. But let's face it, no-one buys a Mac to play games anyway.

Ultimately, the Mac Mini is about marketing strategy as much as technology. Apple wants to tempt PC owners into switching over to the Mac for the first time and, gamers aside, the low-cost and high-fashion design of the Mac Mini might just do the trick. It's also great for those who want a second Mac.

Prices:
1.25GHz/40GB: £339 (£288.50 ex VAT)
1.42GHz/80GB: £399 (339.57 ex VAT)

Contact:
Apple UK 0800 039 1010
www.apple.com/uk

Specifications:

• 1.25GHz or 1.42GHz Motorola G4 processor
• 40GB or 80GB hard disk
• 256MB Ram
• 32MB Radeon 9200
• DVD-Rom/CD-RW drive
• 2 USB2 ports
• Ethernet
• Firewire
• DVI
• iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, Garageband (iLife)

See also:

AOpen XCube AV

Fancy building your own home entertainment PC? This is a good place to start  17 Dec 2004

Shuttle XPC SB81P

A diminutive basis for a powerful PC.  20 Sep 2004

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