A Great Entry-Level Media PC

I broke down and bought a Mac a week ago. I wanted a good media center to go along with my new HDTV, and I really didn't want to deal with Vista. I also wanted something that was small and silent. Despite it's lack of DVR function, the Mac Mini fit the bill. It's small, quiet, and comes equipped with Front Row software and an Apple Remote.

I purchased the diminutive PC at my local Apple store, where the staff was friendly and helpful. I bought the low-end $599 model, but I wish I'd have sprung the extra few hundred so I could have DVD writing capabilities. Oh well. The specs are as follows:


1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
1 GB DDR2 667 RAM
80 GB Hard drive
Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics
DVI Video output
Integrated 802.11g Wifi and Bluetooth 2.0
Slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive

It runs the Leopard operating system by Apple. I also bought the Apple wireless keyboard and mouse (which connect via Bluetooth) so I could use it while sitting on the couch.

On the back there are many connections available, including DVI, a 1/8" audio out jack (for headphones or speakers), 4 USB 2.0 ports, 1 Firewire port, 1 Gigabit Ethernet port, and a security port. The DVI connection is great for those who have an advanced monitor or an HDTV they want to hook up to the Mac Mini. This port provides a pure digital signal along the entire connection path, as opposed to the old-style VGA cable, which requires a signal be converted from digital to analog and then from analog back to digital in the monitor. A pure digital signal will display a much higher-quality, crisper image than one converted from analog.

Since the computer is in my living room and my wireless router in my bedroom, the built-in wireless feature is a huge plus. The only downside is found when having to transfer large amounts of data over the network, like during an initial backup to a network drive like the new Apple Time Capsule for example. A wireless network is limited to only half the potential speed of a standard 100 mbps wired network, and less than 1/10 the speed of a modern 1000 mbps "Gigabit" wired network. It may be advantageous to purchase a router capable of gigabit wired networking and place it near the computer.

Setup was a simple step-by-step process. I entered in some personal information like my name and address. This is to automatically populate your Address Book with your information. Within just a few minutes I was ready to start using the Mac's various features.

I won't spend a lot of time on OS X as that is a separate review. However, I will touch on a few points that I feel are important. Overall, OS X is a great OS. Unfortunately, it has crashed on a few occasions, requiring a reboot. Networking is also a problem, as sharing files with Windows computers over a network was somehow broken with this release. Apple is not currently addressing it, leaving a lot of those who network with multiple platforms (like me!) very upset. After all, one of the selling points of OS X was it's "incredible" inter-operability with Windows. The previous version of the OS, Tiger lived up to this and Leopard does not. I find it strange that the ease of networking with Windows PCs was completely lost with an upgrade!

When Leopard is working, it works well. Program behavior is quite smooth, even with the Cover Flow feature (which allows you to flip through previews of your files and folders, allowing you to see what the files look like without having to open them). Front Row is also very easy-to-use and intuitive thanks to the included Apple Remote. Front Row allows the user to view the media on the computer using a remote-control interface instead of a mouse and keyboard. Slideshows have a wondering zoom and pan effect that add a feeling of relaxation to your photo collections, as well as a professional touch.

Wireless connectivity is a problem. The connection drops inexplicably once every few days and even after multiple router restarts will not find my wireless network. Then, randomly, it appears again and connects with full signal. I have now connected the Mac Mini to the router with an ethernet cable and that has alleviated the problem.

One of the things one loses out when buying a Mac is the lack of user serviceability. Upgrading the RAM or Hard Drive will almost certainly void the warranty. The case interior is not accessible with conventional tools, although it is possible and easy once you know how. However, if you don't feel comfortable opening the case of a standard PC, stay away from the inside of this one. Personally, I plan on installing a larger hard drive when I get brave and some time.

Overall, the Mini is a great basic machine. It does what most people need it to do and then some. If you have a lot of photos, home movies, and want a small, relatively inexpensive, noiseless way to get them on your TV, this is definitely the way to go.