APPLE MAC MINI REVIEW SOFTWARE
APPLE MAC MINI REVIEW PC

And as before, the Mac Mini isn't a sealed box, but it's not made for easy upgrades. It produces a low hum while spinning a disc, but it's so low that it will likely be drowned out by the other sounds around it. The Mac Mini is a quiet operator, and the design helps it stay cool with no need for a noisy fan. The back also holds a single FireWire 400 port. If you want to connect it to a television, the DVI port is flexible enough to accept adapters for a variety of connections, among them DVI-to-S-Video/composite, and DVI-to-HDMI. The Mac Mini has a DVI video output built in, but it comes with a VGA adapter if you have an older monitor. This is a big help for entertainment-center connections, because you can now rely on your Mac Mini for audio with digital clarity.

Best of all, though, is the addition of combined digital and analog audio input and output. The Ethernet port has been upgraded to 10/100/1000BaseT, for up to 10 times faster Internet or local area connections. The backside of the case offers more changes Apple has added two more USB 2.0 ports, for a total of four. The included Apple remote transmits by infrared, so you'll need a direct line-of-sight to your Mini to control it. The Mac Mini's front looks as minimal as before, with the small addition of a barely perceptible IR receiver to the right of the CD/DVD slot. You'll have to buy a TV tuner separately, and we have reservations about its video quality, but dollar for dollar, the Mac Mini is one of the best home-theater PCs on the market.

APPLE MAC MINI REVIEW PC

We tested the higher-end configuration, and we think that if you're shopping with a Windows Media Center PC in mind, you should also consider the Apple Mac Mini, which is far easier to set up and use. The new models are also welcome gifts to entertainment-minded customers, with additions that include a remote control and Front Row software, better multimedia ports for entertainment-room connections, and an improved ability to share media with other computers on the same network, not to mention the ability to run Windows and PC applications.

APPLE MAC MINI REVIEW SOFTWARE

Both offer impressive specs for the price and will tackle most common software with ease.

True, the Mac Mini line now features two Intel-based models: an entry-level, single-core Mac Mini Core Solo for $599 and a faster, more feature-rich dual-core Mac Mini Core Duo for $799. The littlest Apple received a makeover that includes more than just the widely publicized move to Intel processors.

Apple mac mini review