Apple Mac mini: a first look
Published: 12 Jan 2005
Matt Loney writes...
We got our hands on the first Mac mini in the UK at the BETT show in London's Olympia on the morning of Wednesday 12 January -- the day after Steve Jobs's Macworld keynote. The 1.42GHz model was fitted with the maximum 1GB of RAM, an upgrade that will not come cheap (£290 extra, to be precise). As you would expect, this system had no problems running full-screen video on a 20in. monitor. Apple says performance will be comparable to a PowerBook, and what we've seen certainly backs up that claim.
The Mac mini is also as quiet as a PowerBook; an external power supply means there's no need for a power supply fan in the box. The box itself is actually nicer in real life than in the pictures. The solid aluminium frame looks like you could drive a truck over it.
If you want a computer with such a small form factor, you obviously have to make compromises. There is little expandability to speak of within the box: the word from Apple is that you will be able to expand memory and add Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi by taking the Mac mini along to an Apple authorised reseller. However, the optical drive is a purchase-time-only specification. Bearing this in mind, you need to take the £339 (inc. VAT) starting price (for the 1.25GHz/40GB HD model) with an extra dose of salt.
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Full Talkback thread
32 comments
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You know that keyboards have USB jacks in them rig... mike -
The £339 price tag may sound impressive. But why i... Anonymous
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apple will start charging UK a fair price whe... Tristan Lane -
True. We get screwed in price terms by e... NJ -
Isn't the UK-US price difference in this case... NelC
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The £339 price tag may sound impressive. But... Anonymous
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Note that the US pricing is without VAT, as U... Anonymous
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The whole number of USB ports thing is really a di... Niall Mullen
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Recently our department looked into low footprint... Anonymous
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Mac Mini is meant for: (1) PC Users who want... Venkata Ramayya
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Major Serious flaw is the lack of TV out... Alan Duncan -
Actually, a $19 (US) adapter conver... David Ray
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You can get a PS/2 to USB Acti... Anonymous
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What about the SOFTWARE?
With the Mac mini, you g... Phil Jackson
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Having to buy a USB hub is a total non-issue, rega... Anonymous
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As this is aimed at existing PC owners, a key ques... Jamie
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Many of us home PC users are frustrated at th... Anonymous
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I'm so glad I didn't put $2K on a Sony U750 now! T... Mark White
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Lets remember that the first target market for the... Steve Dale
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Someone said
"The £339 price tag may sound impress... Anonymous
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Hopefully we'll see a surge in unwanted PC's being... Anonymous
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It is a cool computer. Still, I'd rather wait... tk9
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this is great! i've been using pc's for... alex vaos
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sorry, but 399 doesnt get dvd burne... sam
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You can upgrade to a DVD R on... Linzy
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Mac Motherboard only thoughts.
The comment ab... Anonymous
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Thanks, but no thanks.
I'll stick to my PC ways wi... Anonymous
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Lack of gigabit etherent isn't a problem! How many... David Lowton
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power brick? Jeff
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£339 is the US price in STG + UK VAT, for those w... Anonymous
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The mac Mini provides a wonderful opportunity for... Norman Dutt
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Mac Mini will be competive in price only if Apple... Paul
