Why the Mac Mini is the best Mac on the market

The best Mac on the market

(Credit: Apple)

Some may disagree with my sentiment that the Mac Mini is the best Apple computer on the market, but as an owner of practically every Mac known to man, I think I can say, without any reservation, that the MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Pro don't hold a candle to the small, yet versatile Mac Mini.

And that's exactly why I was extremely pleased to read the rumor that Apple may be updating the Mac Mini at Macworld next month.

Apple has not confirmed that rumor, and all reports are pure speculation, based on circumstantial evidence. But who cares? If Apple decides to keep the Mac Mini, it makes perfect sense for the company to update it at Macworld, since it hasn't seen a refresh in quite some time. And with the economy the way it is, I think Apple wants to make its cheapest Mac an even more attractive computer for those who are on a budget.

Besides pricing, the Mac Mini offers the best value of any Mac on the market. Say what you will about the power of the Mac Pro or the versatility of the MacBook, but I simply don't think any other Mac compares to the Mac Mini for the average consumer, who doesn't care about video editing but wants an extremely versatile machine that can double as a set-top box, media server, or a casual companion in the living room.

When it comes to specs, there's no debating that the Mac Mini can't compete on the same level with its counterparts. The Mac Pro sits at the top of that list, and the MacBook Pro trails slightly behind.

The MacBook and iMac are slightly less powerful than their bigger counterparts, and the MacBook Air is, well, a toy. At the bottom sits the Mac Mini, with its 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 1GB of RAM. Not all that impressive? Sure. But if you're looking for a solid computing experience without all the extras, like video editing, who cares?

Versatility and usability that set the Mac Mini apart and make it the best Mac on the market. Besides an extremely affordable $599 starting price tag, the little beauty requires you to bring the keyboard, display, and mouse, but offers multimedia connectivity that allows you to connect it to an Apple Cinema Display, just as easily as your 50-inch Panasonic HDTV.

And with the help of a wireless keyboard and mouse, you can sit in your recliner at the other end of the room and surf the Web, check your e-mail, and communicate with buddies on Twitter.

The TV connection
But the Mac Mini's value goes far beyond its computing capabilities. By connecting it to your HDTV, you immediately have a high-powered set-top box that puts the Apple TV and all its competitors to shame.

Want to stream Hulu to your HDTV? Hook up a Mac Mini, and you're all set. Want to play songs from your iTunes library through your surround-sound rig? The Mac Mini will help you out. Want to have a media server connected to your HDTV, which can be accessed anytime you want to catch a flick or TV show? The Mac Mini is your candidate. And if you want to bring a computer to your friend's house to share songs and files, look no further than the Mac Mini.

The Apple TV is an attractive product because it offers multimedia functions through iTunes, access to photos through Flickr, and videos on YouTube. The Mac Mini can do that, as well as surf the Web, check your e-mail, and perform the same basic functions as any other Mac on the market. In essence, it ties together some of the best features of a slew of Apple products and brings them together in one small, affordable, and attractive device.

Say what you will about the power of the MacBook Pro or the incredible design of the iMac, but when it comes down to real value, I simply don't think that any Mac can beat the Mac Mini.

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[RobinQueens]

I could not agree more. I have had my MBP sent back to the shop 3 times as part of that Nvidia card issue, which of course was never acknowledged as the cause until recently, And I added a GB of memory to the mini and that helped, I run boot camp with it and that is seemless too, And yes it hangs out in my bedroom with a 37" LCD, it is connected to speaker system and hasn't had a slight hiccup. I hope the new ones are a reality,

[Penguinisto]

Count me on as someone who finds the Mini to be an attractive buy after/if it gets beefed-up.

I originally owned a Mac Cube - and while the small size is intimidating to most home computer builders and hobbyists, I found it to be rather fun. Managed to wedge in a fairly quick (for its time) Radeon video card, a bigger HDD, a much faster processor (it originally had a 500MHz G4, bumped that to 1.2GHz), and had plenty of room to do what I needed - and for most of its life, it never had a cooling fan (it was designed to use passive convection cooling. I added a small, quiet fan only when I bumped the CPU up).

I have a monster dual G5 sitting on the floor in the comp. room @ home. It would be kind of cool to make that shrink into a tiny half-cube. My Hackintosh isn't much smaller that the PowerMac (tower form-factor, etc)... as long as the Mini has a vidcard that can do OpenGL solidly, I'd be all set and would happily buy one.

[philosfool]

The current level of performance that the Mac Mini offers means that it will be an antique in a year. It is not advisable that someone purchase one to operate as their primary computer. With an update, the Mini may become a computer with a reasonable life span, but right now it isn't.

[rteichman]

You miss the point entirely. For web browsing, checking e-mail, playing iTunes, watching videos (iTunes or DVDs) this machine is fantastic. You don't need anything more powerful. It also has 2 major features that has not been mentioned. It's quiet, and it has an optical audio output. Unless being pushed hard the fan does not come on, so its the perfect "media-center" PC.

[michaelejahn]

antique in a year is something you can say about anything and everything - for people who want a primary computer and a multi-media center, it is more than up to the task - most of my family uses their computers for email and web browsing only anyway, so i would counter that the Mac Mini is good solution for a primary HOME computer.

[pjhenry1216]

@rteichman: All of that functionality can be had for much cheaper than $599. Building a PC with more power than that is simple. Running a distribution of Linux thats *designed* to be a set-top box makes it ultimately a better idea as a settop box. You want just a simple computer? Well, run Ubuntu. Same functionality and even more stability at half the price.

[supoman]

I play half life 2 episode 2 on mine. It took me some tweaking but I have it where it is actually more playable than the AMD 2200 that my kids play on and that one has an nvidia graphics card. But let me qualify that by saying I did have to reduce the quality of the graphics and audio so no reflecting water but still pretty darn good. The sequence when the vortagons bring alex back to life cut out on my kids computer but played all the way through on my mini. My wish list for the new mini of course would be a better grapics card and dvd burner but it's already pretty dang good. I paid $399 for mine new!!!!

[BigGuns149]

@rteichman:Except playing a DVD ASUS' eee Box can do a lot of the same things for half the price and it is also in a very compact chassis.

I think the 6.5x6.5 chassis. but frankly the Mac Mini is inferior to a lot of laptops for about the same price and I can carry a laptop around without plugging it in like a Mac Mini. Furthermore, the HDD is tiny on the current Mac Mini. Even the high end AppleTV has a bigger hard drive. The Mac Mini barely has enough HDD to be a practical standard definition Media center, never mind HD, which the current model can barely handle. Add the lack of built in video capture capabilities, and beyond having a nice chassis there isn't much I can say that would make me say it is the "perfect" media center.

At the current price the Mac Mini is simply a ripoff. I would feel sad for anybody who bought one today, because it is surely going to be replaced with something better in January.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Will it run Crysis ? NOT ! Build a PC for the same money that actually does something useful ;)

[mrgoodall]

infinite computing power, gobs of memory, processing that would have shamed the fastest machine 3 years ago, and we worry if it can play a video game? When the benchmark of a system becomes can it play a game, we need to be afraid, very afraid :)

[electronista]

Most any $599 PC won't really run Crysis, if you haven't noticed!

It's not all about getting the most performance you can for the money. Sometimes it's about where you can fit your PC, how much power it uses, and how quiet it is.

When you're old enough that you can't devote three hours every day to games, you'll understand.

[Mikeatle]

What's Crysis? I am a professional, and I use my Mac as part of my responsibilities at work and entertainment at home. I don't have the time nor the desire for kids' games.

[Apreche]

You're exactly right Don. The Mac mini isn't about actually using it as a desktop. It's all about connecting it to a TV. Sure, for about the same price you can build a way more powerful HTPC with Windows or Linux, but it won't be as small or as quiet. Small and quiet count for a hell of a lot in the living room. Also, while the Mac wireless bluetooth keyboard would be terrible for a desktop, it's perfect for a living room. The same goes for front row and the little Apple remote. Oh yeah, and you can install Boxee or XBMC to make it even better.

I have the very first, and lowest end, Intel Mac mini in the living room right now, and it's still getting it done. I can definitely see getting an updated one sometime next year, if this isn't a rumor.

[Quest27]

And Besides the fact, any other HTPC isn't a Mac. People seem to forget that, with a regular Windows or Linux PC, you still have to buy/download most of the stuff you need to make a PC into an HTPC. And yeah, you could always make it a Hackintosh, but a Mini has the world's best OS (along with all the fun stuff it comes with) built in. So $599 for a Mac Mini isn't so bad.

[mantle152]

If they would add blu-ray I would buy 2 maybe 3 for each media setup in my house. I'm at the point where I'd like to get HD but would rather purchase a player that was also a set top box. Come on apple, you used to lead, stop following now.

[BigGuns149]

BD-ROM drives have gotten cheap enough and the Mac Mini has gone without an update long enough that your suggestion isn't so far fetched. I don't know that Apple will do that, but it is realistic.

[mmagliaro]

This is utter nonsense. The author is overlooking probably the single most important element that people consider when they buy a computer (after, "Will it run the software I need?"), and that is FORM FACTOR. Sure, get a wireless mouse, a keyboard, a monitor, use your TV... Bah! Compare that to the all-in-one ready-to-use experience of taking a Macbook or Macbook Pro out of the box, opening it, and being DONE, ready to go. Display, keyboard, trackpad, internet access ... all in the palm of your lap in a neat, slim, battery-powered, portable package. Take it into Starbuck's and surf the web - try THAT with the clumsy mini and an attached keyboard and mouse...

And monitor? I don't know about you, but every flat panel TV I've seen has a VGA or DVI input on it, so connecting a Mac laptop to your big TV is as easy as plugging in a cable.

The mini may be a decent value for the low price it has, but "best Mac on the market?" - nonsense.

[wigmo]

Most mac buyers care about form factor, most people don't. That's why Mac's don't dominate the market.

[ayani1]

I own both a mac mini and a macbook. As a media center, I couldn't agree more with the author.

Mac Mini is my fave mac

[xcopy]

"Take it into Starbuck's and surf the web" Drink outrageously overpriced coffee products and TRY to look cool because you're using a mac.... and wait for it....fail miserably....

Do you wear a black turtle neck too and pretend you're especially "hip"?

Ooops sorry. Couldn't resist. LOL

Any wireless laptop allows you to surf in a coffee shop and I'd take an Acer Aspire one netbook ($350) over any notebook apple has ever made....

As a definite non Apple/iPhoney/Jobs/"Mac user" fan, this is the only computer product they make that comes close to being worthwhile.. Heck, Apple can't even make decent ipods any more, but this is a product that has a place in the world.

[BigGuns149]

All the new MBs from the MBA through the MBP now have mini-DP so you are going to need an adapter to plug it into virtually every monitor. At least the Mac Mini you can simply plug it into the DVI port. Removing the DVI port and moving to mini-DP I think would be a huge mistake on Apple's part. Apple's low end desktop is mainly for people who want to dip their toe into the Apple world, but it doesn't make sense to make it more of a hassle for switchers.

[Private-Idaho]

I edit video all the time on my Mac mini. Your column gives the impression that a mini can't edit video. That's just not true. I edit video HEAVILY and I find that my Mac mini is faster at editing video than my fancy Windows computer at work. There are a couple of reasons. The Apple Macintosh operating system doesn't get bogged down by security software and the code is leaner. If you can't edit video on a Mac mini, then you don't know much about video editing.

[cpamax]

Totally! Don't people remember when we were getting audio and video editing done on G3 and even earlier systems? Any dual core system has more than enough horse power to do what the average consumer would do with audio and video making some incredible media productions.

[BigGuns149]

It can, but it is, so painfully slow. Just because it can do something doesn't mean it is well suited for that.

The latest Mac Minis barely have enough power to playback HD video never mind actually edit it in a reasonable time. I guess if you have a LOT of patience you can do it, but even a lot of new laptops would be better for video editing. Even the last generation MBs are considerably faster than the Mac Mini. You can use it for that, but the current model at the current price seems like terribly bang for your buck. If you like the MacOS that is great, but don't delude yourself in thinking that there aren't a lot of far more powerful machines for video editing in that price range.

[liozzi]

Add a blu-ray drive and it might beat the PS3 in the media server market. Without it it's a expensive alternative that doesn't have blu-ray, and doesn't play games. For $250 a Wii at least plays games and has Opera.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Turn it on it`s side , put two slots on top , and voila ! The iToaster !

[Shell Huber]

Mac mini is a value. IF you already have a quality monitor. For those that have no computer. A IMac is a better value. More powerful, great built in monitor.
This all depends on if you want to live in the Apple world.
SH

[drwam]

I agree with the assessment with one exception. The 2.5 inch hard drive significantly limits performance. I think Apple may want to design an updated mini with a 3.5 inch drive. This would surely require a new form factor, like the larger footprint of the AppleTV--just thicker. This would generally amount to making the low end Mini the new AppleTV (since ATV just does not do enough to sell well).
Or, if they don't want to think that different, they could keep the same internal drive and form factor and add an eSata port. That way, anyone needing a higher performance machine, could boot from an external 3.5 inch drive in a size and finish matched case which sits beneath the unit. That would make Steve Jobs happy because he could drop Firewire but give them something newer/higher-performance in return. And the cost of adding it is trivial. Then, he should drop the base price to $499 AND include a SuperDrive--that Combo drive in the base model is really, really lame.

[Rickumus]

I really hope that Apple updates the Mac mini at Macworld. I've been waiting to buy one for sometime now. They really are nice little computers. You also never hear bad things about them. The iMac and MacBook are always seem to be plagued with technical issues.

[AppleSuxLeo]

That joke of a product is a bag of hurt.

[G_Slade]

It may be the cheapest mac, but for the same money you can get a much better pc, for example: The mac mini you mentioned is £488 in the uk, and has a intel 2Ghz core2 Duo, 1 Gb Ram, dvd drive, and 160Gb HDD . whereas for £500 you can get a medion (budget brand i know) with a intel quad 6600 processor, 3Gb ram, blu-ray/HD DVD drive and a 1Tb HDD.
I dont know why anyone even considers spending roughly the same money for an inferior product. if apple dropped the prices of their macs, then i would consider buying one.

[TheYoat]

I have been running my HDTV, 5.1 Receiver, Mac Mini setup for over 3 years now (going through to Minis) and I can say you are missing some important information.

1. "Want to play songs from your iTunes library through your surround-sound rig? The Mac Mini will help you out."
The only audio output on the Mini is a stereo headphone jack. The Mini does not support surround sound - only stereo, even if you add a USB sound card that supports 5.1 audio. You can connect to a surround-sound rig but you will not get surround sound.

2. The range of the Apple wireless keyboard is pitiful. You cannot sit across the room and use it, unless your room is less than 8feet across. And I mean that at 8feet you are going to get erratic behavior at the edge of its range (false keystrokes, delays, disconnections). I have gone through 2 Apple Wireless keyboards and they are both weak - I put some blame on Bluetooth itself.
A radio-based mouse from Logitech has better, but not great, range for input.

[doug8007]

Firstly, I like the Mini as a VERY secondary machine for viewing photos, itunes and light web via living room flat panel TV. In fact, I love it for that secondary machine.

My reply is to comment that my mini has Optical out via the headphone jack which I plug into my surround rig. The optical out is very nice, my only issue with it is the little optical to headphone jack can break, but they were $10 for $3 from some online vendor.

Optical audio out on the mini is very sweet.

[mpitogo]

The MacMini in my living room currently does Elgato's eyetv HDTV, boxee and FrontRow and its doing much better than my ATV.

To address your issues
1. My MacMini (C2D 1.8GHz, 2GB, 500HDD) has optical digital out through the dual analog/digital output. WIth this output I use optical SPDF and get either PCM which is decoded by my receiver with Dolby ProLogic or if watching HD content such as broadcast TV I get Dolby Digital bitstream that the receiver then switches to and decodes. My receiver is THX Ultra2 certified.

2. Results may vary but I get a decent 25+ feet to my dining room. The Wifi and Bluetooth antennas are under the white plastic top, check to make sure you don't shield it from passing RF.

[hutchike]

The MacMini is an awesome living-room server box. I run iTunes and DVDs on it, connected up to my TV and hi-fi speakers. It's dead easy to VNC onto the box with "Chicken Of The VNC" or similar software (e.g. RealVNC) - making it a really flexible elegant setup. For me, the Mini is a way more flexible and powerful option than AppleTV. It even works well as a remote file server instead of the over-priced Time Capsule.

[bioadam]

Philosfool is right. The current Mac Mini is like the walking dead of Apple's current line of computers. It uses out-dated integrated graphics that were pathetic even when it was cutting edge tech. Graphics matter: versatile computing in 2008-2009 includes HD video and games. For a desktop copmuter, the Mac Mini is hard to upgrade. Holding back faster home networks, it also lacks Draft N wireless. Is it powerful enough? Are G4 Mac Minis powerful enough? How about the original iMac which can render web pages eventually? Usually when a product becomes out-dated, Apple pulls it from Apple's product line-up. Even if a refresh wasn't forthcoming, I would go so far as to say that the Mac Mini is the worst purchase you can make in 2008.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Wil it play Blu-Ray ?

[losangsonam]

what about music? Can MacMini handle studio-grade recording software?

[supoman]

I think if you max out the RAM a core duo mini would be adequate. With that said if you use 100 VST tracks on any system with only 2 gigs of ram it's going to crap out but I would put my money on the Mini over a similarly equipped PC.

[brucefryer]

Performance is relative. After two spectacular Windows crashes on my 5 year old machine I picked up an Apple refurb mini, 3 year Applecare and 2gigs ram (same price as new in total). Added parallels to run XP and reloaded Adobe CS3. Much more stable and to me, faster.

And here's the part I like the best. The fan *never* comes on, so it's just quiet. As for price, a decent small form factor PC costs about $700-$800 these days. I'm pleased.