Hands-off analysis of Apple's new Mac Minis
We can't claim to have even seen Apple's updated Mac Minis, let alone reviewed them, but we can still form a few opinions of the updated specs and the addition of an OS X Server version to the Mac Mini line-up.
To recap, Apple updated the CPU, default RAM, and hard-drive capacities of both its $599 and $799 Mac Minis earlier today. The Core 2 Duo chip in the $599 Mac Mini goes from 2.0GHz to 2.26GHz, the RAM doubles from 1GB of RAM to 2GB, and the hard drive jumps from a 120GB to a 160GB model. The $799 Mac Mini gets a bigger performance boost with its Core 2 Duo chip going from 2.0GHz to 2.53GHz. Its RAM also doubles from 2GB to 4GB, but its hard drive stays the same size.
The hands on this photo? Not ours.
(Credit: Apple)When we review Macs, we like to pretend we live in a world where computers are tools, where we can be operating system agnostic, and where we appreciate, but stop short of fetishizing, good design. Under those assumptions, and based purely on its specs, we have concerns with the price of both new Mac Minis next to competing small scale Windows-based PCs.
Gateway's SX2800-01, and systems like it, could give the new Mac Minis some stiff competition.
(Credit: CNET/Sarah Tew)We'll withhold judgment until we can actually test the new Mac Minis, but our hunch is that Gateway's $459, Core 2 Quad-based SX2800-01 slim tower would outperform or come close enough to either new Mac Mini in processing typical workloads. The benefits of the smaller Mac Mini case may also have a hard time competing with the Gateway's versatility that comes from an HDMI output and its upgrade options. We also expect more competitive small PCs to come out over the next few weeks as the holiday buying season continues.
Even if the standard Mac Minis do compete well on performance, the server iteration of the Mac Mini is more interesting, and we credit Apple for listening to a specialized portion of the Mac Mini's current user base. For $999, Apple will now sell you a Mac Mini that essentially mirrors the new $799 model, except that instead of OS X you get OS X Server, and the DVD burner has been replaced by a second hard drive, for 1TB of storage overall. The price might be more than the DIY crowd will tolerate, but any small workgroup environment that might benefit from an out-of-the-way traffic cop it can plug in and forget could very likely be interested in what the Mac Mini Server has to offer.
With luck, we'll get our hands on all three versions soon.
On Sale Now: $979.99 - $999.00
View the latest prices for Apple Mac Mini with Snow Leopard Server (2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1TB, Fall 2009)
On Sale Now: $758.95 - $769.99
View the latest prices for Apple Mac Mini (2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 320GB, Fall 2009)
On Sale Now: $574.94 - $579.99
View the latest prices for Apple Mac Mini (2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 160GB, Fall 2009)
Rich Brown reviews desktops and various other components and peripherals for CNET. E-mail Rich. 
Here is a real quick comparison using a business of 12 people:
Microsoft Small Business Server (includes 5 CALS) $1089.00 MSRP (Source: http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/pricing.aspx)
Additional CALS (per 5) $385.00 x 2 = $770.00 for a total of 15 CALS which covers the 12 employees (http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/pricing.aspx)
Server to run SBS $733 for a Dell Inspiron 537s (Source: http://ecomm.dell.com/dellstore/)
Grand Total: $2592.00
Apple:
Mac Mini including OX Server: $1098 including external DVD drive (Source: http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC408LL/A?mco=MTMzNzU5Nzc)
Licenses: Unlimited (Source: http://www.apple.com/macmini/server/)
Grand Total: $1098.00
This of course does not include workstations. This is strictly comparing two servers and the "Legal" licensing costs per user. "Software is licensed for evaluation purposes only?not for use in production environments. TechNet Plus subscriptions include the most recent Microsoft software version. Visit Microsoft Software License Terms for details on your use rights for evaluation software and other components of the TechNet Subscription product." (source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/subscriptions/ms788692.aspx).
So, here's the bottom line: If you want to be legal, and I am assuming you want to be since you have a subscription to technet and aren't downloading pirated software, then it would cost you an extra $1494 to have windows server and about the same capabilities as OS X Server. Let's for argument sake take out the cost of the PC for SBS, and you are still dishing out an additional $761.00 over the cost of the Mini including OS X Server. Do the research, do the math. Why did I chose SBS as the edition to use? It comes with Exchange, Firewall ISA, AD, etc, ensuring that you are running a comparable server to OS X (Includes E-mail services, Firewall, Web Hosting, etc.)
This of course is the breakdown for a small workgroup environment. As for home, you can probably get away with using Technet as a "Test" environment for evaluation, but even that might be sketchy.
I am in no way shape or form trying to say that OS X server is better than Microsoft Server, hell, MS is used in most businesses. I Personally like the robustness of a good Novell server, but it's just to illustrate that the comment made about using his technet subscription and his cost of $299 to run a server environment is ludicrous.
i have gone through every transition of Windows, so I know what it takes to adapt to a new OS from Microsoft. But after using Vista for 2 years, I have had it.
The Mac Mini is the most affordable Mac of the ENTIRE line and comes with the substantially more stable Mac OS. In fact, I have even been using my PS3 with Linux, which is a whole lot more stable and faster than Vista.
So, as far as Windows machines being "comparable"... Windows 7 isn't going to fool me - I've paid the price of being an early adopter.
Having used a Mac Mini for the last 2 months (my girlfriend's), I am now convinced (as opposed to just thinking about it) to making the switch to Mac.
I would recommend the Mac to anyone who's not a big computer gamer (since most of the games released are for Windows), since Mac handles everything else so well...
Of course, since OS X is a huge value-added leverage to Apple hardware, I understand why you want to insist that operating systems be removed from the equation.
Still trying to understand the appeal of the Mac Mini.
But i know you haven't forgot because the Gateway would "outperform or come close enough to either new Mac Mini in processing typical workloads." You are giving the Mac quite the benefit of the doubt by suggesting that the Mac, with the slower clock speed and down 2 cores, might "come close enough" to matching the gateway in processing workloads?!?! There is no doubt that the gateway, with 2x the RAM, would thoroughly beat any computing number the Mac could put up. Enough with the mac bias....
And "double the ram!"? What a joke. They upped it from 1GB standard to 2GB standard, and yet they are still lagging behind the rest of the computing world, where most cheap computers (like the gateway) come with 3 to 4 GB standard. RAM is dirt cheap these days, but apparently not as cheap as apple.
And yup, the Gateway is cheaper, but it also has a dog of a video chip and no WiFi. The Mac Mini has WiFi and the GeForce 9400M. You can make up for the WiFi and video chip in the Gateway because it's expandable, just like you can make up for the Mac Mini's puny hard drive with external/networked storage. But I'd argue that budget buyers especially might hesitate to crack the Gateway open, so out of the box the Mac Mini has a few advantages.
I expect accusations will fly every time I type the word "Apple," and I try to stay as fair as I can. I also don't want to judge any system before I've tested it, so yes, I leave the door open to the possibility that the Mac Mini might surprise me. But friend, don't tell me I don't love that Gateway.
- by BMC Tackle December 4, 2009 9:42 PM PST
- I LOVE my Mac Mini. I opted for the smaller of the Macs because I already had a recently purchased monitor, and it made no sense to get the IMac. I got my mini with the larger hardrive, and the 4 gb memory pack. I included the IWorks software, which I needed for my word docs. This past week I just added QuickBooks PRO 2010 and now I have the MacDaddy computer to run my business as well as develop new features, graphics, videos, and mp3s for my internet business. I am super pleased with my purchase, which was a grand total of $825.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(24 Comments)The mini is fast and easy to use. The prepackaged software that came with the computer has proven to be sufficient for my needs. The photo software and the video software does the job for me. I have been able to make changes to my pictures as well as edit my product videos. Prior to purchasing the computer I thought I would have to get software that was a tad more sophisticated, however that has not been the case. FIleZilla FTP, and a host of other internet development tools work well on the Mac. There is plenty of internet, as well as utilities, widgets, etc. Download.com is an excellent resource, as is the rest of Cnet. I never buy any electronic device without getting input from this site and the visitors who post their opinions here. I am elated that I am able to recommend the Mac Mini with zero reservations.
Three years ago I paid way more than $825 for a Dell, and got a goat in exchange for a cow. Even the Toshiba Bluetooth software, and other programs expired after a year! I will never go back to PC again. I do have a Linux OS running on a 3rd computer, but I find the Mac to be much better than my Linux machine. Apple has done their homework over the years, I am just very SORRY that I didn't make this move much much sooner.