At a Glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Adequate memory
- Fast enough for basic tasks
- Excellent design
- Small and light
- Decent value
- Good video-out options
Cons
- No audio-in port
- No DVD burner, not even as a build-to-order option
Our Verdict
Apple’s least expensive Mac ships without a mouse, display, or keyboard. But it does feature a G4 processor, up to 80GB of storage depending on configuration, and a slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive. In July 2005, Apple doubled the installed memory to 512MB across the mini line.
Despite its slightly aging hardware and the fact that it still doesn’t have an audio-in port or a built-in microphone, the Mac mini is still the best entry-level Mac. Doubling the installed RAM on this lowest-priced configuration to 512MB is a welcome change.