As I am often away on business and take my laptop with me, my wife wanted a way of browsing the internet, sending email etc. without having to dissapear upstairs to the study - leaving the kids downstairs alone to run riot.We had recently purchases a LCD TV for the kitchen, with a PC input socket, and we wanted a basic email and web browser for we could just plug in and go. Top of our list of criteria were it had be simple, small, reliable, cheap, and with no clutter and cables everywhere.
After looking at several pared down PC's, we settled on the Mac Mini, due to the fact that it seems to be built for this kind of application. We went for the 1.4Ghz model, and upgraded the memory to 512MB as this was recommended in variuous reviews to get the best performance. We also went for the Bluetooth and Airport cards, which give wireless connectivity and networking capability. For input we chose a Microsoft Comfort wireless keyboard and mouse.
Out of the tiny box came a tiny but solid mac, built in tough aluminium and perspex, and a set of cables for power. Note no monitor cable - this would be included with your monitor - or you have to buy one for your PC ready TV. There is however an adpator for basic VGA cables used by most monitors. I followed the instructions, plugged it in to the mains, attached the monitor and keyboard, and turned it on.
Two things struck me as I turned on the mac mini:
1) How does it know that I have installed a wiresless keyboard and mouse if I can't select the setup programme on the installation disk ? (I don't have a keyboard or mouse yet!)
2) How will the mac know which monitor / tv display driver to use?
Fortunately, the wireless keyboard and mouse worked well enough to get the initial setup completed. The tv display appeared dark and flickering until we realised that the mac needs to be turned on first, then the PC, so the Mac can detect the TV and choose the right display. Another round of investigation with the wireless card setup got us online (I had my Netgear Wireless Access point set to 128 bit encryption, which meant I had to type in a 26 digit hex password!).
Getting used to the Mac operating system takes a while for users accustomed to Microsoft, but the bright colours, clear graphics and simple one-click interface soon become second nature. Performance appears very good, although we have not tried any real processor hungry aplications yet.
Of the software bundled, the internet browser (called "Safari") was easy to use and very flexible. The multi-media software included also allows us to use the mac as a DVD player, CD player and photo editor, all from the comfort of the kitchen.
Overall, the mac mini has proved to exceed our expectations, and coupled with the wireless keyboard, mouse and network, enabled us to hide away the box in a corner of the kitchen where no-one notices it. Our friends all gravitate towards the new TV in the kitchen, and when they find out what else it can do we find it difficult to tear them away - everyone wants one now.
This truly is a "non bedroom / study" computer, small enough to fit anywhere, flexible enough to work with your existing peripherals, and useable enough to get working with straight out of the box.
I would highly recommend as a multi-media, email and web browsing box for "public areas" such as living rooms and kitchens, particularly if you have a TV with a VGA/DVI input.
A truly viable alternative to a PC.
This is the mac that is small enough to fit in your hand yet more powerfull than a whole pc tower.I have always had a pc but this gaget alowes you to recycle your pc keyboard,mouse and moniter instead of repacing them with mac ones.Best of all this is power on the go.It is so simple to take with you and plug in.But, for the really stylish,the mac mini has built in bluetooth which means you can connect it wirelessly to bluetooth keybords and mice anywhere or even intergrate it with your bluetooth phone.
It already has the components for wireless internet already installed in it so all you need is a receiver on the wall and wireless broadband is easy.
Mac mini's smooth,stylish design is a pleasure to have on any desk.Not only is the smallest computor ever made, it is also probly the most powerfull.
It is the mac for a pc user.
It could make all pcs obsilite.
it's great!!!!
