Apple Mac mini (Core 2 Duo Processor 2.0GHz; 120GB HDD)

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Apple breathed fresh air into its line of Mac Mini, whose specs haven't changed since an update in August 2007. With this S$988 (US$711.41) model, Apple adds significantly improved Nvidia graphics, a new 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and a larger hard drive. Those changes are welcome, and we're also impressed by the Mac Mini's power efficiency as well as its ability to handle multiple programs at once. We still take issue with the Mac Mini's overall value. The Mac Mini remains a distinctive-looking computer and it has more than a few useful features. We can easily imagine it in a light duty work role. But if your goal for a lower-cost desktop is core hardware bang for the buck, you're better off with a more well-rounded Windows system.

Editors' note :

This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.com. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. References made to some of other products in this review may not be available or applicable in Asia. Please check directly with your local distributor for details.

Design And Features

In terms of design, there's not much here for fans of the previous Minis to get excited about. The case is made of the same aluminum housing and white plastic top, and the only minor differences in the rear panel are an additional USB port (bumping the total up to five), a single FireWire 800 port, a Mini DVI input, and Mini DisplayPort input. That display standard change is actually significant because it lets the Mac Mini support two displays for the first time. The internal hardware is also powerful enough to drive a 30-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 LCD.

At the moment, Apple's 24-inch LED Cinema Display is the only monitor that will connect to a Mini DisplayPort input without an adapter. A mini DVI-to-single-link DVI adapter comes in the Mac Mini box, and Apple sells a variety of other adapters for both inputs, with prices starting from S$34 (US$24.48).

	Apple Mac Mini (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 120GB)	Acer Aspire X1700-U3700A
Price	S$988 (US$711.41)	US$480
CPU	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo	2.4GHz Intel Pentium Dual CPU E2220
Memory	1GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM	4GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Graphics	128MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics integrated graphics chip	128MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce G100 integrated graphics chip
Hard drives	120GB, 5,400rpm	640GB, 7,200rpm
Optical drive	Dual-layer DVD burner	Dual-layer DVD burner
Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n wireless networking, Bluetooth	10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN
Operating system	Mac OS X v10.5.6	Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit)