Apple Mac mini MB139LL/A (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

Ok, first of, I LOVE apple & their products. I own the original Mac Mini 1.25 GHz motorola G4, & iPod nano, an iPod video, & an iPod touch. But let me tell you, this here is the worst product from apple I have ever purchased. It is CONSTANTLY crashing, even though I have all up-to-date software. Apple made a HUGE mistake switching 2 Intel. Personally, I prefer my old one 2 this.

I fell bad about writing a poor review 4 this item, because I have NEVER had a problem with an Apple product until this.

This is my second Mac Mini. My first one still works great, never had a problem with it ever, despite upgrading the original memory & clumsily performing a delicate overclocking operation that brought me up 2 1.5Ghz on the old CPU. Still, my old Mac Mini kept on ticking. Never crashed once in over 3 & 1/2 years. Not once. Never once had any issues or problems at all. I just wanted the Intel Core 2 Duo chip & all of the new software (Leopard). I love this new Mac Mini ... much faster at 2.0 Ghz with the Intel Core 2 Duo chip. I sincerely recommend buying an upgrade 2 the stock memory from 1G 2 4G, 4 around $80, since this Mac Mini shares system memory with the video card. It greatly increases the speed of virtually everything. Some people have said the 4Gig upgrade 2 the Mac Mini is a waste because it will only recognize 3.5 Gig of the memory. Nonsense. I installed the 4 Gig & my system profiler shows 4 Gig available, installed, & functioning properly. Awesome speed & power. Can now run Windows XP in Parallels faster than on a PC. I also recommend buying a NewTech MiniStack external drive accessory, because it give you a bunch of extra firewire & USB ports.

The aluminum casing feels strong, & the plastic cover is glossy yet it doesn't seem 2 show that it gathers too much fingerprints. On the bottom of the Mac Mini is a large rubber grip that's just about the size of the bottom itself. It helps quite a bit should an excess of rocking should happen, that you won't have 2 worry about it slipping off & falling.

One of the few gripes I have with the Mac Mini so far in my few days of owning one is the location of the USB ports. They are located bottom left on the backside of the mini. Now they are placed in a spot where it won't intrude on the overall aesthetics of the mini, but the location of the audio cable is just above the four USB ports. Someone with larger fingers might have a little bit of trouble should there be a need 2 take a USB accessory out 4 whatever purpose. Then again, it could just be some getting used to.

The superdrive is quite noisy at first & there is a bit of a hum when its running. It's completely understandable considering it's less than an inch of being exposed if it wasn't 4 the mini's casing. My only worry is about how hot the disc gets after even a little bit of use.

I'm mostly a writer, so when buying this, I wanted a word processor & I knew that a good one wouldn't be installed on it beforehand. I also gave a try at iWork '08 with it being only $79 instead of $149.95 4 Office 2008 4 Mac - Home & Student Edition. With that I'm glad about the purchase, it didn't take too much trouble getting used 2 it. As a writer, I've hundreds of books lying around both on my desk, & whatever spot can hold a few books. So the small footprint of the mini also persuaded me 2 buy it.

I could have went 4 a slimlime tower that some PC manufacturers offer such as what HP offers. I could have got one 4 more than half the price of what the mini costs. However I dislike the possibility of a virus attack while doing research online. Reading up on 15+ tabs of websites, there was always a possibility of a virus attack. With Mac OS X, I've little worry 4 any sort of malicious attacks.

A plus side with the built-in speaker is I could listen 2 music without having 2 attach any speakers or use my current built-in speakers on my lcd screen. They aren't strong speakers, but 4 being at a desk, it certainly does it's duty.

For me, I'll take the added security & the small footprint of the Mac Mini.

This is my first Apple product since the original Apple computer that was my introduction 2 computers in the early eighties. What a nice change from win computers. No installation crashes--no glitches at all.

I purchased the Mac Mini 2 connect 2 a Samsung 46 inch LCD TV 4 the living room. Connected 2 an Apple wireless keyboard/mouse combo (more kudos on the Apple design here as well), I can connect 2 the internet with a BIG monitor & switch back 2 viewing normal TV without leaving the comfort of my recliner.

The Mac Mini is sleek, quiet & unobtrusive. Though pricier than other options 4 small footprint computers from HP (and a new one from Dell), the change from a windows computer has been a breeze, & the error free performance has been refreshing. I still have my Gateway in the other room & have set up wireless networking 4 connecting 2 the outside world. I am still adding programs & exploring the Mac. So far, not a single regret.

I will eventually add a tuner card, probably & Elgato product, & a separate mass storage device. Looks like I have finally found the best alternative 4 me 4 both normal computing & home entertainment.

Let me start first-off that product loyalty is important 2 me. Marketers love me. When something impresses me with quality, I stick with it.

I made the switch. I still hate the commercials, but I love my new, fast, ready-to-get-to-work computer & if you'll allow me, take you on the journey I took 2 get here.

My last Windows computer died of natural causes last week. It's not the first Windows PC that did that 2 me, but this time it was *different*. For months I knew it was barely chugging 2 the next day, but I kept crossing my fingers every time I hit the "ON" button. It was old, obsolete & completely not worth upgrading, but I stuck with it because I loved Windows XP & the familiar wheeze of an old machine coming back 2 life. I've had many computers & started with MS-DOS & made the trip all the way through Windows 95, 98, 2000, & XP. I am not a Microsoft hater. I like their products & appreciate their contribution 2 personal computing.

I built PCs & considered myself a decent techie. Until Vista. I hate Vista. The bloat, the driver situation, & the lack of compelling reasons 2 upgrade 2 an OS told me that this was not an improvement over XP. I searched 4 an XP loaded machine (computers are so cheap now, building one from scratch was out of the question) & came up with some choices that sucked less than others, but nothing 2 my satisfaction. Again, I could build one as a project but I needed one 4 work & remembered the last nightmare I had mounting a RAID array 4 a gaming computer & have been on the wagon since then. That project was like a DoD contract that went overbudget & overboard very, very quickly.

Finally I stopped by the local Apple store & found this odd looking napkin boxed shaped "computer" called the Mac Mini & laughed. Was that a toy? Does a Kleenex come out of it? Ok, I said 2 myself. I'll be thorough. So, I took a test drive, fully expecting 2 walk away with a snarky comment on the Mac Mini. I opened the applications & had no idea what I was fooling with, but soon got into the groove & found myself spending serious time with the applications. The Mac staff (I think they were called "Geniuses"?) kept coming buy trying 2 sell me a computer, but I wanted 2 keep on test driving it, opening up the applications & doing my best 2 fend off other people looking over my shoulder.

When I left, I could hear the collective sigh of the "Geniuses," & came back later. I wanted a Mac Mini & wanted them 2 add 1 GB of RAM. I wasn't happy that they discouraged you from doing this on your own & apparently you void your warranty 4 even trying 2 open the box. Fine. I had a spare monitor & compatible pointing device at home. I'd need a Mac Bluetooth keyboard & got one (see my other review).

A week later I am happily integrating my Apple mail program with web mail & installing Firefox. Safari is a nice Apple Internet browser, but not my cup of coffee. I like Firefox more. I picked up the Missing Sync application 4 my Pocket PC PDA & found drivers 4 my printer & scanner. I downloaded OpenOffice.org 2 replace MS Office, which I had already been phasing out of my life. Google Documents is also part of my toolbox, so "cloud computing" is already something I am comfortable with doing. For desktop publishing, I armed myself with a new copy of Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro & was ready 2 go 2 work.

Within a few days I was back in business. My dead HP laptop lies in state in a box awaiting scavenging. Maybe it will lie there forever like Chairman Mao or Lenin or like Countrywide Financial Corporation's Living Mummy/CEO Angelo Mozilo.

I can also imagine that someday it will find itself atop a pile collected by WALL-E. I won't be there, I'll be dead & happy that I walked into a pretentious looking Mac store one sweltering summer afternoon with a low expecations & left with a little white plastic bag holding a 3 lb. computer only a few hours later (it took 1.5 hours 4 them 2 install the extra GB). Yes, it is worth installing that 1 GB.

The Mac Mini features the powerful 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It has two cores, so it's like having two 2.0GHz processors in one! Another great feature is the suite of applications in iLife '08. A full-featured collection of programs that are designed 2 let you easily take control of your creative projects. iPhoto organizes your digital pics, & has a cool feature that groups them by event. iWeb makes it easy 2 create your own website. iMovie & iDVD lets you edit your videos & make your own DVD movies. GarageBand gives you the tools 2 make your own music, & even start your own virtual band! All of this & more is packed inside a svelt & stylish 6.5" body that can fit anywhere! 2 RAM Slots (occupied) 120GB 5400RPM SATA HDD Slot-loading SuperDrive with Double-Layer Support - writes 2 DVD+R & DVD-R DL up 2 2.4x, writes 2 DVD-R & DVD+R up 2 8x, writes 2 DVD-RW & DVD+RW up 2 4x, reads DVDs up 2 8x, writes 2 CD-Rs up 2 24x, & writes 2 CD-RWs up 2 16x Intel GMA 950 Graphics Processor with 64MB of shared memory (memory is shared with the main system) Ports - 1 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 1 Firewire 400 (8 watts), 4 USB 2.0, 1 DVI Out, 1 VGA Out (using included adapter) Built-in Speakers Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi 802.11g wireless network card Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module Unit Dimensions - 2 (h) x 6.5 (w) x 6.5 (d) Unit Weight - 2.9 lbs.