Apple Mac mini (2014) Pro Reviews

There are two types of users who are ideal fits for the refreshed Mac Mini. The first is anyone desiring a compact system running OS X Yosemite (and Apple's nifty bundled apps such as iPhoto, iMovie, Pages, and Keynote), and the second is a Windows user who finds him- or herself feeling platform-curious. If you're in the latter category, the Mini's low starting price makes it far easier to justify pitching a tent in Apple's camp than the proposition of obtaining a much pricier iMac or MacBook model. Save one of those systems for a second purchase, should you decide to stick around in Apple's ecosystem for a spell. Regardless of where you're coming from, you'll find the Mac Mini a fast and capable compact with a couple of odd omissions. The latter start with the lack of quad-core processor options and continue with the inability to upgrade components. The only way to compensate for these restrictions is to configure a higher-end Mini at time of purchase, but as we've seen, that can get pricey pretty quickly. There's also the inability to run at 4K resolution and 60Hz. Taken separately, each of these is a relatively minor annoyance, but they add up to a bit of a buzzkill after waiting two years for a refresh.

Apple's latest tiny desktop computer, the Mac mini, is in top form thanks to its excellent build quality, scads of connectivity options, good selection of preloaded software, and a really nice price.