Apple Mac mini unibody Mid 2011 Pro Reviews

The Mac mini with Lion Server is a real improvement on an already solid performer. In its target market (companies with up to 200 users), it is an outstanding performer and is also a capable utility server in a wide range of usage needs. The Mac mini server is not a good choice if you need hot-swappable components or redundant power supplies in a single box, but the Mac mini server's cost allows you to achieve redundancy in other ways. While the standard configuration is an attractive setup, consider paying the extra money for SSDs, since they add considerable performance for the price. The addition of Thunderbolt to the Mac mini server, as well as some timely third-party products has increased the capability of the Mac mini server far beyond that of the previous version. The lack of ECC RAM and a somewhat limited ability to remotely monitor hardware conditions are notable, but they should not stop anyone from implementing a Mac mini server. Lion Server has some issues, but as they're fixed, the Mac mini will become an even more excellent server.

With a suggested price of USD 600, the Mac mini is not a cheap computer, but it is one of the cheapest ways to get into the Mac world, even if you have to purchase a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. With the upgraded processor and new internal components, it performs well and is noticeably faster than previous versions. It is well-designed and well-made. Combined with the new OS X Lion, it makes an excellent computer. If there is any flaw in the mini, it may be that it is a little too forward-leaning. Yes, you can get most of what you want from the Internet or on a USB drive, but it may be just a bit too soon to completely eliminate the optical drive, as we feel that the average user will find this at least a bit of an inconvenience. The inclusion of the Thunderbolt port, while nice to have, is also something that may or may not be important in the future. If Apple would have included a Blu-ray player in the mini, it would have made a great media center. That said, it is an excellent computer with a very small footprint. It is portable enough to use it to watch Internet programs on an HDTV, and then move it to the den or study for more serious applications. Newbies who want to purchase the Mac mini to get into the Apple world may have to get someone knowledgeable to help them choose the right components like keyboard, mouse, and display. Once past that hurdle, the mini will serve the newbie well, just as it would serve a more seasoned user.

I’ve always liked the compact design of the Mac Mini – which is still streets ahead of most of its PC rivals – and the much stronger performance of this year’s i5 models is a welcome improvement. However, cost-cutting decisions such as the removal of the optical drive mean that the Mac Mini still seems overpriced for what is, after all, meant to be a low-cost ‘affordable’ Mac. That said, if an optical drive and gaming graphics performance are not your concerns, then the entry-level model looks a much better deal.

It's not often that Apple products take a turn for the worse when a new revision comes out, but there's no question that the design of 2010's mini is superior to the design of this guy. Sure, the revised edition is a heck of a lot more powerful and $100 cheaper, but it's in the same infelicitous spot that it's always been in: by the time you invest in a halfway decent keyboard, mouse and monitor, you're pushing $850+ for a mid-level machine with a sluggish hard drive, the bare minimum amount of RAM that we'd recommend for Lion, no USB 3.0 and no optical drive. For whatever reason, Apple's made the new mini even less useful than the last, and while a Benjamin off the sticker is appreciated, it hardly puts it in a new class in terms of value.

When I reviewed the Mid-2010 Mac mini, I called it Apple’s most versatile computer for those who didn’t need workstation-level performance. Without an optical drive, the 2011 mini may not be quite as versatile, but Core i5 processors mean that, for the first time, the mini is a serious performer—nearly twice as fast as its predecessor and comparable to some of Apple’s latest MacBook Pro models. And with FireWire 800, Thunderbolt, and a reasonably accessible hard drive, even good storage performance is an option. Of course, it’s also great to see Apple bring the price back down to $599.

The Mac mini is an interesting proposition. Without an optical drive, it's hard to recommend for use strictly as an HTPC. Not to mention, an Apple TV device can stream content well enough, and it's but $99. There's also effectively no upgradability here with the Mac Mini either. You can't easily access the hard drive, and there's clearly no room internally for any other components. There's no possibility of adding a TV tuner, for example, unless it's an external one. And Apple's lack of support for USB 3.0 means that all four of the USB ports around back are of the slower 2.0 variety. We definitely appreciate the Thunderbolt port, though; that enables easy dual-display setups, and it also gives users the ability to connect to quick storage devices should the need arise.

Unlike the new MacBook Air, the new processors in the Mac mini don’t suddenly make it a dramatically different kind of product; if the new Air with Lion represents Apple’s vision of what traditional computing should look like in 2011 and beyond, the new mini is more like a concession to the idea that perhaps not everyone else has quite caught up. It’s a tiny desktop PC that can go anywhere and hook up to nearly anything, and if that’s what you’re looking for you’ll leave extremely happy: the mini offers solid performance in a stunning case that’s unmatched in the industry. Just make sure you spring for a Magic Trackpad — and maybe a standalone Blu-ray player while you’re at it.

The Mac mini (Mid 2011) model we tested is the least expensive way of getting into the world of Macs and already offers good performance for many uses. The variety of ports is good, the Thunderbolt port should provide many opportunities in the future although you might feel the lack of USB 3.0 and eSata ports. On top of that, the wireless communication is state of the art. The case is small, of extremely high-quality and the RAM and hard drive are easy to physically access. The system noise is low relative to desktop computers and can be still reduced further by swapping out the hard drive. Nevertheless, some might be aggravated by the lack of a DVD drive and others might be appalled at the high price to pay for this sleek, compact case containing typical laptop technology.

To be sure, the Mini has its limitations: a big-box PC will still offer much more power and expansion potential for your money. But if you’re looking for a basic OS X machine, or a general-purpose low-profile desktop, the Mac Mini is an elegant, efficient and capable option.

We found the mid-2011 Mac mini, at least in 2.5GHz form, to be a very satisfying desktop computer experience. It has more than enough grunt for the typical user and runs Lion seamlessly. The new AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics even makes the new Mac mini a reasonable proposition for those whose gaming or other 3D interests go beyond Plants vs. Zombies. The leap to a Core i5 certainly now gives it enough power to keep up with Adobe's Creative Suite, HD video editing in iMovie, or other tasks that could sometimes be borderline for the older system.

With the Mac mini occupying the slot as the most affordable route to Mac ownership, it may well appeal to anyone who is looking for value for money. Being able to pair it with existing peripherals may appeal, but its price may also tempt those who want a compact and capable PC for entertainment in the living room, with the HDMI demonstrating that Apple also have this in mind.

The 2011 Apple Mac mini's Sandy Bridge processors are much more capable than the Core 2 Duos they replace, and the Thunderbolt port is sure to show its worth over time. With HDMI video-out alongside Thunderbolt, the Mac mini is still a useful media centre computer even without Front Row. Just add Plex or XBMC. But make sure you can get by without your PowerPC applications.

We expected to see faster performance from the Apple Mac mini (Mid 2010) now it's finally received the Intel Core-series upgrade. We just weren't prepared for these lab results.

In addition to being as powerful as a tower PC, the Apple Mac mini (Thunderbolt) innovates and sounds the death knell for the optical disc. Therefore the Apple Mac mini (Thunderbolt) is the new Editor's Choice for compact PCs.

The Mac Mini is the budget option – by Apple standards – and good starting place if you want to join the cult of Mac, but the lack of a disc drive is enough to rule it out for many users.

Apple's new $799 Mac Mini demands that you abandon disc-based media, and that you surround it with potentially expensive extra hardware to realize its full benefits. It makes most sense for committed Mac users, those who need it for a specific niche-case, or for those who value design over functionality for the dollar.

The slender Mac Mini gains muscle, thanks to newer Intel CPUs, but jettisons the optical drive. Whether it's a good value depends on the peripherals you already own.