Apple Mac mini MA608LL/A (1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

Apple MA608LL/A Mac mini Desktop Computer - Apple is known around the world for its innovative computer design, and with the Mac mini they give you a powerful desktop computer in a case that's roughly the size of a lunchbox. But this is the best looking lunchbox you've ever seen, with its sleek, anodized aluminum enclosure, slot-loading optical drive and an array of ports on the rear section that makes cable management a breeze. Inside the Mac mini, you'll find a powerful Intel Core Duo Processor 1.83GHz, 512MB of PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM, a 80GB SATA Hard Drive, and much more. 80GB 5400RPM SATA HDD Slot-Loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive - (write speeds) up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R, & 16x CD-RW Slot-Loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive - (read speeds) up to 8x DVD-ROM & 24x CD-ROM Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with 64MB of shared memory (memory is shared with the main system) Ports - 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 1 FireWire 400, 4 USB 2.0, 1 DVI Out, 1 VGA Out (w/ included adapter), 1 S-Video and Composite Video Out, combined Optical Digital Audio In/Audio Line In, and Combined Optical Digital Audio Out/Headphone Out Built-in Speakers Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter 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.

Customer Reviews:

Yah, it's pretty fast
I had the old "single" banger Mac Mini which I sold off because it felt like a toy and was a bit slow -- although I appreciated Mac OS X for sure.

My 2 GHz PC finally cooked from one too many viruses so it was definitely time to switch over to the mac.

Okay, in comparison to the old 1.5 Ghz single banger, the duo definitely feels faster. It fees faster than my old 2Ghz PC for sure. Now the mac mini has some life!

Other than that, I appreciate the additional firewire and USB ports which were definitely a constraint on the old mac mini.

The new core duo apparently does not have a dedicated graphics board, so I thought the graphics would be remiss. Well, I'm using a nice Samsung 19 inch monitor but I don't think the graphics looks too much diffferent, but maybe I'd give a slight edge to the old mac mini.

However, I much more appreciate the speed rather than worry about the graphics so much.

Installation went off without a hitch and the Airport wireless immediately showed four bars which means its working great - as I knew it would. I've helped install Mac Mini's at other people's houses and I've always been impressed wiith the reliabliity and pick up of the Airport built in wireless.

Okay, now I'm getting ready to siintall Office Mac which is better than the PC version in my opinion.

I'm using this machine as my basic web surfing and email machine, so I don't have to worry about VIRUSES.

My PC laptop will be my serious web development workhorse.

I haven't tried the little remote yet. Not even sure what I can use it for, but it looks tasty.

All in all, I'd say the Core Duo is a big step up from the single banger mini, and comparable in speed to any reasonably hopped up PC.

Of course I opted for the one gig of memory, and a 120gb hard drive.

Highly Recommended! Yaah Hooo!
--2006-12-13

surprisingly delightful
this is my first mac. my PC broke and i didn't want to hassle with it anymore so i took the chance and bit into the apple.

i already have a nice sony monitor so i purchased the mini (with 1g RAM) and the wireless keyboard and mouse. i've had my mini for a week and love it.

it was easy to set up right out the box. my network was recognized and i was doing basic stuff like surfing the internet, working with pictures, and using iTunes without a problem. i was pleasantly surprised to find inexpensive 3rd party apps and was doing fun stuff like ripping dvd's to my iPod and downloading from usenet. i have had no problems playing any movie from my huge avi collection.

overall this is just a nice system to work and play on. it seems fast compared to my PC (Windows XP, pentium IV @ 3g with 2000 RAM) and has the feel of a modern computer.

i am giving it 4 stars since music is really important to me and i was initially freaking out in regards to audio quality. it just didn't sound as good as the music from my PC (which had a soundblaster audio card). so i purchased the soundblaster XFi and that helped some. still disapointed i further experimented and then tried turning down the system sound (i now have mine about 25%) and let the amp in my bose companion 3 speakers do the work. this made my music sound sweet and was a big relief. i am picky though, so if you think mp3's encoded @ 128k sound OK then audio probably won't be an issue.

so i just like this thing!! i have the mini with OS X and a toshiba qosmio running XP; the mini is just more pleasant to use.

--2006-11-16

Mediocre at best
I expected something better from Apple, which generally has a reputation for outstanding products. Yet, I feel with my Mac Mini, they messed up. Sure, the mini looks slick. But it runs (almost unbearably) slow at times. Simple tasks like playing video clips can turn into a real headache. And don't even contemplate having more than three applications open at once; most likely the little machine will lock up.

The Mini can be considered acceptable to very casual computer users, who will probably not use the computer too often. It just isn't cut out for competition with the big boys.
--2006-11-15

MACTABULOUS!!!
For all those people who are concerned about space restrictions and want a powerhouse computer that will not need a large footprint, the Mac Mini is the perfect solution. Packing a boatload of power into a computer yay bigger than a coaster, there is no better power/space combination in the entire computing world!

For all the Windows users who don't want to make the switch to the Mac, with the newest Mac OS you will not look back once you get used to the ways that Apple does things the way they are SUPPOSED to be done.

As per usual Apple, the design of the Mac Mini is perfect, and it's so quiet that your own heartbeat will no doubt be louder than this quiet monster.

If you need a solid family computer that will allow you to surf the net, work with spreadsheets, check e-mail, or just do 99% of the things that you would like to be doing (I don't say 100% because it's not a gaming machine), pick up a Mac Mini for your home office, kitchen, ANYWHERE and you will NOT be disappointed!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
--2006-10-18

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