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Apple Mac mini MA205LL/A (1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, DVD-ROM/CD-RW Drive) | List Price: $549.99
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Brand: Apple
Binding: Personal Computers
Features: - 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor with 167 MHz system bus
- 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM (expandable to 2 GB), 60 GB hard drive, and slot-loading Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
- One FireWire 400 port; four USB 2.0 ports; DVI output; VGA output (using included adapter); S-video and composite video output
- Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit), built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11g); and built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module
- Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger, iLife '06, and Front Row software included
Not That Great [Posted on 2006-04-27]
I recently posted a positive review after first receiving my Mac Mini dual core. I retract most of what I said. Now I have buyer's remorse and I'm starting to look at this thing as an expensive paper weight.
At times it is soooo slooooowww that I feel like I'm using a Mac Classic again. I have been a big fan of Apple ever since my first home computer, an Apple IIe. This model, however, is a dog and I'm surprised Apple released such a bug ridden product.
I frequently experience program crashes - even with Apple software such as Safari. The Print Manager at times will take off as a runaway process that eats up 110% of CPU resources according to Activity Monitor. 110% ?
Once, I quit ITunes and the program seemed to quit. However, it would reappear for no apparent reason. This happend repeatedly and even a Force Quit did nothing.
I would recommend waiting for the next release after Apple has fixed the problems with the machine. If you just want to surf and email, then ok. If you want to do more than this, well caveat emptor.
My first mac! [Posted on 2006-04-30]
I am a Windows network engineer who has always been scared of the MAC. well, I love this thing, hope to see more of you windows folks joining me soon :)
Power management problems / Crazy re-booting thing [Posted on 2006-06-17]
I bought the new top of the line Core Duo and had 1 ghz RAM installed when I purchased the thing at Comp USA.
It has been nothing but headaches so far after recording a full band (using Apple's new Logic software) and having the unit restart every 5 to 20 minutes for the last month! I'm returning it tomorrow. Trust me, if you need a workhorse of a computer, this is not it. It just looks cool.
Am I in a horror film? [Posted on 2006-07-25]
I must begin by asking Amazon to provide a "zero star" rating, and to please discontinue carrying the apple brand. I have owned Apple computers all the way back to the IIe. I will NEVER buy an Apple computer again, mark my words.
I bought a Mac Mini Solo on March 18, 2006 at MacMall. After a couple of weeks I started experiencing very strange crashes, not your typical freezes, but very peculiar frightening kind of crashes. At times the computer would simply lock down, but then it started flickering the screen with thin, horizontal blocks of random colors, sometimes I would get the "kernel panic message" which is a message in which the OS dims the screen and displays a big "power button icon" and the message "you now have to restart your computer by holding down the power key". Sometimes, the computer would simply not start up, and would forever wait on a black screen, even though the power led would be on. Sometimes at startup the CR ROM would begin a back and forth frenzy, and nothing would happen. This was the new "greatest" apple.
So, after a couple of these, I contacted apple, being that we all get the 'complementary three month Apple"S"care plan'. They began by giving me the typical rundown, beginning by DiskRepair, etc. After the fourth call or so, the instructed me to completely re-install the system. I did basically everything they told me even though I was fairly convinced that the problem lied elsewhere (did I forget to mention I am a Computer Engineer?) but I followed every step of every instruction, once before I had been 'disconnected' for trying to suggest an alternate plan, back when they tried to deny me access to a logic board replacement plan. After everything else had failed, I was instructed to take it to a repair center. I quietly complied. At the time I disconnected the computer, I noticed a crack running in the back of the case of the computer. The computer had never been dropped by me, and I personally installed it on my desk, so where could this crack have come from? I immediately called the again, and was instructed to take it back to the reseller (MacMall). At the MacMall store the manager told me that they had a no return policy, but I was welcome to leave the computer for a repair, aggravated, I told him that I had payed for a brand new computer, and I had gotten one with a cracked case. He insinuated that the case might have been broken by me while trying to install some additional memory (remember I'm a Computer Engineer, I design digital circuits, I can certainly pop a freaking case open if I wanted to, but at any rate I wouldn't do it, I get mighty well payed, well enough to spring for the $40 needed to pay for a dude to co this for me). At this moment I was already speaking with apple care, after a lot of arguing they agreed to replace anything that needed replacing, including the case. "You will get a new computer, only we can't just get you a new one" the AppleCare person said. I accepted the terms (I didn't really have a choice), and walked away with a grin on my face.
About a week later I got the computer back, and it seemed to work fine. I was in the process of moving overseas, so the "new old computer" came just in time to be put in my suitcase to be welcomed in French the next time out. I got to my new place, wired everything up and worked for a while. A couple of days into it, it happened again!! Now my complementary Apple"S"care plan is over, I'm supposed to pay to get the service again even though this is the exact same problem I had been experiencing before!! This piece of junk crashes an average of 5 times a day, and it is doing it in exactly the same way as before.
Bottom line: You will get the shaft. Apple has been cutting down the prices on it's products by slashing warranties (and charging you for it later), and downgrading their quality assurance. When I pay for something I expect it to work, and a cool "we're sorry, but that's your problem" doesn't cut it. I'm amazed at how the brand has changed from a professional grade product to a teenage oriented cool world of MacGeniuses and MacProduct specialists.
And just in case: the Intel processors are not 'superior'. They are a non-scalable 32-bit architecture. Ever wonder why it is that there is no G5 substitute out there yet? Because there isn't one, they can't make something to compete with the monster based on these little chipmunk chips. Faster? nah, I bought the solo so I wouldn't get bogged down with the incompatibilities that will no doubt start to surface with every system upgrade, but I know microprocessor architecture theory well enough to understand that there is no absolute test for speed, specially if you cripple the performance of the old G4 by feeding it code 'optimized' for two chips.
Don't buy Apple products. This is a freaking nightmare .
A Geek Surprised [Posted on 2006-08-21]
I have been a staunch PC person for years, but not necessarily a Microsoft supporter. So anyway, I get this Mac Mini on a whim to see how close to Linux the new OS is. I had no idea how cool this little Mac would be. It sounds "underpowered" in the Windows world, but it runs great! The software is great to use, and it's just full of bells and whistles. AND it took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to port Linux applications to it, and now I can run all my favorite Linux apps on it. The operating system is very polished and full of great feautures! Thanks Apple!
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