Review : Mac Mini

> Buy Date : August 2007
> From : iStore, Sec 18, Noida, U.P, India
> Price : INR 35000
> Connectivity:
# Keyboard : Apple Bluetooth Keyboard

# Mouse : Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
# Display : Samsung 40" HDTV Series 5
# Wifi Network Router : Apple Airport Express
# Digital Audio : Connected to a Yamaha Receiver through Optical Cable
# External Storage : Western Digital "My Book" 500 GB

I am not sure if you have ever heard of the concept BYOKDM. Better learn it, cause that is what Apple wants you to do with the Mac Mini. Bring Your Own Keyboard, Display and Mouse. For the dough put in, you don't get anything else. Typically, I would have bought it from US, where it costs about INR 24000 for the same model, but it so happens that I am every Gadget Manufacturing company's "ideal" impulse buyer, and yes, this was an impulsive buy. I walked thrice by the iStore, trying to convince myself that I am just going inside to have a look, just look. Guys, the Mini is IRRESISTIBLE. One look and I was hers. Here is my review of my favt. gadget...

> Positives :
# Oomph Factor, Size, Looks
# MAC OS (Safe, Secure, Ease of Use). I have been using it for near to 2 years and not a single instance of Virus issues or Fatal Crashes, and the OS loadup time is always near half minute.
# No BSOD (Blue Screen of Death - The famous screen Windows OS gives when it gives up)
# Compatibility for Windows XP & Vista through Bootcamp (though I wonder why anyone would use Windows on the Mac). For test purposes, I loaded Vista with just 256MB of RAM and I was surprised to see the Mini load Visa desktop with Aero interface. I am not aware of a desktop that can do that with just integrated graphics and 256MB RAM
#A1 Quality components
# Optical Output and input (Needs an adapter)
# Excellent Upscaler for standard DVDs : If you have a Full HDTV and you have standard DVDs, the Mini's DVD player upscales the video resolution to match that to the HDTV's resolution. Read my Gadget Glossary for technical terms and their meanings

> Negatives :
# Does not support >2gb of Ram
# Can't add and PCI based Add On cards
# Graphics, though decent, are still not enough for applications that require
# Price Premium that you pay for the Brand & the Product

The reason for me buying the product in India was that I was of the opinion that the Mini, like other Desktop computers would need frequent Hardware repairs and that I would need the support of the Apple Technical Executives in India for any trouble that I face. I got my answer ten minutes after my purchase when I asked them for Optical connectivity to the Mac. They said they had never heard about any such device, though they knew from the Apple Specifications that the Mini supports Optical connections. I had to buy the cable and the adaptor from US.
Also, the store told me that I can upgrade my Mini's 256MB RAM to any limit. I bought 2 modules of 2gb each later from the US and found to my surprise that I can only upgrade to a max of 2 GB and one of my Ram modules went waste. The Mini's RAM can be upgraded by the user himself. Ping me, if you need instructions.

The Mini can easily win your hearts. If you have parents who have a phobia with Computers, the Mini IS for them. For HT enthusiasts, it can serve as an excellent Media server and with it's excellent Graphics, it is sure to raise many Sighs!!!