Apple Mac mini M9686LL/B (1.25 GHz Power PC G4, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

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

I'm a long time Windows user, but liked the elegance of Macs and was keen to try something that "just works" as the sales pitch goes.
We'll the Mac Mini is a mixed bag. It makes a great table ornament, and it's great to marvel at what is a masterpiece of design and innovation.
But I was hoping for more than that.
There are pro's to this machine.
1. It comes with heaps of bundled software. However, you're going to get much the same functionality with Windows and any piece of software bundled with hardware that you might buy (eg. DV cameras etc.)
2. OS X is quite elegant in its design.

But there are major cons. I'm not sure whether this is because the machine is underpowered, or whether Apples are just not as good as the zealots might claim:
1. It crashes! Far, far more than Windows XP. Occasionally it's a turn-the-computer-off situation, but usually it's just an application crashing, often an Apple application. I think XP is more stable than OS X, despite what people might believe.
2. It's slow. Now this might be because of the low-spec computer, but I think an ugly Intel/AMD box costing about the same would be much faster.
3. Peripherals and drivers are not nearly as well set up for Apple as they are for Windows. The scanning part of my HP MFC just cannot be used on OS X, although it works perfectly on my wife's archaic laptop. My Sony-Ericsson K750i phone does not sync iCal with the USB cable, although it immediately works on Windows/Outlook.
4. The expansion options (apart from the fiddly RAM upgrade that I did) and speeding up the HDD, are negligible.
5. OS X is not nearly as customizable as windows. To customize things (and get some things working) you need to go deep into the directory structure and play around with text files.
6. I find OS X less intuitive than Windows XP, perhaps because I've grown up with Windows.

My advice: avoid the Mac Mini. Either don't make the switch, or invest more and buy a better spec'd machine and be prepared for the odd crash and incompatibility issue.

I recall writing a short review just as I was ordering this piece of incredible ART OF A MACHINE! Steve REALLY KNOWS HOW TO TACKLE pc users and make believers OUT OF them! I seriously started to hate my PC Machine and not use it anymore. I am forced to though since my satellite connection is cross wired with my MacMini.

Tomorrow I am planning to take this little puppy to the office and work on it permanently! Too bad my company can't log it on their network (thanks Wintel)

Let me make it simple: if u have that little voice inside of u going (why are all the Mac ads and hoopla always cooler for Apple?) well its for real they are cooler!!

I have been using this little miracle for the past 3 months (I am a former Wintel Geek since 1987!) I find myself very relaxed in not answering or worrying about DLL's and those nasty questions like: Are you sure u want to remove this file which is shared with another....Blaaaa Blaaaa Blaaaa!

Guys if u r considering iBooks or iMacs today...hold on one second and take a deep breath and buy 2 things:

1. Mac Mini with everything including the internal modem and 512Mb ram
2. Get this amazing book called Switching to the Mac (Tiger Edition)
3. Your existing hardware all will work with this MacMini

Give it a few months and u will be a more creative individual and focus on your material rather than the tool! (even my Wife who is a Wintel fanatic is observing all the plusses of a Mac)

After writing this I am actually going to place an order for one of those new Intel CORE DUO iMacs which just got released. Cant wait!

This is a must have Home Appliance!
(notice I don't call it a computer or a PC or all that technical JAZZ!)

I have switched from Windows to Mac w/ this Mac Mini, all of my PC accessories (except wireless card) worked w/o any drivers needed. It was paradise! I copied my iTunes music from my PC and it play perfictly. I am using ICS on XP and OS X picked up the connection instantly w/o having to do anything! As Apple says "It Just Works!"

It's small, sleek, and I always glance at it to admire it's beauty every few minutes or so. It looks that good! Mine was originally the 1st "generation" with 256 MB but Apple-upgraded to 512. Thank goodness because I do get the spinning beach balls frequently. If you're gonna open more than 5 programs or 3 with lots websites you've visited, the memory will eat up fast. I recommend getting 1 gig, which I plan to do myself. There's a few stutters when many windows are opened during "Expose" and opening Dashboard. Things I love about Mac OS X are: easy language fonts (for typing in foreign language), Spotlight (to not having to dig through folders), Safari, of course iTunes, and so much more. Things are straightforward. Installations and uninstalls are huge improvements compared to Windows's. And it looks great! I kind of wish for more HD space, wireless internet, and more memory especially. But all in all I love it. O yea, the slot-loading is cool except you need to push the disk in more than you think. It goes well with my iPod (the 2nd main reason why I have this Mac, 1st one because of my friend). So 6 months strong. Hopefully this can last me for 3 1/2 more years until another Mac. I recommend the $599 version since it has more features at an awesome price.