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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"Far better machine than Rich states"
Pros: smallest desktop by far, with full OS, not watered down Windows
Cons: combo optical drive, laptop hard drive speeds
Summary: The reviewer fairly states that the low-end Mini doesn't have a DVD burner (the drive does burn CDs and plays DVDs), and that the machine seems less perky than other smallish form factors. What makes the Mini 'slow' is that Apple made such a small device (less than a third of the volume of any other model cited in the CNET review), they had to use laptop hard drives and not the larger, more energy-hungry and heat-generating 3.5" hard drives.
Using an external 1394 (firewire) hard drive with the 7200 rpm drives, this Mini is totally up to speed for video editing, photo work and more. And while the internal hard drive isn't as snappy for the high-end work, it's plenty fast with the Mac OS for daily operations -- using NeoOffice (a free alternative to MS Office), web and internet applications, databases and such.
Another metric (conveniently avoided in the CNET reviews) is that the full-blown Apple OS runs just fine on this system. As does Windows Vista Business, XP Pro, Win2k, Win 98 and even Ubuntu 7 if one so desired, along with Parallels or other software tools. But note: this machine comes with the full OS, not some watered down, limited release of Windows Vista as does the machines to which it is compared in the CNET piece. The Mac OS is Vista Premium -- full featured and not crippled. Pricing an eMachines or HP of similar specs needs to also price at the Vista Premium cost -- and this is where the Mini shines.
