Apple Mac Mini Core Duo (1.83GHz)

Pros: Size, Looks, Mac Quality, Software Bundle, DVI Out

Cons: Support no help on setup issue, Sound card could be better

Summary: I just bought this yesterday so I may have to update this opinion after more use, but overall I am very happy with this purchase. I have connected my mini to my LCD television, and the results are great. The mini comes with a DVI to VGA adapter for hookup to any computer monitor or for use with a television with a VGA connection. My television has one but I chose to use a DVI to HDMI cable which I think probably is giving me a sharper picture vs what it would have been with VGA. Picture is very sharp. Apple browser Safari has a very convenient toolbar icon for increasing or decreasing the size of the text which is great for my use as I am viewing on a 40" t.v. about 8 feet away with a wireless keyboard and mouse.

The sound is not quite what I would like but definitely acceptable and you can hook up to an amplifier/receiver for better sound.

Upon initial hookup I could not see the menu bar at the top of the screen and Apple support could not help me. They said I should check the television settings. Turns out it was a setting in the mini's system preferences (unchecked overscan in display options). I think maybe you would leave this checked if you hooked up via VGA. Between this and my experience at the Apple store I get the feeling that not a lot of people are hooking this up to televisions. That is too bad because it is perfect for the application.

CNET chose the HP unit over this one but that was based on an older model mini with only 512k memory. Mine has 1 GB. Also, if considering for a home entertainment system computer I can't believe they wouldn't put more emphasis on the MAJOR size and aesthetic advantages of the mini. They seemed to give the HP the edge based on features like the t.v. tuner but then said they don't love PC t.v. viewing? Seems like a contradiction. I think there might be a little PC bias involved, although they make a point about Apple's short phone support. That being said, you could make the argument that you probably won't need it with a Mac.

By the way, my first computer was a Mac but I have been using PC's for 15 years since so I am not one of those Mac fanatics, although I may become one!