Apple Mac Mini (Spring 2010)

Pros: Cool looking
HDMI connectivity
Excellent OS
Tight integration of hardware and software
Less prone to viruses due to Mac platform

Cons: Poor value
No Included bluetooth controller (keyboard or other input device)
Small, slow hard drive compared to competitive products
No Blu-Ray player
Core Duo chips instead of an i3 chip - Seriously?

Summary: I would LOVE to have a computer such as this - small form, MAC OS, etc., but Apple is really not serious about this category. Perhaps they still want to nurture Apple TV along as it continues limping forward and don't want to cannibalize those sales, but there is too much crossover between the two. The Mini simply isn't competitive to be a media server, PC entertainment center or even a standalone computer vis a vis competitive Windows based products or even Apple's own laptop products.

Moreover, the price they ask is not reasonable considering competitive products are selling for much less. But Cnet nailed it in their summary - the only folks that would seriously consider this are Apple fans or those more focused on design. The rest of us (most of us) see the Mini for what it is - an underpowered, under featured, overpriced device that looks really cool.

With sadness I type this (on my Macbook Pro), I believe Apple is falling behind on innovation. They used to be bleeding edge, but now appear to be slowly plodding along small upgrades that keep their products uncompetitive. The Mini is further proof of this.