Dr Gadget - Apple Mac mini MB138LL/A (1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive)

	List Price: $599.00 Our Price: $589.00 Your Save: $ 10.00 ( 2% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: Apple Computer
Average Customer Rating:
Binding: Personal Computers Brand: Apple CPU Manufacturer: Intel CPU Speed: 1.83 CPU Type: Intel Core Duo EAN: 0885909175598 Feature: 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 667 MHz system bus Hard Disk Size: 80 Label: Apple Computer Manufacturer: Apple Computer Model: MB138LL/A Processor Count: 2 Publisher: Apple Computer Release Date: 2007-08-08 Studio: Apple Computer System Memory Size: 1000 System Memory Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Features 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 667 MHz system bus 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM (expandable to 2 GB), 80 GB SATA hard drive, and slot-loading slot-loading Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) One FireWire 400 port (8 watts); four USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps); DVI output; VGA output (using included adapter); S-video and composite video output Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit), built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11g)3; built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard, iLife '08, and Front Row software included
Accessories Apple iWork '08 Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition Nero 8 Ultra Edition Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users) QuickBooks Pro 2008
Related Items Apple Keyboard Kit Apple Wireless Keyboard Kit Apple Mighty Mouse Wireless Kit Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac ( 967664-0403 ) VMware Fusion
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: A little dream computer Comment: This is my first Apple product since the original Apple computer that was my introduction to computers in the early eighties. What a nice change from win computers. No installation crashes--no glitches at all. I purchased the Mac Mini to connect to a Samsung 46 inch LCD TV for the living room. Connected to an Apple wireless keyboard/mouse combo (more kudos on the Apple design here as well), I can connect to the internet with a BIG monitor and switch back to viewing normal TV without leaving the comfort of my recliner. The Mac Mini is sleek, quiet and unobtrusive. Though pricier than other options for small footprint computers from HP (and a new one from Dell), the change from a windows computer has been a breeze, and the error free performance has been refreshing. I still have my Gateway in the other room and have set up wireless networking for connecting to the outside world. I am still adding programs and exploring the Mac. So far, not a single regret. I will eventually add a tuner card, probably and Elgato product, and a separate mass storage device. Looks like I have finally found the best alternative for me for both normal computing and home entertainment. Customer Rating: Summary: Simple, fun computing that doesn't take forever to load at startup Comment: Let me start first-off that product loyalty is important to me. Marketers love me. When something impresses me with quality, I stick with it. I made the switch. I still hate the commercials, but I love my new, fast, ready-to-get-to-work computer and if you'll allow me, take you on the journey I took to get here. My last Windows computer died of natural causes last week. It's not the first Windows PC that did that to me, but this time it was *different*. For months I knew it was barely chugging to the next day, but I kept crossing my fingers every time I hit the "ON" button. It was old, obsolete and completely not worth upgrading, but I stuck with it because I loved Windows XP and the familiar wheeze of an old machine coming back to life. I've had many computers and started with MS-DOS and made the trip all the way through Windows 95, 98, 2000, and XP. I am not a Microsoft hater. I like their products and appreciate their contribution to personal computing. I built PCs and considered myself a decent techie. Until Vista. I hate Vista. The bloat, the driver situation, and the lack of compelling reasons to upgrade to an OS told me that this was not an improvement over XP. I searched for an XP loaded machine (computers are so cheap now, building one from scratch was out of the question) and came up with some choices that sucked less than others, but nothing to my satisfaction. Again, I could build one as a project but I needed one for work and remembered the last nightmare I had mounting a RAID array for a gaming computer and have been on the wagon since then. That project was like a DoD contract that went overbudget and overboard very, very quickly. Finally I stopped by the local Apple store and found this odd looking napkin boxed shaped "computer" called the Mac Mini and laughed. Was that a toy? Does a Kleenex come out of it? Ok, I said to myself. I'll be thorough. So, I took a test drive, fully expecting to walk away with a snarky comment on the Mac Mini. I opened the applications and had no idea what I was fooling with, but soon got into the groove and found myself spending serious time with the applications. The Mac staff (I think they were called "Geniuses"?) kept coming buy trying to sell me a computer, but I wanted to keep on test driving it, opening up the applications and doing my best to fend off other people looking over my shoulder. When I left, I could hear the collective sigh of the "Geniuses," and came back later. I wanted a Mac Mini and wanted them to add 1 GB of RAM. I wasn't happy that they discouraged you from doing this on your own and apparently you void your warranty for even trying to open the box. Fine. I had a spare monitor and compatible pointing device at home. I'd need a Mac Bluetooth keyboard and got one (see my other review). A week later I am happily integrating my Apple mail program with web mail and installing Firefox. Safari is a nice Apple Internet browser, but not my cup of coffee. I like Firefox more. I picked up the Missing Sync application for my Pocket PC PDA and found drivers for my printer and scanner. I downloaded OpenOffice.org to replace MS Office, which I had already been phasing out of my life. Google Documents is also part of my toolbox, so "cloud computing" is already something I am comfortable with doing. For desktop publishing, I armed myself with a new copy of Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro and was ready to go to work. Within a few days I was back in business. My dead HP laptop lies in state in a box awaiting scavenging. Maybe it will lie there forever like Chairman Mao or Lenin or like Countrywide Financial Corporation's Living Mummy/CEO Angelo Mozilo. I can also imagine that someday it will find itself atop a pile collected by WALL-E. I won't be there, I'll be dead and happy that I walked into a pretentious looking Mac store one sweltering summer afternoon with a low expecations and left with a little white plastic bag holding a 3 lb. computer only a few hours later (it took 1.5 hours for them to install the extra GB). Yes, it is worth installing that 1 GB. Customer Rating: Summary: BYE BYE PC AND WINDOWS!!! Comment: Not much to say here, other than I am replacing all of my PC's with Macs. This is long overdue, and I hope to never lay hands on a Windows based machine again. Horrible, horrible, horrible. Microsoft is the devil. Get out while you can! btw...you can upgrade the RAM in the Mac Mini very easily with a couple of putty knives and an order from Newegg. There are guides all over the internet showing you step by step how to do it. Saves you hundreds! Customer Rating: Summary: I am very much happy with this product ! just need to extend the RAM to 2 GB ;-) Comment: I am very much happy with this product ! just need to extend the RAM to 2 GB ;-) Customer Rating: Summary: Back To Mac Comment: I have been a Mac user on and off over the years. Like Mac better, but overpriced. I decided to try the Mac Mini with my 40 inch LCD and Voila! I now have a Mac with a 40 inch screen with WiFi and linking to ITunes and Internet with Safari and Leopard. Easy as pie. My daughter uses this in the living room and it adds another computer to the household for little money. Not a powerhouse, but if you want to use for surfing and other non-heavy duty purposes, this is the way to get back to Mac. Wireless keyboard and mouse allow us to sit on couch and use with ease and comfort. Very glad I purchased! I am writing this on my Compaq notebook and have an old E Machine too. Like the Mac Mini the best. If Apple ever lowers their notebook prices to more competitive prices, I will buy then. Hope this helps. More Reviews
Editorial Reviews: The Mac Mini features the powerful 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It has two cores, so it's like having two 1.83GHz processors in one! Another great feature is the suite of applications in iLife '08. A full-featured collection of programs that are designed to let you easily take control of your creative projects. iPhoto organizes your digital pics, and has a cool feature that groups them by event. iWeb makes it easy to create your own website. iMovie & iDVD lets you edit your videos and make your own DVD movies. GarageBand gives you the tools to make your own music, and even start your own virtual band! All of this and more is packed inside a svelt and stylish 6.5" body that can fit anywhere! 2 RAM Slots (occupied) 80GB 5400RPM SATA HDD Slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive - reads DVDs up to 8x, writes CD-Rs up to 24x, & writes CD-RWs up to 16x Intel GMA 950 Graphics Processor with 64MB of shared memory (memory is shared with the main system) Ports - 1 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 1 Firewire 400 (8 watts), 4 USB 2.0, 1 DVI Out, 1 VGA Out (using included adapter) Built-in Speakers Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi 802.11g wireless network card Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module Unit Dimensions - 2 (h) x 6.5 (w) x 6.5 (d) Unit Weight - 2.9 lbs.