Introduction to Apple Mac mini

[SoftWore]

Introduction :
One of first impression with the Mac mini can be expressed as "yes, nice and stylish, no doubt, but that's what it is and why is necessary?". Indeed, the format of compact systems against friends over the large gray boxes desktop machines, and often competes with laptops. And if the classic desktop while still boast a unique high performance and versatility, the positioning of the compact Mac mini turns out, in our opinion, somewhat shaky. That is a stationary PC, a very small size, with an average by today's standards of performance and modest expansion.

It is difficult to assess unambiguously place the model in a modern house. It turns out that the Mac mini may be of interest to those who are accustomed to a desktop PC (for example, does not want to put up with the advent of "take the notebook with you and work anywhere") and at the same time does not need high performance and wants to have a portable system . Under these conditions, the model may be of interest. You can even argue that this entry-level or second or third PC in the house, or multimedia to set about TV, but these scenarios are, in our opinion, for the second time and look very niche. And the costs for these devices is too high. But there is no doubt that all is known in comparison, and income are different.

[SoftWore]

Learn computer in the store packaging is easy - on the front side there are big name written, and photography. Although if you have not previously encountered with this model, there may be difficulties - the compactness of the system was reflected in the box, whose dimensions are only 20,5 × 20,5 × 8,5 cm. Such a format is typical for most optical drives or miniITX motherboards. Believe that it is a modern desktop computer is not easy. However, it is true. As we have said, detailed technical specifications are now a diminishing role in the selection of the device. So in this case they are given a small sticker on one side of the box dim characters. Nevertheless, to draw attention to them is because the computer exists in several versions with different processor, RAM, hard drive capacity and operating system version. In reality, the difference is not very large - the processor can be a frequency of 2.4 or 2.66 GHz Memory - 2, 4 or 8 GB hard drive - 320 or 500 GB. In foreign stores user can select the desired complete set, including accessories and operating system (desktop or server version of Snow Leopard), and we have represented mainly by the minimum configuration. As time she was in our testing: CPU 2.4 GHz, operational Memory 2 GB, 320 GB hard drive, optical drive, a desktop version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and the software package iLife.
Completion does not stand out with originality and is quite sufficient - the computer, power cord, adapter HDMI-DVI, 80-page manual and a set of «Everything else», consisting of a pair of "apple" label, text, license, warranty, two DVD-ROM (with operating system and applications) - they may be required if the need arises to reinstall the OS. Note that the guide is completely localized, which is certainly nice.

With extensive experience on the use of whole-body aluminum in their devices, Apple has not escaped the temptation to install it in the Mac mini. As a result, the external dimensions, compared to past generations have changed quite significantly - up to 19,7 × 19,7 × 3,6 cm. This is 20% "wider" but 30% "thinner". Namely, the height of the device plays a major role in the perception of the user. If you take the PC into the hands, the feeling will be like from a single piece of metal - as if the body is fully packed with different useful elements and there is not a millimeter of empty space. In reality it is practically and situation. As we have said - the case does not have the user to upgrade. In fact the only option is to replace the memory modules. In this case, both slots are available. They are under a cover on the bottom of the computer, open it without using tools. Supported memory - SODIMM DDR3 1066 MHz, Max - 8 GB (two modules of 4 GB).

After removing the cover, you can appreciate how everything has been thought and done qualitatively (although it seems to us that the contribution of engineering in it are often exaggerated - automated design system can work wonders). Compliments we can say a lot of construction - stylish, strictly functional, beautiful, comfortable, and so on.

Apple did not break its own traditions, so the front side of the PC can be detected only slot slotted optical drive and LED state of your PC. All connectors are hidden from the user on the rear panel. Here are: the power switch, input power cable, Gigabit Ethernet port, FireFire 800, HDMI, mini Display Port, four-port USB 2.0, memory card slot (SD, SDHC, SDXC), audio input and headphone output. Maybe worth thinking about more options available for connecting a memory card or USB, but in this case the style is more important.

The company has taken care to use the most popular and advanced interfaces. It is worth noting gigabit network, HDMI and Display Port. Until the last is rarely used, however, has certain advantages over HDMI. In a sense, a victim of compactness have DVI (can be used via the supplied adapter), VGA (there is an original from the DP) and multi-channel audio output (HDMI and has an optical output, combined with the headphone output). Under the connectors in the center panel is slit ventilation. Your computer is the only turbine, which takes air from the bottom (so it is not recommended to install a PC on a soft surface) and outputs through the rear grille. The noise level can be estimated as missing. Even in this unique summer fan almost could not hear at most tasks. But as soon as we begin to mount a video, play or engage in other demanding applications, at least the noise and does not appear, but the computer heats up very strongly. We can say that up to "fry an egg." All would, of course, nothing as modern electronic components can operate at high temperatures, but also hidden inside and a hard disk to which such conditions do not apply.
So it's time to the first inclusion. Recall that we have provided for a review of a brand new device. For testing, we added TV Full HD, connected via HDMI through a receiver and a wireless keyboard and mouse set from Logitech. Note that the periphery was a version for Windows from Microsoft, but no problems with the connection was not there. The guide provides relevant buttons Windows and Mac OS, so that everything works fully. Network was originally wired gigabit. Version of Wi-Fi, we left for later. So, connect the four cables and turn on the computer in less than a minute later by coming out of the system chassis tune we are in the initial setup wizard. Questions usual - language, country and keyboard layout. Trail system offers to transfer your files from another Mac, an identifier Apple for use of Internet services, specify registration information. The last point to miss or not be ignored. Frankly, all those registered have already greatly wearied. Every new gadget or service asks for name, email and postal address, phone number, occupation, eye color, eating habits, the name of a favorite hero of a horror movie, and blood group. At that point you can actually completely arbitrary, including the made-up data. Of course you can understand the producers - this information allows them to be aware of their audience of users, to improve the services provided and all, but that's the price of this is perhaps debatable. So create an account and continue.

[SoftWore]

If your computer already has Internet access, as we had, the system offers us use the service MobileMe. You can select a test period of 60 days, or enter existing username. At this initial setup is finished and you can start to use your computer. The fact that all the trouble-free with our equipment, we can not speak. Today, USB-peripherals and HDMI-receivers are not so rare. Although after loading a message appears that the operating system could not determine what kind of keyboard is connected to it, and asked him to help with identification. Sense from this was not so much so that some characters in Russian layout does not match the actual icons on the keys. Although it should be noted that on the keyboard were plotted and Mac-icons-native, so perhaps there are ways to complete the "adaptation" to someone else's periphery.
Further experimental invited to download operating system updates, iTunes, web browser, Java and the like. All in all it was drawn more than 500 MB. Alas, this is the reality of our time - to remain in a serviceable and safe condition, the operating system and applications require updates. Usually in our articles we are talking about performance. However, in this case it is not very important, because the configuration of the system is determined almost uniquely for some users and tasks it is more than enough, while others probably could be scarce.

Today, a processor with a pair of cores and a frequency of about two and a half gigahertz can be called an average configuration. Of course, it is enough for most "conventional" applications - Web browsing, editing text and spreadsheet documents, creating presentations, simple photo editing, working with music and the like. Really there are only two non-professional tasks for which can be performance-critical: video editing and gaming. Both are heavily dependent on the speed of the CPU and video, respectively. Manufacturer cites that in the games the new model is approximately two times faster than its predecessor. From a marketing standpoint, of course, sounds great. If we talk about the practice, then, for example, Half Life 2 in the window size is 1280 × 720, and quality settings by default runs at about 20 fps. If you lose all quality settings at a minimum, it is possible to raise the figure to 30. It is clear that about any normal game, not a speech. Not to mention the resolution of Full HD and high quality pictures. At the same time, if you lower the resolution, it is possible to play. So it all depends on the specific application, but the game in the proper sense of the word used by chip, of course, can not be named.

Clarify the overall current situation Mac mini in terms of speed, you can simply remembering that modern high-end processors have six cores and a frequency of about 3.5 GHz, and the most productive card installed ahead of this model in some tests, almost ten times. But what is most interesting - no problem, this situation is not entirely because the system is designed to solve a well-defined range of problems, which handles superbly. It should be understood that each problem usually has its most appropriate tool to solve it. You will not carry a refrigerator on the coupe-cabriolet, or participate in Formula-1 on the SUV. Despite the fact that both options are feasible technically, the best of these solutions can not be named. A similar ambiguity appears due to the fact that cars, as well as computers, are versatile enough tools to solve a wide range of tasks. At the same time any combination of hardware and software filling a compromise would be for optimality. For example, to test the editor would be enough only the core and integrated graphics controller. At the same time, nobody will buy a separate PC just for a text editor. So here - on the Mac mini is quite possible to play and edit video, organize and server for the LAN, but in each case there is a better solution. And each user in selecting the configuration has to consider many factors and one of the most important among them is the range of tasks.

As another variant of the rate can be reduced figures for media playback. We used a famous movie about a hare, which was recorded in MOV format with H.264 codec, and almost FullHD-resolution. Its difference from the same Blu-ray-drive is at least much lower bitrate. If this movie to play through the complete QuickTime, then the CPU according to the built-in program monitoring will be about 10%. But if you use VLC Player, the loading increases to 30-40%, indicating that QuickTime uses in the process of decoding and video card. Another interesting issue when working as a media player are supported options for audio output. As we said above - there is a built-in mono speaker, stereo analog, optical digital and HDMI. With the first two all clear cable optics we have not found, so that in the tests, we restricted ourselves to HDMI. The audit showed that through it we can derive a sound like in the decoded multi-channel version to 7.1, inclusive, and a list of packaged versions consists of at least DolbyDigital and DTS. For today's HD-audio formats requires the support of the player, but all problems should not be. In an extreme case, the decoder will be able to withdraw and unpacked in the eight-option. As for pairing with video display devices, then HDMI (DVI) can be connected to monitors and TVs with a resolution up to 1920 × 1200, but if you want more - you'll have to work with Display Port. Needless to remind that modern monitors from Apple is just the interface and use it. Alternative - use proprietary adapter for Dual-link DVI.

By the way, you can use just two connectors, connecting, for example, monitor for DisplayPort and TV via HDMI. Then you can work on your monitor and watch on TV. Or vice versa. Opportunities for this mode is similar to extended desktop in Windows, and implies that the video window or the game can only be on one screen. For communication with the outside world have all the modern features - wired gigabit network controller and Wi-Fi standard 802.11n. Wireless option can work in a range 2,4 and 5 GHz, with only the second case he is able to use the rate of 300 Mbps. Check with the dual-band access point from the company NETGEAR has shown that the actual speed of data transmission within a single room is 100 Mbps or more, despite the compact size of the computer and built-in antenna.
It is worth mentioning also the controller Bluetooth and infrared. The latter is designed for a commercially available remote control, useful for work as a HTPC. Products from Apple are interesting not only to design hardware and filling, but, of course, and software. So the concept of "all-in-one" and "work-from-the-box" here is as strong as ever. Enumerate shortly, but what operating system the user gets to the Mac mini.

Traditionally has not been without the minimum set for the office and organizational work: a text editor, address book, calendar synchronization program, calculator, notes, vocabulary, and Dashboard. Do not forget the Internet - is the browser Safari, chat and e-mail and software for creating websites iWeb. Equally important is the multimedia component, and in addition to numerous players for photos, music and videos (including discs DVD) is the envelope of Front Row, familiar to Apple TV, and several programs for content creation - iPhoto, iDVD and iMovie. Separate mention and GarageBand, which can help you learn to play musical instruments and write their own song. Some of these programs form a package iLife, which comes bundled with all computers, Mac. Work with portable devices, Apple has traditionally provides iTunes. Of the games there is only chess.

The most interesting and useful from a variety of software programs designed for customization, optimization and maintenance of the system are backup utility Time Machine, Boot Camp module for dual-boot operating system from Apple and Microsoft, an assistant transfer data from other computers, Mac, hard drive management software , utility monitoring system, the detailed information about your computer and secure storage for passwords and keys. For highly trained users not to forget about the terminal with the command line. In concluding our review, we turn to the important and rather painful issue - the cost of solutions. On the local market, the lowest price Mac mini is about 31,000 rubles. To create a workable system will require a keyboard, mouse and monitor. Our experience has shown, not necessarily to use branded fruit products. It is also possible that the user gets a system to replace the old, and therefore can save the periphery. But still give a guide price for them - to 2200 rubles. for a wired keyboard and mouse, and wireless options are worth about half as much. For Monitor size 24 "domestic stores want more than 40000 rubles.

If you prefer, you can compare the Mac mini with the most affordable (if I may say so) Mac Book, which is comparable configuration costs about 45,000 rubles. Another alternative - one-piece iMac with a screen size of 21,5 - 50000 rubles. But stuffing him clearly productive. Of course, Apple products have to be seen precisely as a ready-to-use solutions that do not require special knowledge and all that. However, we must not forget that the inside - modern hardware and modern operating system. And despite all the efforts of manufacturers to protect the user from a close acquaintance with them, it can sometimes be required. In our view, Apple Mac mini - a magnificent example of a home desktop system to work with popular office and web applications and multimedia use. In some cases it can be used for three games or a movie, but these tasks may already be missed performance. Such a "simple" application of some contrasts with the relatively high cost for the domestic market, but the purses at all different, as well as assess the importance of appearance. So here you personally decide. One thing is for sure - the combination of style, design and features an Apple Mac mini is really unique.