Apple Mac Mini (2006)

192 reviews

Dec, 2024

Positive
design (13)
price (11)
size (8)
usability (7)

Negative

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 192 reviews of Apple Mac Mini (2006). The average rating for this product is 4.1/5, compared to an average rating of 4.1/5 for other Desktops for all reviews. People are impressed by the usability. The design is also mentioned favorably. Reviews are divided on the size.

price, design, usability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Desktops the Apple Mac Mini (2006) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 89/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 192 reviews)

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User Reviews

Review Ratings

(47% of reviews)
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Showing 106 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 48 of 106 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (86)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Apple Mac Mini (2006)

alaTest has collected and analyzed 9 user reviews of Apple Mac Mini (2006) from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.6/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Desktops on Amazon.co.uk.

89% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Apple Mac Mini (2006)

alaTest has collected and analyzed 29 user reviews of Apple Mac Mini (2006) from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.9/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Desktops on Amazon.com.

72% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Expert review by : Darren Murph (engadget.com)

Apple's Mac mini Core Duo reviewed

While rumors were a swirlin' in the days leading up to Apple's "It's Showtime" event, one thing we didn't exactly forecast was a refresh in the Mac mini lineup. Nevertheless, Apple bumped its most minuscule Macs by tossing in Intel Core Duo processors,...

Sep, 2006

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Expert review by : Joel Santo Domingo (pcmag.com)

Apple Mac mini (1.83-GHz Core Duo)

The Apple Mac mini has long ruled the compact PC market, maybe for too long. Even the fastest current mini has lost a little ground to the competition, from Windows PCs to Apple's newer iMac.

Compact, sleek, quiet, and relatively low-priced. Can use accessories from previous Mac minis. Dual-core performance. Performance improves with 1GB of memory.

Only Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo. No TV tuner. No keyboard or mouse included. Smallish hard drive.

More Desktop reviews: Acer Aspire Z3 (AZ3-715-UR15) Origin Neuron Dell OptiPlex 7450 All-in-One Microsoft Surface Studio Corsair One Pro more

Mar, 2007

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Expert review by : Matt Elliott (cnet.com)

Apple Mac Mini Core Duo (1.83GHz) review

Lost among the news of the emergence of the Intel-based Mac Pro and the iMac getting a boost with new Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs was the Mac Mini receiving a CPU jolt of its own. The low-end $599 model tossed aside its Core Solo processor for a Core Duo,...

Compact size and great looks mean the Mac Mini can be put practically anywhere in your home; built-in wireless card; ships with same software bundle as pricier Macs; vocal Mac community means you can find help online for almost any problem.

Meager standard memory allotment must share resources with integrated graphics; no media card reader; small, slow hard drive; free phone support runs out after only 90 days.

The Apple Mac Mini is an unquestioned winner among budget desktops, but HP has a small-form-factor PC whose feature set will woo many would-be Mac Mini buyers.

Oct, 2006

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Expert review by (cnet.com)

Apple Mac Mini Core Duo 1.83GHz

Priced at $975, our HP Pavilion Slimline s7600e review system is $175 more expensive than the baseline $799 Mac Mini. We think that the added features--more memory; bigger, faster hard drive; media card reader; PCI slot; TV tuner; LightScribe DVD...

Meager standard memory allotment must share resources with integrated graphics; no media card reader; small, slow hard drive; free phone support runs out after only 90 days.

The Apple Mac Mini is an unquestioned winner among budget desktops, but HP has a small-form-factor PC whose feature set will woo many would-be Mac Mini buyers.

Oct, 2006

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Expert review by : Rich Brown (cnet.com)

Apple Mac Mini Core Duo (1.66GHz) review: Apple Mac Mini Core Duo (1.66GHz)

No other PC in its price class fits the affordable home-theater desktop bill as well; still the aesthetic leader; entry-level model now includes dual-core CPU.

Even more than with most Apple PCs, upgrades are limited and costly due to the small case; lack of DVD burner feels stingy.

If you're looking for a pure budget desktop and aren't too worried about looks, even this new updated Mac Mini with its 1.66GHz dual-core CPU is a hard sell. But if you want a small, innocuous computer for sending or receiving media or other files...

Oct, 2006

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Expert review by (pcworld.com)

Apple Mac mini/1.66GHz

Includes Front Row software with Apple Remote ; Decent dual-core processor performance ; Analog- and digital-audio input and output ; Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 ; Gigabit Ethernet

Not enough built-in RAM ; RAM is difficult to upgrade ; Integrated graphics reduces available RAM ; Not suitable for gaming

Sep, 2006

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Expert review by : Chip Taylor (pcworld.com)

Mac Mini Gets Ready for the Living Room

The Intel-powered desktop adds media-center features.

Apr, 2006

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Expert review by : Troy Dreier (cnet.com)

Apple Mac Mini (Intel) review

Apple's Mac Mini Core Duo The littlest Apple received a makeover that includes more than just the widely publicized move to Intel processors. True, the Mac Mini line now features two Intel-based models: an entry-level, single-core Mac Mini Core Solo...

Inexpensive; good choice for budget shoppers or people adding a second computer; Front Row media software and new ports make it more useful as a home-theater PC; easy to connect with an entertainment system; can run Windows via Boot Camp; attractive...

Video output to televisions shows poor image processing; Apple software still catching up to Intel processors; small hard drive; remote control has limited functionality; few upgrade options.

Apple packs more media-specific features into the Mac Mini to make an inexpensive and useful entertainment-room computer. It's tremendously easy to use, although it surprised us with poor image processing.

Mar, 2006

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Expert review by (cnet.com)

Apple Mac Mini Core Duo 1.67GHz

Apple's new Mac Mini Core Duo wisely maintains the square, squat shape of the original (a 6.5-inch square that's 2 inches high and weighs 2.9 pounds). It's small enough to fit in any crowded entertainment center and portable enough to unhook and take...

Video output to televisions shows poor image processing; Apple software still catching up to Intel processors; small hard drive; remote control has limited functionality; few upgrade options.

Mar, 2006

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Expert review by (pcworld.com)

Apple Mac mini/1.5GHz

Analog- and digital-audio input and output ; Four USB 2.0 ports ; Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 ; Front Row software with Apple Remote ; Improved performance in many native applications ; Gigabit Ethernet

RAM is difficult to upgrade ; Improvements over G4 Mac mini not as dramatic as Core Duo model ; Unable to play HD video without dropping frames ; Integrated graphics reduces available RAM

Mar, 2006

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