Apple has tried everything to get Windows users to switch to the Mac. First, it created a revolutionary operating system, Mac OS X, then it launched the "switch" ad campaign, with former Windows users frankly explaining why they like Macs better. When these efforts didn't produce the intended results, Apple employed a more straightforward strategy: make Macs cheaper. With the Mac Mini, Apple has finally conceded the possibility that most people shopping for a desktop choose price above all else and don't want to toss their expensive monitors to move to the Mac platform.
Now, at $499, the standalone Mini (and it really stands alone, without a keyboard, a mouse, speakers, or a monitor) offers would-be Apple converts a more affordable and flexible, but still stylish, entry-level Mac. Its performance limitations make it glacially slow at processor-intensive tasks, so power users, look elsewhere; but for everyday home computing, it's a great buy. Even with a few recommended upgrades, the Mac Mini still costs less than $1,000, an enticing price point for investigating the Mac platform and the included software, such as the bundled iLife '05 suite.
Summary Information
The Good
Very compact, priced well
The Bad
Meager memory allotment; peripherals--even keyboard and mouse-
