Testseek.co.uk have collected 71 expert reviews of the Apple Mac mini - Late 2009 MC238 / MC239 and the average rating is 74%. Scroll down and see all reviews for Apple Mac mini - Late 2009 MC238 / MC239.
March 2009
(74%)
71 Reviews
Average score from experts who have reviewed this product.
Users
-
0 Reviews
Average score from owners of the product.
74010071
The editors liked
Fast new graphics processor
DDR-3 memory offers better performance
Small but fairly powerful
Quiet
The small form factor
Beefed-up graphics card
Faster RAM
Tiny size
Significantly improved graphics performance compared to older models
Dual video outputs with support for extended Desktop mode and 30-inch displays
Five USB ports
FireWire 800.
No price increase
Boosted processor and RAM
Two independent video outputs
Decent gaming performance
5x USB ports and 1x FireWire 800
Performance comparable to that of the £649 model
Tiny. Timeless. More powerful and more efficient than before
Cheapest way to own a Mac. Desktop power
Mac mini 2.26GHz] Tiny size
Impressive set of features
All the dramatic improvements of the Early 2009 model plus better performance. [Mac mini 2.53GHz] Tiny size
All the dramatic improvements of the Early 2009 model plus be...
Combination of hardware and software is attractively priced
Enough processing power for small businesses
Small workgroups in larger enterprises
And educational environments.
Compact
Low energy consumption
Nice to look at
5 USBs
Industry-leading design
Competitive Nvidia graphics chip
Includes updated Apple iLife '09 suite
Energy-efficient
Space-saving chassis retains distinct design
Compact design
Near silent operation
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and plenty of power
Small
Cheap (ish)
The editors didn't like
Price increase takes a lot of the wind out of its sails Min specs
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU
3MB shared L2 cache
NVIDIA 9400m graphics
8x SuperDrive
£499 model
1GB DDR3 RAM
120GB 5300-rpm S-ATA hard drive
£649 model
2GB DDR3 RAM
320GB 5400 S-AT...
Expensive
Limited display connectors
Not enough RAM
Small hard drives
No processor upgrades
Slow hard drive
Difficult to upgrade
£150 premium over £499 model doesn’t get you many improvements. Min specs
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive
8x double-layer SuperDrive.
It should be cheaper
Needs HDMI output
Still no HDMI option
Mediocre RAM and hard-disk spec
The price has gone up
Even slower hard drive than £649 model
Too little RAM
Difficult to upgrade. Min specs
1GB memory
120GB hard drive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics.
No bundled remote. Only 1GB RAM
Small hard drive. Can't upgrade. Pricey
Mac mini 2.26GHz] Slow hard drive
Difficult to upgrade. [Mac mini 2.53GHz] Slow hard drive
Performance increase over £499 model still not dramatic.
No optical drive
Use of 2.5in hard drives hampers speed.
Video interfaces in mini
No BluRay
Average CPU performance
Poor builtin speaker
Poor performance for its price
Not as living-room-friendly as its Windows-based competitors
Similarly priced PCs offer greater functionality
No SD card slot
USB slots close
Not much - but just think how good it would be if it had Apple TV built-in?
While the price of entry to Mac computing may have risen from £391 to £499 with the release of the 2009 Mac mini, the manifold revisions of the new model fully justify the updated starting price. In simple speed terms, there’s faster wirel...
Hopefully, this latest update will prove that there’s still some life left in the Mac Mini. However, it’s a shame that Apple doesn’t really take off the brakes and allow the Mini to fulfil its true potential, even at the risk of challeng...
Published: 2009-03-09, Author: James , review by: macworld.co.uk
Fast new graphics processor, DDR-3 memory offers better performance
Price increase takes a lot of the wind out of its sails Min specs: 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 3MB shared L2 cache, NVIDIA 9400m graphics, 8x SuperDrive; £499 model: 1GB DDR3 RAM, 120GB 5300-rpm S-ATA hard drive; £649 model: 2GB DDR3 RAM, 320GB 5400 S-AT...
Competitive Nvidia graphics chip; includes updated Apple iLife '09 suite; energy-efficient; space-saving chassis retains distinct design
Similarly priced PCs offer greater functionality
While we're still impressed that the Apple Mac mini packs so much into a small package, some rival PCs offer more features for less money. If saving space and using Mac OS are important factors for you, the new Mac minis will appeal, but your money wi...
2.26 GHz, 2.53 GHz, or 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, FireWire 800 port, 5 USB ports, 2 GB base memory, twice as much as earlier models.
Difficult to upgrade, 5400 RPM drive is slower than other standard drives, Limited hard drive options (160, 320, and 500 GB).
Apple’s Mac mini underwent the usual fall speed bump, with faster processor speeds, double the base level of RAM, and a few additional configuration options. The Mac mini is still Apple’s entry-level Mac, but even though it’s the least expensive Mac, i...
Best design among budget desktops; decent performance for its price; best performance-per-watt on the market
160GB hard drive too small at this price, no HDMI port
The lower-cost Mac Mini offers respectable budget performance and Apple's usual compelling design, but a puny hard drive and a lack of HDMI hurt this system's value and overall potential. It's actually more versatile next to its budget-priced...
Compact. Quiet. Dual-core performance. Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth built in. Windows compatible. FireWire 800. More powerful than nettops.
No Blu-ray option. No keyboard or mouse included. MiniDisplayPort is still a nascent technology. 30-inch LCD support requires optional DVI adapter.
The Apple Mac mini is the entry point for the Apple faithful and is a small, cheap, decent computer, but a number of low-cost nettops offer more bang for the buck, especially since they usually are priced at $150-200 less....
Abstract: Pity the small office when it comes to technology. With anywhere from several to several dozen employees, there's often no budget for an IT director to manage all the network services required for a modern company of any size. Offices may need to han...
