ABCDEFGHIJ
1
CommentHome theater PCAudio / video serverSecond PCMain PCOther server"First Mac"Car computerOther
2
31172438221212
3
I use my mini as my Home Theatre PC. It's small and inobtrusive and stores all my downloaded audio and video files - it's perfect for that, no more streaming this or burning that in this format. It's just there when you need it and not noticeable when you don't. the fact that I can pull up a browser and photos on the big screen makes for a big plus. My frustration was always with the video card not being fast enough for games.. but now that it's been upgraded I highly recommend the mini for just this applicationx
4
5
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | Mar 3, 2009 2:21:45 PM
6
7
I love my Mac Mini, I use it as an Itunes base and as a music/video server. Most of my data is on an external hard drive. I also have one serving a navigation station on a boat as it is easily converted to DC operation.x
8
9
Posted by: lmfjr | Mar 3, 2009 2:29:24 PM
10
11
Think of the Macmini as your second, small convertible car.x
12
13
Posted by: Rem | Mar 3, 2009 2:31:48 PM
14
15
My friend uses a mac mini as his desktop computer for music editing and such, just needed a cheap mac.x
16
17
i would only buy one to connect to my tv to use it as a media center as i have a mbp.x
18
19
Posted by: mattm | Mar 3, 2009 2:32:06 PM
20
21
I found OS X Server on Craigslist (great price w/ 10 user license), bought it, and installed it on my MINI. It's serving as an email server for my wife and I. Eventually will be a web server too. I originally bought it to learn how to use the Mac OS...x
22
23
Posted by: Barry in Oregon | Mar 3, 2009 2:34:19 PM
24
25
The Mac Mini is the switcher Mac, it is what people will typically buy if they just want to get their toes wet, and if they like it, there is a good chance they will move on to a MacBook or iMac. Of course, I know of some people who use it as a desktop machine, for relatively light computing.
26
27
Posted by: Bram Oosten | Mar 3, 2009 2:38:29 PM
28
29
I got an early Core Solo and a cheap 19' wide lcd which I use as a tv/dvd player in the bedroom. I use an Elgato DTT for tv and front row for movies and dvd's -all controlled from the little white remote.x
30
31
Posted by: Dave | Mar 3, 2009 2:39:10 PM
32
33
I love my mini. I use it as my video/music server to stream to my Xbox 360 using Connect360. It also serves as my main home PC and use it for lite browsing, email and such. It has enough power to do all those mundane tasks and I also love its small form factor.x
34
35
Posted by: mini360 | Mar 3, 2009 2:39:37 PM
36
37
I use it as a small footprint, silent, HTPC. It's great to use with a wireless keyboard and mouse for websurfing on my big screen TV.x
38
39
Posted by: George | Mar 3, 2009 2:53:24 PM
40
41
In our company we use MINIs as temporary backup computer when a desktop HD dies or when someone wants to bring work home.x
42
A lot of companies will never accept the fact that the MAC Minis look not so professional but got enough power to manage daily use in any office...
43
44
Posted by: Francesco Fondi | Mar 3, 2009 2:53:56 PM
45
46
I love my minis. We have 5 at home. 3 have replaced the TVs, running EyeTV, one is the fax machine and one is a dev web server which gets reformatted ever so often. I just ordered a new one as we are upgrading to HD and the Nvidia card should be able to do the job smoothly. Before I forget: the Logitech diNovo mini keyboard is the perfect accessory.xx
47
48
Posted by: Frank | Mar 3, 2009 2:55:39 PM
49
50
I bought the mini to replace an aging G5 power mac. I use it in my office and run my commercial real estate business on it. It runs a wide range of software form Q-Books, iwork, ilife, mail etc. It is a great machine with no problems. It has proved to be a quiet work horse.x
51
52
Posted by: Cyrus | Mar 3, 2009 2:59:44 PM
53
54
I use both of Mac Minis as servers my extensive collection of digital movies. Both are hooked to external hard drives and provide a seamless center of entertainment. Of course they are networked so that i can move the media from room to room. Coupled with my flay screens they are the perfect blend of internet, audio and video.x
55
56
Posted by: steve | Mar 3, 2009 2:59:48 PM
57
58
I bought my Mac Mini for price and functionality. For the price you cant beat it, and its superior to any windows machine, in fact because mine is an Intel Mac, I have Windows Vista installed so if I really need to use Windows (Yuck) I can. I couldnt take the inferiority of Windows any more and made myself Windows free with my Mac Mini, I simply love it, its how computing should be. It as close to error free computing you can get. Windows, is like a car tire with a slow leak, you always have to download a patch or fix to keep it going. Never have to do that with OS X. Unix is the best OS out there. Windows should trash all of their operating systems and switch to linux.x
59
60
Posted by: Monty | Mar 3, 2009 3:00:57 PM
61
62
I got a mini because the retards in my shop's IT department were trying to force me to use a Dell and wanted my unit to pay extra if I stayed with the Mac. I got the Mini, saved them money, and tiold them I didn't want no stinkin' Dell.x
63
64
Posted by: Will | Mar 3, 2009 3:02:16 PM
65
66
I don't understand Wired's confusion here. I (and I'm sure many others) are buying or have bought the Mac Mini for a number of reasons.
67
68
First, for the reliable Mac hardware and OSX, which we think is superior to PC hardware and Windows. In addition, no virus (or virus detection software) worries.
69
70
Second, it's elegantly small, simple, and compact, unlike the monster PC towers that have that servers/mainframe look of the past. When moving, it's a snap to carry with, like a laptop. Yet it's still a desktop. If you need the Mac Mini serviced, the compact size (sans monitor) makes it a breeze to send or take to an Apple service center under the arm.
71
72
Third, you can chose your own monitor, and replace it at will (unlike the iMac). Upgrade's no problem in the future.
73
74
Yet it's as powerful and feature-laden as any typical mid-priced PC out there.
75
76
So why the confusion as to why?
77
78
Posted by: Richard | Mar 3, 2009 3:02:48 PM
79
80
on apple's website at http://www.apple.com/macmini/design.html the mini is also missing the apple logo
81
82
Posted by: martin | Mar 3, 2009 3:07:57 PM
83
84
I use one as my iTunes server, EyeTV server (converts to AppleTV), and Indigo Server (control of Insteon lights).. Thinking of buying 2 more. One for my son (he doesn't need a fancy expensive iMac), and one for the family room (another EyeTV based unit).x
85
86
Posted by: Kiran | Mar 3, 2009 3:22:14 PM
87
88
i recommended the mini Mac to my mom, who is just retiring from the corporate PC-based world and needs a user-friendly, functional but not uber-fancy home computer and doesn't want to sink a lot of cash on a full iMac.x
89
90
Posted by: kerry | Mar 3, 2009 3:25:27 PM
91
92
How would you change the appearance? Put tail fins on it? : ) We have a Mini in my wife's office. It's not the main computer but we love it, as we do the Cube, the laptops, the Quad, the iPhones ... did I mention that my wife is a computer addict? I'm sure we could break that addiction by locking her in a cubicle with a Windows machine for say, an hour.x
93
94
Posted by: Dan | Mar 3, 2009 3:33:31 PM
95
96
My wife bought a mini once as an upgrade to a very old PowerMac. The mini would not drive a Cinema Display, so she returned it.
97
98
There really needs to be a way to upgrade the CPU without having to upgrade the display or spring for a PowerMac, but the mini is not it.
99
100
Posted by: Warren Dew | Mar 3, 2009 3:41:37 PM