In keeping with what is almost an annual occurrence, Apple rolled out its new Mac Mini desktops in October 2012. The range starts with the Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A desktop.
Though they may have been somewhat overshadowed by the hype of Apple's iPad Mini release around the same time, the new Mac Minis offer powerful day-to-day computing in the, by now familiar, sleek-designed, compact case with the Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A desktop being the most basic configuration offered.
Great for home users, home office workers and students who want plenty of features and performance while saving on space, or already have a suitable monitor, keyboard and mouse and don't mind the lack of a built-in optical drive. The Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A is also attractive for those who are looking to make the switch from Windows to Apple or looking to also use their PC as an unobtrusive, stylish, home-cinema PC.
Click here to see what others are saying...- Stylish and compact with ample connectivity options
- Excellent day-to-day and entertainment performance
- Not for high end video or picture editing or serious gaming
- Home-theatre type software Front Row not part of OS X Lion
Retaining most of the same specs as the previous model from July 2011, the Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A desktop has some notable changes. A third-generation Intel 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM (easily upgradable to a maximum of 16 GB), Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU and a 500 GB hard drive for file storage will mean you can breeze through every-day home or office tasks like email, word processing, web browsing and so on. Though not designed as a games powerhouse it will run current games at lower settings. Being small and very quiet it has sufficient power to stream and play HD 1080p video without stuttering. Adding more RAM up to the 16 GB maximum will see it more capable of heavier tasks like video and major picture editing and audio file conversion. Regardless of brand preferences, it is difficult to find anything not to like about the simple, functional, minimalist build and high quality of the Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A desktop and its siblings. The sort of looks that draw admiring looks and comments from most who pass by, the brushed aluminium case is machined from a single piece and is very robust. With its curved corners and black accents it has a modern appeal that will look at home both in an office or home environment. Very compact for a desktop at just 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches, you can also place it on its side if desk or shelf space is tight, although it may not look as nice with its removable lid (in the base) visible.
All ports are located On the back panel of the Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A desktop, not always convenient, but an inevitable concession in order to keep the clean lines of the remaining sides. These include power, Gigabit ethernet (for wired networking), Firewire 800, a full-sized HDMI port (cable included), Thunderbolt port (no cable), four USB 3.0 ports (upgraded from USB 2.0), an SDXC card reader slot and audio in and out jacks. The integrated power supply means the unit only requires a cable and not an external power brick and it has a low 10 watt power consumption. USB 3.0 gives significantly faster transfers with external hard drives, and the Thunderbolt port means you can use it to attach a second, compatible display.
It's diminutive size and ability to play high definition video and audio by connecting to any TV with a HDMI input make the Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A tempting to those looking to also use it as a home-theater PC (HTPC). This is in spite of the fact that Apple are not targeting this type of use, as evidenced by their non-inclusion of an optical drive and also having dropped the media-centre interface Front Row from OS X Lion, which was nifty for using Mac minis with a TV, letting you easily play your stored content or access online sources. While no optical drive means you won't be able to play DVD or Blu-ray disks, if this is not an issue, the 500 GB hard drive is sufficient to store a generous amount of content for playback and you can overcome the obstacle of no Front Row by purchasing any one of several affordable apps aiming to duplicate the abilities of Front Row or by buying an AppleTV device, though some may find neither of these options palatable. One plus is that it comes with with the iLife software suite, giving you the latest iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand versions.
Its modern sophisticated look and satisfying performance in day-to-day tasks, HD content playback and even heavier duties like video editing or light gaming, means the Apple Mac Mini MD387LL/A desktop would be just as comfortable in an office situation or in a sophisticated entertainment room attached to a big TV. However, if you want more grunt for intensive photo and video editing, or serious gaming, look to its more powerful siblings.
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