Shop for desktops

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: With or without its new Fusion hybrid drive, Apple finally has a Mac Mini that competes well against mainstream Windows PCs in the same price range. Read review

Specs: Intel 3rd Gen Core i7 2.6 GHz, 4 GB, Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: With or without its new Fusion hybrid drive, Apple finally has a Mac Mini that competes well against mainstream Windows PCs in the same price range. Read review

Specs: Intel 3rd Gen Core i5, 2.5 GHz, 4 GB, / 16 GB (max), Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion, - English, None, Intel HD Graphics 4000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0, Integrated, none., L3 cache, 3 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.9 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 49 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple's new $799 Mac Mini demands that you abandon disc-based media, and that you surround it with potentially expensive extra hardware to realize its full benefits. It makes most sense for committed Mac users, those who need it for a specific niche-case, or for those who value design over functionality for the dollar. Read review

Specs: Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz, 4 GB, / 8 GB (max), Apple Mac OS X Lion, None, AMD Radeon HD 6630M, none., L3 cache, 3 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: With or without its new Fusion hybrid drive, Apple finally has a Mac Mini that competes well against mainstream Windows PCs in the same price range. Read review

Specs: Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz, 4 GB / 16 GB (max), Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion - English, None, Intel HD Graphics 4000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0, Integrated, none., L3 cache, 6 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 35 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Mac Mini remains unique as the smallest mainstream desktop, but competition from Dell and HP has narrowed the gap in features while also offering room for expansion, and at a better price. If your goal is saving space, the Mac Mini is a winner. If you'd rather get the best deal, there are better options. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz, 1 GB / 2 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.5, DVD±RW (±R DL), Intel GMA 950 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0, Integrated, none., L2 cache, 4 MB, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, Anodized aluminum

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.9 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 405 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple trimmed some corners to keep the Mac Mini's price so low, but its great design and big software bundle make it a winner among budget PCs. Read review

Specs: Motorola PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz, 256 MB, / 1 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.4, CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo - IDE, ATI Radeon 9200, AGP 4x - Integrated, none., L2 cache, 512 KB, EPA Energy Star, Anodized aluminum

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 6 reviews

Specs: Intel Core i5 2.3 GHz, 2 GB, / 8 GB (max), Apple Mac OS X Lion, None, Intel HD Graphics 3000 Shared video memory (UMA), Integrated, none., L3 cache, 3 MB