Shop for desktops

• 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, / 16 GB (max), 4 GB, - English, Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion, 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: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 21 reviews

The Bottom Line: With strong competition among small PCs on the Windows side of the aisle, the latest Mac Mini faces a greater challenge than older models. If you demand a small, relatively affordable Mac, we suppose the Mac Mini is your only option. Otherwise, you can find Windows-based small form factor desktops that offer more interesting features with better value. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz, 4 GB / 4 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.6, DVD±RW (±R DL), NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Shared video memory (UMA), TFT active matrix, none., L2 cache, 3 MB, EPEAT Gold, EPA Energy Star