Apple2024 Mac mini Desktop Computer with M4 chip with 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Gigabit Ethernet. Works with iPhone/iPadEPEAT

My therapist says I'm too easily influenced. I always told myself I was a PC guy. Here I am now writing an Amazon review singing the Mac Mini's praises. Why is my therapist always right?But now, my Mac Mini is my therapist. It makes my life so much simpler.Dumb metaphors aside. I love this computer.I ultimately chose to get the Mac Mini M4 with 256 GB memory because I needed a computer that didn't occupy a lot of space on desk, but also had a decent power.Pros- Quiet: Is my Mac dead? Sometimes I have to check for a pulse. I'm reassured by a little white light that shines next to headjack port that my Mac is indeed alive. My Mac Mini is very introverted as I never once heard the fans kick on. It's the perfect computer for me for voice over as I never have to worry about the fans noise cutting into my recordings.- Size = WOW, this thing is SMALL. In terms of product dimensions, you'd sometimes have to get a magnifying glass for this thing because it occupies such a small space. It's a desktop, it's smaller than most laptops. On that note, you could easily throw this computer into your bag, bring a USB/HDMI dongle, and plug it into an external portable monitor along with a keyboard and you now have the same capability as a laptop.- Power = Powerful (for what I need) which is watching videos on YouTube at 4K. light editing of videos (Premiere Pro) and audio files (Audacity) for my acting and VO business, and shopping. Yeah, these tasks aren't too CPU intensive, but when running a bunch of tasks/tabs at once, I've never once had a slowdown.- Price: We're gonna ignore the internal storage matter for now (see below in Cons), but this thing has a blazing fast CPU, 16 GB of memory, a ridiculously small form factor, and a very reasonably priced Apple Care plan that you can buy separately. This computer is everything that most people will need for their everyday tasks. Would be a perfect computer for a college student or just someone like me who likes to have completely a completely overpowered machine to write a 500 word essay.- Quality: Despite it's small form factor, build quality of the Mac Mini is phenomenal and feels like it last a long time.Cons- The power button: Apple. Are you ok? I understand the phrase "power down", but I think you took it a little too literally by the power button down.......under the computer where you to physically pick up the computer to press it.- Gaming: This is not a Mac Mini specific thing. If anything, it's not even a question the Mac Mini's ability to play modern games. Rather the compatibility with games in general due to lack of support for the Mac OS. The "workaround" is to use CrossOver, but it's an additional fee and not compatible with all games. If you're a gamer, Mac is not really the ideal platform for that.- Storage: You will have to pay a high premium in order to get additional built-in factory storage for the Mac Mini. That's why I bought the 256 GB version..........I sometimes I'm sad I didn't pay the premium because a good chuck of your internal storage will be allocated to the Mac OS. Within a month of buying my Mac Mini, I was nearly out of storage space. The solution? Get an external SSD like SAMSUNG T7 Portable SSD or even a hub like Satechi sells and add an SSD to that. Does it suck that you have to pay more money on top of what you did for your Mac Mini? Big broke sad face emoji. But...... for the money, you will get a lot more storage buying with a separate SSD compared to if you buy more internal storage at the time purchasing a Mac Mini (i.e. 512 GB vs 256 GB).

Speed demon supreme, even in the low-spec model. 27" iMac if connected with Thunderbolt and if using an 8K dummy monitor plug works wonderfully well as a monitor for a headless M4 mini -- using screen sharing. The ride for setup is a bit bumpy to get that all working, but the results are great -- not for gaming or full screen 5k+ video, but otherwise, terrific. An astonishing difference rendering a Rhino 8 drawing on the M4 compared to an i7 iMac (not really practical on the i7 at all). Data transfer speed is wonderful, as expected. This is a really good headless way to get some M4 goodness while keeping the familiar old Intel apps alive until they are fully exterminated by the poison apple policy. Be sure to get the top-flight best USB-C cables you can buy, as the cheaper ones don't work.I was very skeptical, and also reluctant. And these days, a five star is not easily given. But, I have to admit, this is a lot of computer for the money. I bought this machine to be a little automation hub, tucked away in obsurity for meanial tasks. After setting it up and kicking the tires, it's now a programming ambassador to the M4 world, and the door to the next world of Apple. A worthwhile purchase as Apple things go.Buying the monitor and more storage, etc. will be painful but worthwhile. I'm already thinking about whether I should wait longer for the 30" iMac M4/M5/M? - and leaning that way, but the prospect of another Mini with the separate monitor is nice.In principle, I should knock one or two stars for the non-upgradable RAM and non-upgradable storage, and maybe another star for privacy and obsolesence issues, but I'm keeping the 5 star rating for value and the path forward for those of us who are in the Apple camp for until something better comes along. I spent years deep in the driver and update hell of Windows before switching to the smoother Apple world. Apple is now so mature that it takes a good day to fully grind through cleansing and setting up the mini for legitimate use... tools, firewalling, filtering, and more -- but once there, it's impressive. Don't get me wrong, most people will be happy in minutes.