Apple Mac Mini MGEM2LL/A Desktop- Newest Late 2014 Model Review

Apple Mac Mini MGEM2LL/A Desktop
via Amazon

Apple Mac Mini MGEM2LL/A is the new late 2014 model entry level mini desktop with a very compact form factor, a 4th generation 1.4 GHz Intel i5 processor that you see on the new entry level iMac and Mac Air. It appears to be a nice upgrade overall with the 4th gen processor, the integrated Intel HD 5000 graphics rather than the Intel HD 4000 graphics, faster 802.11ac wireless, another Thunderbolt port at a reduced price but is no longer a user upgradeable machine after the purchase, which was Mac Mini’s best feature- you will need to choose your specs at time of your purchase.

And remember we had to wait for about two years to see an upgrade in Mac Mini computers. The entry level Apple Mac Mini comes with the dual core Haswell Intel i5 processor (3MB L3 cache) at 1.4GHz base speed and can be overlocked to 2.7GHz with Intel Turbo Boost, 4GB LPDDR3 RAM memory at 1600 MHz, 500GB standard SATA hard drive at 5400rpm rotating speed and the latest Mac OS X Yosemite operating system that is designed to work very nicely on the higher resolution displays and improve on all the aspects of the previous Mavericks and integrate the Apple iOS devices and your computer better. Late 2012 model Mac Mini had the third generation i5 3210M processor but was faster at 2.5 GHz base speed.

Naturally you won’t get a display, keyboard or mouse with Mac Mini- it is just the compact box in encased aluminium that weighs 2.6 pounds with measurements of 7.70 x 7.70 x 1.40 inches so it is highly portable and can fit anywhere easily. It supports double monitor displays up to 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution and you can connect it to high resolution screens like Apple Thunderbolt Display, has the Intel HD 5000 as the integrated graphics card for better multimedia performance (50% faster than the previous Intel HD 4000)- which is a nice upgrade for home users and an integrated monaural speaker.

You get the 1x 1/8" (3.5 mm) Combo Microphone & Line In, 1x 1/8" (3.5 mm) Combo Headphone & Audio Out, an HDMI port and two Thunderbolt ports that let you run 14 devices and lost the Firewire 800 that was available on the 2012 Mac Mini. Other connectivity options include the more advanced 802.11ac/a/b/g/n wireless, 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet with RJ-45 connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0, 4 x USB 3.0 ports, SDXC Card Slot for additional storage options but no optical drive.

Conclusion: The new Apple Mac Mini MGEM2LL/A has both pros and cons as compared to the previous model but is still a solid unit and is offered at a reduced price. It is great for everyday things like multimedia and office applications as well as some gaming. OS X Yosemite seems to be quite user-friendly and intuitive and comes with additional improved features than the previous Mavericks. You can not upgrade the system memory and hard drive after your purchase of this machine but you can simply pay extra for the higher models that come with the 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive or Fusion Drive- at least the upgrades seem to be cheaper now than before and there is no longer the server version of Mac Mini. The Apple Care is also priced at $99 rather than $149 as the new Mini has less number of parts now. The 500GB hard drive has the rotating speed of 5400rpm rather than the 7200rpm, this may perhaps be a problem for some customers but should be adequate for most as it is still fast enough. The memory compression technologies built into the Yosemite makes 4GB computer feel like a 6GB-8GB one according to Apple and they may be right. It comes with a 12 month limited warranty if you need it within this period.

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