Apple’s goal with the Mac mini was to make a small, flexible computer that would fit into whatever environment people wanted it to go. By that measure, the new Mac mini is a raging success– it's one of the most perfectly-executed small PCs we've ever encountered.

[The Mac Mini] is an excellent upgrade to Apple's cheapest Mac. Buoyed by Apple's leading-edge position with its iTunes media empire and high visibility among consumers on back of the iPhone, iPad and iPod, the release has a chance of putting a Mac inside the front room.

Home theater enthusiasts recognized the mini’s value as the digital hub....Technologists then started using it as a home server.... Apple’s done a great job paying attention to its customers, and has updated the mini to appeal to each of these groups.

The system still faces a value challenge for its given specs, but Apple has done enough to improve the Mac Mini's appeal for Apple loyalists and design fans looking for a living room computer.

The $699 price tag makes the mini an expensive standalone HTPC, you either need to really be in love with the styling or have an additional use for the machine in order to get your money's worth.

...the latest Mac mini is Apple's most versatile desktop computer, and an appealing option for those who don't need workstation-level performance. If you've been considering a mini but passed on the 2009 models, now is a great time to make the jump.