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Review: Dell XPS 14z

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Overview</h3>
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We first checked out Dell's XPS 14z at IFA, a slightly dinkier version of its excellent XPS 15z <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">l</span>aptop. The XPS 14z hits stores today and we've already spent a few days snuggling up and getting to know it.</div>
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While a 14-inch version of a 15-inch laptop might seem a little pointless, we were impressed by how slim and light the XPS 14z turned out. With its 23mm build and 2kg weight, it more closely resembles a 13-inch portable. The XPS 15z wasn't exactly a chubster, but commuters will want to consider this laptop first.</div>
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The slender body may seem less impressive compared to the upcoming slew of ultrabooks, including the ridiculously skinny Asus Zenbook which is just 9mm thick. However, we had no problem slipping the XPS 14z into our backpack and carrying it around all weekend.</div>
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In terms of design, almost nothing except the size has been changed from the XPS 15z. You get the same beautiful brushed metal finish, which feels as solid as it looks – we pushed and prodded every inch and found no worrying weak spots. Even the paper-thin aluminium lid is firm enough to take a pounding, so you won't need to pad your bag with bubblewrap.</div>
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An isolation-style keyboard fills the centre of the XPS 14z's chassis, bordered at both sides by the built-in speakers. We love the curved design of the keys, which gives them a futuristic appearance. They're firmly set and comfortable to type on, while typos are a rarity thanks to the gaps between each key.</div>
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<img alt="Dell xps 14z" class="aligncenter" height="207" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20lid-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20lid-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div>
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The board is surprisingly well-sized too, despite not stretching the width of the laptop. The tiny arrow keys are the only casualty. As with the XPS 15z, the board is backlit for late-night sessions, and Dell also touts it as 'spill-resistant'. However, we didn't have the guts to assault it with a bottle of Evian.</div>
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We also liked the spacious touchpad, which thankfully avoids the irritating integrated mouse buttons you find on many compact laptops. Instead, the XPS 14z has two dedicated buttons underneath. The pad also supports multi-touch gesturing, as is the norm.</div>
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Our only issues with the design are the stiff lid hinges, which to be fair at least keeps the screen still when you're on rocky public transport. The screen only tilts 45 degrees back from vertical, so finding a comfortable viewing angle can be tricky when the XPS 14z is resting on your lap.</div>
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Specifications</h3>
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The Dell XPS 15z was a perfect way to enjoy HD movies on the go, thanks to its 1080p screen. The dinkier XPS 14z display isn't quite as sharp, featuring a standard 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, but video still looks pleasingly crisp.</div>
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Images are also colourfully reproduced, but we were disappointed by the brightness levels - even with the settings turned to maximum, the XPS 14z's screen isn't as bright as the 15z's. Viewing angles are also merely acceptable. However, the edge-to-edge glass gives the display a classy appearance which complements the slick design.</div>
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The built-in speakers are once again powerful enough to fill a small room. Sound is a little tinny on top volume, so audiophiles will want to hook up an external pair, but if all you need is a little background music you won't be disappointed.</div>
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Regular travelers will want a sizeable hard drive for carrying their entire media collection around, and the XPS 14z doesn't disappoint, packing in 500GB of storage. The drive spins at 7200rpm, faster than the standard 5400rpm, so software loads quickly and movies stream perfectly.</div>
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A 7-in-1 memory card slot can be used to boost storage space further, or access your holiday snaps on the move. The slender body also houses a slot-loading optical drive, so you can watch DVDs and install games from disc. Quite a few compact laptops skip on the DVD drive, so it's good to see Dell cram one into the XPS 14z.</div>
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Other features are limited to a 1.3MP webcam for chatting with friends and family. We were surprised by the lack of ports, with only two USB connections available (one of them USB 3.0). Thankfully you get HDMI and Mini DisplayPort connections for hooking up a television, monitor or projector, but that's your lot.</div>
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Networking is standard, with 802.11n and Gigabit Ethernet available for getting online. You also have Bluetooth 3.0 support for transferring files with mobile phones and hooking up headsets.</div>
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Performance</h3>
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<img alt="Dell xps 14z" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20left%20back-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20left%20back-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div>
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The Dell XPS 14z comes in two Intel Sandy Bridge flavours: Core i5 and Core i7. We tested the Core i5 2430M version which performed typically well in our benchmarking tests. This powerful CPU is backed up by 6GB of memory, and even with bucketloads of programs running at once, we saw no slowdown.</div>
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Our model also packed an Nvidia GeForce GT 525M graphics card for gaming and running multimedia applications. This card is getting on a bit and we were disappointed by the stilted performance during testing. Recent games will stutter, unless you turn detail levels down to low or medium - you're better off sticking with older titles.</div>
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If you want to play the latest games, we'd recommend boosting your budget and looking at a gaming machine such as the MSI GT680 or Alienware M11x instead. The Alienware M11x is a similar weight although a lot chunkier, but more than makes up for it with fantastic all-round performance.</div>
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Although you can't smash up terrorists in high detail, you can easily run video-editing software and other multimedia applications. HD movies play perfectly too. And despite featuring some powerful components stuffed into a slender chassis, the XPS 14z remains cool and quiet at almost all times. Only when we inserted a DVD did it make any real noise.</div>
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We were also impressed by the excellent battery life, something the XPS 14z has in common with its elder brother. Usually Sandy Bridge laptops are defeated by the ruthless Battery Eater test in under three hours, but this portable played HD video on a loop for 200 minutes before finally submitting. This is almost as good as the XPS 15z's four hour longevity, and beats most other multimedia laptops we've seen lately.</div>
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Cinebench 10: 9769<br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" />3D Mark '06: 5345<br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" />Battery Eater '05: 200 mins</div>
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Verdict</h3>
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When we first heard that a 14-inch version of the XPS 15z was in the workings, we were intrigued and excited, but also curious at how much difference an inch would make.</div>
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As it turned out, that inch makes a considerable difference. The XPS 14z is surprisingly slender compared to its elder sibling, and a good chunk lighter too at just 2kg. The same slick brushed metal design is in place, and is just as drool-worthy, while the edge-to-edge glass of the display is a classy touch.</div>
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Build quality is also just as strong. There's nary a weak spot, from the solid chassis to the ridiculously thin aluminium lid, while the isolation-style keyboard is a pleasure to type on.</div>
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Movie and music fans also have plenty to enjoy. The XPS 14z's 500GB hard drive gives you plenty of space for a large media collection, and spins fast to keep things streaming smoothly. The 14-inch screen is colourful and crisp, while the speakers are better than most we hear.</div>
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Performance is good enough to run the latest multimedia software, and the Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor won't be out of date any time soon. Yet despite these powerful components, we still managed well over three hours of intensive use before the battery died.</div>
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Unfortunately, some sacrifices have been made in slimming down the mighty XPS 15z. The screen only tilts back 45 degrees on its stiff hinges, and the Full HD 1080p resolution has been lost. We were also disappointed by how dim it was, even on the highest settings.</div>
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There's obviously less space for ports, especially as Dell has crammed in a slot-loading optical drive, but the two USB ports seem a little stingy. Peripherals fans will want to invest in a USB hub.</div>
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The XPS 14z is also less graphically capable than its bigger brother, and we found the latest games were stuttery affairs unless we turned detail settings right down. Gamers should look elsewhere for their fix.</div>
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The XPS 14z is a more compact ultraportable version of one of the best laptops of 2011. While it isn't quite as technically impressive, it's still an excellent machine that can keep you entertained and productive on the move.</div>
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Review: Dell XPS 14z

Overview We first checked out Dell's XPS 14z at IFA, a slightly dinkier version of its excellent XPS 15z l aptop. The XPS 14z h...

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Review: New Apple Mac mini 2011

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The Apple Mac mini has come a long way since it was first introduced in 2005.</div>
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The 2011 Mac mini refresh represents a radical change for Apple's small form factor computer. The ageing Core 2 Duo is gone, replaced by second-generation Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors.</div>
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This is a substantial improvement in processing power for the Mac mini, which was forced to skip the first-generation Core iX chips because its onboard graphics weren't up to scratch, there was no room for a discrete graphics chip and a legal dispute prevented an integrated Nvidia chipset being used.</div>
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Early Mac minis featured aluminium casings with a polycarbonate top and base, and used a G4 PowerPC processor. The Mac mini made the inevitable switch to Intel processors in 2006, switching from Core to Core 2 Duo chips the following year.</div>
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The 2010 Mac mini dropped the polycarbonate case sections in favour of a wider, flatter aluminium unibody casing. This revision also brought the transformer into the main body of the Mac mini, so those who used it as a portable machine didn't have to carry around a large power brick.</div>
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The Sandy Bridge Core i processors' Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics on the 2011 Mac minis are more powerful than any before, allowing the mini to switch to the more modern processors.</div>
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But it's not all about the CPU. The new Mac mini has also lost its optical drive, allowing a substantial price drop for the entry-level 2011 model, and freeing up room for a discrete graphics processor in this high-end release.</div>
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The Mini DisplayPort video-out socket has been replaced by the powerful and versatile Thunderbolt port, which can handle both data and video, and can daisy chain up to six peripherals on a single port.</div>
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The new Apple Mac mini is the first computer to come with OS X 10.7 Lion preinstalled, on both the £529 entry-level mini and the more powerful £699 2.5GHz 4GB mini we tested.</div>
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Unlike the 2010 release, the 2011 refresh brings us two Apple Mac mini models. The entry-level mini costs £529, and features a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 2GB of RAM.</div>
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The higher-end model reviewed here costs substantially more, at £699, but it increases the processor speed to 2.5GHz, ups the memory to 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 and adds an AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR5 memory.</div>
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If that's not enough, those who buy from the Apple online store can opt for a 2.7GHz Core i7 processor for an extra £80, which seems like a very good deal.</div>
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You can also increase your onboard memory from 4GB to 8GB for £160, which is expensive considering Crucial is currently selling an 8GB kit for £50. Unlike the part-polycarbonate Mac mini, the unibody mini's RAM is user-upgradeable, although other components such as the hard drive cannot be easily accessed.</div>
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<img alt="Apple mac mini 2011 - 2.5ghz" class="aligncenter" height="200" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-3-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-3-420-90.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="252" /></div>
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Both 2011 Mac mini models have a 500GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive, configurable to 750GB if you order through the Apple Online Store. This higher-end 2.5GHz model can also be customised with a 256GB solid state drive (SSD) instead, or even both a 256GB SSD and a 750GB HDD.</div>
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This is an excellent configuration that enables you to use your SSD as a boot volume and your more capricious hard drive for data storage, although it costs an extra £600.</div>
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For the first time in an Intel Mac mini, the high-end 2.5GB 2011 model has a discrete graphics processor – an AMD Radeon HD 6630M. This makes the new release far better at graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming.</div>
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Around the back, the new Mac mini is very much the same as the previous generation, offering generous connectivity options.</div>
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For connecting to a monitor, the Mini DisplayPort gives way for the Thunderbolt port. If you have a Mini DisplayPort screen, you can plug it straight into the Thunderbolt port, with no adapters required. There's also an HDMI port, which is ideal if you want to put it under your TV and use it as a media Mac, and an HDMI-to-DVI cable for connection to DVI displays.</div>
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For peripherals, alongside the new Thunderbolt port there's a FireWire 800 port and four USB 2.0 ports. It's a generous quantity, but they're a little close together – a large USB plug might well block an adjacent port. An SDXC card reader is included too, although it's awkwardly positioned around the back.</div>
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For internet connectivity, wireless N is joined by Bluetooth 4.0.</div>
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<img alt="Apple mac mini 2011 - 2.5ghz" class="aligncenter" height="189" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011-1-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011-1-420-90.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="252" /></div>
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As mentioned before, the optical drive has been removed, allowing extra space for more under-the-hood technology. If you need to access a CD or DVD on your mini but only occasionally, you can use Apple's Remote Disc feature to 'borrow' the optical drive of a Mac or PC on the same network. If you're likely to do so more often, it's best to buy an Apple SuperDrive USB optical drive for £66.</div>
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The 2011 Apple Mac mini comes with the new OS X 10.7 Lion operating system preinstalled, but a few applications have been dropped.</div>
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Lion doesn't support Rosetta, Apple's dynamic translator that allows PowerPC applications to run on Intel processors. As a result, software written purely for PowerPCs (as opposed to universal applications, that run natively on both architectures) can't be installed on the new minis.</div>
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If you're still using Microsoft Office 2004, for example, it's time to upgrade or abandon it before moving to Lion.</div>
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iLife Mac App Store licences come bundled with the new Macs, but only GarageBand, iPhoto and iMovie. iWeb and iDVD aren't included, and seem set to be discontinued. Lion also lacks Front Row, Apple's elegant but limited media centre application.</div>
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To learn more about Lion, read our in-depth Apple Mac OS X 10.7 Lion review.</div>
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The 2011 Apple Mac mini's Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors are far more powerful than their clock speed suggests. Don't assume that the 2.5GHz Core i5 used here is only marginally faster than the 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo used in the 2010 Mac minis.</div>
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Although dual core, the new chips' Hyper Threading feature means two threads can run on each core, giving a total of four virtual cores. This means it can run applications written to take advantage of multiple cores more efficiently. In our Cinebench tests, which assess the computer's 3D rendering capabilities, it almost doubled its predecessor's score when using every available core.</div>
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The new Sandy Bridge processors on the 2011 Mac minis also feature Turbo Boost 2.0. When faced with very processor-intensive tasks, this diverts resources from under-used cores and temporarily increases the CPU's clock speed. The 2.5GHz Core i5 processor can reach speeds of up to 3.2GHz, as long as power and temperature considerations allow.</div>
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The second generation Turbo Boost feature kicks in more often and for longer periods than that enjoyed by the first generation of Core i chips.</div>
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<img alt="Apple mac mini 2011 - 2.5ghz" class="aligncenter" height="189" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-2-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-2-420-90.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="252" /></div>
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As you'd expect, the addition of an AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics processor means the new 2011 Apple Mac mini is a far more capable gaming machine.</div>
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It ran<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Doom 3</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>at 138.4 frames per second (fps), which is over twice as fast as the 2010 Mac mini's 62.2fps.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Call of Duty 4</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>ran at just over 72fps, which is also impressive.</div>
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Of course, some games (<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Doom 3</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Call of Duty 4</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>included) are delivered on a physical disc that must remain in the optical drive during play. Unless you're happy enough to stick with titles sold on Apple's App Store and Steam, gamers should invest in a USB SuperDrive.</div>
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We won't get the most from the Thunderbolt port until a wider range of dedicated peripherals are available, but it's already showing its worth when it comes to versatility.</div>
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Up to six Thunderbolt devices can be daisy chained from a single port, and Mini DisplayPort monitors can be plugged in directly, without an adapter.</div>
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Its two 10Gbps data channels make it up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times quicker than USB 2.0, making it ideal for tasks that require high-speed data transfer, such as video editing.</div>
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<img alt="Apple mac mini 2011 - 2.5ghz" class="aligncenter" height="189" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011-1-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011-1-420-90.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="252" /></div>
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The 2011 Apple Mac mini dispenses with the optical drive, but uses the space for more under-the-hood technology. The high-end 2.5GHz 4GB model reviewed here includes an AMD Radeon HD 6630M – the first discrete graphics chip in an Intel Mac mini.</div>
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New Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors – or Core i7 with an optional upgrade – give the Mac mini a significant power boost. Hyper Threading allows two threads to run on each of the processor's two cores, spreading tasks across four virtual cores for greater speed and efficiency.</div>
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Turbo Boost 2.0 increases the processor's clock speed for short periods when demand is at its highest. The new Apple Mac minis also feature a high-speed Thunderbolt port, and Bluetooth 4.0.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">We liked</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Apple mac mini 2011 - 2.5ghz" class="aligncenter" height="200" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-3-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-3-420-90.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="252" /></span></div>
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The new Sandy Bridge processors are awesome, giving the 2011 Apple Mac mini a significant increase in power. It's great to have a discrete graphics chip too, especially if you use your mini to play games.</div>
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Thunderbolt will really shine when more peripherals are released, although at the moment, it's merely promising.</div>
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Apple wisely stuck to the same form factor as the 2010 release, with its aluminium unibody casing and internal transformer. It's an excellent piece of engineering, cramming in a lot of computer into a very small space.</div>
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The removal of the optical drive has allowed more technology to be crammed in. You can even customise the high-end mini to include both an SSD and a HDD.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">We disliked</span></div>
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The most obvious drawback with the new Mac mini is the loss of its optical drive. You can buy a portable USB SuperDrive for £66, but this is a somewhat inelegant solution, even though it's powered by the USB port and a good match for the mini.</div>
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Some of the Mac mini's online customisation options are expensive, too. This isn't much of a problem for memory, because you can buy that from a third party and fit it yourself, but if you want a bigger hard drive, you have to buy it from Apple.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Verdict</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Apple mac mini 2011 - 2.5ghz" class="aligncenter" height="189" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-2-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Mac%20mini%202011/mac%20mini%202011%20-2-420-90.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="252" /></span></div>
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Not everyone will tolerate the loss of the Mac mini's optical drive for playing CD-ROMs and DVDs, but with Remote Disc, the Mac Online Store, Steam and iTunes, you can probably get by without one.</div>
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And many would argue that the price drop for the entry-level model and the discrete graphics and second storage drive option for this high-end mini make it a price worth paying.</div>
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The 2011 Apple Mac mini's Sandy Bridge processors are much more capable than the Core 2 Duos they replace, and the Thunderbolt port is sure to show its worth over time.</div>
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With HDMI video-out alongside Thunderbolt, the Mac mini is still a useful media centre computer even without Front Row. Just add Plex or XBMC. But make sure you can get by without your PowerPC applications.</div>
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New operating system Lion drops support for Rosetta, so they can no longer be used.</div>
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Review: New Apple Mac mini 2011

The Apple Mac mini has come a long way since it was first introduced in 2005. The 2011 Mac mini refresh represents a radical change f...