The adoption gap between Apple and Microsoft seems to be narrowing.  Microsoft is the clear winner on entry price alone.  Or is it?  Apple makes a tremendous little computer called the Mini.  It’s designed for people leery of Apple’s higher cost iMacs and MacBooks — Pro or otherwise, with a solid entry price of $599.  I bought one of those in 2008, because I was leery of making the leap and spending a fortune on a gorgeous MacBookPro and then hating it.  The current model features the following:

• 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB L3 cache (for a quad core with twice the cache and double the hard drive space, see the $799 model)
• 500GB hard drive
• Intel HD Graphics 4000
• 4GB RAM (user upgradeable to 16GB)
• Thunderbolt digital video output
  • Native Mini DisplayPort output
  • DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (sold separately)
  • VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
  • Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
• Audio line in minijack (digital/analog)
• Audio line out/headphone minijack (digital/analog)
• HDMI port supports multichannel audio output
• Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone
• Built-in speaker
• Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)
• FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
• Four USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
• HDMI port
• SDXC card slot
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Audio in/out
• IR receiver
• Wi-Fi 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking;³ IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
• Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
• Ethernet 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
• What’s new to this deal with October is the collection of apps included in addition to OS X Mavericks (most of these were included before, but the productivity app inclusion is new):  iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, iBooks, Safari, Mail, FaceTime, Messages, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, TimeMachine (backup), PhotoBooth, iTunes, GameCenter, Notes, Preview, and MacAppStore.

Looking on Amazon, it didn’t take me long to find a Dell Inspiron i660-5041 BK Desktop for $549.99.  Here’s what it comes equipped with standard:

• Processor: 3^rd gen Intel Core i5-3340
• Display: No Monitor
• Operating system: Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit, English
• Memory (RAM): 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz
• Optical drive: DVD±RW Tray Load Drive 16X
• Video graphics: Intel® HD Integrated Graphics
• Media card reader: 8-in-1 Media Card Reader and USB 3.0
• Bluetooth®: Bluetooth – No
• Audio: Integrated 5.1 Audio / No Speakers
• Preinstalled software: McAfee TPeaks Live Safe – 30 Day, Microsoft® Office Trial (OHT13M), Additional SW, Cycle 5 W7 INS DT w/o Webcam (CY5W7IN), CMS – Cyberlink Media Suite Essentials

These are comparable machines.  The Windows machine comes with some hardware the Apple machine lacks.  The Apple Machine has some hardware features the Windows machine lacks.  You’ll need to add your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse for both.

The software included on the Apple is fully licensed and not trial-ware.  Use it or not, but it’s yours to use the first day or the 400th day you own the computer.  If you want a free antivirus program for your Apple, I highly recommend Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac.  It runs entirely in the background and checks for updates every hour.  If it finds an update, it installs it.  You don’t have to enable this feature, but why wouldn’t you?

If you really believe you need an optical drive (when was the last time you used it — think?  To install software maybe?  Apple’s software is all available via the App Store or from seller websites (personally, for any critical software, I recommend you purchase direct from the seller). They offer an external USB drive for $79, but any USB external drive will work, and many are available for less money elsewhere.

My title is Apple’s new strategy.  The strategy is to give the Operating System and major applications away for free when you buy their hardware.  It comes with the cheapest MacMini to the most expensive Mac Pro.  Out of the box, you have a functional machine (the Mini and the Pro will require a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, but the iMac and the laptops will not). It isn’t filled with fluffy trialware you may or may not ever use (mostly not).

I love my Mac Mini.  It’s a seven inch by seven inch square.  It sits unobtrusively on my desk.  No unwieldly desktop behemoth to worry about.  I’m anxiously awaiting news of an anticipated update, but, frankly, the one on the market right now (I plan for the $799 machine this time around) is very good.

When you’re talking the Mac Mini, you can’t say Apple is too expensive.  Feel free to talk among yourself in comments (just be respectful of one another).