The holidays. A time for joy, a time for gathering, a time for product smackdowns. So which is the better buy? A Mac mini or a festive honey baked ham? Let TUAW do the comparison work for you.
| Mac mini/Ham Smackdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | Mac Mini | Honey Baked Ham | Winner |
| Availability | Apple and a few select vendors | Widely available | Ham. |
| Cost | From $600, although the $800 model is far superior | $50 or so | With over an order of magnitude difference in price, the ham is the clear winner. |
| Environmental impact | Contains lots of chemicals but can run on relatively green energy sources, meeting Energy Star requirements. | Completely organic but may produce lots of emissions after a large meal with all the trimmings. | Tie. |
| Social impact | Lots of fun for your entire family. | Forbidden for consumption by many major religious denominations. | Mac mini. |
| Geometry | 6.5" x 6.5" x 2". A rectangular block. | Spiral cut, conforming to an aesthetically pleasing geometry of curves. | Ham. |
| TV Compatibility | Works well with both standard def and high def television sets, packaged with Apple Remote. | Can be eaten in front of both standard def and high def television sets, with any standard remote. | Tie. |
| Documentation | Packaged with full printed and electronic documentation. | No documentation needed. Unless you are Homer Simpson. | Tie. |
| Leopard Compatibility | Yes. | Yes. But it may give the Leopard indigestion. | Mac mini, by a hair. |
