Hi
So I got myself a Mac Mini M1 with AppleCare+ cause I don't want to spend too much on computer. Since performance of M1 is stunning, I thought, what the heck? I can get performance of i7 for only €660 (and it's Apple!). I've been running it since Monday and the experience was quite literally a bag of mixed feelings.
Installation
Ergonomics are bad on Mac Mini. You have audio jack and usb cables on the back. That's not convenient at all. In order to connect something, I have to turn the case around. "But there are docks?" I shouldn't have to pay €200 for aftermarket docks because ports are on the back.
Outputs feel too tight like usb or audio jack. Power cable is attached way too tight. When refitting power cable (more on that later), I accidentally dented Mac against monitor stand. To be precise, you need to hold Mac really tight otherwise it will be pushed back.
Configuring OS
Mac Mini came with BigSur (11.6). My previous OSX was 10.13. I like BigSur. It feels like improved OSX without completely breaking it or re-designing it (something Microsoft is commonly guilty of).
There was a hiccup though. When setting it up for the first time, there was a screen to choose wireless network. After selecting network, I got a spinning ball for about 10 minutes without any useful prompts. Is it stuck? Is it updating? After 10 minutes it moved to the next step but I feel this particular step could have been better.
Performance
M1 is f#####n amazing! On my MBP 13" 2015, it would take 12-15 min to install Microsoft Office. This one managed to do it in 2. Everything super fast and smooth. I can have 3 YouTube videos, Teams video conference call and 10 different apps opened. Everything is super smooth.
It's also dead silent. Like no sound or noise at all. Temperatures are amazing too. I am checking them via iStat 6. On average, it is 30-35C degrees. It's cooler than my own body! 
Sound
This... was shockingly bad. Mac Mini has built-in speaker but I use it mainly as a second ringing device for Teams, nothing else. Now let's focus on 3.5 audio jack. I own 1MORE triple driver IEMs (earphones) that have metal casing. When plugging them in, I can ear audible hum (ground issue). There is also noticeable electric discharge on my keyboard (usb Apple with numpad) as well as casing of earphones omegle.
When touching either case or keyboard with finger, the hum is gone. But after using it for 10-15min, I get pin-and-needles sensation. It's not static electricity, it's clearly leaking actual DC voltage though audio jack. Tried Apple's earphones which don't have voltage leak issue but hum is still their (despite not so noticeable).
This is also how I managed to dent my Mac. Someone suggested re-attaching the power cable. Others suggested to check house wiring or different sockets. Tried using the same socket as my MBP (no ground) issue but did not help.
In the end, I had to hook up Mac Mini to Cambridge Audio Plus with Denon 2000 as using any kind of earphones is sub-optimal experience. You might wonder why there is leakage? Mac Mini is not grounded even if you use 3-prong plug. Why? It uses IEC 60320 C7 cable type which does not have ground. This is the first time, I see a computer that uses C7 instead of C5. I've been using computers for 10 years and even those crappy netbooks for $300 would have decent power (C5 cable).
For the record, I had a similar issue with MacBook Pro which I resolved via using power extension cable which has proper ground. Also, if you ever noticed MBPs have 4-pin power connector. The ones on the very end stick out a bit more. That's the ground pins. So when attached to power, the whole thing is grounded, not just power cable itself.
Conclusion
Mac Mini M1 is mediocre machine with blazingly fast cpu (SoC). The ergonomics are cumbersome. Ports are too tight. There is no proper ground and with removed optical, sound capabilities are subpar at best chatrandom.
Am I excited about Mac Mini? No, it's not Apple's claimed level of quality and standard. It's just bad.
Am I excited about M1? HELL YEAH! It's about time someone should Intel on their monopolistic pricing for high-performance cpus.
Will I continue using this Mac? Yes. 14-day policy is gone as I couldn't collect it earlier due to Covid-related delays. Would I have returned it even if I had 14-day policy still in place? Probably not.
