Apple today announced that the Mac mini, the world’s most energy efficient desktop, is now faster, offers more storage and comes standard with double the memory. Starting at $599, the entry level Mac mini features a faster 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, a 160GB hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a SuperDrive.
The $799 Mac mini features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory and a larger 320GB hard drive. Apple now offers a $999 Mac mini that is specially configured with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server.
Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server features two 500GB hard drives for a total of 1TB of server storage in the tiny 6.5-inch square by 2-inch tall Mac mini enclosure.
Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server is available from the Apple Store and Apple’s retail stores.
More info here.
Unfortunately, no. The G3, G4 and G5 iMacs don’t allow for use as a monitor display. In fact, that was the case with all iMacs until today with the top of the line allowing an external source.
To all- if your thinking that DVI with an HDMI converter will do the trick-think again. The fact is that unlike HDMI which relays both digital and audio signals, DVI only does video not sound. You will have to continue using your Audi out on your mac if you plan to do audio. Dissapointing I know, but I’m basing this on experience.
We’ve used a mac mini as an intranet server for well over 2 years, and it’s by far the most stable mac I’ve ever had to deal with. Not one single hiccup, and it’s really a 24/7 setup used by a daily average of 25 people, pushing their stuff back and forth. Obviosly, we have Drobo drives and peripherals hooked up, since the machine originally wasn’t really designed as a server. Oh, and it’s silent.
output audio (optical) to… 5.1 receiver?
@ cw
> Can I use my G5 imac screen with the mini?
Not in a conventional way. But you can use the iMac G5 as a second display (over a network connection) using ScreenRecycler
http://www.screenrecycler.com/home.html
and
http://www.jinx.de/JollysFastVNC.html
Using a gigabit wired Ethernet connection, the screen refresh rate will be pretty fast, although it will not be as fast as a real display connected to a real video port.
Note: You can actually use ANY computer that can be networked and run a VNC client as the second display to any Mac that can run ScreenRecycler. I use it myself with an old Linux PC laptop as the “third display” on my Intel iMac.
I too have been using a Mac Mini as a server for sometime. I have Leopard server running 24/7. It works for my business (Filemaker Server) and for personal use. I have a static IP so I can easily connect via afp remotely, as well as to the Filemaker Server database.
The Mac Mini is one of the best computers I have ever purchased. It is very reliable and solid. One thing about it is that the ventilation is pretty good for Apple. Apple always has trouble with ventilation because of their streamlined designed but the Mac Mini has very good air flow.
From its small form factor, to the rubber bottom, it is awesome. When I got it 1 year ago, I put in a 500 MB 5400 RPM hard drive and 2 GB of RAM. This has served me well.
I like their server model. It makes sense. I don’t think I need to upgrade, my mini is pretty strong with the upgrades I did. But it would be nice to have all that extra speed, the graphics card, the double hard drives for 1 TB.
I hope people start buying them because they really are incredible.
This awesome piece of integrated technology is not available in the Apple Store Mexico.