Apple today unveiled a completely redesigned Mac mini, featuring up to twice the graphics performance, a new HDMI port and a new SD card slot, all in an amazingly compact aluminum enclosure. Mac mini is the world’s most energy efficient desktop and starting at $699, is the most affordable way to enjoy Mac OS, iLife or Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server.
“The sleek, aluminum Mac mini packs great features, versatility and value into an elegant, amazingly compact design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “With twice the graphics performance, HDMI support and industry-leading energy efficiency, customers are going to love the new Mac mini.”
Created with the unibody construction process pioneered by Apple, the new Mac mini features a compact aluminum enclosure just 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches thin. A new integrated power supply eliminates the need for an external power adapter, reducing overall system volume by 20 percent and keeping cable clutter to a minimum. A removable panel underneath provides quick access for memory expansion. Mac mini is incredibly versatile, effortlessly connecting to existing peripherals such as mice, keyboards and digital displays, while the new HDMI output connects Mac mini to an HDTV and the new SD card slot enables easy transfer of photos and videos from a digital camera.
Inside its sleek, compact enclosure, the new Mac mini includes the fastest integrated graphics processor on the market today. With 48 processing cores, the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor delivers up to twice the graphics performance of its predecessor, making Mac mini ideal for graphics intensive applications or visually rich games. Mac mini comes standard with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB hard and 2GB of RAM for $699.
With twice the graphics performance, the new Mac mini is still the world’s most energy efficient desktop. The new Mac mini reduces power consumption by an incredible 25 percent to less than 10W at idle, less than half the power required by competing systems. Mac mini meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.** The new aluminum enclosure is highly recyclable and Mac mini uses PVC-free components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants and features material-efficient system and packaging designs.
Mac mini comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand® which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.
Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server fulfills all the server needs of a workgroup or small business including email, calendar, file serving, Time Machine® backup, Wiki Server, Podcast Producer and more. Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server uses less than 11W of power at idle, a fraction of the power consumed in comparison to typical entry-level tower servers. Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server is faster than before with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, two 500GB hard drives now running at 7200 rpm, 4GB of RAM and supports unlimited clients for $999.
The new Mac mini is shipping today and will be available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
The Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of US$699, includes:
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB of shared L2 cache
• 2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable up to 8GB
• a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• Gigabit Ethernet
• four USB 2.0 ports
• SD card slot
• one FireWire 800 port
• one HDMI port and one Mini DisplayPort
• HDMI to DVI video adapter
• combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
• combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)
Build-to-order options and accessories include up to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 500GB hard drive running at 5400 rpm, Apple Remote, Aperture 3, Final Cut Express 4, Logic Express, iWork (pre-installed), Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Apple 24 inch LED Cinema Display and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
The Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, for a suggested retail price of $999, includes:
• 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB of shared L2 cache
• 4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable up to 8GB
• two 500GB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• Gigabit Ethernet
• four USB 2.0 ports
• SD card slot
• one FireWire 800 port
• one HDMI port and one Mini DisplayPort
• HDMI to DVI video adapter
• combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
• combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)
Build-to-order options and accessories include up to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, External SuperDrive, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Apple 24 inch LED Cinema Display and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Find out more about Apple’s all new unibody Mac mini here.
Swapping components in the previous mini was not easy, until someone posts a breakdown, the new mini maybe more accessible.
The Mini has always had a 2.5″ drive, which have generally been 5400RPM, sure there are 7200RPM 2.5″ drives, but they cost more. It may not be much depending on the model, but it adds up.
If the PC is now a ‘bus’ does this become a Mini-Bus?
too much $$
@bread/jake
Apple has better stats than we do. I can only assume the $699 Mac Mini price gas been thought through very well. To me it sounds like there are more people these days who are finally willing to look at value over price.
At $999 for the server with unlimited users, it’s downright cheap. That’s a price no one can come close to.
There are other ways to secure a Mini other than the lame Kensington lock slot.. Used those, easy to over come..
@ Jim:
If i was Apple, the Mac Mini would not have an internal CD/DVD drive at all — it’d be a separate accessory (likely identical to the external drive for the Air).
I like the fact it has DisplayPort and Firewire 800.
I think it’s ridiculous to add an HDMI port instead of just tossing in a DisplayPort/HDMI adapter. HDMI is on its way out!
it is pretty expensive to some people, who aren’t really considering the engineering feat that they’re getting. I suggest they get last years model for around $500 on clearance if it makes them feel better, for me personally, the premium is worth it. I understand I can get this new model cheaper when the next version comes out, or a PC otherwise, but complaining about Apple charging a premium is pointless, it may not be what you want to pay, but it’s a fair price for the ENGINEERING you’re getting, not simply the price of the parts.
Sexy, sexy machine. Makes my old Mac mini look like a dinosaur. But I, too, think it’s a tad too expensive.
I too am a bit disappointed in the price versus specs. I’ve been looking for an upgrade to go with my old 23 inch Cinema Display. An increase in basic model price, an aging CPU and an ancient, slow, small HD make it a slightly bitter pill to digest, . . . especially when I’ve gotten so much value in my i7 iMac and 3G/64 iPad purchases.
I know this is a new design and somewhat higher specs, and Snow Leopard, . . . and that is a true value for anyone knowing about Apple equipment, but somehow I was hoping for a bit more performance.
I thought everyone said the the Mac was going away? How do you use iOS with the mini?
Man, this new TV sure is expensive.
I guess it’s because they changed the name….?
Glad to see the SD slot, sad to see it on the back which will be a pain in many media setups.
Also, HDMI isn’t going anywhere, it is becoming ubiquitous in consumer video gear–HDTVs, Digital SLRs, Video cameras, all BR players, DVRs, Cable/Satellite boxes, etc.
And from what I understand, HDMI 1.4 actually matches DisplayPort resolution specs.
Years ago the Mini was announced at $499. Then they bumped it to $599. A bit pricey but not bad considering the specs. This one is just over the top. $699? We’re nearly in Macbook range! Count me out.
“starting at $699, is the most affordable way to enjoy Mac OS”
Only if you are able to do the input and output through sensitive thought moving or some other sci-fi method. I would still need a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. Just by itself is stands up to a macbook with a broken screen and dito keyboard. They sell on ebay for around half this price or less. Oh well, what I’m I whining about. It is just another opinion that it is a nice cosmetic overhaul but too expensive. Way too, too.
Totally new case … that looks the same. New graphics chip … only twice as fast? Same CPUs? Higher base price … same slow HD speed? Middle model just … gone?
OK, no need to be terribly critical. More RAM is excellent, getting rid of the power brick is an improvement, the SD card slot is worth talking about, and the Server model is still way under-priced at just barely under a Grand. Can you get a generic PC for that price? Sure. Then you’d have to go and spend that and more for the software you’ll need for it.
They could have done better, they still did pretty well.
Good (enough) job, Apple.
Give me the Apple approved cable decoder box connection to my Optimum service and the cable DVR and my old TiVo box are out of their. I my go by tonight because I hear President BO is on tonight to tell us he looked at the Gulf water 4 times and he is thinking about all the time.
Jersey, your hate speech is inappropriate in this forum.
Jersey, maybe you can take your wind bag down to the gulf and help with the clean up.
Steve is a progressive, burn.
There are lots of little improvements here, from the integrated power supply (something I’ve wanted to see for years) to easier access for RAM upgrades. But it’s still hard to access the HD, so businesses that do their own maintenance won’t like that.
But the value proposition for the base $699 unit remains debatable. For $400 more one can get the base iMac which provides a faster processor, more RAM, faster drive, wireless keyboard and mouse, and a terrific screen. (One can also compare this against the Macbook, though the Mini is not a mobile device.)
The server option has more to recommend it, as one gets more RAM, larger faster drives (though no optical) plus the server software. I long ago paid almost as much to buy a copy of Xenix/386 or Interactive UNIX; for even less now (considering inflation) one gets the computer too!
imac doesnt compare, since i’ll hook this up to my samsung 32 inch 1080p HDTV.
Too all those who think it`s too “pricey”. Build your own dedicated low wattage HTPC (using quality, not shit bag parts) and see how much you spend. I did (using Linux based XBMC to manage my media) the price difference is minimal.
It’s nice to know Apple still hasn’t made the perfect device for everyone yet. Let’s me know humans are still individuals with different likes and ideas.
This is the Apple TV that I would buy!
Blu-Ray would make it nicer, but you can do that externally I suppose.
This is perfect for a media server.
I work with QuarkXpress and am using an early 2007 white iMac with 2.16 GHz processor, 2GB RAM and ATI Radeon X1600 graphics. It was supplied by my employer, but I’ve been thinking of replacing it with a Mac mini and waited to see the new specs.
My question is, has anyone worked with QuarkXpress and one of the new MacBooks/MacBook Pros with NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics?
I’m thinking the updated 320M in the mini, even though it’s integrated, would work with Quark as well as the old ATI Radeon X1600, especially if I upped the RAM to 4GB, which I would want to do anyway.
for the first time ever, i may be considering a mini. my iMac G5 died at the office, repair costs not worth it at $650. so i already have the bluetooth keyboard and mouse and printer. but a display…..$899 for a new 24″ display would make me just buy a new iMac instead. i’ve NEVER shopped for a display in my life. can anyone suggest something potenitally 24″ or smaller (20″?) that might work really well with this new model mini, that i can find on ebay or something? you could give me a huge leg up shopping for an item that i am totally unfamiliar with, and reading the specs are a complete snooze. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.