The Apple Mac mini

So Apple's released the details on their new Mac mini, but we know you'd rather see 'em here with all the rest of the gadget goodness, so here you go! (Did we mention their site's been up and down?) So, as you can see, the slick anodized-aluminum box houses a slot-loading drive (DVD/CD-R), DVI (and VGA by included adapter), Ethernet (10/100, not Gigabit, unfortunately), USB 2.0, Firewire, audio out (but no audio in—this is a big deal!), a v.92 56k modem, and is 6 x 6 x 2.5-inches. It will be $499 with a 1.25GHz G4 processor and 40GB hard drive, and $599 with a 1.42GHz CPU and an 80GB drive.

Both will come standard with 256MB RAM, a 32MB ATI Radeon 9200, iLife '05, but can be customized with up to 1GB of RAM, an 80GB drive, integrated Bluetooth and Airport Extreme (what the rest of us call 802.11g WiFi). It should be in stores Jan. 22nd, but some time around Jan. 20th we'll more than likely be getting the first reports of huge supply shortages, and on Jan. 23rd we expect they'll be all sold out—this is going to be a huge seller to Mac first-timers, and a necessity to Mac vets who want a second box in the den. So it goes!

[Alan Smith @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Beautiful!!!

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Yeah, so Can I mount one of those crappy PS1 screens on it? hmm? I remember McDonalds used to have small big macs called Mini Macs. Im my experience, andthing with cheese is good. Does this have cheese?

[rafe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

the cube redux? no thanks...

[John DJ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

B-e-a-utiful! i want one!
btw site isnt down! just running V.V.V. slow! i saw the ipod shuffle on there! its on the far right on the panel of ipods, looks quite cool, value for money!!!

[iband @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

On the one hand, great for college dorms; on the other, easier to steal.

[SteveG @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Ugly!!!

[coli G @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Steve Jobs:

"Hmmm. People seem to keep buying ipods for 500 bucks, but then buy pcs for 500 bucks.... hmmm.. something about that number...."

[Adam Royer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Mac mini.

[John DJ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

dam i meant far left soz for double post

[Cord @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

DVI...Bluetooth keyboard and mouse....El Gato....I'm thinking my new DVR/Home Media System. No need for Airport Express Airtunes

[vanillacoke @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

looks like a cube replacement for me!

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I'm disappointed with the lack of audio inputs/outputs. This would have made for a killer portable recording studio right out of the box.

[DustBunny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

" Mac mini sports a FULL-FLEDGED ATI Radeon 9200 with 32MB"

HAHAHAHAHAHAAH

ohhh man, but there is more still:

" Go ahead, just try to play Halo on a budget PC. Most say they’re good for 2D games only. That’s because an “integrated Intel graphics” chip steals power from the CPU and siphons off memory from system-level RAM. You’d have to buy an extra card to get the graphics performance of Mac mini, and some cheaper PCs don’t even have an open slot to let you add one."

hehehehehe, the BS meter just went off the dial.

[Rob Hawley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I think this will replace my Dell PC.

Interesting about the no audio in. I expect we will see a white plastic USB or Firewire headset soon.

[seaotter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

pretty looking. does it uses the normal, pc variety DDR ram? wish it was a bit more cheaper though. asian's currency doenst bode well with USD nowadays

[Howard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

There isn't a microphone/line-in at all for this? WHY? (This makes me wonder: Are there USB or IEEE devices that can provide line-in?) Maybe a hack will be found to put in a line-in.

I was hoping this would be $399 instead. :-

[jlongman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Why would you use a Mac Mini with an Apple LCD when you could get an iMac? Anyone?

[encosion @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

By the time you've plugged in your usb mouse and keyboard, you've lost the 2 x USB ports right?

[Paul Robichaux @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

If you want line-in, get a Griffin iMic.

[Brian Behrend @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Bluetooth? Wifi?

It's great that it's small and cute, but the 3240324 USB devices to use my Bluetooth mouse/kbd and to get on my wireless network kinda ruin things.

[Alex Chen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I'm getting one. This is going to be a HOT product. Who else is getting one?

[elbaso @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

As a long-time Windows user eyeing the Mac, but concerned about the cost, this might be the point at which I'll try it out. Can't beat that price!
If this will work with a KVM, I won't even need to make that much room for it on my desk!

[Lev Lvovsky @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Griffin makes the iMic, which is a USB line in if you absolutely must have crappy line quality. I've almost never used the line in on my PB for just that reason. If you want to record with any kind of quality, get a firewire breakout box.

[koz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Yeah, someone needs to invent a USB hub.

You would get a mac Mini and use it with your old VGA monitor. Note the Apple page doesn't even mention Apple LCD options.

[Eric Rice @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

You'd use it because you already have a monitor/LCD of another brand.

[Mike Corley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

No man, your supposed to use the built in Bluetooth for your keyboard and mouse leaving you all your USB ports open!

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

"Why would you use a Mac Mini with an Apple LCD when you could get an iMac? Anyone?"

Because poor graduate students like me can use the DVI-to-video adaptor and plug it into an HDTV and have instant home entertainment system.

This thing has "convergence" written all over it...and convergence is good for people who don't have megabucks to spend on gadgets.

[mmurphy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

#15, many people already have a monitor (e.g., from their PC) and therefore wouldn't need to spend $$$ on an Apple LCD.

#16, some USB keyboards (like the M$ Natural Keyboard I'm typing on now) offer additional USB ports to "make up" for the one it uses. Plus, USB hubs are cheap.

[Karl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

No audio in isn't a big deal. Lots of recent Macs don't have one. There are USB microphones and various other audio input thingies that use USB or FireWire.

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Its *budget*...so of course it's not going to have some of the things we'd like.

My biggest beef, it's not wireless out of the box. The Airport Extreme is "optional".

[jdaas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

RE: #16 - you wouldn't. That's just for visual effect. I can't imagine why anyone would pay $1,000 for the Apple display and $500 for the G4 mini when they can get a G5 iMac for the same total price. Or am I missing something myself?

As far as the two USB slots - one can always use a cheap hub or a keyboard with additional slots to save 'em, right?

[Grandpa @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Hey look it's a computer. And it's small. It doesn't hold as much music as an iPod though.

I think Apple has finally jumped the shark with the mini and the shuffle. Form before function.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Cool. Makes good business sense. I like it.

[handrail @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

great idea...i could see it replacing the budget pc. not for me though.

and i totally agree with DustBunny re: the video card thing. then again, if you are buying a mac, you're not a hardcore pc gamer anyway.

[handrail @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

great idea...i could see it replacing the budget pc. not for me though.

and i totally agree with DustBunny re: the video card thing. then again, if you are buying a mac, you're not a hardcore pc gamer anyway.

[Harley3k @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

interesting... so can I hook that bad boy up to my Sony HDTV in the living room and attach a bluetooth wireless KB and Mouse to it? That'd make a nice little living room PC.

[Sound in is easy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

If you want sound in, get this: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/

[Al @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Mine is on order.

Stuff of interest: They obviously are going for the multi-computer user market, as they're mentioning KVM switches a lot. I also wouldn't be surprised if they're using this as a springboard into media center contention...

[Dee Too @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

It is becoming more and more apparent that Apple gets it.

[Rick James @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

where the hell do I plug in my printer when I've plugged in my keyboard and mouse? Does anyone at apple have a brain?

[macbot3000 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Here's an inexpensive audio in:

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/

[Robert Hawley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Everyone sure that is a standard headset jack?

Just thinking it might be a combined mic/ear jack.

[Dan Selzer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

re: the audio

why would anyone need a crappy 1/8" audio in? If you plan on doing anything serious with audio with this thing surely you'd be using a usb or firewire interface. Those USB audio interfaces are quite popular, and the pros who don't go as far as using pci cards have their M-boxs and MOTU 828s and Digi002s etc.

If you want a "killer portable studio" or whever, you'd really need to invest in a better interface no matter WHAT model mac you're using.

[Brian Behrend @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

That's good that internal Bluetooth and WiFi are options, I couldn't find it anywhere at first. How much is it going to cost to add that in? I'm guessing $100 total which brings the cost up to $800. Plus the $100 to upgrade to 1GB of RAM and you're at $900.

Not as cheap as I thought. That sucks. Still really cool though.

[Mike Miller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

The lack of audio in is no big deal. Griffin's got a USB audio in solution for $35. No audio in is cheaper for the 97% of the people that'll never need it.

If Mom buys this, _I'll_ buy her the mous keyboard and video...it's worth that much to never have to support her Vaio again!

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Its *budget*...so of course it's not going to have some of the things we'd like.

My biggest beef, it's not wireless out of the box. The Airport Extreme is "optional".

[Robert Hawley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Also interesting that there is a modem.

On the too bad side - too bad there isn't a front mounted IR receiver.

[Roy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

What....Radeon 9200 32MB. Oh boy, a two year old graphics card and 32MB video ram. That really sucks, I can't believe they didn't but at least a ATI Mobility Radeon 9800 or higer in it?????

[koz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

They're mentioning KVMs because the entire purpose of this box is to get more PC users to switch to Mac. Thus the "BYO monitor" stuff. And the "use your USB keyboard" stuff.

Apple saw a entry point in all the iPod users switch from PC to Mac, this is a way to open that door a little wider. Of course that is going to piss off the hardcore gamerz like Dust Bunny that think every shiny new toy is meant for them.

[Mike Miller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

"where the hell do I plug in my printer when I've plugged in my keyboard and mouse? Does anyone at apple have a brain?"

My usb keyboard has two usb ports on the back..if yours doesn't, then you can get a 4 port USB hub for less than $10 after rebate. Either way, it doesn't sound like Apple's problem.