Mac mini updated with HDMI, aluminum unibody, and SD card reader
By Vlad Savov 
posted June 15th 2010 4:01AM
posted June 15th 2010 4:01AM
Don't fret if you were looking to drop the optical drive, Apple retains the config option that allows you to add in a second HDD in lieu of its DVD burner. You can grab two 500GB plate spinners, Snow Leopard Server (we thought Apple only had one OS version?), 4GB of RAM, and a 2.66GHz Intel chip for $999. Finally, the new enclosures will come with user-accessible memory slots courtesy of a removable panel at the bottom of the case. Neat that the designers didn't take the unibody idea too literally.
Apple Unveils All New Mac mini
CUPERTINO, California-June 15, 2010-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® X, 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. "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.
Pricing & Availability
The new Mac mini is shipping today and will be available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
The Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $699 (US), 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); and
* 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 (US), 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); and
* 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.
*Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed within the EPA Energy Star 5.0 database as of June 2010.
**EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.
***Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed within the EPA Energy Star Small Scale Server database as of June 2010.
Loading Comment...
@xKNGx
Quick link to Specs page:
http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html
The new mac mini doesnt even look like the one in the pic?
Its like 2x thinner...
@xKNGx
They cut it in Half!?!!? O.o
(from Apple's Site)
Way more than meets the eye.
A 1.4-inch-thin, aluminum unibody enclosure hides a powerful, full-size computer. And a removable bottom panel gives you easy access to memory.
Learn about the design of Mac mini
2x graphics. 2x fun.
With up to two times faster graphics than ever before, Mac mini brings high performance to everything from playing 3D games to checking email.
Learn about the features of Mac mini
World's most energy-efficient desktop computer.
Mac mini is even more environmentally friendly. When idle, it uses less than 10 watts — something no other desktop can do.2
Learn about Mac mini and the environment
...And naturally they forget the entire point of the Mac mini, which was to make it more affordable. Ah well, more Hackintoshes to go around.
@Shunnabunich
More affordable? From Apple?
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
ha.
Yeah right.
@xKNGx
The shitty GeForce 320M makes it pretty much useless
@huzzlehoff
2x graphics. 2x fun.
With up to two times faster graphics than ever before, Mac mini brings high performance to everything from playing 3D games to checking email.
Yeah, pretty awesome 3D games with shitty shared memory LOL @ Apple bullsh*.
@Stotherd They were cheaper when Apple first intro'd the G4 Mac minis. I remember Steve saying something about $499? Clearly, they've lost sight of even that price point.
@uckApple Yes.
@xKNGx
And we all thought the iPad was a niche market. Who on earth is going to spend this kind of money on such old technology?
They could have atleast put an i3 in it for that money.
@huzzlehoff useless on a windows machine
@mooex Please explain why Photoshop and Premier Pro are useless on a windows machine? Has Adobe crippled them or something?
No one seems to have noticed that the server version is actually $50 cheaper than the low end model with all the specs upgraded meaning Apple is giving a $50 discount to use OS X Server.
Also not mentioned, the width is now 7.7" instead of the previous 6.5" so you can actually stack a time capsule on top of this now, not bad.
@Excalibur - No, they are identical.
@Excalibur from my experience, its the same, just organized differently
@xKNGx make it around $500 to be used as a thin client.
@huzzlehoff
LOL....
@Wesscoast
Exactly
@mooex
Yes, playing games is totally different on Mac. Mac doesn't need graphics card, cause it runs on your own smugness. Idiot.
@Shunnabunich
From 549 euro to 799 euro. BIG FAIL.
@uckApple Don't listen to the haters. Even the current Minis can run Windows 7 and CS5 relatively well. Despite what people tend to tell you, both the Mini and the iMac both have integrated graphics. As long as you're careful with your memory usage, you should have no problem. My plan is to have one of these new Minis to run my video software for my T2i. That's 1080pat 24p. The trick is to lock yourself into a particular hardware and software combination and stick with it until you're ready to upgrade EVERYTHING.
Hope that was helpful. Good luck.
@CubeGuy
An Atom based netbook can run Windows 7... not really a fair comparison.
@huzzlehoff i have a game concole i dont need a mac or windows machine to play games. i dont think apple community even care about games, and even if they did, install bootcamp and it will still run better then a windows machine. i own most devices at sometime. ur calling me a idiot cuz a mac doesnt play games, WTF do i care, enjoy playing ur games on ur 17in screen ill enjoy my game concoles on my 65in!
@mooex
That's just...
"I dont think apple community even care about games"
Yeah RIGHT
"and even if they did, install bootcamp and it will still run better then a windows machine."
What, because of the less capable hardware, eh.
Hahaha. Think with reason, fanboy.
@huzzlehoff u make me laugh, i was a hardcore windows fan, but now im a fan of devices that work. (not windows machines) i wonder have you used another machine besides windows? i can hear ur windows pride in ur sentences. I dont have time for devices that dont work. i spent a s@#tload of money on a windows pc the best everything. all trash
@mooex
You make me laugh?! Haha, okay. Trust me, the laugh's on you.
@mooexYou are a fanboy and love isteve
@huzzlehoff sure the laugh is on a IT technician
@uckApple yes.
@segers909
Ordered. Come to daddy.
@xKNGx: Now I KNOW not to buy any Mac until they all have HDMI..... Now that Apple put it in the Mini.
@xKNGx WOw. Simply the most magical and most technologically advanced Mac mini of all time....
/s
@Shunnabunich
The reason why you won't see it at the $499 pricepoint is because the iPad now fills that spot.
@mooex Well, as soon as Apple can write something as basic as a decent filesystem browser (Finder? That thing should be called Totally Lost) and they can fix their networking issues (25 minutes to load a directory on an NAS?), then perhaps Mac OS may come even close to what Windows 7 users take for granted every day.
@Shunnabunich I totally agree with you. I put down $1,788 on a i5 MacBook Pro a few months ago. I was depending on the Mac Mini as the main computer/media center for my room. With the way they price it, it seems like it would be a better deal for someone to go with the white MacBook or maybe an iMac since you also get the built in monitor, keyboard, magic mouse. I would of taken the old Mac Mini specs w/ a new casing and call it a day!
@huzzlehoff He's talking about photoshop, not games you moron.
@Shunnabunich
Seriously, when I was shopping for video components a couple months back the standard version was $599. Why the price increase?
@xKNGx
I've never owned a Mac (other than iPods), but I would buy this if it had Blu Ray. Can its graphics card not handle it? Otherwise, why exclude it?
@Shunnabunich agreed, the mini was supposed to be a "entry" level mac. Doesn't look like it anymore... your just better off to get a macbook, at least then the portability actually means something.
Whats hilarious is that they advertise it playing TF2, for the 2.6ghz price point you could easily build a PC that could run just about every game on max settings. I kinda doubt this thing could run even tf2 on max...
@Reluttr
Ok, they put the SD card reader on the BACK!?!? Seriously? I know having it on the front would have changed the historic appearance of just a slot load optical drive on these things, but this is a classic example of form over function. Not that that's new for Apple, I guess.
@xKNGx Oh La La, lets repackage the same computer but make it $100 more expensive, just to be a pita. I was going to get one of these to use as my media server in the living room, but once you start adding the things to make it work right it gets kind of expensive.
@John H really good critique. I'm glad someone noticed that.
@HJTravels
That's why you buy the server version.
Take a look at this breakdown...
(Apple.com prices)
$499 - iPad
$699 - Mac Mini
$999 - Macbook
$1199 - Macbook Pro
$1199 - iMac
$1499 - Macbook Air
$2499 - Mac Pro
See the trend? The only good part is the cost between Macbook Pro and iMac.
@cpd5c45 Hmm, couldn't possibly be a crap nas could it? I configure Macs to connect to corporate networks all the time, cheap NAS boxes with poorly written software tend to not work very well.
@mrteeth
I was talking about 3D games you failure
@xKNGx
Warning! Angry fanboys on the move
@John H - Yes, the fingerprints of the Style Police really show with that. The other part of that problem is when you're fiddling around blind in the back to find the slot, you'll often end up dislodging a cable. That happens a lot when I'm trying to plug in USB devices, especially with the video cable because the contact pressure is too low and Apple sees fit to not have a screw lock on the socket. Apple can never admit that some "ugly" stuff actually works really well. At the very least, the SD slot should be on side like the DVD slot on an iMac.
@xKNGx Check out the price in europe
Small Version: 809 Euro = 997,4161 US-Dollar
Big Version: 1149 Euro = 1 416,6021 US-Dollar -> thats 420$ MORE than in the US, for the SAME product.
I think they want to screw me over..