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Mac mini Specifications & Review
Apple redesigned the Mac mini for the first time for 2010. The stout square shape was replaced with a flatter, more Time Machine-like shape with much more easily accessible innards.
With a 2.4GHz Penryn family Core 2 Duo with 3MB L2 cache (theres a 2.66GHz CPU build-to-order option) running a 1066Mhz frontside bus, and an NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics chipset that annexes up to 256MB of system memory, bringing the mini essentially up to par with the 13 inch MacBook and MacBook Pro rather than using the latest Intel Core i silicon. The new Core i CPUs are significantly faster than the Core 2 Duo family, but alas, Intel has thus far balked at licensing NVIDIA to produce integrated graphics chipsets to support this new generation of processors, so going that route wouldve mandated using lesspowerful Intel GPU hardware.
The Mac mini is very appealing, this latest one the most desirable yet - representing an excellent value for the money, with its 320 GB standard hard drive, support for up to 8 GB of RAM, and much better array of I/O ports than you can get in any Mac laptop.
Continue to read our full Mac mini review.
The new Mac mini is shipping now through the Apple Store ( http://www.apple.com ), Apples 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.
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