There’s also a $799 model that bumps the processor up to a 2.5GHz Core i5 and adds in a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6630M GPU, and a new server configuration with dual 500GB drives and a 2GHz quad-core Core i7 for $999. Well, thank heavens for processor bumps, because that’s all gone away: the new base Mini features a 2.3GHz dual-core Core i5 and a newly-lowered $599 base price. The only problem was that the mini has traditionally offered fairly poor performance for the money: although it was given a strikingly beautiful case refresh last year, the internals were left to stagnate with a 2008-vintage Core 2 Duo processor, and the base price went up to $699. People love the damn thing - it’s one of the smallest and most power-efficient compact PCs available. (Quick: where are the minis located in your local Apple store?) No matter: we’ve seen minis used as everything from high-load-bearing servers to HTPCs to just plain old desktop machines. A few slight differences in the Mac keyboard layout might take some getting used to, though.The Mac mini has long been the lovably lost scamp of the the Mac family, produced and sold with as seemingly little fanfare as possible. Normal keyboards and mice are, nevertheless, compatible and easy to use. Also not included are a mouse and keyboard. The receiver for Apple's Remote is built-in at the front, but the remote itself has to be ordered separately. Those preferring a landline internet connection have gigabit LAN (Ethernet) to fall back on.
The wireless internet connection via W-LAN 802.11 a/b/g/n is fast and up-to-date, and there's Bluetooth 4.0 for cellphone connections. eSata and USB 3.0 are not found on the Mini and Thunderbolt port is, as previously mentioned, virtually useless because of lacking compatible devices.
On the other hand, the somewhat low SD-Card scores under OS X are easily trumped by Windows 7.
There's a noticeable improvement in Firewire 800 speeds under Mac OS for one (see image). The exact specifics about that model can, as always, be found on Apples Homepage.Īs usual, the ports work a bit better or worse depending on whether you're running Mac OS or Windows. Those who don't do the hassle of figuring out this whole setting-up-an-additional-HDD business might want to order the two-hard-drive model right off the bat. Finding an appropriate cable for this might be rather difficult, however, because Apple once again has chosen a special solution here. Once you've found it, you'll discover there's even space for a second hard drive. The RAM is easily accessible through the removable base plate, but to get to the hard drive, you have to dig a bit deeper into the case. The unibody case, well crafted edges and perfectly measured dimensions can only be found on other Apple devices. As before, the 2011 Mac Mini sports a flawless, excellently crafted case made from top-quality materials. Even Apple's Thunderbolt display is currently listed with a delivery time of 6-8 weeks. There are still no Thunderbolt-compatible peripheral devices on the market. Here we now see the Thunderbolt port which doubles as the DisplayPort and is marked with a little lightning bolt symbol. On second glance we see that variety of ports along the rear edge had changed a bit. If you've cleared this hurdle, installing Windows goes nice and smoothly via Bootcamp using a USB drive, just respond to the prompts.
Windows users will also soon feel the lack of the DVD drive, at least if they haven't yet created an ISO image of the Windows OS in order to complete Bootcamp installation.
For occasional use it's definitely doable, but a big compromise for some saved desk space. Those looking for the home theater experience with some good old DVDs might have to consider getting an external DVD component to hook up to the Mac-Mini.
At least Apple includes the software stores with iTunes and Mac App Store-two important media sources that need no discs-under one roof. How long it will really be needed remains to be seen. Whether a device with a built in CD/DVD drive is a good alternative is a decision everyone has to make for himself. This step seems typical of Apple: there were often complaints about the Superdrive and instead of going the other route and installing a Blu-Ray player, Apple has done away with the disc drive altogether. Here we only find the familiar silver cover, Apple has gotten rid of the DVD drive even with the entry-level model. The most noticeable difference of the new model compared to the preceding generation of minis is the missing thin long slit in the aluminum case of the Mac mini.