New Mac minis come in single and dual core versions
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Feb 28, 2006 at 2:42pm
Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled Intel-based Mac minis at an invitation-only, special event at 10 a.m. Pacific at the Apple Town Hall on the company’s Cupertino, California campus. They come in both single core and dual core versions with prices starting at US$599.
Jobs said that the Intel Mac mini’s performance is up to four times faster than its predecessor, but as tests have shown with the Intel iMac and MacBook Pro, that’s under very specific, ideal conditions. Still, the new Mac minis come with iLife ‘06 and feature the Apple Remote and Front Row software.
The new Mac mini offers a completely new system architecture, including a 667 MHz front-side bus and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB. All models come with built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g WiFi for 54 Mbps wireless networking, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) and a total of four USB 2.0 ports, twice as many as the previous generation. The Mac mini includes a DVI interface and a VGA-out adapter to connect to a variety of displays, including flat panel TVs. Plus, the teeny Macs now sport both analog and digital audio outputs for connection to a home stereo.
The new 1.5 GHz Mac mini, at a suggested retail price of $599 (US), includes:
° 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor;
° 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable up to 2GB;
° A slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) drive;
° 60GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
° Intel GMA950 graphics processor;
° Built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
° Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T);
° Four USB 2.0 ports;
° One audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
° DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately);
° The infrared Apple Remote.
The new 1.66 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $799, includes:
° 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo processor;
° 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable up to 2GB;
° A slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD+-RW/CD-RW);
° 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
° Intel GMA950 graphics processor;
° Built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
° Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T);
° Four USB 2.0 ports;
° One audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
° DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately);
° The infrared Apple Remote.
Build-to-order options and accessories include up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, 80GB, 100GB and 120GB Serial ATA hard drives, iWork ‘06 (pre-installed), AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme Base Station, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Apple Wireless Mouse, Apple USB Modem and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
The new Mac mini line is also available to education customers in the US and Canada through the Apple Store for Education or by calling an Apple education sales representative at 800-800-APPL.
“Fifty percent of our entire product line is now available with Intel processors, in less than sixty days,” Jobs said.
J. Scott Anderson Says:
Good step but without the built-in video and DVR that is needed for a more natural fit for the living room. Maybe next time.
Posted on February 28, 2006
Cats Says:
Not so MacManic. The price of the stock fell in sync with Google’s admission that sales growth was slowing. All high P/E tech stocks fell on that news.
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/markets/marketstory/10270724.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
Once the market gets that an all new product like the iPod Hi-Fi is a new stream of revenue, the stock will bounce back once the market settles that is.
It looks as though Apple only worked on one family of processor with Intel, as an entry machine should have been priced lower than that. It’s not that tempting to switch when dell can sell you a full system with 19” flat panel, 1GB memory, keyboard etc for $999. I’m not saying it’s a bad deal with the mini, but it’s just not too much of a temptation for switchers. Apple has to have a $499 entry price to make this fly.
Posted on February 28, 2006
Sprocket999 Says:
Compared to what they *could have* announced, this is a yawn. Oh well, there is always next time, eh?
Posted on February 28, 2006
abz Says:
reading the blog from engadget suggests Apple would also bring PowerMac to intel this year?
10:07am PT - Let’s start with the Mac, biggest thing these days, transition to Intel. We’re ahead of schedule, we’re converting entire product line to intel over this calendar year.
Posted on February 28, 2006
John Says:
I would have bought a Mac mini DVR, not concerned with another mini, I already have an iMac. I really wanted something for the living room to record TV… A missed opportunity for Apple?
Posted on February 28, 2006
hmurchison Says:
We’re not quite ready for a DVR yet. Apple is still in the midst of a Inel transition. Adding DVR functionality should come with the next OS version (10.5) if at all.
This is a nice little box that has features no other computer has out of the box. Gigabit, IR sensor, Front Row, Nice app bundle. It’s not a gamer computer it’s for the person that needs a good general purpose computer with pizzaz.
Posted on February 28, 2006
David Janik-Jones Says:
Except for the *awful* 64MB shared RAM video card I almost bought one. How will this thing handle digital videos at all when benchmarks show under 10fps for modern 3D games. Shameful graphics performance (looks like we’re back to the Apple days of old when 8 and 16MB video cards ruled while PCers got 64MB cards). Here are some benchmarks on that card ...
UT2004 @ 640x480, low detail: 30 fps
Half Life 2 @ 640x480, low detail: 6.4 fps
Doom 3 @ 640x480, low detail: 16.20 fps
UT2004 @ 1024x768, medium detail: 18.2 fps
Half Life 2 @ 1024x768, medium detail: 6.3 fps
Doom 3 @ 1024x768, medium detail: 10.4 fps
Posted on February 28, 2006
william McIntosh Says:
So glad the pant wetting event is over [pmsl]
tutts @ grown men
Posted on February 28, 2006
Scott Says:
Remember Everyone,
The 30th anniversary is coming up in a month and I’ll bet Steve is holding on to the really big news for that event.
Posted on February 28, 2006
Beardedfish Says:
I understand that integrated graphics are bad, and that 64 MB of ram is the smallest that can even be thought of as adequate. But what is exactly bad about integrated graphics, i.e. does integrating graphics chips onto the motherboard make them worse than a stand alone? Other than the small memory and being made by Intel and not Nvidia or ATI.
Posted on February 28, 2006
R Says:
The integrated graphics are not an issue-- what would the price have been of these minis with a 256MB card in there? This is not a workhorse computer, but will now be adequate for media center duty. It’s like everyone wants the mini to be an iMac.
On that note, the price point suggests subtley that people consider an upgrade to the imac-- save for another month or two and the whole world is yours…
Posted on February 28, 2006
Breuklen Says:
Jobs could have shat diamond-imbedded gold and Mac fanboys would still whine like the pissy punks they are. These are the same folk that were dissappointed with the 1G iPod, the iPod Mini, the iPod Shuffle, the original Mac mini, bemoaned the “scratch-prone” Nano, and of course, had temper tantroms over the swith to Intel.
For many switchers that want simple email, internet and some chatting, the low-end configuration of the Mac mini is perfect. They don’t need a new monitor, mouse or keyboard. And for long-time procrastinators like me, anything is a HUGE improvement.
Once people stop obsessing over unrealistic rumors and see the products in person, tempers will calm and the stock price will rise again.
Posted on February 28, 2006
X.OS Says:
Mac mini 1,66GHz, 120GB HD, Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse, iSight = 1,152$ + 250$ for a good quality 17” = 1,400$
Well, for 100$ more than a iMac 1,87” with real graphic card, you can have a Boom-Boom Miniiii!
By-by Steve, be fun!
Posted on March 01, 2006
Jarod Says:
For you guys whining about the graphic card; yes it’s not the most powerful card out there; but keep in mind, this is an ENTRY level machine. It is not made for those wanting to play 3D games. The mini is also priced very well in the lower end of the $ scale exactly for that purpose. For what it was designed to do, the new mini will be much faster than those who actually work on it, and will play all multimedia on it perfectly fast; yes even on TV.
Posted on March 01, 2006
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
MacManic Says:
If front row can run on a 1.5ghz intel why can’t it run on a (my) 1.5ghz PB?
I’m sure it could so maybe that should read…
Why wont Apple release it.
Obviously the market is getting pretty good at predicting Apple. Their share price crashed as it had already risen due to accurate speculation before the announcements and there was no big surprise.
Anyhoo.
A good directional step for Apple I say.
MacManic
Posted on February 28, 2006