The
Mac Mini is an entry-level computer intended for budget-minded
customers. Naturally, it boasts much less processing power than the
other computers of the Macintosh lineup. Unlike normal desktop
computers, which use standard-sized components such as 3.5-inch hard
drives, Apple uses lower power laptop components in the Mac Mini to fit
all the necessary components into the small case and to prevent
overheating, common in such compact spaces.[8] Because of the choice of
components, the specifications on this machine are generally anemic and
have slower and less storage and memory than general desktop computers
would normally have.
In general, the Mac Mini has been praised as a relatively affordable
computer with a solid range of features. However, the press also agrees
that it is relatively high priced for a computer aimed at the lower
segment of the market. It is possible to buy small form factor
computers at the same price with faster processors, better graphics
card, more memory, and/or more storage.[9] Nevertheless, the small form
factor has made the Mac Mini particularly useful as home theater
solutions.
An update announced July 20, 2011 dropped the internal CD/DVD optical
drive and introduced Thunderbolt I/O, Intel Core i5 CPU and HD 3000
integrated graphics on the base model with an optional Radeon GPU
available. The server model was upgraded to a Core i7 CPU .... Read More
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Mac Mini 2.0GHz with Lion Server - MC936LL/A - Originally $999
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User Review Second,
two hard drives. 1TB of storage in a mini is nothing to laugh about (2
500 GB drives are included). Furthermore, the key here is that the mini
Server gets 7200 RPM hard drives, the same speed found in full-sized
desktop computers. The two lower end mini models have only 5400 RPM
drives, significantly slower and makes them feel more like "notebooks."
Furthermore, by having two hard drives, you have many options. You can
use one for time machine, just use both drives for storage, or even put
them in RAID 0 or RAID 1 with disk utility when booted into a recovery
disk. There are some risks in using RAID, but if you're a pro user, you
will know the risks (higher possibility of losing your data in RAID 0),
and you lose Apple's new Recovery HD which isn't compatible with RAID.
I went ahead and used RAID 0 because this gives me much faster disk
reading and writing. More performance, more reason to choose mini
Server ...
Read More User Reviews
Mac Mini 2.0GHz with Lion Server - MC936LL/A - Originally $999
* July, 2011 Model
* 2.0GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
* 4GB memory
* Dual 500GB (7200-rpm) hard drives
* Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor
* Thunderbolt port with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution More Technical Specifications Performance Configurable options at Apple User Reviews
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Mac Mini 2.7GHz - Z0M9 - Originally $899
* July, 2011 Model
* 2.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7
* 4GB memory
* 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive
* AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor
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Mac Mini 2.5GHz - MC816LL/A - Originally $799
* July, 2011 Model
* 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
* 4GB memory
* 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive
* AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor
* Thunderbolt port with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution More Technical Specifications Performance Configurable options at Apple User Reviews
Mac Mini 2.3GHz - MC815LL/A - Originally $599
* July, 2011 Model
* 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
* 2GB memory
* 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive
* Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor
* Thunderbolt port with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution More Technical Specifications Performance Configurable options at Apple User Reviews
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Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server 2.66GHz : Dual 500GB - MC438LL/A - Originally $999
* June, 2010 Model
* 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 4GB memory
* Dual 500GB hard drive
* 8x double-layer SuperDrive
* NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
* HDMI port supports multichannel audio output Configurable options at Apple Performance User Reviews
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