An innovative, tiny desktop that's a great choice for home computing tasks and creating a digital media hub, Apple's Mac mini fits everything that makes a Mac a Mac inside an elegant 2-inch-tall, 6.5-inch square. Just add your own keyboard, mouse, and display. It's been upgraded with a faster 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor as well as a boost in video processing power from the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics chip. The Mac mini also now includes a FireWire 800 port as well as dual video outputs--a Mini DisplayPort and a Mini-DVI port.
Continuing Apple's commitment to the environment, the Mac mini exceeds current Energy Star 4.0 requirements by consuming less than 13 watts when idle 45 percent less power than the previous generation. It's also made from highly recyclable aluminum, uses PVC-free internal components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants, and even features smaller packaging.
This model of the Mac mini also includes a 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (4 GB max), a slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n), Gigabit wired networking, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR connectivity, and optical digital audio input/outputs. It's pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, which enables easy backup of your most important data via Time Machine, a redesigned desktop that helps eliminate clutter. It also comes with the iLife '09 suite of applications--including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes--and the newest version of the fast-loading Safari web browser.
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Experience improved energy efficiency and improved multitasking with the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which also offers an ultra-fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and a large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. With a substantial 3 MB of shared L2 cache, data and instructions can be kept close to the two processor cores, greatly increasing performance and allowing the entire system to work more efficiently. And, because the processor cores share the L2 cache, either can use the entire amount if the other happens to be idle.
Hard Drive and Memory
The 120 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0. The 1 GB of DDR3 RAM (two SO-DIMMs of 512 MB) have an industry leading 1066 MHz speed, and the RAM capacity can be increased to 4 GB.
Wireless Connectivity
The built-in 802.11n wireless networking provides up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g, but it's also backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g routers, enabling you to communicate with the a wide variety of Wi-Fi resources. It works seamlessly with the new AirPort Extreme with 802.11n. Use the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to your PDA or cell phone, synchronize addresses, or download pictures from your cell phone. You can also use a wireless headset for iChat audio chats and VoIP calls as well as quickly share files with a colleague.
Graphics Processor
The Mac mini now features the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor for up to five times better graphics performance than its predecessor, and its dual display support can drive two Apple or third-party displays with Mini DisplayPort or DVI connections. The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M shares 128 MB of DDR3 SDRAM with main memory. You'll notice the difference when you work with high-resolution photos and high-definition video, where graphics-intensive features in iPhoto and iMovie are smoother. And 3D game play--from Spore to Call of Duty--is faster and more responsive.
Price: $594.00
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