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The Mac mini is the smallest desktop computer marketed by Apple Computer. It is designed to attract owners of Windows computers, iPods, older Macintosh models, and anyone interested in a low budget, easy-to-use personal computer. It was announced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 11, 2005. Two models of the Mac mini were released in the US on January 22, 2005 (January 29 worldwide). Slightly updated versions were released on July 26, 2005. Updated models with Intel Core processors were released on February 28, 2006.

Introduction

The original Mac mini was announced at the same time as the iPod shuffle. Both are scaled-down products which have been introduced at lower price points. These two products together can be seen as a conscious effort on the part of Apple management to target a lower-end market and increase visibility in the mass-market.

Overview

The Mac mini is distinctive in its extremely small size and form factor, and in the fact that the computer comes without a display, keyboard, or mouse. (The tagline is "BYODKM - Bring your own display, keyboard and mouse".) Many potential users have already invested in mice and keyboards (compatible with the cross-platform USB standard), and displays, all of which they can attach to the mini or share using a KVM switch. The Mac mini measures 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) wide, 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) deep, and 2 inches (5.1 cm) tall, and is the smallest Macintosh desktop computer ever produced. It weighs 2.9 pounds (1.32 kg) and it was advertised as being easily portable (similar in concept to the Nintendo GameCube), being able to be picked up and moved easily throughout the house. Soon after the introduction of the Mac mini, Apple lowered the price of their keyboards and mice, as the Mac Mini does not come with either of them.

The Mac mini ships with Apple's Mac OS X operating system preinstalled, and also includes software such as the Safari web browser and the iLife suite of Apple-designed multimedia programs to create and manage videos, music, photos and DVDs. Intel Mac minis also come with Front Row, a media-oriented graphical user interface (GUI).

With iLife and the optional SuperDrive, the Mac mini makes for a compact media editor/player, like Media Centre PCs from Microsoft, except in a much smaller form factor (although S-Video out requires an optional adaptor).

Specifications

January–July 2005

Two models were originally announced on January 11, 2005 at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco:
  • 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MiB RAM, and 40 GB hard drive, for States Dollar|US$" target="_blank" >*499 (€489 in the Eurozone, £339 in the UK, $629 CAD) (Model # M9686LL/A)
  • 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MiB RAM, and 80 GB hard drive, for US$599 (€589 in the Eurozone, £399 in the UK, $899 CAD) (Model # M9687LL/A)

The main complaint with the original Mac mini was the lack of RAM in the low-end version, since 256 MiB was considered insufficient for Mac OS X and its applications.

July–October 2005

As of July 26, 2005, all models included:

The 1.25 GHz model (M9686LL/B at US$499) included:

  • Slot-loading CD-RW/DVD Combo drive
  • 40 GB hard drive
  • V.92 56 kbit/s modem

The 1.42 GHz model (M9687LL/B at US$599) included:

The 1.42 GHz model could also be purchased with a slot-loading CD-RW/DVD±RW SuperDrive for US$699 (M9971LL/B).

Optional built-to-order add-ons included:

October 2005–February 2006

Multiple reports exist that the Mac mini was quietly upgraded in October 2005 to 64 MB VRAM, and either a 1.33 GHz (up from 1.25 GHz) or 1.5 GHz G4 (up from 1.42 GHz) processor, with 512 MB of PC3200 RAM while underclocking it to PC2700. The 80 GB drive is currently a Seagate Momentus 5400.2 ST9808211A, which runs at 5400 RPM with a 2 MB cache. The SuperDrive is a MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-845, which supports +R DL burning, and may also have unofficial support for DVD-RAM. The serial number and specifications sticker on the underside of the machine itself do not carry the actual specs of the upgrade. For example, on a 1.5 GHz model 1.42 GHz is listed.

Apple did not revise the official specifications on their web site. This may be to avoid issues with discounting or discontinuing of old stock.

February 2006–present

Two new Intel-based models were announced on February 28, 2006, replacing the older line:
  • 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor, Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) and 60 GB SATA hard drive, for States Dollar|US$" target="_blank" >*599 (MA205LL/A)
  • 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) and 80 GB SATA2 hard drive, for US$799 (MA206LL/A)

Both models include:

Core Duo model includes:

  • Double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Both Core Solo and Core Duo CPUs provide Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x or Vanderpool) even though Intel documentation has suggested VT-x was not to be a feature of the Core Solo.

Previously, a firmware bug existed that caused difficulties with VT-x for Intel Mini's that have not been updated with firmware 1.0.1later). With firmware 1.0.0 or earlier, both models have experienced problems with the intermittent availability of VT-x which appears to be due to a firmware bug: byte 0xe7 of the Setup variable is set to 0 rather than 1 which tells the firmware to configure the ia32_feature_control MSR with value 5 enabling VT-x. A temporary fix is to sleep the Mac mini and wake it *" target="_blank" >or binary *." target="_blank" >These fixes are essential if you wish to run a virtualization application such as [http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/mac/ Parallels Workstation 2.1. at maximum speed.

The decision to use an integrated graphics chip, the GMA950 GPU, on the Intel-powered Mac mini is a contentious issue for some, who feel the inclusion of an integrated chip cheapens the machine and the Apple brand, which has previously never used integrated chips. This is further supported by the fact that in Apple's early marketing of the PowerPC-powered Mac mini, it claimed superiority of the use of a discrete ATI 9200 graphics card over the integrated graphics included in many budget PCs.

Conversely, the GMA950 graphics chip itself is a relatively advanced model specifically optimized for video playback - exactly what Apple is emphasising in its marketing and branding of the Mac mini. Furthermore, despite the use of main system memory in the integrated graphics chip, the GMA950 is a more advanced solution than the 9200, allowing for the use of 32 MB more memory (64 MB vs 32 MB) and support for Apple's Core Image technology. A fuller comparison of the two GPUs is listed below:

GPU Pipelines Fill rate RAM Core speed Core Image support
ATI Radeon 9200 4 1 gigapixel/second 32 MiB of DDR 200 MHz 250 MHz No
Intel GMA950 4 1.6 gigapixel/second up to 64 MiB of DDR2 667MHzThe Intel GMA950 uses system RAM, thereby reducing the available system memory. 400 MHz Yes

Apple’s senior director of desktops, Tom Boger, has recently claimed that the company has seen increases of between 10 and 40% in framerates of unspecified 3D games compared to the previous PowerPC Mac mini. This claim has been disputed by some observers who, when playing Unreal Tournament 2004 (UT2K4), have witnessed no change or even a decrease in framerates when using Core Solo models. However, it is important to remember that UT2K4 is a heavily processor-bound game and a fast GPU is less important to functionality - a modern processor such as the Core Solo or Core Duo used in the Mac mini may well help. Performance in mainstream 3D games that extensively utilize a computer's graphics processor has not yet been extensively tested.

Opening the case and modifications

Some Mac mini owners have managed to use a putty knife to pry open the computer's case, thereby gaining access to the interior to install cheaper 3rd-party memory upgrades . Apple Computer has also sent its dealers putty knives. In fact, the official Apple service source for Mac mini describes this procedure in detail. While opening the case does not actually void the Mac mini warranty, anything broken while the case is open is not covered. Other modifications include overclocking the processor and installing a Linux-based operating system on the machine.

Some speculate that some of the internal components imply that the unit was originally planned to feature a built-in iPod dock . They found that the optical drive's riser also included a FireWire bus. It may have been removed due to the iPod line's switching to a USB-only connection in 8-9 months. Another theory behind this is that it was just going to be used for another FireWire port which was removed from the design.

With the switch to the Intel Core Solo and Duo line, Apple has begun to use a socketed CPU. This allows for a processor replacement and could lead to a large scene for modification of the Mac mini, similar to the enthusiasts of the Power Mac G4 Cube.

Accessories

Like the iPod, there are many third party accessories being released for the Mac mini. For example, the MiniMate adds up to 400 GB of hard disk space and three additional USB and FireWire ports. Other accessories include stands and lights designed around the Mac mini's shape. Kits and custom installation for automobile mounting are also available (Rizzo, Ch. 12).

Mac mini and the preceding G4 Cube

The Power Mac G4 Cube was Apple's previous attempt to produce a quiet, fanless, and compact Macintosh computer. Besides some of its design flaws and impracticalities, the Cube was too costly for consumers to justify its innovative design and it was quickly discontinued. Unlike the expensive Cube, the relatively inexpensive Mac mini has been praised by reviewers as making Mac OS more accessible. Although reviewers noted that an Intel-based PC was still cheaper than the Mac mini, they acknowledged that the design (low power usage, low noise, low heat, and smaller than any commercially available Wintel machine with equivalent features) and availability of Macintosh applications would justify the small premium of the mini.

Notes

References

External links

Macintosh computers

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Mac mini".

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