Apple released three new products Wednesday, Lion, their new operating system for desktop and laptops, a faster Macbook Air, and a new Mac Mini.
Today we are going to take a look at Apple’s miniature desktops, the Mac Mini. They are twice as fast as the old ones and start at just $599.99.
Mac Mini Prices
There are three models to choose from:
- 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Mac mini with 2GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive and a starting price tag of $599. Optional 8GB memory and 750GB hard drive.
- 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Mac mini with 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive and a starting price tag of $799. Optional 2.7GHz dual-core Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of memory, and a 750GB hard drive or 256GB solid state drive.
- 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 Mac mini with Lion Server, 4GB of RAM, dual 500GB hard drives and a starting price of $999. Optional 8GB memory, two 750GB hard drives, or up to two 256GB solid state drives.
The $999.00 model comes with Lion Server. The Lion Server might be good solution for your real estate business. It lets you add an unlimited number of Mac and PC users without per-user licensing fees to help you collaborate and share information and documents.
All three models ship with Lion, Apple’s new operating system.
Mac Mini Size
The new mini is small enough to fit on any desk. It measures just 7.7 inches square and is just 1.4 inches thin.
Mac Mini Features
The Mac Minis lost their optical drive but each has a built in Thunderbolt port, Apple’s ultra fast new standard for peripherals and monitors. Thunderbolt port lets you connect up to six Thunderbolt devices.
They include an HDMI port that allows you connect it to a big screen TV.
Each Mac Mini includes the latest 802.11n wireless technology letting you surf, print, or stream music, and Bluetooth so you can connect your wireless keyboard and mouse.
The Minis have a removable bottom panel that makes it really easy to upgrade its memory. Just twist the panel open, put in new memory, and your done.
Also new is that the Mac mini now has its power supply completely built-in. This means no more power brick.
The Bottom Line
The Mac Mini seems to be a good buy at the starting price of $600.
While it doesn’t come with a keyboard, mouse, or monitor, you can use whatever peripherals you already have. Just plug in a minitor, keyboard, and mouse that you already have, turn it on, and just like that, everything works together. You might need to purchase an adapter, like the Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adaptor, to connect a VGA monitor to the Mini.
The new Mac Minis do not have an optical drive. This might be a deal breaker for some, but do you really need one? I honestly can’t remember the last time I purchased software, music, or a movie on a CD or DVD.
If you are a PC and looking to slowly transition to a Mac, the Mac Mini might be the way to go. Check out Apple.com/macmini for more information.
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Bryan, the more I see and use Apple products the more I like them. I have the iPad now and my kids have various iTouch and iPods. It would be really nice if appraisal software products woule be Apple compatible, but I don’t think they are. I know you can get the Windows emulater (or whatever it is called) but I don’t think it would be the same. What do you think about using Apple products in your appraisal business?
Tom, I am with you, the more I use Apple products, the more I
likelove them. That is funny you mentioned apple products for the real estate business. I looked to see what appraisal software worked with Macs and was disappointed to find out A La Mode’s Total 2011, Appraise-It, and ACI only officially works with PCs. I have not tried the Windows emulator. I might have to find out more about how well it works.