A small form factor computer had been widely speculated and requested long before the release of the Mac Mini. There were people who wanted to buy a Mac but would not do so because it was too cost-prohibitive[citation needed]. Rumors predicted that the "headless iMac" would be extremely small, include no display, and would be positioned as Apple's entry-level desktop computer.[7] On January 10, 2005, the Mac Mini was announced alongside the iPod shuffle at the Macworld Conference & Expo and was described by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the time as the "most affordable Mac ever".[5]

The Mac Mini is an entry-level computer intended for budget-minded customers. It has 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, this machine is generally slower and has less storage and memory than a full-sized desktop computer would 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 a home theater solution.

On October 22, 2009, Apple introduced a new server version of the Mac Mini along with revisions of the computer. This model lacks an optical drive, but contains a second hard drive in its place. This version is marketed as an affordable server for small businesses and schools.

Another new model of the mini was introduced on June 15, 2010. The new model is thinner, has a unibody aluminum case that is designed to be opened, and incorporates upgraded hardware, such as an HDMI port and NVidia GeForce 320M graphics.



The original Mac Mini before the 2010 re-design
Inside of an Intel Mac Mini circa 2007

The most notable feature of the Mac Mini is its size. The original design measured only 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) by 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) by 2 inches (5.1 cm). The exterior of the original Mac Mini was made of aluminum capped with polycarbonate plastic on the top and bottom. The original design had no visible screws and was not meant to be upgraded by the user. The back of the machine contains the I/O ports and vents for the cooling system. It had an external power supply.

The Mac mini was updated on June 15, 2010 and has been fully redesigned,[1] now being even slimmer than the previous models at just 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) tall, but wider at 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) a side. The weight of the computer has increased from 2.9 lbs (1.31 kg) to 3.0 lbs (1.37 kg), but the power supply is now internal as opposed to external. The chassis no longer has the polycarbonate plastic on the top or bottom.

The current Mac Mini is designed to be opened using a round cover on the bottom of the computer. Previous versions of the Mini were much more difficult to open. Some Mac Mini owners managed to use a putty knife or a pizza cutter to pry open the cases of older Mini models, thereby gaining access to the interior to install cheaper third party memory upgrades.[10] In fact, the official Apple Service Source manual for Mac Mini describes this procedure in detail, even including an official Apple part number for a "modified putty knife". It's also possible to use wires to pull the white plastic bottom case out of the metal top case.[11]While opening the case does not actually void the Mac mini warranty, anything broken while the case is open is not covered.[12] Other modifications include hard disk upgrades, overclocking the processor (G4 only),[13] and upgrading the wireless networking (for older models) to 802.11n.[14] The 2009 model can have its SuperDrive replaced with a second SATA hard drive.[15]

With the switch to the Intel Core Solo and Duo line, Apple initially used a socketed CPU in the Mac Mini that allowed the processor to be replaced, however they switched to a new glue process with the 2009 model that does not allow for an easy upgrade. With the June 2010 revision, the case is designed to be readily opened by the user to add RAM.

[edit]Home theater

The Mac Mini is also used for home theater applications. The small footprint, CD/DVD player, multi-format video output, digital audio output, remote control IR receiver and the relatively powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processors make it easy to use the Mac Mini as part of a home entertainment system.[16]

A Mac Mini as a home theater PC demonstrating the Front Row application

It can be classified as a HTPC (Home Theater PC) with some limitations. The Mac Mini does not include an integrated TV tuner card and cannot be upgraded to install one internally; accessing TV requires external devices like Elgato's EyeTV USB adapter or SiliconDust's HDHomeRun networked TV tuner which will encode and manage broadcast television from a cable or satellite receiver.

The video connector on pre-2009 Mac Minis was compatible with DVI, HDMI (video only), SVGA, S-Video and composite video with the appropriate adapter. Sound is provided by a combination jack that uses both Mini-RCA (analog) and optical fiber cables (digital).[17] Unlike the Apple TV, the Mac Mini is backward compatible with televisions that have only composite or S-Video inputs. As of the June 2010 revision of the Mac Mini, the computer now sports an nVidia GeForce 320M graphics card, Mini DisplayPort which makes decoding high-resolution video much quicker and efficient. The addition of an HDMI port simplifies connecting the Mini to high-definition televisions and home theater receivers.

Because of the similar small form factor, HDMI port, remote control IR receiver, and media browser interface, some users see the Mac Mini as an Apple TValternative.[6] It has both iTunes for media rental, purchase, and management, and a native user interface with Front Row, based on the user interface of the original Apple TV.[17][18] The Apple TV is limited to video in the MP4 format, whereas Mac Mini users employing the appropriate QuickTime codecs can watch other video formats like Divx, Xvid, and the Mkv container without resorting to hacks. The current intel Mac Mini models can display video via the HDMI port at a maximum resolution of 1080p, compared to the Apple TV, which is limited to a maximum resolution of 720p without third-party modifications.[16]

The Mac Mini can also be installed with third-party front-end media player applications for Mac OS X, such as XBMC, Plex, or Boxee, to be used as a HTPC (Home Theater PC). XBMC supports the older PowerPC-based Mac Mini, while the other applications will only run on the Intel-based Mac Mini with the latest versions of Mac OS X.