Apple Announces New Mac Mini & Mac Mini Server [New Mac Mini Comes with Upgraded Features while the Dual-HDD Mac Mini Acts Out as a Server]

There’s a new Mac Mini in town, and although it’s an impressive desktop solution, I’ll go right ahead and say that it can’t impress me more than the new white MacBook or the new iMacs did. But Apple hasn’t ignored the Minis and these tiny computers have also been properly updated.

The new $599 Mac Mini will offer you a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, an 8x double-layer SuperDrive, Wi-Fi 802.11n and Mac OS X Snow Leopard in the background. Want the $799 Mac Mini instead? For the extra $200 you will get a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB or memory, 320GB hard drive while everything else stays the same.

Still not happy with the new Mac Mini? You should be! It’s powerful, it doesn’t take much room, and it could replace a Windows 7 desktop alternative. Well ok then, there’s a Mac Mini with Snow Leopard Server version available for $999. The machine has the same features like the $799 Mini but it employs dual 500GB hard drives instead of the 320GB hard drive.

As for ports you can expect 5 USB 2.0 ports, a mini DisplayPort, mini DVI port, FireWire 800 and gigabit Ethernet support. Are you happy now?

Like I said before, the Mini is not as impressive. It’s supposed to be a small, portable, desktop solution, capable of fulfilling all your needs without taking any more space than it really needs. The computer comes with a faster processor, more memory, a bigger hard drive, without changing shape or size. The Mini Server version is also a very useful idea so you shouldn’t disregard it when looking for server solutions.

Sure the Mac Mini is cheap but you also have to consider that you need to purchase a proper display, a keyboard and a mouse before getting the Mini. And you will surely want to use that updated wireless multitouch Magic Mouse that we’ve just seen coming with the iMac all-in-ones versions.

Now that you have the big picture, what are you more likely to purchase next? A Mac Mini, iMac or white unibody MacBook?