14 DAY TRIAL // Now that the word is out, Softpedia is keen on informing the Apple fanbase that the all-new Mac mini sounds quite impressive, going by the way its makers advertise it. The official announcement details some of the changes the mini has undergone, but not all. Some of them are revealed in the lengthy description over at the Mac section of Apple’s website. Here’s a rundown of what we have been able to spot so far.
Besides featuring an all-new, 1.4-inch-thin aluminum, unibody enclosure, better graphics and a faster processor,the new Mac mini boasts a removable bottom panel (1) for easy access to memory. It does not only make the computer look good, but it appears as if the user will encounter absolutely no hassle in manually upgrading the system’s RAM.
A space-saving built-in power supply (2) eliminates the former power brick.
“You may notice something missing from this Mac mini: the power supply,” Apple reveals, showing a picture of the Mini’s under site. “Actually, its power supply is built in. So there’s no bulky brick, and there are fewer cables to connect. Which means Mac mini takes up even less space than before. A removable panel on the bottom of Mac mini makes upgrading the memory virtually painless,” the company continues, and offers a way for the viewer to look inside the new mini via two controls - Removable panel on; Removable panel off.
Apple has outdone itself on the I/O side (3), adding the HDMI port and Mini DisplayPort, four USB 2.0 ports, a built-in SD card slot, one FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps), combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, and combined optical digital audio output/headphone out. Let’s not forget the slot-loading SuperDrive for playing DVDs and CDs located on the front of the device.
The technology behind the new mini’s energy-efficiency (4) is also something the computer tucks away inside, leaving the user to enjoy Mac OS X. For example, the power supply has been reduced from 110W to 85W and is now up to 90 percent efficient. According to the computer’s makers, “When Mac mini is idle, it consumes less than 10 watts — a 25 percent reduction from the previous generation. No other desktop computer does that.” “Mac mini is made from highly recyclable aluminum. And its redesigned, lighter package makes it more efficient to ship,” Cupertino adds.
Mini meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, giving it ENERGY STAR qualification and by quite a margin too - 80 percent, according to Apple, whose engineers have also worked hard to eliminate BFRs and PVC from the circuit board, internal cables, connectors, insulators, adhesives, etc. In short, the new Mac mini is green as green gets. Apple says it’s actually the world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer.
Last, but not least, customers now get the HDMI to DVI Adapter in-the-box (5), since the new mini now offers HDMI support. Previously, Apple shipped the Mac mini with a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter.
Go through the related links for more coverage of Apple’s latest announcements.