Welcome to the new Mac Mini!

With a surprise move, Apple released the new Mac Mini yesterday. This is perhaps the most important update for the Mac Mini since its launch. The new features are many, and they start with the design: The Mac Mini now has an unibody case in alluminum, visibly smaller than the predecessor (only 3.6cm tall).

It features an Intel Core 2 Duo with 2.4Ghz or 2.66Gzh and 2GB of DDR3 SDRAM (1600Mhz) with the possibility of expanding up to 8 GB. The HDD features either 320 GB or 500 GB. The SuperDrive with double-layer support remains. News also for the graphic chip: an nVIDIA GeForce 320M with 256MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM with a mini DisplayPort output, with support to resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 and an HDMI output, with support to resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 (the package also offers an HDMI-DVI adapter).

The audio connections are the two usual Mini-jacks, one output, and one input, that support the iPhone headphones with microphone and remote control. The HDMI port also works as a multichannel audio output. The connections also preview a FireWire 800, four USB 2.0 and a SD card slot, as seen in the image below.

The new Mac Mini weighs only 1.37kg, but with the update, came also a price increase: the new Mac Mini now costs $699 + taxes (local costs might vary), and it’s already available at the Apple Stores online.