Apple Announces Intel-based Mac mini [UPDATED]

by , 1:15 PM EST, February 28th, 2006

Apple announced the immediate availability of the successor to the G4 Mac mini at its media event on Tuesday. The new models include a 667MHz front side bus and come with either a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo or 1.5GHz Core Solo processor; Apple says they're up to four times faster than their G4 predecessors.

Apple also added Front Row to the new computers and ships an Apple Remote with them -- CEO Steve Jobs touted their ability to connect to a TV during his presentation. In addition, the new Mac mini comes with 512MB of 667MHz SDRAM, expandable up to 2GB; iLife '06; an Intel GMA950 graphics processor that shares 64MB of RAM with the system memory; built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; Gigabit Ethernet networking; four USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port; a DVI-out port; and audio line-in and line-out ports, each of which supports optical digital and analog signals.

Mr. Jobs also announced that Front Row now supports Bonjour networking. This new feature lets users share music, videos and photos with other Macs on a network without any special configuration required.

The 1.66GHz Core Duo model includes an 80GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive and 8x SuperDrive, and is priced at US$799. The 1.5GHz Core Solo model includes a 60GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive and a Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. It costs $599.

Build-to-order options in the new computers include up to 2GB of RAM, iWork '06 and 80GB, 100GB and 120GB SATA hard drives.

The outside of the new Mac mini hasn't changed, but the interior has

3:17 PM EST: Updated article with more product information and an image.