Apple Mac mini MC408LLA (Aluminum/White)
2.53GHz 1TB (dual 500GB) Mac mini CPU with Snow Leopard server
560371137
Surprise!
The Mac Mini is known for its small size, energy efficiency, and good performance. And now it's back and more beefed up than ever without a bigger box. This model has a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and a full 4GB of RAM. It's also got an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics card for great picture output. It's the mightiest Mini yet. And it accomplishes all this without actually getting any bigger, and without losing its energy-sipping reputation. Plus, it's still very affordable, being Apple's most inexpensive computer line. You might notice that the model in the picture has no disc drive, though. That's because this particular mini swaps out its superdrive for two 500GB hard disk drives. Why, you ask? Well, because this Mac mini is actually a full-fledged server, complete with Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Server! You wouldn't expect that from such an unassuming computer.
But it's a . . .
Yes, it's a Mac mini. Its guts are the same as the Mac mini many people love in their homes (with the exception of the dual 500GB hard drives instead of a 320GB hard drive and superdrive). But this model, instead of having typical Snow Leopard and iLife, ships with Snow Leopard Server pre-installed. Voilà! The Mac mini is now a full-featured, powerful server. Just like that, your business or group can share files, access a common address book and calendar, IM and video-chat with colleagues across the building, set up or integrate employee mailboxes, host a website, or create internal wikis and blogs, plus so much more! There's no limit or extra fee for the number of users, Mac or PC. And, since it's a Mac, it's easy to use for folks with any level of tech knowledge.
Easy as Apple pie
Apple products are famously easy to use. Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server is no different. That makes it perfect for people new to running a server, or for IT departments that don't have a lot of time. During set-up Server Assistant will walk you through step-by-step. And if you have any questions during the process, just press the "?" icon for more info. Once your server's set up, managing it is just as easy. From the Server Assistant application you can quickly and easily manage users and groups without the need for prior experience running servers. You can also set up all your key services if you haven't done that already. And you even get Server Status Dashboard widgets to monitor essential services with a quick look.
Sharing is . . . profitable
"Sharing is caring," as they say. However, in a business situation, sharing is efficient. Having universal contacts, calendars, and files helps keep everyone organized and on the same page, saving time. And since time is money, well, you get the point. With Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, sharing is easy. For example, iCal Server 2 makes creating and sending invitations for events and meetings a cinch. You can even use it to invite certain groups on the server or reserve a certain meeting room. Address Book Server lets you quickly and easily find shared contacts on the server. Or, you can modify and add your own contacts. File sharing lets you keep jointly-used files easily accessible to everyone. And finding those files is easy with Spotlight Server, which allows you to easily search the server for the file you're looking for.
Together, we're better
In most businesses, collaboration gives you better results. When people work together, the results are much better than if one person tries to do it all, plain and simple. That's why there are so many great new tools for collaboration included in the Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server. With Wiki Server 2, you can easily create an internal wiki site so that employees can easily view and edit collaborative documents. This feature-rich application not only lets you and everyone in your group view and edit documents, you can leave comments, access and modify project calendars, access the wiki from an iPhone, create or follow project RSS feeds, and search more efficiently than ever before. However, internal wikis are not the only way that Mac OS X Server lets you work with your colleagues. With iChat Server, you can IM or videochat with people on the same server securely. Built to work with other platforms, iChat Server has tons of cool features like persistent chatrooms, file transfers, store and forward, and even iChat theater, which allows you to broadcast presentations to other users. Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server makes it easy to make the most of your group effort.
Lockdown!
You'll be happy to know that security is no small deal for Snow Leopard Server. It has a built-in firewall along with numerous other security features, to help keep your entire network safe. But you might think that setting up the appropriate security levels for your business would be incredibly complex without experience setting up servers. Not true. Just like most things Mac, it's incredibly simple to set up the right level of security for your business or group.
And that's just the beginning
Those innovative features are just the beginning of all the great, easy-to-use benefits that the Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server can bring to your business or group. It's the ideal solution for almost any business looking to add a server or expand upon existing servers. And you get it all for under a grand.
And the winner is . . .
Apple makes most parts that go into their computers, from hardware to software. They even make the operating system they use. This offers several benefits including the ability to design smaller computers without sacrificing power, and the ability to make products that "just work." Another benefit of doing most of their building themselves is the ability to design computers with components that work together to maximize energy efficiency. Using their clever engineering, they were able to make the Mac mini the world's most efficient desktop computer while giving it plenty of computing muscle. The new Mac mini retains that crown. How does it accomplish that? Well, everything from the hardware, like the energy-efficient power supply, to the software, which spins down hard drives when not in use is looked at. Apple selects powerful components that won't waste energy. They consider every little detail, from the production, to shipping, to use, to end-of-life measures. And they consider such small details that they even regulate power between keystrokes. All these energy-saving measures help give it ENERGY STAR certification, so you can count on it saving resources and electricity costs. But ENERGY STAR isn't the only certification the Mac mini received. It was also a Gold EPEAT winner, the highest award they give. And EPEAT considers more than just energy usage. They liked measures like smaller shipping boxes. They also liked the absence of many toxins like BFRs, lead, and PVC. And of course, like you, they liked that the aluminum and polycarbonate are both recyclable. It's safe to say the Mac mini is still the world's greenest desktop computer, despite its souped-up power.
Equally unassuming
So, when Apple calls it a Mac mini, the question is, how small is mini? After all, most desktop servers, even smaller ones, are about the size of a purse. How much smaller is the mini? Well, it's a little bigger than a couple CD cases stacked up. No joke — it's only 6.5" squared and 2.0" tall. It really is tiny for a desktop computer, and especially for a full-featured, full-powered server. The mini's little footprint gives you the freedom to place it anywhere within a cord's reach. But however you choose to use it, and wherever you choose to put it, the mini is aptly named.
At ease
If you take a look at the mini, you might immediately be swayed by its sleek appearance. After all, Apple is known for excellence in the visual design of their products. But then you might start to wonder — where are all the connections? After all, you'll want to plug in a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and some other accessories time to time. Well, one look at the Mac mini's back panel will assuage even the biggest worrywart. For your devices, there are five USB 2.0 ports for items like keyboards, mice, external hard drives, monitors, shared printers, and flash drives. There's also a FireWire 800 port as an alternate connection. Gigabit ethernet lets you hook up to a wired network if you elect not to use the built-in wireless support. For optimum networking with your server, you could connect to a Time Capsule or AirPort Extreme. As for the monitor , there are two different ports you can use. The first is a mini-DVI port. The second is a mini-DisplayPort. What's cool is that with the right adapters, you can use two displays with the Mac mini — one displaying up to 1920 x 1200 pixels and the other up to 2560 x 1600, using either extended desktop or mirroring. For sound, it's got a built-in speaker, but if there are people around who might not appreciate your particular tastes in music, there's a headphone output, as well as a mini-pin input for audio. With so many connections, there's no need to worry that the Mac mini won't have a port for your favorite accessories.
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Comparison Specifications
- 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- 2 separate 500GB Serial ATA hard disk drives (1TB total)
- 4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB
- 1 FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
- Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
- Five USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
- Built-in speaker; Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack); Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
- Ships with Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Server pre-installed
Additional Specifications
- 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
- 1066MHz front-side bus
- Includes Mini-DVI to DVI adapter
- Extended desktop and video mirroring
- Simultaneously supports up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on a DVI or VGA display; up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on a dual-link DVI display using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
- Mini-DVI port and Mini DisplayPort output
- Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
- Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
- Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
- Rated EPEAT Gold
Manufacturer Specifications
- BFR-free
- PVC-free
- Highly recyclable aluminum and polycarbonate enclosure
- No client limit or charge-per-client
- Works with Macs, PCs, and iPhones
- Easy set-up and management
- Allows file sharing
- Great for address book and calendar syncing
- Internet hosting, including internal wikis and blogs
- Great instant messaging and video-chat options
Dimensional Specifications
- Dimensions: 6.5" W x 2.0" H x 6.5" D
- Weight: 2.9 lbs
Apple Mac mini MC408LLA Warranty Details
Limited manufacturer's 1-year parts and labor warranty plus 90 days complimentary phone support
