Apple Mac Mini MC815LL/A 2.3GHz 500GB (Aluminum)

2.3GHz 500GB Mac Mini CPU

560475435

With 500GB of storage, a duo core Intel i5 processor, and 2GB of RAM, the Apple Mac Mini sounds like a behemoth. Of course, at only 1.4" tall and 7.7" square, the Mac Mini defies expectations. Use it as part of an Apple desktop setup, connect it to your HDTV, or all of the above, and enjoy the ultra-responsive OS X Lion, Apple's most intuitive operating system yet. Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest impact.

Small is the new big

It's a constant mystery how something so small could be so much bigger on the inside, but the Mac Mini not only continues to achieve this outlandish feat, but keeps on getting bigger (on the inside, that is). With 500GB of hard drive space, there's plenty of room for your… well, everything. Photos, movies, songs, experimental poetry, and business documents will all fit snugly, and because of the Intel i5 duo core processor and 2GB of RAM, you'll be able to get access to it quickly and efficiently. Plus, with Apple's OS X Lion, you've got access to not only the most intuitive and responsive Apple operating system yet, but also the Mac App store, which lets you browse, download, and experience thousands of apps made just for the Mac. All in a small, unobtrusive aluminum body that actually fits on a desktop.

Bulging at the ports with options

Of course, the "big" doesn't just stop at speed and storage. You've also got enough options to sink a battleship, or at least make it slightly tipsy. Add an Apple keyboard and mouse, along with a beautiful Apple Cinema Display, and you've got a desktop that's not only fast, but is also unabashedly stylish. An HDMI output means it can find a place alongside alongside your HDTV and other home theater components: store, access, and enjoy your movies, music, and photos on the best screen in the house. Or, make your own masterpieces to show off with the included iLife software, including iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band. We'd say that the sky's the limit but, honestly, the Mac Mini is only 1.4" tall.

Thunderbolt

Transferring data from external devices can be a slow process, whether it's high quality video from a camcorder, media or presentation files from an external hard drive, or music from a backup collection. Until now. With the Apple Thunderbolt input, developed in conjunction with Intel, you can expect read speeds up to 10GB per second â€” up to 20x faster than traditional USB 2.0 standards. That means you get to spend less time waiting for your files, because there are more important things to do than watch progress bars.

In the box

Included with your purchase are: Mac Mini, HDMI to DVI adapter, power cord, printed and electronic documentation

Comparison Specifications

Processor: 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 dual core processor / 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache
Hard drive: 500GB serial ATA hard disk drive
Memory: 2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory / Supports up to 8GB
Networking: 802.11n Wi-Fi (IEEE 80.211 a/b/g compatible) / Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology / 10/100/1000BASE-T ethernet
Multimedia ports: HDMI output (1920x1200) / Thunderbolt port / 4 USB v2.0 ports / FireWire 800 port / SDXC card slot
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Audio: line in minijack (digital/analog) / line out/headphone minijack (digital/analog) / built-in speaker / support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone
Operating system: Mac OS X Lion

Additional Specifications

Design: 1.4"-thick aluminum unibody enclosure
Included software: Apple iLife, including iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iDVD and iWeb
Environmental status report: BFR-free / PVC-free / Highly recyclable / ENERGY STAR 5.2 / EPEAT Gold