Mac Mini, Here to Stay

Tech insiders have been speculating about the termination of Apple's Mac 'mini' product line for several months. However, the most recent round of speculation indicates Apple's desire to introduce a new set of comprehensive hardware updates, which will allow the product to have technical specifications comparable to other computers in its price range. (Source: appleinsider.com)

Mac minis are Apple's smallest line of desktop computers.  They do not include a mouse, keyboard or a monitor. Erroneous speculation of the Mac mini's demise originated from the absence of a significant reengineering effort to update the internal hardware. Instead, Apple had been consistently opting to carry out minor component swaps, perceived by some insiders as a demonstration of the company's lack of interest in this segment of its product line.

Apple has not posted an official press release concerning the Mac mini, but AppleInsider is reporting that the hardware improvements will include, "45-nanometer Core 2 Duo mobile chips starting at 2.1GHz with 3MB of shared L2 cache, an 800MHz front-side bus (up from 667MHz), and a step up to the same Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor employed by the existing line of 13-inch consumer MacBooks." (Source: appleinsider.com)

If accurate, these hardware updates will make the Mac mini a competitive option in the sub-$800 market, though the company will have to commit itself to further improvements of this product in the coming year. No release dates have been announced for a Mac mini boasting improved hardware, though Apple is still considered to be in the engineering stage.

Notably absent from the initial report is whether the Mac mini will get an improved optical drive. Despite the Mac mini's hardware limitations, its minimalist design appeals to established Apple customers, who do not require the power available in the company's line of MacBooks. (Source: arstechnica.com)