Apple Updates Mac Minis With Lion, Thunderbolt

Apple on Wednesday announced a refresh of its Mac mini line, which adds the just-released Mac OS X Lion operating system, Intel's Sandy Bridge platform, and Thunderbolt connectivity.

Apple promised twice the processor and graphics performance of earlier models. Starting at $599, the devices are available for order today and will hit stores tomorrow, Apple said.

"Mac mini delivers the speed and expandability that makes it perfect for the desktop, living room or office," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said in a statement. "With faster processors, more powerful graphics and Thunderbolt in an incredibly compact, aluminum design, the new Mac mini is more versatile than ever."

The Mac mini measures 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches thin and is available in three different configurations: Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processors; AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics; or a quad-core Intel Core i7 powered server configuration. The Thunderbolt port offers 10Gbps transfer speeds, which is roughly 22 times the speed of USB 2.0. The device also drops the optical disc drive; Apple said Mac mini can access the optical drives on other PCs and Macs and works with the MacBook Air SuperDrive.

Mac minis that start at $599 will get you a 2.3-GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 2GB of memory, and a 500GB hard drive, with the option to upgrade to 8GB of memory and a 750GB hard drive.

The $799 Mac mini includes a 2.5-GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with 4GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive, with the option to upgrade to a 2.7-GHz dual-core Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory, and a 750GB hard drive. Buyers can also add or replace that with a 256GB solid state drive.

For $999, meanwhile, the Mac mini will include a 2-GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, Lion Server, 4GB of memory and dual 500GB hard drives. There's the option for 8GB of memory, two 750GB hard drives, or up to two 256GB solid state drives.

Also today, Apple unveiled its latest 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air laptops, which get a much needed boost in power and add a backlit keyboard, Thunderbolt port, and Mac OS X Lion.

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Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

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I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

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Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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