The E3 event might be cornering most of the headlines but that doth not mean that the rest of the tech world has gone to sleep. Apple, for one, certainly is in no mood to let the world’s premier gaming event obstruct its plans. The company has released a new version of its compact desktop computer, the Mac mini. The mini is as compact as ever, measuring 7.7 inches square and is just 1.4 inches thin in a sleek aluminum hood, but it is what lies beneath that is really important.
A new integrated power supply does away with the need for a power adapter, decreasing the overall bulk of the already-small system by a fifth. There is more tech wizardry too – a removable panel underneath the system allows for memory expansion, a new HDMI port allows users to connect the computer to an HDTV, and there’s a new SD card slot too. But the real change is in processing power, particularly in graphics. Just as in the Macbook, the Mac mini comes with the 48-core NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor, which might not make it perfect for high-end gaming, but will definitely most games at medium-level renditions. Apart from this, the computer comes with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB hard drive, a slot-load 8X SuperDrive, four USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 2GB of RAM. Of course, it will be running Mac OS Snow Leopard.
All this for Rs 44,900, after VAT. Some might find the price a tad on the higher side, given the fact that a number of companies offer better specs at a lower price, with a display thrown in for good measure. However, we cannot think of a better device for those looking for a compact computer that looks good and performs brilliantly. Mind you, we will know for sure after we get a review unit. India is expected to get the new computers later this month.
