A computer monitor and keyboard are required but not included with this system. Please be sure to purchase a computer monitor and keyboard for this system.
The Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer from Apple is a quiet and compact desktop computer in a sleek aluminum unibody enclosure. The system, only 7.7" square and 1.4" high, is a great option for users who would like a compact, inexpensive system to use as a server. It ships sans optical drive, keyboard, mouse, and monitor, allowing you to add peripherals as needed.
The system is powered by a quad-core 2GHz Intel Core i7 CPU. Dual 500GB 7200rpm hard drives are installed, making the system an ideal choice to serve data-intensive network applications. The system's impressive spec set is rounded out with 4GB of RAM, integrated Intel GMA HD 3000 graphics, Bluetooth 4.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi.
The computer is loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Server operating system. The 64-bit OS gives you all the features of the standard version of Lion and more! You'll be able to run a File Sharing Server, IM server, Mail Server, Address Book Server, Calendar Server, and Web Server with the robust OS.
Lion's standard features include Time Machine backup, which automatically backs up system data to an external hard drive. It also features intuitive natural scrolling, the innovative Launchpad application launcher, and support for full screen applications. Mission Control combines the functionality of Dashboard, Exposé, and Spaces -- giving you a bird's eye view of everything that is happening on your computer.
Lion also adds Auto Save to your Mac, ensuring that you won't lose data if you forget to save a file. The OS tracks different versions of your documents, so you can go back to a previous draft of a document with ease. AirDrop makes it easy to transmit files wirelessly between computers, even if there is no central Wi-Fi network available. The revamped Mail application takes full advantage of modern widescreen displays.
You can expand the functionality of your computer system by browsing through the multitude of productivity applications, games, and other software that is available for purchase from the Mac App Store. Because the software in the store is curated by Apple, you can be sure that it is free of malware and safe to use. And, like the iOS App Store, you'll automatically be notified when updated versions of your favorite programs are available for download.
And of course, a Mac wouldn't be a Mac without iLife '11. The complete suite of digital creativity applications is installed on the system. Easy enough for anyone to use, iLife will help you edit your home movies, organize digital photos, and compose original music. The system features an HDMI output port, making it a great option for users who would like a home theater computer for Internet video streaming and big-screen computer gaming. An optional remote control is available separately for purchase.
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2GHz Intel Core i7 |
| Cache | L3: 6MB |
| System Bus | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Hardware Platforms |
Slots: 2x 204-pin SO-DIMM Type: PC3-10600 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM Installed: 4GB (2x2GB) Capacity: 8GB |
| Graphics Display | Intel GMA HD Graphics 3000 GPU with 384MB of DDR3 Shared SDRAM |
| Storage and Expansion | |
|---|---|
| Hard Drive |
Bays: 2x Installed: 1TB (2x500GB) 7200rpm Type: SATA |
| Optical Drive | None |
| Input/Output | |
|---|---|
| Ports |
1x Thunderbolt 1x 9-pin FireWire-800 4x USB 2.0 (A) |
| Display | 1x HDMI |
| Audio |
1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Headphone 1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Microphone |
| Memory Card Reader | 1x SDXC |
| Communications | |
|---|---|
| Wired | 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) |
| Wireless |
Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Server |
| Electrical Requirements |
AC: 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz Maximum Continuous Power: 85W |
| Environmental Requirements |
Operating Temperature: 50-95°F (10-35°C) Storage Temperature: -40-116°F (-40-47°C) Relative Humidity: 5-95%, non-condensing Maximum Altitude: 10,000' (3048 m) Typical Acoustical Performance: 17dBa SPL (Idle) |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 7.7 x 1.4 x 7.7" (19.7 x 3.6 x 19.7cm) |
| Weight | 3 lb (1.37kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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Reviewed by 10 customers
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
Excellent hub for my home network. The speed and extra storage space make it a great place to house my music and photos on my network. I can also watch movies on my plasma via hdmi out.
Wireless speeds are quick for both transferring and accessing files.
Would definitely recommend to others.
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
Seamless integration and unlimited licenses make this a file server to be noticed. Hook in a NAS with 24TB of storage? Look out!
Pros
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
Yes, you could get an iMac, but if you already own a good display and a keyboard/mouse, then this is the machine for the editor in need of a Ballance between power and price. No more DAE messages from Pro Tools. Say Hello to untethered creativity!
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
Just switched from PC to Mac .
Pros
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
Installed 16GB (all New Mac Minis run 16GB) of Ram that can be purchased on the web for far below 2 Cs if you find the right deal.
I use Corsair and Geil and they work perfectly for Professional,
intensive photo processing. The Quad i7 really shines while
running Photoshop CS5 as well as Lightroom.
I run LR3,PS5,Photomatix Pro,Topaz Adjust with all of them open
and the processors do a more than an adequate job.
The server software has really been useful as my studio is separate
from my home and I have access to other computers while I work.
Really wish they had left an Optical drive option, but there are
work arounds for this. Lion OS is VERY finicky with 3rd party
drivers. NOTE: Logitech driver for the M570 trackball caused
my Qi7Mini to crash on startup. Had to use the cloud OS
to install on second drive (SSD) to get in and clone my primary
drive to my external with Carbon Copy, then pull the corrupt
files from the backup drive before doing a clean re-install on the
original. What a mess.
I had waited to do a full backup of my main hard drive until I had
all of my work software installed. Never again.
Also, I would WAIT on Lion OS until it's been out for at least a year.
Mac has taken too many liberties with this OS and let the "Lion out
of the bag" prematurely. Many complaints on forum about this OS.
Full of bugs, but it's not the Mini's fault. I'd go with Snow Leopard, but
you need a work around for the lack of an optical drive in the event of
a crash.
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
I love Mac mini server. small, no extra power supply, can run up to 16GB RAM, Windows 8 runs on it with Hyper-V. Quad-core i7. :-)
Might with Thunderbolt I can have a second network card later.
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
Now I have completed my conversion form PC to Mac, Love all of the Mac computers, Pads and Phones that we Own.
Pros
Cons
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
We use it in our office - so far so good
Pros
Cons
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
Replaced an original G4 Xserve - a big, heavy, LOUD, nasty, OLD server with this tiny little quiet box. Unfortunately, the Server software has been brain-dead-ified in the 10.7 (Lion) release. If I could somehow roll this back to run the 10.6 (Snow Leopard) server software I'd probably be a lot happier - it's mostly less capable and stupider than the 10.4 (Tiger) software I was still running on the old Xserve - by most reports 10.6 was a continued improvement, and this is not (other than Time machine, which showed up in 10.5, but which 10.4 did not have). One can hope that Apple will improve it, but the fact that they butchered a good product (10.6 Snow Leopard Server) to put out this software does not bode well.
Still, I was able to move files, import my exported user list, create new passwords, and get it up and running. But various things now have to be switched from 3 different places rather than being controlled in one program, You have to download the server utilities (on what is supposed to be a fully pre-loaded server,) documentation is as usual laughable so you have to hunt to figure out where they hid stuff, and they have removed several useful features, or in some cases left them only as poorly documented command line functions. Likewise, despite supposedly being a fully configured, from the factory server, it won't speak to server monitor....lame. There's no longer any utility to monitor number of users (or which users are) connected, and if the usage statistics are to be believed, no resources that can be tracked (cpu, memory use and network activity) whatever are used anytime there's not a user on the console of the machine - not likely.
Rather than making "a server that's easy to use" it makes it harder to use, if you actually need a server. If the aim is to share files in your house, there are much cheaper options for that.
Also, when I attempted to install the server.app onto my 10.7 (non-server) Mini so I could monitor this server, it instead converted my Mini into a server, so I had to restore it in order to get it back to being a regular machine. NOT what I wanted, but what happened, following the "instructions" for (supposedly) installing the app just to monitor another machine that was a server. I'm a bit hesitant to try that again and figure out where it went wrong, given how many hours it takes to restore a system.
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Comments about Apple Mac mini with Lion Server Desktop Computer:
I use it as a Digital Audio Workstation and I can't be happier with it. What could I say? It delivers.
Only downside: I tried the magic trackpad and has issues with bluetooth connection.
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