Apple unveils super-slim Mac mini

The new Mac mini is just 7.7in square and 1.4in thick

Apple has unveiled a redesigned version of its Mac mini computer. The slimmed down model runs the Snow Leopard operating system and promises twice the graphics performance of its older sibling.

It is also energy efficient and affordable, according to Apple, and prices start at £649 including VAT.

"The sleek aluminium Mac mini packs great features, versatility and value into an elegant and amazingly compact design," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing.

"With twice the graphics performance, HDMI support and industry-leading energy efficiency, customers are going to love the new Mac mini."

The mini is just 7.7in square and 1.4in thick, and has an integrated power supply which eliminates the need for external power adapters.

Memory expansion slots are tucked away beneath a removable panel, resulting in an overall system volume reduction of 20 per cent, the firm said.

The device has a 320GB Serial ATA hard drive, AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.1+ED, Gigabit Ethernet, four USB 2.0 ports, SD card slot, FireWire 800 port, HDMI port, Mini DisplayPort and headphone/mic in and out.

The HDMI connection will make it possible to output content to high-definition televisions, while the Nvidia GeForce 320m graphics offer double the capacity of the previous model.

The entry-level Mac mini comes with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM for £649.

A version with 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable up to 8GB, and two 500GB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7,200 rpm costs £929.