Mac Mini Now in Server Edition

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/mini-gets-a-server-style-upgrade/' target='_blank'>http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/mini...-style-upgrade/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Apple has given the mini a bit of a bump this morning, including a mini without an optical drive, twice the storage and of course a copy of OS X Server."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1256066526.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>The Mac Mini line got an upgrade, more RAM, more memory and they are also offering a server version geared for small businesses. You can find out more about the Mac Mini line on the Apple <a href="http://www.apple.com/macmini/" target="_blank">site</a>, with prices ranging from $599.00 USD to $999.00 USD for the server edition. No optical drive on the server edition though, is that a deterrent for customers? It would deter me, but perhaps those looking for a server edition don't find it necessary? What are your thoughts?</p>

[ptyork]

My basic thought here is that it is a solution to a need that doesn't exist. It is at the very best a niche product unless Apple throws some extra software its way.

1) It isn't a home server. It is too expensive. It doesn't have enough storage to do multi-user backups and isn't very expandable beyond adding a USB drive. OS X Server is targeted at administrators, not end users. Windows Home Server, especially HP's newest Mac-compatible models, are far better and far cheaper for this purpose.

2) It isn't an enterprise server. Way to under-spec'd. Not enough drive space. Not enough processing power. In the enterprise I could see it playing minor roles as, say, a development web server, a departmental intranet server, or as a specialized app server for a small number of users, but there are FAR better options (including similarly spec'd Linux boxes for about a third the cost). The #1 draw in this environment would be power consumption, but you can spec boxes with similar power needs for FAR less.

3) It isn't a small business server. Even a Mac-loving small business. It could serve limited use as a file server, but not many files fit in 500GB (assuming mirrored drives) these days. Could serve as an intranet server (even providing some of the other services Apple claims on the site like shared contacts and such)--probably it's best use. But small businesses are MUCH better served by cloud services. No startup or admin costs. Small monthly fees and generally will offer more storage and better services (especially in a mixed OS environment). And even if I want to keep this stuff on site, I'm going to be spending a ton on startup and admin, so why not spend a little more for a "real" server.

4) It isn't a media server.
5) It isn't a NAS.
6) It isn't, well, anything mainstream.

I think this would be a good development server for Mac-only shops. But that may well be the only even semi-mainstream use for the box. That and a niche novelty for the most die-hard Mac fans.

What I WANTED to see for $999 was this:

- Mac Mini with Core i5
- 500 GB drive
- Super Drive ($199 blu-ray option!!!!)
- 4 USB 3.0 ports, 1 F/W 800
- Real HDMI port (mini okay so long as it also includes the audio channel)
- IR Port + Remote (maybe +$49 for remote--it's Apple afterall)

With the following USB 3.0, stackable and daisy chainable accessories (same square aluminum form factor):

- 3.5" Expansion Drive ($99 for 500GB, $199 for 1TB, $299 for 2TB)
- Multi-Stream Cable Card/SDV HD Tuner ($199)
- Media Card Reader / iPod Dock ($99)

Snow Leopard with full-screen software that married AppleTV with DVR capabilities and all the internet TV and Audio you could lick up.

Upgraded AppleTV software to allow them to serve as "extenders" to this box. Lower the price to $199 and add a $299 version with 1080p and a snappier processor.

Basically I wanted a "good" Mini that could be upgraded easily to be the ultimate expandable AppleTV Media System we've all been thinking Apple should be making. THAT would have been innovation. What we got was just "huh?"

[doogald]

1) It isn't a home server. It is too expensive. It doesn't have enough storage to do multi-user backups and isn't very expandable beyond adding a USB drive. OS X Server is targeted at administrators, not end users. Windows Home Server, especially HP's newest Mac-compatible models, are far better and far cheaper for this purpose.

While I don't disagree with your post, they are selling it with an external 4 TB Firewire 800 RAID 5 drive. It adds another $800, but it's also not just an external USB. You can also get an external Superdrive for $100.

That said, I'd add to your list eSATA ports, to either replace a USB or augment the 5 USB and 1 Firewire port. As for USB 3.0, it seems early to be shipping that?

I have a Mini and I really like it, but I'd never want one as a server - if there is a problem, it is not self-serviceable (well, it is, but you risk voiding the warranty if you crack the case.) That said, there is no reason why you could not just install Snow Leopard non-server on this and use it as a beefed-up home media server (the way that I use mine, though with external drives - I'd love it to have mirrored 500 GB internals.)

[ptyork]

While I don't disagree with your post, they are selling it with an external 4 TB Firewire 800 RAID 5 drive. It adds another $800, but it's also not just an external USB.

Okay, Firewire or USB. Either way, as you say, most certainly NOT eSATA. And WOW, $800! That'd make this thing $1800 for what would amount to 2.5 TB (mirrored). I've got less than $500 in my HP WHS box (got a good deal originally) and have 2 TB (selectively mirrored). Sure, it's WHS, not OS X Server, and the processor is significantly slower, but you get the point. This obviously isn't meant for the home user.

That said, I'd add to your list eSATA ports, to either replace a USB or augment the 5 USB and 1 Firewire port.

Dump two video ports and replace with one eSATA and one mini-HDMI.

As for USB 3.0, it seems early to be shipping that?

No, I don't think so. Apple has traditionally been at the forefront of promoting new standards. Makes perfect sense to me for them to be first out the door with some consumer-level USB 3.0 stuff. It is an official spec and they are already certifying stuff. I expected both the i5 and USB 3.0.

At least I got the i5 in the iMac...for a $300 premium! :( There's a $55 difference between the 3.06 Core 2 Wolfdale ($144.99) and 2.66 i5 Lynnfield ($199.99). Even taking into account the mobo chipset and video coprocessor differences we're talking <$100 difference...retail...between these. Sheesh!

That said, there is no reason why you could not just install Snow Leopard non-server on this and use it as a beefed-up home media server (the way that I use mine, though with external drives - I'd love it to have mirrored 500 GB internals.)

The funny part about that is perhaps the most valuable part of the system is the $500 OS X server license. If you did replace it with Snow Leopard, be sure to eBay the server license. :)

I really do think Apple is missing a huge market opportunity by effectively ignoring the family room. AppleTV is okay, but was almost "me too" when it came out and is very dated now (today I'd take a $129 WD TV Live over an AppleTV even if the AppleTV were LESS expensive). But what I really want is the whole-home media server. Windows Media Center isn't taking off because, well it's Microsoft and these days the mainstream doesn't seem to accept a new conceptual use for computer technology until Apple puts its spin on it. It is also still just a little too pricey (well, and the extenders suck). Personally, I wouldn't even pay the prices I quoted above for the above configuration, but it would make the concept "seem" legit and likely bring in a bunch of competitive hardware/software and drive prices down. At least that's where my wacky brain is currently...

[doogald]

Okay, Firewire or USB. Either way, as you say, most certainly NOT eSATA. And WOW, $800! That'd make this thing $1800 for what would amount to 2.5 TB (mirrored).

4 drives in RAID 5; 2.7 TB + 500 GB internal, 3.2 TB.

The funny part about that is perhaps the most valuable part of the system is the $500 OS X server license. If you did replace it with Snow Leopard, be sure to eBay the server license. :)

As I thought about this some more, this is the selling point - the included Server OS in a $1000 box: it's a heck of a lot more expensive to get an xserve. This is a very inexpensive way for a small business that wants SL Server in the door. It may be a small market, but they may have opened the door to SL Sever just a little.

As for the media server stuff, I think that's coming from Apple next year, just not in this box.

[ptyork]

4 drives in RAID 5; 2.7 TB + 500 GB internal, 3.2 TB.

You can do RAID 5 if you like, but I used to do this on my home nerd-servers. Had one 4 disk Dell SCSI array and one 3-disk Intel SATA array. BOTH had massive array failures--not a disk failure which would have been fine, entire array corruption--and neither could be recovered (thank God for nerd-server backups). Sure, you save a bit of disk space over mirroring, but I for one have sworn it off as a good idea gone bad. At least if a mirrored array fails, each disk is self-contained and data easily recoverable, not spread randomly across drives.

As I thought about this some more, this is the selling point - the included Server OS in a $1000 box: it's a heck of a lot more expensive to get an xserve. This is a very inexpensive way for a small business that wants SL Server in the door. It may be a small market, but they may have opened the door to SL Sever just a little.

Maybe. I've often questioned Apple's entry into the server space to begin with. Just doesn't really seem to be a market that they are well positioned to succeed in. Windows server on one side, UNIXes on the other side, and Linux pressuring from below. But yeah, as a cheap, foot-in-the-door kind of box, I'll bite.