Buried deep within the Apple press release today was information about Apple's new Mac mini. Like the rest of Apple's Mac line, the mini received a substantial boost. The entry-level mini now costs just $599, practically nothing compared to standard Mac prices, and packs a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, plus 2 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz RAM. The mini also saw its storage space increased. It's got a 160 GB HD, plus 5 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, an Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics card, and a SuperDrive.

If you've got an extra two hundred to spend, the $799 Mac mini is even better. It has a 2.53 GHz dual core processor, 4 GB of RAM, and a 320 GB HD. There's also a $999 mini, that's built around Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server. This machine features 2 500 GB HDs.

Altogether, it looks like Apple's done a great job with these new minis. If you're in search of a compact, reliable, easy-as-hell to use desktop computer, the $599 mini is affordable, and it'll meet all of your needs (presuming you don't do much gaming.)