Apple Blurs the Server Line With Mac Mini Server

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Apple Blurs the Server Line With Mac Mini Server

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday October 20, 2009 @08:36AM from the so-easy-a-child-can-set-it-up dept.

Toe, The writes "Today Apple announced several new hardware offerings, including a new Mac mini, their (almost-literally) pint-sized desktop computer. In a bizarre twist, they are now also offering a Mac mini with Mac OS X Server bundled in, along with a two hard drives somehow stuffed into the tiny package. Undoubtedly, many in the IT community will scoff at the thought of calling such a device a 'server.' However, with the robust capabilities of Snow Leopard Server (a true, if highly GUI-fied, UNIX server), it seems likely to find a niche in small businesses and even enthusiasts' homes. The almost completely guided setup process means that people can set up relatively sophisticated services without the assistance of someone who actually knows what they are doing. What the results will be in terms of security, etc. will be... interesting to watch as they develop." El Reg has a good roundup article of the many announcements; the multi-touch Magic Mouse is right up there on the techno-lust-inspiration scale.

11 of 557 comments (clear)

For those who need a server... by Interoperable · 2009-10-20 08:40 · Score: 5, Funny

that focuses primarily on the visual aesthetics of the physical box that it's housed in.

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So if this is the future...where's my jet pack?
1. Re:For those who need a server... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-10-20 13:10 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Don't hate me because I'm pretty.
2. Re:For those who need a server... by Jeremi · 2009-10-20 16:52 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Why does nobody think of the cooling? It doesn't matter how small the boxes are, if you cram too many of them into one room without adequate cooling, you're in for a world of hurt
  Well sure, if you do it wrong like that you'll run into trouble. The proper way to install a MacMini supercomputer is not to put all the minis next to each other in the same room.... instead, you superglue a couple dozen minis to the ceiling of each and every room in the building. That way the heat output is spread evenly across the entire building rather than being allowed to build up in a single room.
  As an added bonus, if any of the minis ever does overheat, the superglue will melt and the mini will fall from the ceiling. The person whose head it lands on will call the IT department and notify you that a node needs replacing.
  
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  I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
Obligatory quote in accordance with social norms by e2d2 · 2009-10-20 08:45 · Score: 4, Funny

That's not a knife.. THIS is a knife (pulling out Kabar-based server)
Re:Obligatory quote in accordance with social norm by nbvb · 2009-10-20 08:52 · Score: 4, Funny

That's not a knife, that's a spoon.
Re:Scoff? by cabjf · 2009-10-20 08:55 · Score: 4, Funny

If someone made a miniature rack mount for these guys, you could have a bunch of them sitting on your desk as though it were a scale model of a server room.
Re:Obligatory quote in accordance with social norm by jayspec462 · 2009-10-20 08:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Ah, I see you've played "knifey-spooney" before...

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$comment =~ s/($verb)\s+($noun)/IN SOVIET RUSSIA, $2 $1s YOU!/g;
Re:I can see plenty of uses for it. by adamchou · 2009-10-20 09:08 · Score: 1, Funny

Sure, I love how the small form factor is small enough to keep on a desk but heavy enough that all my papers I put underneath it won't just go flying away. I've always wanted a pearl white paper weight with connectors on it.
Just, whatever you do... by arhhook · 2009-10-20 09:21 · Score: 5, Funny

Don't use the Guest Account!
Re:Scoff? by SchroedingersCat · 2009-10-20 09:52 · Score: 5, Funny

Do they come in pink?
Re:We've been using a Mac Mini as a server... by mevets · 2009-10-20 16:45 · Score: 3, Funny

oh you fanboy. You think you are so clever having a machine that actually works, but for 1/2 the price I could duct tape together a pile of old crap that would work 3/4 of the time (0.8 nines, in the jargon). It wouldn't have the fancy logo, which is the only reason you want this "working thing" anyways.