Forget rumours that Apple would slash prices on its new Macs. In the US, the price has stayed the same. Here, Kiwis will actually have to pay $450-600 more for the new Mini than its predecessor. PLUS: full details of the new Mini, 20-inch + 24-inch iMacs, and the AirPort Extreme with Time Capsule.

In the US, the new Mac Mini was announced today priced from $US599, on a par with the previous model in Apple’s case-only minimalist desktop line.

Rather than cutting price prices to combat the slowdown, the spiel was that Apple was offering more features for the same price.

In New Zealand, the new Mac Minis have yet to go on sale, but retailer Magnum Mac says the entry-level Mac Mini (with 1GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive) will sell for $1398 – or $450 more than its predecessor, which sold for $948

The step-model, with 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, will cost $1848 – a whopping $600 more than its predecessor.

Apple did not immediately respond to NBR’s query about the price disparity, but the Kiwi dollar’s crash since the last Mac launch seems the obvious culprit.

Step on you again
In the US, Gizmodo and other sites have criticised the Mac Mini’s upgrade pricing. Stepping up from the 1GB/120GB model to the 2GB/320GB model costs $US200 or $450 here (the two share all other features).

The step-up price does look steep when you consider retailers are selling DIY 1GB memory upgrades for as little as $49, and 320GB hard drives for as little as $129 –and, of course, Apple has a little more buying power than the average Dick Smith shopper.

The new Mac Minis in full
Like its predecessor, the new Mac Mini measures 16.51 cm by 16.51 cm by 5.08 cm.

Both the entry-level and the step-up model feature a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and support up to 4GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, up to 320GB Serial ATA hard drive.

Connectivity is provided by five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 and a SuperDrive.

The hero feature is an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics chip, which Apple says offers up to five times better graphics performance than before. Support for two monitors is also added.

The new Minis use less than 13 watts of power when idle, or up to 10 times less power than a typical desktop PC. Apple says this makes the Mini the most energy efficient desktop in the world.

(Scroll to the end of this article for full specs.)

iMacs buffed
The refresh also includes incremental upgrades to Apple’s desktop series.

While the new iMacs are generally a couple of hundred dollars cheaper in the US, in New Zealand the crashing Kiwi again sees prices heading in the other direction.

The new 20-inch iMac costs $2,599 inc GST with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, a 320GB Serial ATA hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics.

The 24-inch model features a 1920-x-1200 widescreen display that offers 30 percent more screen real estate than the 20-inch model, and starts at $3,299.

Step-up options for the 24-inch iMac, priced at $3999 and $4800, include up to a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, a 640GB or 1TB Serial ATA hard drive, and a variety of graphics technology from NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 or ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics.

(See the end of this article for full specs and customisation options.)

Airport gets dual channel; automated wireless backup
Apple also upgraded its Airport Extreme 802.11n Wireless Base Station, which now supports
simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band networking; a Guest Network feature that lets guests log-on without you revealing your wi-fi password; and wireless back-up from a Mac running Time Machine.

New Zealand pricing wasn’t immediately available. With a 500GB hard drive, the new Airport will cost $A479; with a 1TB hard drive $A799.

The new 20-inch 2.66 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of NZ$2,599 inc GST, includes:

• 20-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache;
• 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 8GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
• 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• the Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse.

The new 24-inch 2.66 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of NZ$3,299 inc GST, includes:

• 24-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 8GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
• 640GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• the Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse.

The new 24-inch 2.93 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of NZ$3,999 inc GST, includes:

• 24-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 8GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 120; with 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM memory;
• 640GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• the Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse.

The new 24-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of NZ$4,799 inc GST, includes:

• 24-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 8GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 130; with 512MB GDDR3 memory;
• 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• the Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse.

Build-to-order options and accessories for the iMac include: a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 8GB DDR3 SDRAM, up to 1TB Serial ATA hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 130, or ATI Radeon HD 4850 with 512MB GDDR3 memory on the 24-inch iMac, and up to 8GB DDRR3 SDRAM and up to a 1TB Serial ATA hard drive on the 20-inch iMac. Additional options include: Apple Keyboard with numeric keypad, Apple Wireless Keyboard and Wireless Mighty Mouse; AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule; Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, the AppleCare Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of iWork ’09, Logic Express 8, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture™ 2.

The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of NZ$1,398 inc GST, includes:

• 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
• 1GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
• 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T);
• five USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port; and
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog.

The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of NZ$1,848 inc GST, includes:

• 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
• 2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
• 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T);
• five USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port; and
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog.

Build-to-order options and accessories for the Mac mini include: a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 80GB, 250GB or 320GB 5400 hard drives. Additional options include: LED Cinema Display, Apple Keyboard, Apple Keyboard with numeric keypad, Apple Wireless Keyboard and Wireless Mighty Mouse; AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule; Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, the AppleCare Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of iWork ’09, Logic Express 8, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 2.