Apple Launches New Mac Mini Lineup With Price Starting at $499

Apple launched the next generation of Mac minis Thursday at a lower starting price of $499. They include Intel Core processors, improved graphics said to be 90 percent faster than third-generation models, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and two Thunderbolt 2 connectors. Bundled software includes iMovie, GarageBand and a suite of iWork apps including Pages, Numbers and Keynote, Apple said. The three standard models are the $499 version with a 1.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with turbo speed up to 2.7 GHz, 4 GB memory, Intel HD Graphics 5000 and a 500 GB hard drive; the $699 model with a 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with turbo speed up to 3.1 GHz, 8 GB memory, Intel Iris graphics and a 1 TB hard drive; and the $999 model with a 2.8 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with turbo speed up to 3.3 GHz, 8 GB memory, Intel Iris graphics and a 1 TB Fusion Drive, it said.