Mac mini Late 2005

Officially, the Apple Mac mini G4/1.33 was never formally introduced and thus does not exist in official records. However, beginning on September 27, 2005, Apple quietly updated the Mac mini G4/1.25. The upgrade included a 1.33 GHz PowerPC 7447a (G4) processor with the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" and a 512k on-chip L2 cache, 512 MB of 333 MHz PC2700 DDR SDRAM, and a faster 5400 RPM 40.0 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive.

Like the model it succeeded, it featured a slot-loading 8X DVD/CD-RW "Combo" Drive (with an optional 4X DVD±RW/CD-RW "SuperDrive") and ATI Radeon 9200 graphics with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM. Connectivity comprised DVI (with a provided DVI-to-VGA adapter), USB 2.0, FireWire, a headphone/line out jack, and standard AirPort Extreme (802.11g). The Bluetooth was also silently upgraded to 2.0+EDR. A modem was not included, but an internal one could be added for US$29. It continued to be sold without a display, keyboard, or mouse.

This unannounced, silent upgrade to the Mac mini G4 was a pleasant surprise for buyers in late 2005. The bump to a 1.33GHz processor and, more importantly, the doubling of the standard RAM to 512MB, addressed the biggest criticisms of the original model. This configuration was evaluated as being significantly more capable out of the box, providing a much smoother experience in OS X and reducing the immediate need for a RAM upgrade. The faster 5400-RPM hard drive also contributed to better overall responsiveness. While it still wasn't a powerhouse, these crucial improvements made the base Mac mini a more viable and competent computer for everyday use. It was seen as the machine the original Mac mini should have been, finally delivering on the promise of an affordable and functional Mac without glaring performance compromises.