On this special issue of MacBreak, Leo Laporte and Ben Durbin has demonstrated actually running a Windows XP SP2 on Mac mini with Intel Core Solo built in. The system ran as fast as on a genuine PC on the Mac mini in this video, with only some driver restrictions that limited its performance. But we are sure that the community will try to hack more drivers to make the Intel Mac run Windows XP better and better!

Running Windows XP on a Mac has been a dream for the Mac fans. Until recently, the high bonus hanging above by Colin Nederkoorn has finally been taken by Narf. Now this discovery/creation has unleashed the ultimate possibility Intel Mac, making the users having more choices when buying operation systems for their Intel Mac.

Download: [MacBreak Special - XP On A Mac mini]

The UK version of CNet is doing an on going test of the Apple's new Intel Core Duo Mac Mini verses  Microsoft's Media Center.

I don't know about you, but I'd much rather see a Mac Mini sitting next to my TV than pretty much any PC case I can bring to mind. Add the fact that it's practically completely silent, what more could you ask for? A TV tuner maybe? No Kidding, but Apple isn't about to put one in yet, and it's certain they have other things in mind.

Using the Mini for video recording can be solved by using a USB digital tuner. Using the Miglia TVMini tuner for recording duties will also format anything you record to fit on the video iPod; which is one thing Media Center can't do.

Both Mac and Windows software fair about the same for looks, and is called a draw on functionality.

CNet goes on to say, "It can't be understated how frustrating it can potentially be to get a Media Center PC to communicate with a TV. It's easy for the technical-minded to overlook this simple fact, but anyone who is used to a DVD or video recorder 'just working' will find that Media Center PCs are sometimes not an easy alternative. Several systems get it right, but many have problems."

And with that gives a nod to the Mac Mini for the first round.

Macworld has posted some brand new images of a dissected Intel Mac mini. Nothing major has changed on the new Mac minis besides a few added ports on the rear and, of course, the new Intel chipset. They have, however, made it more difficult to upgrade by making the RAM slots less accessible, changed the hard drive to a Serial ATA 2.5" drive (from a Parallel ATA drive) and relocated the Bluetooth card.

The Intel based Mac mini's (available in Core Duo and Core Solo flavours) are available now from the Apple store from $599 US.

    

Fresh from the Apple event today in Cupertino, this image shows the all-important new ports incorporated into the Intel Mac Mini, letting it function properly as a movie and music server in the home.



Â? and hereÂ?s the iPod Hifi, with itÂ?s black speaker grille removed. Notice the carrying handles on both cornersÂ?nice and chunky.

So, today is the day for AppleÂ?s new product announcements. WeÂ?ve been teased with talk of some Â?new, fun productsÂ? and rumors of video iPods, Intel Mac Minis, and all manner of the usual flights of fancy. But what happened over in Cupertino when the moment came?

First off, we have the Intel Mac Mini.  Available in single and dual-core processor versions, running much faster than the original PowerPC hardware, it includes version 2.0 of Front Row., and a 6-button infra-red Apple remote control. ItÂ?s exactly the same design, size and shape as the original Mac Mini.

The basic Intel Mac Mini will be $599, specs as follows: 1.5GHz Core Solo system with 667MHz bus, 512MB RAM, 60GB SATA hard drive and "Combo" DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. The higher-level model will be $799: 1.67GHz Core Duo-based model features an 80GB SATA internal hard disk and 8x "SuperDrive" that can burn DVDs as well as CD-Rs.

Finally! This is what the Mac Mini should have been first time aroundÂ?a full-featured home media center. This new Mini is festooned with all the TV and hi-fi in/out sockets which were missing from the original, four USB 2.0 ports and gigabit Ethernet. The iLounge software incorporates the same Bonjour-based sharing technology as iTunes, letting you seamlessly share music, photos, etc between connected machines, even streaming iTunes TV shows from one machine to another (Steve Jobs demonstrated this by streaming content from a laptop to the Mac Mini).

According to the Free Mac Blog, Apple refused their attempt to order a bulk batch of Mac Minis yesterday. Apple stated to them that Â?We are not able to take large orders for Mac Minis right now.Â?

So why is this important? Well, it might not be. On the other hand, it could be a pointer towards a new Mac Mini line being introduced at the Â?special eventÂ? Apple have announced for the press on February 28th. ItÂ?s pure speculation, of course, but the first sign that Apple are about to launch a replacement for something is often that it becomes hard to get stock of the older model. This was proved false with the iPod Shuffle just after Christmas, with stocks being unavailable for almost a month, but nothing changing in the product lineup, but has been true for most major Mac releases in recent years.

So what do you think? Is this a sign that weÂ?re getting an Intel-based Mac Mini next week? Or that itÂ?s being reimagined as a proper media centre with Front Row and a remote? Or is it simply a temporary shortage with no deeper connotations?