Apple today introduced the much-rumored Mac mini, a new system the company calls “the most affordable and compact Mac ever.” Starting at US$499, the Mac mini comes with either a 1.25 GHz or 1.42 GHz G4 processor and ATI Radeon 9200 graphics with 32MB of dedicated DDR memory. Both models come with a slot-load Combo drive (DVD/CD-R). The Mac mini also includes one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports, a DVI interface that also supports VGA (allowing support for a variety of LCD or CRT displays), built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, and AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth support. “Starting at just $499, Mac mini is the most affordable way to enjoy Mac OS X and iLife,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Just plug in your display, keyboard and mouse and you’ve got an incredibly compact Mac for a price that almost anyone can afford.”