AppleInsider is reporting that the Mac Mini will be getting an upgrade. This is contrary to previous assumptions that Apple might kill off the Mac Mini in favor of some other form of mid-range desktop.

Ever since the Mac Mini arrived on the scene, it has failed to really take off. It is a machine in limbo, leaving a lot of people scratching their heads on exactly what they can do with the thing. It is a real Mac. I personally use one for the purpose of running PCMech LIVE. But, it isn’t a super duper Mac by any means and I wouldn’t want to use it for daily work.

So, what is rumored to be coming to the line of mini Macs?

• New 45-nanometer Core 2 Duo processors starting at 2.10 GHz
• 800 MHz front-side bus (previously 667 MHz)

• Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor (same as the MacBook)

Anything to get excited about? Not really. The Mini is still going to be a niche machine and these updates will at least keep the little thing current for a little while longer. I still doubt the Mini is going to see much play in consumer circles.

I was hoping Apple might kill the Mini and, instead, focus on a mid-range desktop tower. Sure, we have the Imac, but the integrated screen offers little customization and there is no gap between that and the much beefier Mac Pro. Apple needs to give us a Mac Pro LITE…something that looks more like the Mac Pro, but perhaps with lesser specs and a lower price tag. That thing would sell.