Apple’s smallest Mac is newly refreshed and ready for the tightest spaces you can dream of putting it in. But with three models including the $999 edition with OS X Lion Server on board, choosing the one that’s right for you might be harder than you think. That’s why we’re here to help!

Apple introduced a refreshed line of Mac mini models last week alongside the debut of OS X Lion, bringing Intel Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt I/O to the cutest little Mac of them all. The Mac mini has come a long way since its introduction in 2005 as an underpowered starter computer aimed at enticing Windows users into switching teams -- and the current generation are easily the best Mac minis yet.

Although there are only three Mac mini configurations, one size doesn’t always fit all. If you’re wondering which one is right for you, fear not -- we’re here to break it down for you.

What They Have In Common

All three flavors of Mac mini share the same outward appearance. The front slot is now gone, taking with it the optical disc drive standard with every previous model (excluding last year’s Server version). While the optical drive may be gone, it hasn’t been forgotten -- the 8x external SuperDrive first introduced with the MacBook Air will work just fine with the Mac mini, but it will set you back another $79.

The computer itself is a svelte 7.7 inch square, a mere 1.4 inches tall and 2.7 pounds (the Server model packs on a bit more, weighing in at an even three pounds). On the back of each model are the usual ports for AC power, Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, HDMI, Thunderbolt I/O (which doubles as Mini DisplayPort), four USB 2.0, separate audio in and out minijacks and an SDXC card slot. The HDMI port also doubles as DVI using an included adapter.

Base Model: $599

Once you dive inside, things start to look a little different. The cheapest Mac mini model features a 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache, 2GB of RAM, 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive and an Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory.

The story doesn’t quite end there, however -- you can configure your Mac mini base model with 4GB or 8GB of RAM (at a cost of $100 or $300, respectively) or bump the hard drive up to 750GB 7200-rpm for another $150. That said, if you really need 4GB of RAM, you’d be better served by coughing up an extra $100 and going with our next selection, the mid-range Mac mini. This one is really for those on a budget who won’t be running a lot of RAM-hungry apps, instead spending most of their time on the web or checking email.

Mid-Range: $799

For another $200, you get a lot more Mac mini for the money with the mid-range model -- especially if you need a stronger graphics card and a bit more juice in your processor. The $799 Mac mini bumps the speed up to 2.5GHz Core i5 with the same 3MB L3 cache, but for an extra $100 you also have the option of going with a 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i7. 4GB of RAM is standard, but can be bumped to 8GB for $200 more.

You’ll also get more choices on the storage front with the mid-range model. While the same 5400-rpm 500GB hard drive comes standard (with the option to bump it to 750GB 7200-rpm for $150 more), Apple can also set you up with a 256GB solid state drive for $600 instead, or for $750 you can go whole hog with both a 750GB hard drive and 256GB SSD -- for the Mac mini owner who simply must have it all (well, almost).

Even without the custom configuration options, the mid-range Mac mini buys you a lot more computer for only $200 over the base model. If you don’t fancy a notebook computer and aren’t looking to spend more than a grand to jump up to the iMac but still need a powerful Mac, this is the one for you.

Server: $999

If you’re looking for the convenience of a Mac mini but don’t need the souped-up graphics processor on the mid-range model, Apple’s $999 Mac mini with Lion Server may be just the ticket. The standard model is equipped with a 2.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 6MB on-chip shared L3 cache, 4GB of RAM and a pair of 500GB 7200-rpm hard drives, but kicks the graphics card back down to the Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor, this time with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM.

The Mac mini Server model also includes OS X Lion Server preinstalled, which is usually a separate $49.99 add-on from the Mac App Store. The Server model can also be configured with 8GB of RAM ($200)as well as two 750GB hard drives ($100), 256GB solid state drive ($400) or a combination of the two ($550). Dual 256GB SSD drives are also an option, but they’ll set you back another thousand bucks.

The Bottom Line

Aside from gutting the optical disc drive, Apple seems to have successfully positioned a Mac mini for most every user’s needs. While the choice of which model you buy ultimately comes down to what you can afford, we’d pick the $799 mid-range model as our recommendation for most users. It offers the best compromise of speed and storage, complete with a beefier graphics chip -- perfect for jacking into one of those sweet $999 Thunderbolt Displays, and you know you want one of those, too…

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