The latest fruit from the Apple tree is branching into the small business world: The new Mac Mini Server. It’s being advertised for home, office, retail, and small business use and includes Snow Leopard Server Unlimited Client version pre-installed. Apple sells that particular server OS stand-alone for $499, and the regular Mac Mini for $599. Translation: There’s a bit of a deal here for VARs and their end-customers, considering the entry-level XServe starts at $2999.

The Mac Mini Server comes equipped with dual 500GB drives, but lacks an optical drive. Apple says the MacBook Air’s Super-Drive (or any external drive) can be used to install additional software but the company is pushing the idea that the aluminum box is ready to go when you take it out of the cardboard one.

Personally, I think this little server solution has the potential to change the small business game. At the time, there is no unlimited client Microsoft solution so cheap and easy to setup. OS X Server includes enterprise level features to get small business collaborating including a push Mail server, iCal server, Wiki server and an advanced Mobile Access Server that works with the iPhone.

Apple always tends to sneak something in right before a big Microsoft launch, and with Windows 7 and the Windows Server 2008 R2 launch coming October 22, this could very well be Apple’s ploy to sneak into small business settings.

Your thoughts? Any takers for the Mac Mini Server?

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