I am considering a Mac mini

1. Will I be able to do fairly simple iPhone app development on the mini?

Definite YES. Get a Developer account at http://developer.apple.com

2. What do I have to do to connect two vga monitors to the mini to have the wider desktop?

Search the forum and the Internet. There are several ways to do this.

1. If you want to download apps to the iPhone you will

need to pay the $99 to become an iOS developer. Even though

you can download Xcode free from the app store, and develop

and simulate code for iOS devices, you have to pay the money

to be able to get the tools to download to the devices.

2. The Mini, which ever one you purchase, will come with

an HDMI (one of the Mini native ports) to DVI-D adapter.

This HDMI port is only digital. The Mini also comes with a

Thunderbolt port which will support VGA with a Display Port

to VGA adapter. If one of the monitors has DVI-D capability

you are set. Otherwise, some HDMI (or DVI-D) to VGA

adapter box will be needed to convert the strictly digital

signal to analog that comes out the Mini's HDMI port.

Thunderboltport = minidisplayport, yes.

Most monitors sold now (and back in late 2009, when I set up my parents' macmini) have DVI ports. So using the included HDMI-to-DVI and buying a minidisplayport-to-VGA will work. Or buy a monitor with two DVI ports and a minidisplayport-to-DVI.

As to graphics: If you plan to run two minitors you may want to be sure yo buy beyond the basic unit ($599) and step up to the $799 model with a discrete graphics card for the heavier load.

Larger displays (like a 24 in monitor) require more graphics processing power to keep all of the pixels updated at a high refresh rate. You could live with 19 in low-res monitors for both, but you will eventually tire of that (I believe) an upgrade eventually to 24+ in moitors at 1980x1020 and higher.

If the only graphics card (the $599 model) you have is the one integrated into the CPU with less or even shared-with-the-system VRAM (video RAM), you may see slowdowns, jumpy playback, slower refresh rates.

If you have the discrete graphics card (the $799 model) the video can be handled for all needs (simple gaming eventually maybe, mutiple images for websurfing and email and quite possibly NetFlix).

But that does not mean the $599 model will be useless. Just will have more jumpy playback or slower response occasionally when switching images/tasks.

Spend only what you can afford. But be aware that many images on two screens can get jumpy or switching-slow with less graphics processing power.

Choose what fits your needs and budget is the bottom line.

This the only Mini with a real Video card...

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC816LL/A?

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_mini/select

Indeed ... too many words, not enough pictures of the product.

Yeah, shame you can't get a Real Video card AND a Quad Core i7 in a mini... maybe Apple can't afford to put a decent cooling fan in it! 😉

Or maybe there is no such thing.

I have two (pre-MBP, for me at least) AMD dual-core tower systems (self built) with many large fans and much breathing room. And expensive gaming systems use liquid cooling systems because even with all of the spare room, CPUs cn burn out.

But I am just speculating.

Actually, it should be easier to cool a small enclosre than a bigger one methinks, in fact I've designed a cooler for Minis & more importantly iMacs, but can't afford to even patent it. 😟

We have been busy, have we not?

There is a TV show called "Shark Tank" to beg for their money, but then are recorded for all posterity as a beggar. 😉

You need to decide if you share your secret recipes, I guess.

Thanks 🙂

I'll share it with Anon & a couple others on my site tomorrow by PM!

While I am not a big fan of "buy it *just* to try it", you will have 14 days to return if the $599 model is insufficient. Use the blazes out of it for the first 10 days.