what to do with a Mac Mini

I have a Mac Mini that I don't know where to hook it up now that I have replaced my old mac computer. I have an iMac and a Mac Book. Can my Mac Mini be used with either of these and how.

Thanks a million

Barry

Mac Book, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 8, 2007 6:49 PM

Reply
7 replies

Aug 8, 2007 10:48 PM in response to barry campfield

G'day, Barry.

Do you have a USB keyboard and mouse? (Or Bluetooth units.)

What display are you considering for the mini?

And what do you need from your mini? What apps are important to you?

I just bought a mini recently. It is my second Apple computer - my primary is a MacBook Pro. I went in the mini with low expectations...I mean, how can anything that physically small be really useful? But I have quickly learned that it is quite a powerful machine. And the graphics capabilities are better that what I expected (CNN live broadcasts and viewing DVDs). It's an amazing unit.

Aug 9, 2007 2:25 AM in response to saptech

one gigabit switch: 67.99$
http://www.shentech.com/gx5800p.html

10 ft cat6 cable: 2.09$
http://www.deepsurplus.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.157/.f

apple reomte desktop: 299$
http://store.apple.com/AppleStore/WebObjects/BizCustom?qprm=78313&productLearnMo re=MA232Z/A

mac os x server(optional): 499$
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=149 73133&nplm=MA613Z/A

having a lot of fun: priceless

it was metaphoric speaking. i mean you could use the mini in any way you feel fit. and it shouldn't be too hard to find a place for it.

Aug 9, 2007 4:20 AM in response to barry campfield

I think you need to be rather more specific with your question, because basically what you're saying at the moment is little more that "I've got a Mac mini, what should I do with it". The answer to that is entirely up to you, since it's your computer - and since you've got other Macs, you're clearly not unaware of what a Mac mini can do.

Thus: No, your mini can't really be used with either of the other two Macs you mention. It CAN be connected to either or both in terms of using it as little more than an external hard drive, but that's a tremendously expensive way of getting additional storage for your iMac or Macbook and doesn't use the mini in any active sense. You can't use the iMac or Macbook's display with the mini because there's no way to get video IN to either of those systems. You can, however, use remote control software to basically run the mini from either of those two systems, but in all honesty it's only worth doing that if you have an actual purpose in mind for it to be used that way.

So it really comes down to what is it you want to do with your mini? If there isn't anything particular you have in mind, then your best option may simply be to sell it. Minis seem to hold their value pretty well, so unless you have a purpose for it in mind, or simply want to keep it 'just in case', selling it would be a good option.

Aug 17, 2007 11:54 AM in response to barry campfield

Personally, if I had a Mac mini that was surplus to requirements, I'd connect it to my TV, rip my DVDs using Handbrake, store them in the movies folder or an external drive, and use the thing as a simple movie server - no need to fetch the DVD for any film you want to watch. You might need to add an adapter for the video port so it can connect to the TV, and want to add a cheap cordless keyboard and mouse to control it from the armchair, but it's a whole lot more useful that way than as a simple (and expensive) hard drive.

Just a thought!

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what to do with a Mac Mini

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