Mac mini versus Mid2010 Mac Pro

JmDo wrote:

I'm getting a little foggy understanding the ports on the Mini. You mentioned that I could use either one of the USB-A ports or the USB-C ports to set up a hub. Am I correct in assuming that those two types of USB ports are interchangeable.

No. They are different shaped and sized ports. While you can use them for generally the same things, you will need a specific adapter for each. The Mac Mini only has 2 of the rectangular USB ports you are used to on your Mac Pro. The other two are small pill shaped ports that can be used with regular USB-A devices via an adapter or hub.

I think it will be clearer with a picture:

The ones labeled Thundebolt / USB 4 are the USB-C pill shaped ports.

If so, why can't I use 3 of them to plug in my USB devices. If that were doable then I could use the 4th port for my hard drive's Firewire using an adapter.

ll that work or am I just not getting it ?

As mentioned 2 are regular USB-A. 2 Are USB-C you can use all 4 ports for all your USB devices. But two will require an extra adapter. USB-C to USB-A to connect to the USB-C pill shaped ports.

JmDo wrote:

I have a 32 inch Samsung Monitor

How is it connected? DVI? VGA? HDMI? If its not HDMI, you will need an adapter.

Keyboard

Mouse

External Hard Drive

Scanner

I'll assume all these are connected over USB. Do you have a Usb hub or dock that these all plug into?

You will need a hub since there's only 2 USB-A Ports on the new Mac mini.

Speaker

Connected to the 3.5mm headphone jack?

If so, it can connect the same way to the Mac mini.

Router

Can connect the new Mac mini the same way as the Mac Pro

Mac mini - Technical Specifications - Apple

Beyond that, consider, that the new Mac mini will not be able to run 32 Bit apps, so any 32 bit software you still have, will need to to be updated.

Go to the Apple Menu->About This Mac->Overview->System Report->Applications, and looks at the "64 Bit (Intel)" column. If it says No, the App is 32 bit, and will not work on the new Mac Mini.

JmDo wrote:

I can connect the monitor using HDMI

Then no issue with the new Mac mini

he external drive is connected using a Firewire 800 port. It also has a USB 3.1, Gen 1 port on it , could that be used.

I don't have a hub for USB connections I only use 3 of them. However I think I have a hub or two lying around I can use.

You can use the USB 3.1 port to connect it yes, or a Firewire to USB adapter. There is no FireWire port on the new MacMini.

If the total of devices that require a USB port is more than 2 you will need a Hub or dock. Either form one of the USB-C ports, or one of the 2 USB-A ports on the Mac mini.

do use a hub for the Ethernet connection

That is fine.

I do have a bunch of 32 bit listed but I'm not familiar with the names and abbreviations it shows for most of them.

Many may be helper apps for other Apps. Concentrate on the main apps you do know and that you may want to have work on the new Mac. Those are the ones you will want to get updates for.

You are getting the general drift, but the devil is in the details.

You may need a USB-C port for a display adapter, unless your display accepts HDMI. If you can provide an exact Make & Model, readers can look up its inputs to be sure.

USB-C and ThunderBolt portss can be used for a lot of different things, and are potentially way faster that the little rectangular USB ports on your Mac Pro. But you can also use them for perfectly ordinary USB things with a simple adapter.

getting back to firewire-800 is too far to reach, and costs too much, for too little payback.

A rotating Magnetic drive can do sequential large block transfers at only about 50 M Bytes/sec., random at half that speed.

A USB-2 port, like too ones on your Mac Pro 2010, and do 48M Bytes/sec, so almost no slowdown there. So if your drive enclosures have USB ports of ANY description, just hook them right up.

The USB-3 gen1 port on that drive enclosure can be used immediately. The drive does not need to be converted. All you need is the right cable from one of your USB ports.

any USB port and a USB-3 cable will get you full speed.

what peripherals (including displays) do you have now?

Each time you press forward against one of these challenges and overcome it, you become more confident in dealing with it, and with the next one.