MacBook Air vs. Mac Mini
I currently have a late 2011 MacBook Air 11-inch fully maxed out with RAM and a 256 SSD that I only use as my home computer to drive a 24-inch LED Cinema Display and it's only had the lid open about ten times since I bought it. I'm thinking about selling the MacBook Air and purchasing the $599 Mac Mini as my home computer and the new fourth generation iPad to take on the few trips we make annually plus use around the house. It just seems the iPad would be easier to use while watching TV, etc. if I'm tied to my email, Words with Friends, etc. I could use my iPhone for this...but the display is simply too small.
However, I'm a bit concerned I might notice a decrease in performance moving from the MacBook Air (1.8 Ghz i7 processor, 256 SSD) to the lower-end Mac Mini with the physical 5400 RPM hard drive and a 2.5 Ghz i5 processor. All I use the home computer for is email, web surfing, Microsoft Office, Pages and Numbers, etc....nothing that really demands heavy processing, as I'm retired. Considering my style of usage, I am also thinking I might not notice much of a difference, but wanted some second opinions. Thanks for any thoughts on this.
MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion, 256GB + 24-inch LED Cinema Display