Mac mini -- perfect supplementary writing solution?

ejket · Dec 4, 2010

The Mac mini is underpowered, obsolete, and overpriced ... so I bought one. This may seem counterintuitive, but really I think it was a good idea. It's a tiny box that I can wire in easily to a KVM switch, I can leave it always powered on because it sleeps very green, and it doesn't require much fuss at all.

I mostly use Linux, but I believe in safety through redundancy -- a way of thinking that's saved my butt many times. The mini is effective redundancy both for data and function, and once you stick it on your desk, it's like it's not even there. It runs cool and quiet, and even if it's not good for everything, it's certainly good for safe browsing, writing, and storing your work more safely.

The point is, if either your main machine or the mini fails, you still have something to use, and the important stuff (your writing) survives. I wouldn't recommend the mini for a main machine, but it's hard to top it as a little silver square of flexible security on a corner of your desk.

You can often get them used for cheap, but I got a new one. I like it a lot. OSX isn't such a bad OS, either.

Just sharing what I thought was a brilliant plan

BenPanced · Dec 4, 2010

Underpowered? Obsolete? Then why did Apple upgrade the memory and features between the time I bought one in 2009 and now?

Deleted member 42 · Dec 4, 2010

ejket said:
The Mac mini is underpowered, obsolete, and overpriced ... so I bought one.

Not for what it was designed for, it isn't.

You could have purchased a RAID array for less, and had redundant redundancy.

kuwisdelu · Dec 4, 2010

A mini is good enough for most people. Definitely good enough if all you're going to do is write and use the internet. Many people use laptops or netbooks with equivalent or worse hardware for their main machines.

What I'd like a mini for is a home media center. But the new Apple TV 2 + AirPlay looks pretty good for that now.

But then, my TV's currently a hand-me-down that isn't HD anyway, so maybe next year...

ejket · Dec 4, 2010

Medievalist said:
You could have purchased a RAID array for less, and had redundant redundancy.

I wanted to broach the idea of a second computer for the people I see posting in the Tech Forum here all the time -- the ones who lose their work or get shut down by viruses and failing hardware. Part of the redundancy is OS redundancy for these guys -- especially with respect to a safer browsing platform and a hard drive that would likely never get infected -- but I didn't want to dwell on that too much. Personally, the mini is just a new toy I'm having fun with, but it is great for writing.

What I like best is that I really never need to turn it off -- it sleeps as efficiently as a laptop, and runs very quietly and cool as well -- and this is great for writing at odd moments. And sizewise I estimate it would take 20 minis to match the bulk of the desktop tower it sits beside.

It's a cool, unobtrusive, and capable little box, and a nice supplementary computer for a writer IMO.

Deleted member 42 · Dec 4, 2010

kuwisdelu said:
But then, my TV's currently a hand-me-down that isn't HD anyway, so maybe next year...

I haven't had a TV for three years.

An iMac, NetFlix, iTunes, and broadband works well. And AirPlay is nifty.

kuwisdelu · Dec 4, 2010

Yeah, the coolest thing about the Mini is definitely the form factor.

If I ever have the money to burn, I'd like a G4 Cube just for decoration because I think it looks so cool.

Medievalist said:
I haven't had a TV for three years.

An iMac, NetFlix, iTunes, and broadband works well. And AirPlay is nifty.

My only displays are a 27ish" 480i old-school TV and a 2007 MacBook. :/

Broadband here was good over summer, but since the other students came back — well, other people in this apartment complex must be downloading a lot of porn.

Good high-speed internet is definitely on the list of things I'm looking for in a good city when I move.

Deleted member 42 · Dec 4, 2010

kuwisdelu said:
If I ever have the money to burn, I'd like a G4 Cube just for decoration because I think it looks so cool.

That, and the 20th Anniversary Mac are the only Macs I've desperately wanted to buy, and haven't owned.

I'm so buying one on the aftermarket, once I have a barn with shelves for all my antique hardware.

Tirjasdyn · Dec 4, 2010

Never needs to be turned off? Um no.

ejket · Dec 5, 2010

Tirjasdyn said:
Never needs to be turned off? Um no.

A bit of an overstatement on my part, but not that much. I have two big custom towers on my desk that are loud due to many fans, and they suck way more power. I don't see any problem leaving the mini powered on for days at a time.

The mini is basically repurposed last-generation laptop hardware, but the case, as small as it is, is still roomier than the components were designed for, and in particular there's no big, fat, hot battery, so there's no significant heat rot problem as with a laptop.

kuwisdelu · Dec 5, 2010

Tirjasdyn said:
Never needs to be turned off? Um no.

I can't really think of a good reason to power down or restart a modern computer with a modern OS besides a software update that requires it.

Or maybe an electrical storm for a desktop.

Tirjasdyn · Dec 5, 2010

kuwisdelu said:
I can't really think of a good reason to power down or restart a modern computer with a modern OS besides a software update that requires it.

Or maybe an electrical storm for a desktop.

Moving parts will wear faster. Writing to the HD more often will lessen the life of the HD. You leave yourself open virus attack (don't mock me on this one folks, I'm talking about all computers here).

Then there is the memory issue. I can't tell you the countless times that complaints from both Mac and Windows users tell me their computer is slow and they think they have a virus and it's time for clean sweep. Then I find out they haven't turned off the thing since they bought it. I have them turn it off and after about ten minutes turn it on again. Freaking Christmas miracle they're computer is running faster.

Computers are machines. They need rest time like everything else.

Deleted member 42 · Dec 5, 2010

How on earth do you think servers function then?

It's not like we can shut down a server, or do a hard reboot, without fairly significant effects.

ejket · Dec 6, 2010

Sleep mode on the mini is very efficient. Nothing moves. The disk is spun down and the fan is off. Even the USB ports are powered off. There's just a trickle of power to sustain a resume state in RAM. Laptops are good at this stuff, and the mini uses laptop parts.

Matera the Mad · Dec 6, 2010

A refurbished laptop, CDs/DVDs, USB sticks, and an external drive does it for me.

I likes me some redundancy.

Dave.C.Robinson · Dec 6, 2010

I just got an "obsolete and underpowered" Mac Mini and I'm loving it. (I figure I can call it obsolete and underpowered as it's a first generation Intel model - fully loaded, but still the 2006 first generation model.)

It's no speed demon, but it's smooth and easy to use, and it does everything I need it for. I like it a lot.

ejket · Dec 7, 2010

Dave.C.Robinson said:
I just got an "obsolete and underpowered" Mac Mini and I'm loving it.

That's what I'm talking about. I think it's an underappreciated gem. The sum of the mini is greater than its parts.

maestrowork · Dec 7, 2010

The mini is great for its price. Don't expect powerhorse performances, but for everyday use (media server, web surfing, writing, etc.) it's really nice and portable. The specs are actually rather respectable for a tiny thing that costs $800. In fact, a friend of mine is using it for SERIOUS video editing, not something I usually recommend without a powerful Mac -- but it works for him.

Deleted member 42 · Dec 7, 2010

A current mini with OS X server is a super staging server for web development.

Dave.C.Robinson · Dec 10, 2010

ejket said:
That's what I'm talking about. I think it's an underappreciated gem. The sum of the mini is greater than its parts.

You do know that I meant my Mac Mini is "obsolete and underpowered" in comparison to current Mac Minis - not that all Minis fit that description.

mario_c · Dec 15, 2010

OK I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I've been running my main Mini for over 3 years now and had nary a problem. And I use it for both surfing, TV and as a stereo. I still have my old Mini that I use as a recording studio and CD burner. It's experiencing a bit of slowness lately so I keep running Disk Utility and keeping the cache empty in Firefox. When I dual boot into XP it's a bit more labor intensive keeping Norton updated, managing updates, stuff like that.

As for not booting down, I'm supposed to leave it running when I'm at work or out having a life even when it's doing nothing? For what reason?

Mac mini -- perfect supplementary writing solution?

ejket

Noobus Perpetuus

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Deleted member 42

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

ejket

Noobus Perpetuus

Deleted member 42

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

Deleted member 42

Tirjasdyn

Outline Maven

ejket

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kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

Tirjasdyn

Outline Maven

Deleted member 42

ejket

Noobus Perpetuus

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Dave.C.Robinson

... with the High Command

ejket

Noobus Perpetuus

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Deleted member 42

Dave.C.Robinson

... with the High Command

mario_c

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