Will a BASIC Mac Mini 2012 meet the needs of a full-time iTunes Media Server and also serve other content from connected external drives in a fast problem-free wireless solution, or will I have to upgrade it somehow?
It will be connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station via Ethernet Cable.
It will hopefully allow always-on wireless access to a LOT of high-res photos stored on an external drive for Photoshop/Aperture/Lightroom/iPhoto, and controlled wirelessly via iPad and MBP.
It will hopefully allow always-on wireless access to a lot of high-bitrate music and movies stored on another external drive for iTunes Media served through iTunes to AppleTV2 and Airport Express, and controlled wirelessly via iPad and MBP.
It will hopefully allow always-on wireless access to a Time Machine Backup Drive stored on another external drive for automatic, continuous, wireless backups of both the MBP and Mac Mini, along with all photos and iTunes Media.
Will I have "too much" lag in the home wifi to meet these needs?
Will the external drives "fall asleep" or become non-responsive / unmountable / unable to navigate wirelessly without trouble? How do you best manage an "always on" wireless drive setup?
What external drives do you recommend?
Will I need to upgrade (BTO) from the basic Mac Mini 2012 to something more capable to suit these needs?
What are some cost/performance suggestions and setup configurations that you would recommend to serve these purposes for the foreseeable future?
I want to spend as little money as possible, while being 100% assured that these needs will be met.
If I need to look at other solutions please tell me, but I prefer to stay with Apple products for this setup.
Is it best (low cost with enough capability) to stay with the mini, or better (value per $) to get an iMac or something else?
Please advise. Thanks.
It will be connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station via Ethernet Cable.
It will hopefully allow always-on wireless access to a LOT of high-res photos stored on an external drive for Photoshop/Aperture/Lightroom/iPhoto, and controlled wirelessly via iPad and MBP.
It will hopefully allow always-on wireless access to a lot of high-bitrate music and movies stored on another external drive for iTunes Media served through iTunes to AppleTV2 and Airport Express, and controlled wirelessly via iPad and MBP.
It will hopefully allow always-on wireless access to a Time Machine Backup Drive stored on another external drive for automatic, continuous, wireless backups of both the MBP and Mac Mini, along with all photos and iTunes Media.
Will I have "too much" lag in the home wifi to meet these needs?
Will the external drives "fall asleep" or become non-responsive / unmountable / unable to navigate wirelessly without trouble? How do you best manage an "always on" wireless drive setup?
What external drives do you recommend?
Will I need to upgrade (BTO) from the basic Mac Mini 2012 to something more capable to suit these needs?
What are some cost/performance suggestions and setup configurations that you would recommend to serve these purposes for the foreseeable future?
I want to spend as little money as possible, while being 100% assured that these needs will be met.
If I need to look at other solutions please tell me, but I prefer to stay with Apple products for this setup.
Is it best (low cost with enough capability) to stay with the mini, or better (value per $) to get an iMac or something else?
Please advise. Thanks.
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