Keep the MacMini or the Air?

[glen e]

Last year I bought a new '12 air - 8 gb/128 11 inch. I needed it as I was on the road all summer. Now I no longer travel and it sits behind my office 27inch screen and keyboard, it has never been moved and I don't need the portability. I have iPads for that.

I do not do anything on a computer except MS office & Firefox.

Today the MBA HD went south and it's being replaced under warranty. I picked up a MacMini and restored everything with my Time capsule passport HD. Works perfect.

I'm thinking of selling the MBA when it gets back next week. I never move it and I'm thinking running it 24/7 in a closed position probably did not do it any good. The MacMini is plenty fast enuf and 4 GB is fine.

Any thoughts? Am i missing anything?

[blesscheese]

I have the same argument going on, except I need to be mobile every so often (it comes in cycles).

Essentially, the mac mini has the same innards as the MBA (but without the screen and keyboard, obviously), so you wouldn't be missing anything. The MBA is pretty expensive to just be hanging around on a desk, looking pretty. The iPad gives you some mobile functionality, and in a pinch you could even use VNC to screen share with your mini.

I'm not seeing any obvious reasons to hang on to the MBA. Since I like my MBA keyboard so much, I hook mine up to my external monitor, turn off the screen, and type and use the trackpad with the external display.

[iamsen47]

I'd keep both if you aren't hard up for cash.

[Corax]

When you don't ever skype or FaceTime with it you can keep the mini, because you have an iPad for those things. The Mac Mini is a nice, capable and solid machine, plus it is easily user-upgradable.
What kind of storage do you have in the mini?

[Mrbobb]

Sounds like black & white to me.

I like it when ppl know their situation.

Why have something sitting there (even an MBA) to depreciate?

[stchman]

Originally Posted by glen e

Last year I bought a new '12 air - 8 gb/128 11 inch. I needed it as I was on the road all summer. Now I no longer travel and it sits behind my office 27inch screen and keyboard, it has never been moved and I don't need the portability. I have iPads for that.

I do not do anything on a computer except MS office & Firefox.

Today the MBA HD went south and it's being replaced under warranty. I picked up a MacMini and restored everything with my Time capsule passport HD. Works perfect.

I'm thinking of selling the MBA when it gets back next week. I never move it and I'm thinking running it 24/7 in a closed position probably did not do it any good. The MacMini is plenty fast enuf and 4 GB is fine.

Any thoughts? Am i missing anything?

If you NEVER move it, the Mac Mini makes more sense. You are paying more for the MBA for portability. Also, the RAM is easily user upgradable to 16GB while the MBA is not user upgradable.

[glen e]

Originally Posted by stchman

If you NEVER move it, the Mac Mini makes more sense. You are paying more for the MBA for portability. Also, the RAM is easily user upgradable to 16GB while the MBA is not user upgradable.

exactly the conclusion I came to over the past few days - I now have an I7 1T mini on my desk with 16GB kingston memory coming tomorrow. A relative in college getting my MBA as she needs the portability....thanks for all the comments...