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2011 Mini, what now?

Martyimac

Martyimac

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 19, 2009
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S. AZ.
So my mini cant have Mojave. Since learning that I have tried the Mojave with the dosdude1 Mojave patch. While I got it to work, not sure I want to keep doing "patches" to keep it running.
I have also tried installing Ubuntu and was not successful.
So, what do I do with it now?
 
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Micky Do

Micky Do

macrumors 68020
Aug 31, 2012
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a South Pacific island
Martyimac said:
So my mini cant have Mojave. Since learning that I have tried the Mojave with the dosdude1 Mojave patch. While I got it to work, not sure I want to keep doing "patches" to keep it running.
I have also tried installing Ubuntu and was not successful.
So, what do I do with it now?
Click to expand...
As suggested above, just keep the 2011 Mini running High Sierra.

I'm running El Capitan on my early 2009 Mini. Its fine for my day to day needs and I reckon on keeping it for another couple of years or so. The security updates etc will probably cease coming in a year or two, but by them it will probably be time to replace the Mini..... which is still running the HDD it came with.

The MacBook Air I recently acquired runs High Sierra. It has the odd feature that it would be nice to have in the Mini, but nothing major. It will be eligible for the update to Mojave, but I don't expect it will bring any major changes from my point of view.
 
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
27,608
11,892
Marty asks:
"So, what do I do with it now?"

Why, you just run it with the "last best" version of the OS that runs.
And... stop worrying about it.

The LAST THING I worry about with the Mac is "security updates".
Really, I don't care.
And.... I've never had any problems related to that.

I have a 2006 white Intel iMac that won't run anything newer than 10.7 "Lion".
Does that mean I have to stop using it, put it in the closet?

C'mon.... ;)
 
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T

tedson

macrumors 6502
Jul 17, 2002
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If you're seriously considering trading in your mini and buying an new one, hold off until the end of October and see if the much rumored Mac mini update appears. You don't want a 4 year old design if a new one is a few weeks away.
 
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Martyimac

Martyimac

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Aug 19, 2009
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tedson said:
If you're seriously considering trading in your mini and buying an new one, hold off until the end of October and see if the much rumored Mac mini update appears. You don't want a 4 year old design if a new one is a few weeks away.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that is one thing I knew. Just wondering what to do with my old one if a new one doesn't appear. Appreciate the reminder.
 
frou

frou

macrumors 65816
Mar 14, 2009
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Sell it on eBay. That's one of the perks of Apple gear - it has disproportionate resale value even when it's old.
 
!!!

!!!

macrumors 6502a
Aug 5, 2013
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I also have a 2011 Mac mini. Really hoping Apple will have an update this fall.
 
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theluggage

macrumors 604
Jul 29, 2011
7,361
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Martyimac said:
So, what do I do with it now?
Click to expand...

Stick with High Sierra. Its not going to be a problem for a while yet (heck, I'm still on Sierra) and I'm not even contemplating Mojave until the first update or two are out.

As others have said, HS is going to get security updates until 2020. Even after that, if its sitting behind a home firewall and you're sensible about web and email, the risk is small (and Chrome/Firefox might still get updates after that).

If you want to get a new Mojave-capable Mac as your main machine, maybe use the Mini as a home server for files/time machine/iTunes... Even less downside security-wise since you're not going to be browsing the web or opening email on it.

Pretty much any server software that you might run in Linux is available on MacOS via Homebrew/MacPorts if not as a "proper" Mac package.

Alternatively, If you do anything serious with your computer then its always good to have a spare.

...and by 2020, either Apple will have improved its range of affordable desktop computers to offer you something tempting - or it will be pretty clear that its never going to happen.

(One of these days, I'm going to need to run an ancient bit of PPC software - probably about 2 weeks after I decide to turn out the cupboards and throw away my 2004 Mac Mini...)
 
vasim

vasim

macrumors regular
Mar 12, 2017
137
66
I was very disappointed by this progress. Now I am cool and I will keep running HS on my beloved mini. I will taste the mojave version on my Macbook Air, but I will keep doing my work with my mini. I will think back things in 2020...
 
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Martyimac

Martyimac

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Original poster
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S. AZ.
Partron22

Partron22

macrumors 68030
Apr 13, 2011
2,655
807
Yes
I just keep them til they die.
Still use my 2005 for writing and music.
Got a functioning 2000 slot loader* (bulbous) iMac behind the basement steps, in case one of the other four give out.
As machines get old, you just pull them from the internet, or dig around for precautions.
We're not rendering Toy Story four here.
The Mac Plus in my closet might be worth something now, if the boot floppies are still any good.

------
*$15.00
 
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vasim

vasim

macrumors regular
Mar 12, 2017
137
66
ivnj said:
Maybe it was an i7. Others don't fetch much.
Click to expand...
Many times I was trying to bid a 2014 (the cheap model), the prices got more higher than buy it as new.

Who really does pay for something like that?
 
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