Add a battery to Mini

[YoitsTmac]

Having a battery has been totally feasible since the Mini started using MacBook chips, which I’ve learned happened long before Apple Silicon. The Mini was introduced as Desktop Mac without a screen and keyboard, but it’s really a laptop without a screen and keyboard but with a desktop power supply.

Most small form factor desktops, even on the windows side, are sold with no peripherals and run on low power chips, generally borrowed from laptops.

I also don’t understand why you’d want a battery in the mini. If the screen isn’t also on a UPS, then you can’t actually do anything on it. If it’s just to keep the computer alive in a power outage, and your work is that critical…put it on a UPS. Otherwise, Apple would tell you the “Resume” feature makes the entire discussion irrelevant.

 

[trip1ex]

iMac is thin and has external power supply. Mini could easily go that route in the near future.

A thin Mini that stands vertical to show off the thinness. Only 1 port. 1 USBC port.

IF you want more ports you buy a dock. Maybe it is only vertical if buy a stand. $$$.

Maybe a really thin Mini could also function as the trackpad. lol. (I'm sure a power cord across the desk kills that idea but ...)

 

[Night Spring]

It occurs to me that the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard is moving somewhat toward OP's idea of CPU unit separate from the screen and keyboard. The screen is still in one unit with the CPU, but the keyboard is detachable and sold separately. And look at how much Apple is charging for the keyboard. If Apple ever implemented OP's idea and sold keyboard, screen and CPU separately, they'd charge so much for each part that it would be quite expensive to get all parts.

 

[teh_hunterer]

The Mini was introduced as Desktop Mac without a screen and keyboard, but it’s really a laptop without a screen and keyboard but with a desktop power supply.

Refer to my previous post detailing the uninformed and totally outside of reality nonsense you've been posting, because it's enough said.

You completely ignore half of people's arguments here so there's no point engaging with you.

 

[kc9hzn]

Fundamentally, you’d think that, if there were any real interest for this idea, some PC manufacturer would have already tried it. So far, we’ve got a market size of only one, and his grounds for advocating for the idea seem to have some serious misunderstandings of critical aspects of how computers work (and how cable management works, for that matter).

You’re going to face thermal constraints in any passively-cooled fanless computing device. If anything, the thermal restraints on a pocket sized computer are actually worse than those on a decently sized laptop.

In addition to the thermal constraints, you keep on going on about these laptop misconceptions of yours, details that are no longer true or were never true in the first place. A 15” MacBook Air is probably more powerful in a fanless design than this Mac Liberty idea would be and would look far more professional than your silly idea of a pocket sized battery powered Mac. And clearly, the general pro market doesn’t share your hangup, given that Apple laptops have outsold desktops since even before the Intel era (long before that became the general trend industry wide).

Finally, the cable management point, I’ve never once had the issue of the Mac mini coming unplugged when I remove peripherals. Of course, I’m not also transporting the Mac mini repeatedly from place to place, but, if I were, I’d buy a laptop. Get the right tool for the job, IMO.

The reason people are hating on your idea is that it only makes sense to you, and it only makes sense to you because you’ve got some old misconceptions and flat out ignorance about computers combined with a pretty serious case of confirmation bias.

As for the general idea of a small battery as a quasi-UPS for the Mac mini, hm, maybe there’s some merit, maybe not. You’d have to add the battery, as well as the battery management unit. Capacity-wise, it wouldn’t have to be a large battery (just enough to give a 20% margin over the power needed to put the computer into an unpowered hibernation mode), and you could get away with only charging it when it becomes discharged (but you’d have to have great standby life for that, otherwise the battery would fail without even getting used). Basically, as soon as the computer detects that it’s operating from battery power, it would begin hibernation mode. Sell it as a BTO option (labeled as a consumer UPS perhaps) for locales with poor power stability (maybe California, with its tendency towards brownouts).

 

[trip1ex]

would there be a use for your own portable/local cloud?
That's basically the Mac LIberty idea.

 

[HowardEv]

Refer to my previous post detailing the uninformed and totally outside of reality nonsense you've been posting, because it's enough said.

You completely ignore half of people's arguments here so there's no point engaging with you.

I accepted your argument that a pocket sized M Pro would get too hot due to not having the surface area to radiate heat. I said OK, then the M2 Pro Liberty wouldn’t fit in a pocket, it might have to be as large as the Mini M2 Pro, with fins or a fan. I didn’t ignore your argument. If it is true, then M Pro Liberty might have to be Mac Mini size. Won’t fit in pocket. OK. That doesn’t defeat my suggestion of adding battery to the Mini M2 Pro, nor of a pocket sized M4 that’s in iPad Pro. Those are still feasible. Maybe it’d need to sit on a good heat sink to avoid throttling, since it would have less surface area than the iPad.

Those are all previously conceded responses to your criticisms.

 

[seek3r]

Maybe it’d need to sit on a good heat sink to avoid throttling, since it would have less surface area than the iPad.

So.... a mac mini

 

[HowardEv]

would there be a use for your own portable/local cloud?
That's basically the Mac LIberty idea.

It’s sort of local portable cloud, in that it could be wirelessly accessed using Remote Desktop from a MacBook, but it would also usually be connected to monitors and interfaces and USB drives, like the current Mini. The only difference is it would have a battery like a MacBook instead of an internal line level power supply. The battery would enable it to be unplugged from monitors and power and interface and taken to a studio or used at a coffee shop without having to plug it in like you would a Mini. That makes it more useful than machines that have to be plugged in. We have the technology for this, it is a MacBook Pro without a screen and keyboard.

 

[HowardEv]

So.... a mac mini

With a battery though. So it can be moved and used without being plugged in to a power outlet.
Same as how MacBooks with the same chip can be used without being plugged in.

 

[HowardEv]

If the screen isn’t also on a UPS, then you can’t actually do anything on it

The screen could be on a UPS if it was a large 32” monitor, or the screen could be a 16” screen with its own built in battery. It’s be like taking the hot CPU out of a MacBook Pro, so the CPU stayed on the desk connected to monitors and peripherals, while the screen and keyboard had complete liberty to move around with no wires attached to it.

 

[YoitsTmac]

It’s sort of local portable cloud, in that it could be wirelessly accessed using Remote Desktop from a MacBook, but it would also usually be connected to monitors and interfaces and USB drives, like the current Mini. The only difference is it would have a battery like a MacBook instead of an internal line level power supply. The battery would enable it to be unplugged from monitors and power and interface and taken to a studio or used at a coffee shop without having to plug it in like you would a Mini. That makes it more useful than machines that have to be plugged in. We have the technology for this, it is a MacBook Pro without a screen and keyboard.

So you need another computer to use this computer. And not only that, but you also need to know remote access. But it also has a battery. How are you going to use a screen less, keyboard less computer in a coffee shop?

Anyone who has a “studio” to do work, or knows how to Remote Desktop, would be able to recognize that they either want a laptop or two desktops.

With a battery though. So it can be moved and used without being plugged in to a power outlet.
Same as how MacBooks with the same chip can be used without being plugged in.

You’re so focused on the “how” you forgot to ask “why?” Who is asking for this? What problem does this solve that can’t be solved with a UPS, a laptop or cloud storage between computers? No one is buying desktops to move them around regularly….i used to do IT B2C and B2B. No one did this. Period.

I have to unsubscribe from this thread. As others have said OP is idea blind and can’t accept that no one else wants a product like that.

 

[YoitsTmac]

The screen could be on a UPS if it was a large 32” monitor, or the screen could be a 16” screen with its own built in battery. It’s be like taking the hot CPU out of a MacBook Pro, so the CPU stayed on the desk connected to monitors and peripherals, while the screen and keyboard had complete liberty to move around with no wires attached to it.

If your monitor needs a UPS….then put the Mac on the UPS too. The average consumer isn’t feeling any mechanical sympathy that a computer has to get warm.

I have to get out of here.

 

[HowardEv]

On another thread, someone asked for an M4 Pro iMac with a 32” screen for under $3000. I also want the 32” screen and the M4 Pro for under $3000 but I don’t want them yoked to each other and be tied to my desk. I want the screen to $1000 and have several inputs so I can use it with my PC or a Roku, and I want the M4 Pro to be $1500 and have a battery, and have $500 left for a new MacBook Air.

 

[seek3r]

On another thread, someone asked for an M4 Pro iMac with a 32” screen for under $3000. I also want the 32” screen and the M4 Pro for under $3000 but I don’t want them yoked to each other and be tied to my desk. I want the screen to $1000 and have several inputs so I can use it with my PC or a Roku, and I want the M4 Pro to be $1500 and have a battery, and have $500 left for a new MacBook Air.

This is a solved problem, you either want a docked macbook pro and a kvm or a mac mini/studio on a UPS, a KVM, a macbook air, and a remote desktop tool

 

[HowardEv]

So you need another computer to use this computer.

Normally you would use it with a monitor as you do with a Mini. Away from your desk, you could use a MacBook Air to access it (or portable monitor, or iPhone or iPad).
Agreed we would have to know Remote Desktop, or some new software. I haven’t tried controlling my iMac or Mini from my MBAir yet, so I’m not sure it can be done right now. It’s part of my wish list that Apple figure out how to do that. Break the MacBook in half so it doesn’t have three cables attached to it (HDMI, audio interface, power). That’s the why: disconnect the laptop from the CPU and monitor and interface, to give me liberty to move around and use it from couch, while it remains connected to monitor and interface. Having a battery so the CPU doesn’t have to stay plugged in and can be taken camping is also a why.

 

[HowardEv]

This is a solved problem, you either want a docked macbook pro and a kvm or a mac mini/studio on a UPS, a KVM, a macbook air, and a remote desktop tool

The MacBook Pro costs 2500 and is useless as a laptop when docked and too big and pricey to use as a laptop at the coffee shop. I want a small cheap laptop, and expensive CPU that isn’t permanently built in to a screen.
I don’t want a KVM switch, I want a display that has a couple inputs. (My Windows machine uses its own keyboard and mouse, I just want to use same monitor because that’s the big expensive thing. I can swap the keyboard and mouse easily but not the screen like I currently have to.

 

[YoitsTmac]

Normally you would use it with a monitor as you do with a Mini. Away from your desk, you could use a MacBook Air to access it (or portable monitor, or iPhone or iPad).
Agreed we would have to know Remote Desktop, or some new software. I haven’t tried controlling my iMac or Mini from my MBAir yet, so I’m not sure it can be done right now. It’s part of my wish list that Apple figure out how to do that. Break the MacBook in half so it doesn’t have three cables attached to it (HDMI, audio interface, power). That’s the why: disconnect the laptop from the CPU and monitor and interface, to give me liberty to move around and use it from couch, while it remains connected to monitor and interface. Having a battery so the CPU doesn’t have to stay plugged in and can be taken camping is also a why.

Put your keyboard and mouse on this: https://a.co/d/0htJUWs1

Connect your laptop to this: https://a.co/d/0iloGPb9 connect your laptop to your TV, and two monitors on a desk.

Connect your desk monitors to this: https://a.co/d/09KhtVhN

There. I’ve liberated you. With a switch, your laptop goes from TV monitor with wireless control to back at your desk. No unplugging. No battery.

If you find the caldigit too expensive, you could use this too: https://a.co/d/0iS4FB8Z

Control desktop Mac from laptop: system settings > general > sharing > remote management or screen sharing then on laptop go to finder > command + shift + k, select your desktop and log in. You can have done this for years. Now that you explained it differently, you’re looking for a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse (or trackpad), with the tray I have linked above. And now you can easily switch between your desk and TV. And now you can enjoy that setup from your couch, and even connect to all your other macs.

Enjoy liberation!

 

[seek3r]

The MacBook Pro costs 2500

Yes, do you think your kludgy concept would be cheap to implement instead?

and is useless as a laptop when docked

Right, ‘cause it’s docked. If I’m at my big screen I dont need it to be a laptop at that time, I’m not simultaneously working at my big screen at my desk and at a coffee shop - and if you are please talk to some quantum physicists right now because you’ve made a major breakthrough

and too big and pricey to use as a laptop at the coffee shop.

The 14” pro is not super bulky or heavy, and I’m not sure what price has to do with a coffee shop. People (including me) work on MBPs in coffee shops all the time

I want a small cheap laptop, and expensive CPU that isn’t permanently built in to a screen.

All the options mentioned give you this

I don’t want a KVM switch, I want a display that has a couple inputs.

So… nearly every monitor on the market

My Windows machine uses its own keyboard and mouse, I just want to use same monitor because that’s the big expensive thing.

My LG and dell monitors already do this, my dell’s even have built in KVMs

I can swap the keyboard and mouse easily but not the screen like I currently have to.

So get a switcher if you dont want a full fledged kvm, there’s hundreds of them on amazon

 

[HowardEv]

Yes, do you think your kludgy concept would be cheap to implement instead?

It should be the price of the same SoC MacBook minus the cost of the screen and keyboard and trackpad. So I’m subtracting $1000 to arrive at $1500 for the M3 Pro Liberty. It could be even less, I think the screen could be half the cost of a MacBook.

Right, ‘cause it’s docked. If I’m at my big screen I dont need it to be a laptop at that time

I often am working on Logic on my iMac (my big screen connected to interface and instruments) playing back a song while I simultaneously am sitting on my couch using my MacBook Air, perhaps to check MacRumors. I will try the steps provided above to control the iMac from my Air, to try to simulate Logic running on a Liberty.
See, using the laptop as the monitor to control Logic running on the Liberty would be when camping or commuting or mixing at coffee shop. At home or studio, it’d be connected directly to a monitor, and I would use the Air for browsing and coding.

I’m not simultaneously working at my big screen at my desk and at a coffee shop - and if you are please talk to some quantum physicists right now because you’ve made a major breakthrough

Maybe my band mates stay in the studio working on the song, while I go to the coffee shop with my Air. I wouldn’t have to tell them to practice scales for an hour while I took the computer with me. And if the band wanted to come to the coffee shop too, we could unplug Liberty from monitor and interface and instruments and bring it with us, even play the song we are currently working on over the car stereo, using the Air to adjust the mix. We could mix in the car. Groundbreaking.

The 14” pro is not super bulky or heavy, and I’m not sure what price has to do with a coffee shop. People (including me) work on MBPs in coffee shops all the time

You could continue to do that if you wanted. I am not asking Apple to stop making large screen expensive all-in-ones for people that like them.

All the options mentioned give you this

No they really don’t.

So… nearly every monitor on the market

That’s good. My iMac doesn’t have an HDMI input, so I need to stick my windows monitor in front of it when I need to use my windows DAWs. Do the Apple Studio Displays have two inputs? Even if only had one input at least it could be hooked up to my windows machine, unlike my iMac 5K screen.

 

[seek3r]

It should be the price of the same SoC MacBook minus the cost of the screen and keyboard and trackpad. So I’m subtracting $1000 to arrive at $1500 for the M3 Pro Liberty. It could be even less, I think the screen could be half the cost of a MacBook.

No, it shouldnt. Prices are based in part on scale, your idea is pretty niche, they wouldnt be making them at the same scale as the more mainstream macs, it would have to be at *least* as much the studio, likely more.

I often am working on Logic on my iMac (my big screen connected to interface and instruments) playing back a song while I simultaneously am sitting on my couch using my MacBook Air, perhaps to check MacRumors. I will try the steps provided above to control the iMac from my Air, to try to simulate Logic running on a Liberty.

You can:
* remote into it
* use continuity
* have a wireless keyboard and mouse handy

All of those will let you control that iMac from the couch far easier than the idea you're bandying about (and I use literally all them regularly)

If you were using a single device for compute I'd reccomend getting an Appletv and using that to airplay to a nice TV if you want to work on the couch (something I also do) or getting a base M1 Mac Mini and doing the same thing if you want to use a higher end monitor.

See, using the laptop as the monitor to control Logic running on the Liberty would be when camping or commuting or mixing at coffee shop. At home or studio, it’d be connected directly to a monitor, and I would use the Air for browsing and coding.

Again, there are existing solutions for this

Maybe my band mates stay in the studio working on the song, while I go to the coffee shop with my Air.

Wouldnt they need the full workstation setup then? Your idea wouldnt work, you need 2 actual capable devices then, like you already have

I wouldn’t have to tell them to practice scales for an hour while I took the computer with me. And if the band wanted to come to the coffee shop too, we could unplug Liberty from monitor and interface and instruments and bring it with us, even play the song we are currently working on over the car stereo, using the Air to adjust the mix. We could mix in the car. Groundbreaking.

You mean like a laptop?

You could continue to do that if you wanted. I am not asking Apple to stop making large screen expensive all-in-ones for people that like them.

I mean, no one would buy your idea so no kidding

Do the Apple Studio Displays have two inputs? Even if only had one input at least it could be hooked up to my windows machine, unlike my iMac 5K screen.

If you're buying an apple display for at min $1500 you can spring for the $60 to get a USB4 switch that'll handle thunderbolt off Amazon and solve your problem rather easily

 

[trip1ex]

Here you go:

 

[teh_hunterer]

I often am working on Logic on my iMac (my big screen connected to interface and instruments) playing back a song while I simultaneously am sitting on my couch using my MacBook Air, perhaps to check MacRumors.

This scenario makes no sense. Are you working on Logic at the desk, or are you checking MacRumors on the couch? You can't do both at the same time. If you are checking MacRumors on the couch and the song is being played off speakers in another room, you're not mixing.

See, using the laptop as the monitor to control Logic running on the Liberty would be when camping or commuting or mixing at coffee shop. At home or studio, it’d be connected directly to a monitor, and I would use the Air for browsing and coding.

You have failed to provide a single compelling reason why anyone would want to use a laptop as a monitor for a nearby headless desktop computer. This is obviously an obsession of yours but there's no reason for it.

Frankly, having a battery powered desktop computer sat next to you and remoting into it from a laptop while camping or on the train is literally insane.

And if the band wanted to come to the coffee shop too, we could unplug Liberty from monitor and interface and instruments and bring it with us, even play the song we are currently working on over the car stereo, using the Air to adjust the mix. We could mix in the car. Groundbreaking.

Groundbreaking? More like ridiculous. Nobody is mixing over a car stereo while driving. You should know that if you're actually running some sort of serious recording studio. Another completely unrealistic nonsense situation.

You've also failed to understand that any chip that goes in this battery powered desktop device that you're describing is going to have absolutely no advantage over that chip in a laptop. This device you're describing would have worse cooling than it would in a laptop. It is literally nonsense.

 

[HowardEv]

You mean like a laptop?

Yes, a MBP m3 Pro could unplug from dock and we could mix in the car, and wouldn’t need another screen or laptop to connect, it has a screen. But it cost 2500 to get M3 Pro and you are stuck with that screen attached. I think it’d be cheaper to get SoC without a screen, and could still be designed to passively cool better than a laptop, with passive heat sink. Purpose is to maximize performance of Pro chips and minimize throttling and be cheaper than a laptop.

 

[HowardEv]

why anyone would want to use a laptop as a monitor for a nearby headless desktop computer.

So that the laptop doesn’t have any cables attached to it, or get hot. The headless Mac has the cables attached to it and gets hot, while the laptop stays cool and liberated from cables.