Do most of you mini owners use it as a secondary "throwaway" PC or your main PC?

[Kendo]

I own a Windows laptop (mainly for work) and really tempted by the Mac mini but I can't see myself pulling the trigger. I mainly use computers for browsing the web and Netflix so I can't picture myself disconnecting my laptop or turning on the Mac mini just to fire up Chrome when I can do it on my laptop that is already turned on. I have an iPhone and iPad for the Apple apps that I need (FaceTime, iMessage, Calendar).

Is your Mac mini your primary computer or do you own a MacBook Pro and just use it as a novelty device because it is so cheap and cute?

 

[RichardC300]

It's my primary Mac that I use at home with a sit-stand desk and two monitors. My MacBook Air is my secondary/travel Mac.

 

[Night Spring]

I'm currently using an M2 Mac mini as my primary computer. But we also have an older Intel Mac mini that we are considering hooking up to the living room TV. If we do, then my answer would have to be both.

 

[Boyd01]

Have been using a 64gb i7 hex-core 2018 (intel) Mini as my primary computer(s) since 2020. I also make very heavy use of a 32gb/4 core Windows 10 virtual machine. This has worked out really well for me with the tight integration between MacOS and Windows in Parallels, will stick with it for at least one more year, maybe longer. With Apple abandoning Intel, guess I'll need a different solution when I finally do upgrade. Happily, I have no need for a laptop anymore.

Regarding cheap and cute... mine is the top-spec model so it was expensive. I don't think it's "cute" but its space grey color looks a lot better to me than the new Mini. 🤣

 

[mgscheue]

Easily my main computers. In fact, the one I use most, day to day for my actual work is my 2018. I also have an M2 Pro mini that I use mostly for photography, video, and music stuff.

 

[Fishrrman]

Mac Minis (first 2012, then 2018) have been my "main computers" since 2013.
They work fine as such...

 

[MrGimper]

I'm considering the new mini to replace my 2014 iMac as my "office" machine which is in my office "doing stuff". I use my 16" M3 Max MBP for most of my stuff out-and-about and in the lounge chilling.

 

[EdwardC]

My M2 Pro Mini is my main computer for work, I have the I5 HP Desk Pro for 2D CAD work and an M1 16/256 Mini in reserve in case anything goes wrong with the M2. I have MS Office 2021 on all the boxes as well but tend to use Pages for my document work.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I guess you’d have to define “main” better. I have M1 (with M4 Pro ordered) mini, and M1 Max MacBook Pro.

I use the MacBook more than the mini. But the mini has more storage & is my repository for all photos, documents, etc - much of which stays on iCloud for the MacBook. In fact, I don’t even back up the MacBook at all… if it dies, I’ll have to reinstall a few apps but other than that, just link to iCloud and it’s as good as new.

I consider my mini to be the “main” computer but I’m directly using it maybe 10% of the time I use the MacBook Pro so it just depends on the metrics for “main.”

 

[IvyKing]

My M1 Mini has been my main computer at home for 3.5 years. All but one of my main computers at home had separate monitors and keyboards.

 

[Bazza1]

M2 Mini as my main home computer, while my 'old' 2017 MacBook Air (with all of its lovely ports and MagSafe) I use as my work / travel computer.

BTW - the Mini is the basic configuration, and I rarely have an issue with it. Basic WP (hundreds of docs), wandering the internet (multiple browsers / multiple tabs), some photo and video editing (hundreds of photos here), streaming. And still I have 100GBs free on it. If I do get issues (resulting in the 'beachball'), its almost invariably with an Apple application, and usually after an 'upgrade'.
As with Windows, 'more is better', but folks routinely overrate their hardware needs (to a manufacturer's profit delight) and with little to show for it at trade-in time.

 

[bigbird888]

Started with a G4 mini, then an intel mini, then two generations of intel NUC subsequently. Still using a NUC10 which is about 5 years old. All of them were my main PC. Seriously considering getting the latest mini...

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

When I first jumped into Mac computers my mini was my main general use PC. Then later on when mbp m3 pro came that became my main computer. The mini moved to my bedroom. In order of importance soon to be MBP M4 pro, windows gaming pc, MBA M3 shared gaming monitor on my desk with my gaming pc, then Mini in bedroom.

 

[Lihp8270]

I was considering the new mini pretty much exclusively for some small app development I have ideas for.

However, the big thing that puts me off at the moment is MacOS monitor support. I’m not sure I can deal with how awful macOS looks at 3440x1440p on a 34” ultrawide. The price of replacing this with a higher resolution display makes the Mini less of an attractive proposition.

 

[SnoFlo]

My Mac Mini is used as a Roon Core mainly.