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How Portable is a Mac Mini?

M

MetzoPaino

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 24, 2012
79
0
Thinking of going Mac Mini because I spend my weeks swapping between my parents house and my girlfriends apartment.

Therefore I could have monitors at both and just carry the Mac Mini around.

How durable is a Mac Mini for such regular travel? I'd obviously wrap it in a thick jumper or something when it is in my rucksack, but it still isn't a laptop.
 
extremely portable. just enjoy taking it everywhere you want where there's a screen. it's basically a macbook pro in a different casing without the screen...so i'd say there's even less of a risk of damaging anything than with a MBP.
 
MetzoPaino said:
Therefore I could have monitors at both and just carry the Mac Mini around.
Click to expand...

Yes, if you can leave a monitor, keyboard and mouse at both locations, the Mini is a very portable and convenient way of using the same Mac in two locations. You don't even need to take the power cable with you – just get another standard 'figure of eight' cable for a couple of quid.
 
useme2305 said:
extremely portable. just enjoy taking it everywhere you want where there's a screen. it's basically a macbook pro in a different casing without the screen...so i'd say there's even less of a risk of damaging anything than with a MBP.
Click to expand...

Without the screen and integrated keyboard and touchpad - more stuff to lug around
 
MetzoPaino said:
Thinking of going Mac Mini because I spend my weeks swapping between my parents house and my girlfriends apartment.

Therefore I could have monitors at both and just carry the Mac Mini around.

How durable is a Mac Mini for such regular travel? I'd obviously wrap it in a thick jumper or something when it is in my rucksack, but it still isn't a laptop.
Click to expand...

I'd say it's even more durable than a laptop, because there's no screen to break. It's basically a brick of aluminum. Mainly just watch out for sudden, severe temperature changes (i.e. don't leave it in your car in the freezing cold, bring it inside, and turn it on).

Keep keyboard/mouse/monitor/power at both places and you'll be set.
 
quickbrownfox said:
That's why you leave those at each location you use. If you don't have regular work locations then a laptop obviously makes more sense.
Click to expand...

I've seen pictures of people lugging an iMac to starbucks :eek: so I'd say a mini is more portable then that
 
As already said, its basically laptop components in a sturdy aluminium box. It should be durable enough for a ruck sack although covering it in something will protect it from too much wear.

If you don't have a keyboard and mouse though it may be worth checking out the base model Macbook Pro. Its basically the same spec as the base model Mini but has built in battery, trackpad, illuminated keyboard and screen.
 
Thanks for the advice.

If I was moving location every other day I would get a laptop, but because it's only once or twice every two weeks a Mac Mini seems usable.

(I would be getting a maxed mid mini for audio work, or an iMac for much more. The mini being portable-ish may tip it in its favour).
 
MetzoPaino said:
Thinking of going Mac Mini because I spend my weeks swapping between my parents house and my girlfriends apartment.

Therefore I could have monitors at both and just carry the Mac Mini around.

How durable is a Mac Mini for such regular travel? I'd obviously wrap it in a thick jumper or something when it is in my rucksack, but it still isn't a laptop.
Click to expand...

When my work sends me to a place with out a HDMI tv or monitor i'll by one of these.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgFDkMeUJDY
 
11" MBA: 2.38 pounds (1.08 kg)
13" MBA: 2.96 pounds (1.35 kg)
mini: 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg)
mini server: 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg)
 
maflynn said:
I've seen pictures of people lugging an iMac to starbucks :eek: so I'd say a mini is more portable then that
Click to expand...

*Yawn* let me know when someone brings a mac pro to Starbucks:D. Perhaps they could wheel it in on a capture cart.
 
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