Is the Mac Mini 2011 useful?

[Reflej0]

Extending the title and contextualizing, I need a PC for a small budget for basic tasks, I already have a PC (Not Apple) and a Mac Mini 2018, the limitation is given by the money I want to spend.
From 270 USD to 400 USD (I am in Argentina).
Specifically there are 2 opportunities for that price range:

• Mini 2011 2.3Ghz 8GB 500HDD HD 3000 with keyboard and wireless trackpad. 270 USD.
  
• Mini 2011 2.5Ghz 8GB 500 HD 6630M with wireless keyboard. 370 USD.

I wanted to know the opinions, if the purchase is not recommended I will wait a little longer and for approximately 500 USD I can go for the purchase of a Macbook 2015.
Actually I am looking for a very interesting offer of Mac Mini (as mentioned above) or else I would expect to save for a 2015/2016 Macbook.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I bought a Mac Mini 2011 a few years ago for about $250. I put an SSD in it and it was "fine" but definitely slow and ran the fans a lot. For "basic tasks" I think it would be fine.

If you already have a Mac Mini 2018 I don't recommend it. I had a Mac Mini 2014 when I bought my Mac Mini 2011 and ... it was not worth it. I ended up just shelving it and using the 2014 for what I needed. Now that I have a 2017 MBP ... I don't use either. They're just too slow.

I've found reducing the devices I have to be far better than adding devices (when I'm the only user).

Mac mini 2011 is going to be VERY slow... especially without an SSD as the OS drive. Definitely save for the MBP if you can.

 

[Reflej0]

I currently own the Mac Mini 2018 but I use it very little and I need to have a computer in another room, I thought about changing the current Mac Mini location but for a personal issue I would not like it.
To buy a Macbook (normal, air or pro) I should save money a few months so I was looking for a Mac Mini in price.
Maybe there is some 2012, 2014 for a little more price, I don't know how much difference there is in speed in terms of the processor.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Just try to get an SSD for the OS drive because ... that'll be the night and day experience factor. Last year I fired up my 2011 Mac Mini with the internal 5400 drive and it was unusable. I used an external USB enclosure with an SSD and that made it "usable" but it was still slow.

 

[Reflej0]

One question, although I already reviewed YouTube. Is it easy to change an HDD on a 2011 Mac Mini?
I have a Mac Mini 2011 I5 2.5Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD 6630 at US$ 225
and another exactly the same but the 500GB SSD at 325 US$.
I have SSDs at home, that is, I don't need to buy one, is it so complicated to change HDD to pay the additional 100 US$?
And another doubt haha, does the Airdrop work with the Mac Mini 2011, that is to say things happen between the iPhone and the Mac Mini?