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The MacBook would take up less room since you would need a secondary screen with the mini. I'm not sure it would run in clamshell mode. Would you or anyone else know the answer.
 
The MacBook would take up less room since you would need a secondary screen with the mini. I'm not sure it would run in clamshell mode. Would you or anyone else know the answer.

Why wouldn't it? Any desktop can run without a screen, it's not required at all.

The Mac mini can be managed remotely via VNC, Apple Remote Desktop or any other remote access app. That's what many data centers do with mac minis, and they use mac mini due to the power output and the small space that it takes up. So go with the mac mini.
 
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