The Mac mini Dilemma

[eltoslightfoot]

I bought a 12.9 IPad during lockdown for teaching. I found it quite helpful, as I could draw out our conversations using the pencil and a 3rd party app that let us diagram the readings and the themes in real time on zoom. Students seemed to like it as well. My Uni shut down online teaching quickly, so I’ve used it ever since as a media consuming device, and a device for light work tasks. I like it, it’s waaaaaaaay over priced, and the accessories are ridiculous, 350 for a keyboard? Hah! But it has its uses.

You just get stuff used and then it isn't as bad. I got an M1 iPad Pro 12.9" last year for like $700 with a Magic Keyboard included. Not bad at all.

 

[nathansz]

I bought a 12.9 IPad during lockdown for teaching. I found it quite helpful, as I could draw out our conversations using the pencil and a 3rd party app that let us diagram the readings and the themes in real time on zoom. Students seemed to like it as well. My Uni shut down online teaching quickly, so I’ve used it ever since as a media consuming device, and a device for light work tasks. I like it, it’s waaaaaaaay over priced, and the accessories are ridiculous, 350 for a keyboard? Hah! But it has its uses

I've always imagined it would be good for recipes in the kitchen

 

[AlaskaMoose]

With an iPad, I am pretty much limited to the apps that are found in the App Store and multitasking is not as easy on an iPad as it is on a Mac. With any Mac, I have options of buying directly from he vendor, writing my own software, etc. I frequently use some of the BSD derived utilities from data manipulation. Macs allow better control of files.

Last but not least, Macs have a command line interface.

I’ve never found iPads interesting

I would also never buy a 24” all in one, but it runs macOS and is an entirely capable machine

Agree. While I have an iPad I purchased early this year I find it quite boring. It's pretty much collecting dust on a desk. I keep the iOS updated, and charge the battery every now and then. I do like apple computers and OS-X, but am no fond, specially of the base the M4 iMac and the base M4 Mini. I will probably buy the Pro Mini with boosted RAM (maybe 48GB minimum), and the 512GB SSD. However, a 256GB SSD would work as long as I move the Home folder to an external and fast 2TB SSD. The iMac's 24" screen does not do it for me.

 

[Tago]

Got a 12.9 Pro 4G a few years ago, but I couldn`t really get good use out of it. It was eaten both ends by the iPhone and the MBP. There`s a lot of wasted black space for movies, I didn`t like reading books on it at all, and I don`t do freehand drawing/design. I believe they need a decent cover, and with that, they become rather heavy. Besides being seriously disappointed with the reading bit, one has to keep an eye on the pen for that not to drain it`s battery. Basically keep the pen strapped to the pad "at all times".

On the very positive side, I bought it new from a retailer, and when I sold it I well over a year later, I got exactly what I paid for iPad/pen thus the only loss was what i paid for the cover. I knew that before I bought it.

Don`t miss it at all, and am unlikely to purchase another for my usage.I see the usefulness for other scenarios, but not for mine.

 

[ubinko]

View attachment 2456187
Indeed, adding a substantial bottom bezel can create the illusion that the 24" display is larger than it actually is. While the overall dimensions of the display may appear more imposing, the actual screen real estate remains unchanged. It’s a bit of a clever trick, really, as the effective viewing area is significantly reduced despite the larger appearance.

Yes, it does have a rather dated aesthetic, doesn’t it? In an age where sleek, minimalistic designs are all the rage, a bulky bezel can seem quite out of place. It harkens back to earlier models that prioritised size over style. Many users now prefer a more modern look with thinner bezels that maximise the screen area and provide a more contemporary feel. It’s certainly something to consider if one is after a more up-to-date appearance!

I always thought the bezel was there to give more room to fit the computer in the back, especially since the screen is very thin.

 

[Yvan256]

This thread seems to have very quickly gone from a vague point about the value of a Mac Mini to just airing grievances about all Mac-related products.

It's a Festivus miracle!

 

[IvyKing]

I've always imagined it would be good for recipes in the kitchen

(With respect to iPad) My wife makes good use of her iPad in the kitchen for ease of finding and displaying recipes. I find it very useful for teleconferences.

An iPad makes a nice portable secondary display for a MacBook.

Having said that, the iPads are nowhere near the same market as the Mac Mini and one can cobble up a Mac Mini installation for less than a high end iPad.

 

[IvyKing]

Agree. While I have an iPad I purchased early this year I find it quite boring. It's pretty much collecting dust on a desk. I keep the iOS updated, and charge the battery every now and then. I do like apple computers and OS-X, but am no fond, specially of the base the M4 iMac and the base M4 Mini. I will probably buy the Pro Mini with boosted RAM (maybe 48GB minimum), and the 512GB SSD. However, a 256GB SSD would work as long as I move the Home folder to an external and fast 2TB SSD. The iMac's 24" screen does not do it for me.

I went for the 14 CPU M4 Pro to get the 64GB RAM (my first computer started with 128KB) and pleasantly surprised in hearing the fans coming on only once. I also went for the 1TB option so my home directory could reside on the internal disk - though news that the flash memory is not soldered to the system PCB provides a glimmer of hope that primary storage can be expanded.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I went for the 14 CPU M4 Pro to get the 64GB RAM (my first computer started with 128KB) and pleasantly surprised in hearing the fans coming on only once. I also went for the 1TB option so my home directory could reside on the internal disk - though news that the flash memory is not soldered to the system PCB provides a glimmer of hope that primary storage can be expanded.

I have watched some videos about the M4 Mini's SSD upgrade, so at least there is a possible non-Apple upgrade once the warranty is over. But the M4 iMac closes the door on user upgrades. Only upgrades offered by Apple are possible. This is one of the reasons why I don't find the new iMac interesting at all, the other is because of the small screen, and the last one because of its "thinness." Just imagine that screen and CPU emanating heat when pushed hard, and the fan failing.

 

[nathansz]

Having said that, the iPads are nowhere near the same market as the Mac Mini and one can cobble up a Mac Mini installation for less than a high end iPad.

yeah this baffles me

the price of even a mid range iPad seems insane to me for a device with a crippled os

maybe I just think like that because I'm old?

if it could run macOS then I could see the value proposition for some maybe, a tablet to take around or sit on the couch, but then you can dock it for desktop computer type use. some of them are certainly capable hardware wise at this point