Uses for an inherited M4 Mac Mini?

[Bodhitree]

Greetings and salutations! My father recently passed away, and he left me (among other things) an M4 Mac Mini 16/256 that is just a few months old. Now I have an M1 iMac 16/512 that is my primary machine, and I like the way it looks on my desk, so I am planning to keep that in place.

So, I was wondering what to do with the Mac Mini… these are things I’m considering:

1. Expand my desktop setup to two Macs. I don’t really want to do this because it will clutter up my space, and I spend most of my time on my iPad anyway.

2. Attach it to the TV downstairs. I currently don’t have a way of playing my Apple TV bought content on the big screen TV I have in the living room, since my old Apple TV media box appears to be dying. My dad had a nice Satechi wireless keyboard and mouse so this is not a bad fit.

3. Store it somewhere. Eventually my M1 iMac will become obsolete, and the M4 Mac Mini should outlast it, and I can move over to it and use it for 3-4 years in the future.

4. Sell it. My dad had been so happy with his new M4 Mac Mini, I’m tempted to keep it just for the memories. Miss you already dad.

Do you have any creative uses for an M4 Mac Mini in your house?

 

[splifingate]

Condolences on the loss of your Pops.

I have much from my Pop's life, but I can only take so much exposure (at least to this day) before it becomes overwhelming.

Quite a bit of art from past years is still on display, as it has been. Other works have not (and are not).

As for his tech . . . it was not easy 🤷‍♂️

Good luck, whatever you choose.

 

[KenSM]

I'm sorry that it came to you in these circumstances. I have a base-model M1 mini which is permanently attached via an HDMI cable to our large-screen TV for viewing catch-up or films, and is solely used for that. I also keep a wireless keyboard and mouse beside it purely for this, which is perhaps a little extravagant, but it's useful. Just a thought.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

My condolences. My father passed - can it really be twenty years ago? Seems like last week and I think of him often.

1. 2nd desktop Mac - I agree, that wouldn't be necessary for most people. If you need it you need it; if you don't - it's wasteful.

2. TV downstairs - this seems like a good possibility, with the wireless keyboard & mouse.

3. Store it - wasteful. By the time you get around to "needing" it the 256 storage will need supplemented and the cost to fully replace it won't be all that high.

4. Sell it - As nice as the computer is, it's not tremendously valuable. But just a thought, if there's someone who you know of that could make good use of the Mac... a student perhaps, or a family member. Someone you could donate it to in your father's memory.

 

[kirbyrun]

if there's someone who you know of that could make good use of the Mac... a student perhaps, or a family member. Someone you could donate it to in your father's memory.

I think is in an incredibly sweet gesture. I vote for this! (As though my vote counts!)

And I also offer my condolences, OP. My dad passed two years ago and I still find myself reaching for the phone to call him about something or other.

 

[Bodhitree]

But just a thought, if there's someone who you know of that could make good use of the Mac... a student perhaps, or a family member. Someone you could donate it to in your father's memory.

This is a good thought. I will have a look around the family to see if anyone can use it. There are a couple of cousins who have teenage kids who might not have computers yet. Thank you!

 

[ericwn]

Love the idea of gifting it to a family member or just donating it for a family in need.

 

[bradman83]

As others have said my condolences for your loss. I would honestly consider replacing the M1 Mini with the inherited one and supplementing the storage with an external drive. Then focus your attention on what to do with the old M1 mini, such as converting it into a makeshift Apple TV.

 

[Bodhitree]

Yes, if I were using an M1 Mini I might well just do a straight swap. But my current desktop is an M1 iMac, and I’m rather attached to the screen and its green elegance.

My cousin has said that supplementing his family’s electronics with some of my dad’s items “sounds like music to his ears!” Not surprising as he has 5 kids and they live off a single income since his wife is dedicated to home schooling her children.

 

[boswald]

Donate it to someone, or, if you decide to keep it, turn it into a media server or Pi-Hole.

 

[asimof]

media usage is good

 

[Timpetus]

I recommend making it your HTPC. I bought a 2014 Mini for just that reason, and it worked great up until we bought a more modern Apple TV to replace it. Now it is our home file server, but it's getting a bit old and I think I'll upgrade to an M4 Mini soon.

 

[cjsuk]

Sorry for your loss. Hard times. My father passed away last year and I inherited a lot of stuff including an M1 iMac and a bunch of photography stuff so was in a similar situation. They were the important things in his life outside of people. I kept it all around the house for months trying to justify using it for sentimental value. At the end of the day it was just stuff. It was disposed of via eBay etc. What people use it for, in his case photography, resulted in things which were kept. I have his photo library, prints and lots of family information I didn't have before. I revel in that more than the container it was in.

I would suggest giving yourself some time to grieve and don't worry too much about it yet. Perspective changes over time.

Whilst finances are not an issue for me, I put the money aside and a year later, I used it some of it to invest in making memories with my children by taking them on holiday. I know he'd have been happier with that than some material item being kept for sentimental sakes.

View from Mdina city in Malta.

 

[Bodhitree]

My father passed away last year and I inherited a lot of stuff including an M1 iMac and a bunch of photography stuff so was in a similar situation. They were the important things in his life outside of people. I kept it all around the house for months trying to justify using it for sentimental value. At the end of the day it was just stuff.

Sorry to hear about your father. It seems to be a universal experience though, part of middle age is that our parents get old and pass away. My impulse was also to keep everything that is in his apartment, until I started figuring out the practical ramifications. I just don’t have enough space, and putting it all in storage seems like putting off the inevitable to no purpose.

So I am just in the process of getting selective. I’m going keep a few things and then give away what other people can find a use for, like his wine and his tech items. Then I’m going to let the second-hand shop people take whatever they can sell. For the rest I will contract a house clearing firm, who will empty the place so that I can sell the apartment.

But I can’t do anything for a while, the will has to be sorted out first.

Whilst finances are not an issue for me, I put the money aside and a year later, I used it some of it to invest in making memories with my children by taking them on holiday. I know he'd have been happier with that than some material item being kept for sentimental sakes.

It caused quite some mental upheaval for me, looking at the changes in my financial situation. But until I know what his will says it’s hard to make definitive plans.