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jasnw

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 15, 2013
1,080
1,142
Seattle Area (NOT! Microsoft)
I am needing to move from a 2024 Mac Mini M2Pro to a Windows 11 box with AlmaLinux in a VM. Not my choice, but macOS is deemed unacceptable (don't ask). I haven't run a Windows+Linux box since 2003 when macOS 10.3 (Panther) made it possible for me to do everything on one OS, so I'm completely out of date RE hardware and software. I'd like to have a small-footprint desktop system (not a laptop), as quiet as possible, that can match the non-threaded performance of the Mini M2Pro. I'm not doing gaming and don't need hot graphics. Most of what I do is either on the command line in a Terminal window or in one of the MS Office apps. I need both Windows and Linux because I need the Office apps (no FOSS alternatives) and a Linux command line.

So, what Windows hardware would be the best fit? The Mini M2Pro cost me under $1,000 - can I come anywhere near to this price and still hit the M2Pro performance (and Mini silence)?
 
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