It could be suggested that moving and replugging a MacBook from one desktop to another is just about the same as moving a Mini - unless you want to use the MacBook’s display simultaneously with the monitor…..
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Would you buy a Mac mini if you had to do it all over again?
- Thread starter satchmo
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It could be suggested that moving and replugging a MacBook from one desktop to another is just about the same as moving a Mini - unless you want to use the MacBook’s display simultaneously with the monitor…..
Well, that's an interesting observation. In the end, when everything is plugged in via the monitor, it's true. Power, music stuff on one desk and power, webcam etc on the other one. Seen the fact I want a large screen anyway, it may be worth it to save the price difference and go for a mini instead of a laptop. It's a bit of a weird concept, lugging a desktop from one desk to another, but if it's a single docking cable for everything, then it's exactly the same as a laptop, minus the battery to keep it turned on while transferring to the other desk.
BTW, the MacBook mentioned is an early 2016 model. There was no macbook in 2012
What app do you use on the IPP to remote into the Mini? I love how I can get in so easily with my MacBook and it seems like I'm using the mac mini right there but I haven't been able to recreate that on my iPad. I've tried VNC and it comes off as clunky. I use Microsoft's remote desktop app on my iPad to remote into my Raspberry Pi (when I'm not just using Termius) and I like that but it hasn't worked from iPad to Mini and I haven't taken the steps to figure out why...
I use JumpDesktop. Hands down the best Remote Desktop on the App Store, in my opinion.
Yeah, forgot about the power cord. It's a basic 2-prong one that comes with every power supply, so having a second one isn't a problem. But it's far more elegant to dock with one USB-C that takes power and connects all peripherals. Since the mini has a built-in PSU, chances are extremely slim Apple has also built in USB-C PD.
If I check the prices of identically an speced 16" MBP vs a mini, I could actually get 2 minis for less money. I get by mostly with my iPad Pro 11 when remote or in a couch, but it's a mental switch to have *only* the iPad instead of having the possibility of taking a mac to the couch. For some things (e.g. clients for the game of go or system admin with remote desktop or a terminal), the iPad just isn't so practical.
Consider that you will destroy a MacBook battery in 1 year if you almost always use it as a Desktop. Portability is nice but you must move it. Or a bulging battery will be on your way. Already happened twice on my MacBook Pro. Sometimes a desktop and an old MacBook for those times is the best setup. I'm definitely moving to an iMac or Mac mini soon.
The 12" macbook I'm inheriting from a colleague (who now uses an M1 MBA) has always been used as a desktop and has no problems with the battery. My 1 year old 16" - ditto. I think you've been quite unlucky.
This is rubbish.
I bought a 15 inch MacBook Pro in 2014 and it's been plugged in 95% of the time. I replaced the battery in May 2021. I bought a 2015 MacBook Pro 15 used in 2018 on the original battery. Have used it almost completely plugged in. I replaced the battery on that one in May 2021 as well. Both laptops showed low cycles so it's clear that battery life is limited in duration as well as use.
Well, that's an interesting observation. In the end, when everything is plugged in via the monitor, it's true. Power, music stuff on one desk and power, webcam etc on the other one. Seen the fact I want a large screen anyway, it may be worth it to save the price difference and go for a mini instead of a laptop. It's a bit of a weird concept, lugging a desktop from one desk to another, but if it's a single docking cable for everything, then it's exactly the same as a laptop, minus the battery to keep it turned on while transferring to the other desk.
BTW, the MacBook mentioned is an early 2016 model. There was no macbook in 2012
A benefit of the mini would be the better thermals meaning less fan noise if you use heavy loads often.
My son has a 2015 MacBook Pro 15 from work and it just showed bulging battery. It's likely that his workplace gives him a 16 inch Intel MacBook Pro. His 2014 MacBook Pro is fine. I asked him about the number of cycles and he said 120. He leaves his plugged in most of the time.
This might be the "common wisdom" and don't doubt that some people have found it to be true. However, my 2013 MacBook Air has spent most of its life plugged in. I travelled with it during the first couple years, but it's been on my desk, plugged in, for at least 5 years now. I rarely use it these days, but the battery still works.
My mid-2014 rMBP was mostly plugged in and only recently has it needed a battery replacement. I figure even if I don't run unsupported Monterey with a new battery it'll most likely last long enough for me to get a few years of security updates with Big Sur and it'll allow me to wait and see the Apple Silicon Macs mature a bit and skip the first generation.
I do plan to get more Minis. They are great for HTPCs.
I do plan to get more Minis. They are great for HTPCs.
My first battery was part of a bad batch and was changed for free out of warranty. Maybe this second one was defective again, it puffed now 1.5 years old..
That's certainly bad luck, and I would also be upset if it happened to me. But I don't think it's grounds for asserting that all MacBooks will fail within a year when plugged in.
I watch the used MacBook market and I see stuff from back in 2006. I have two 2007 MacBook Pro 15s which work - I use one for media consumption. And the battery still holds a charge. I'd guess that it would run for about 45 minutes on the battery.
I have a 2008 15" MacBook Pro, its battery died about 4 years ago. Of course, it's removeable and could be easily replaced. But Core2duo just doesn't cut it for me anymore, so it lives in the closet now.
Those were really better timesI have a 2008 15" MacBook Pro, its battery died about 4 years ago. Of course, it's removeable and could be easily replaced. But Core2duo just doesn't cut it for me anymore, so it lives in the closet now.
Actually the best was my PowerBook G3, it had two slots - one for the DVD drive the other for the battery. But you could pull the DVD and add a second battery for twice the run time (which still wasn't much). Big, heavy black plastic monster, but I actually edited SD video on it for awhile! 🤣
My experience is moving to an M1 16gb/1TB from a 2013 iMac 27" (which was increasingly failing, even booting from an external drive for a few months) is that the process has been pretty seamless. I'm still using my old Magic Mouse and bluetooth keyboard with the M1. Using an LG 27" '4k' monitor via HDMI with no problems. Only issue I've had is that it doesn't always go to sleep on the first attempt - usually does but occasionally needs two or three attempts. In terms of speed it's fine. I wouldn't say it's utterly revolutionary across the board in terms of speed but it is fast and boot times in Logic and FCP are faster, as are render times. This is a stop-gap measure for me while I keep a beady on what products come next. But I had to get this. Would an iMac have been better? In some ways (eg all in one unit), although I tested with a 24" LG and even scaled it was just way too small compared to a 27". All my audio is out to monitor speakers so that's not an issue and for Zoom I just use my iPad. I received my Mac Mini in 5 days (quoted 10 days). The iMac was 2 months so that was a non-starter!
I would and will get a new Mini in the future. Have had Mini G4, Mini mid 2011, Mini 2014 and the current Mini i5 2018. The M1 mini is not an option for me, but the day they make a Mini with at least the same amount of ports I will get one. I started with Macs in 1988 and have had a load of Macs during the years. Maybe I have been lucky, but no major problems on any of those Macs. Only problems have been with one CD/DVD drive on a PowerMac G5 and a broken HD on the 2011 Mini, both was covered with warranty.
My last status was that it left Hong Kong on Friday. My guess is that the wait for shipment is customs somewhere on the West Coast. That's why I wish that they had Minis in warehouses in the US for common models with 16 GB. I'd guess that they're selling at least many hundreds of thousands of these per year.
FWIW, B&H Photo shows the 16gb Mini with 256, 512, 1tb and 2tb SSD in stock and ready to ship. But these all have gigabit ethernet, the 10gb ethernet models are all shown as special order.