Any Mac mini users here?

September 23, 2017, 07:17 AM

I have been a mac mini user for about 6 years. It has been a great computer. I maxed out the specs, and it has been pretty good for my needs. When Hurricane Irma forced us to evacuate, I just unplugged it, put it in my bag and didn't have to worry about all my work which is also automatically backed up offsite).

I am hoping we hear news soon of a refresh for this line. It would be great to have more RAM, better graphics card, etc. I am hearing that October is the likely timeframe if they are going to announce anything.

September 23, 2017, 07:22 AM

RHINOWSO

I bought one in 2011, used it with a TV as a media device for about 3 years, then it got put away.

Recently the mini-Rhinos have been lobbying for a computer so I dug it back out - got a cheap TV / Monitor and Amazon basics keyboard, so for like $100 it's back in business for "Minecraft" wars.

My daily driver computer is a MacBook Pro (personal) and brand new iMac (work), but with external monitors being so awesome (I use those two with one) I understand the value of the Mac Mini a lot more than I once did.

September 23, 2017, 10:56 AM

1gkek

Use mine mostly as a Plex media server but also as a backup home computer. Running the 2011 server version with the quad core i7 processors in it. This one is my second and replaced a 2007 version.

Big fan of the mini.

September 23, 2017, 11:00 AM

ftttu

My Mac Mini is my main computer, and it worked perfectly for the first year. After that, it started having several panic attack a day, where it would shut down and restart for no apparent reason.

Since my warranty had run out and I didn't want to stand in line for two days at the genius bar, I just lived with it. Finally, it got to the point I couldn't boot that drive so I added an external drive, and ran that drive as my main computer.

That worked for a short time, and it started having panic attacks also. I finally got disk warrior, and I moved my Mini's images and other documents to that new drive after disk warrior got me back in. I then reformatted the Mini's drive, and it started having numerous panic attacks again.

I finally went to another external drive, but again, panic attacks. After a few OS updates, my Mini's drive started only having panic attacks about once a week, so that's where I'm at now.

Since I still have both external drives attached, I can boot to them, but within about 30 minutes of use just looking at images in photos or surfing the web, the drive will have a panic attack and reboot.

September 23, 2017, 11:04 AM

eyrich

I used a couple mac minis for plex media server for many years.
Once they started soldering the ram to the mobo I gave up and switched to NUC style machines.

I like the Gigabyte Brix series

September 23, 2017, 11:50 AM

snwghst

I’m on my second mini as a main computer

I’d like to see a refresh also!!

September 23, 2017, 11:55 AM

snwghst

quote:
Originally posted by ftttu:
My Mac Mini is my main computer, and it worked perfectly for the first year. After that, it started having several panic attack a day, where it would shut down and restart for no apparent reason.

Since my warranty had run out and I didn't want to stand in line for two days at the genius bar, I just lived with it. Finally, it got to the point I couldn't boot that drive so I added an external drive, and ran that drive as my main computer.

That worked for a short time, and it started having panic attacks also. I finally got disk warrior, and I moved my Mini's images and other documents to that new drive after disk warrior got me back in. I then reformatted the Mini's drive, and it started having numerous panic attacks again.

I finally went to another external drive, but again, panic attacks. After a few OS updates, my Mini's drive started only having panic attacks about once a week, so that's where I'm at now.

Since I still have both external drives attached, I can boot to them, but within about 30 minutes of use just looking at images in photos or surfing the web, the drive will have a panic attack and reboot.

When I updated to the most recent OS mine froze up

I made an appt at Genius Bar. Had an awesome young lady look at it. Did a whole bunch of behind the scene stuff on it. Took her about 1.5hrs. NO Charge!! And out of warranty

Don’t be afraid to make an appt and take it in and have it looked at. Be upfront with them while they diagnosing. It’s key to make the appt. you will be seen promptly and not get frustrated standing in an endless line of others

I’ve never had a bad experience at a Genius Bar for anything. Just make the Appt

September 23, 2017, 01:15 PM

Leeann

Yep, I have a 2012 quad-core mini as my main computer. My husband has a 2012 dual core as his main computer. My backup is an 2012 13” MacBook Pro.

I’ve put 525 gb Crucial SSDs (both of our spinning drives were failing) and 16 gb RAM in both. We both still run Yosemite. Both do everything we need or want them to do.

September 23, 2017, 01:23 PM

ZSMICHAEL

quote:
I’ve never had a bad experience at a Genius Bar for anything. Just make the Appt

I am on Mississippi Gulf Coast. NO Apple store here. Are you referring to the store in Metairie? Thanks>

September 23, 2017, 01:35 PM

cas

My main computer. (I still use my G4 for photoshop and the like

)

It's "Mid 2010" as per "About this Mac". A couple years ago it got bad for a while and became near useless with kernel panics after one of the updates. The next OS update was a lot better. I maxed out the ram which helped a lot and I will not update the OS again. Forced obsolescence.

Somewhere in one of the updates the CD drive stopped working, apparently a common issue with that update, I don't know that there was ever a fix. That pissed me off. I don't know when it happened, I only found out about it recently when I went to put all my music CD's on my HD and couldn't.

Other than that I have no real complaints about how it's running. Though I do think about getting a new one just to be proactive. But cost vs gains hasn't impressed me, so I haven't done it.

September 23, 2017, 01:45 PM

sjtill

I have a 2014 model mini and a new MacBook Pro. The mini with a 27 inch 4K ASUS monitor I use for serious stuff, including scanning, finances, photo and video editing; the MBP more for net browsing sitting in my Stressless Chair. I sometimes do hook up the MBP to the large monitor, but mostly rely on the Mini. I have several external HDD's attached via Thunderbolt for backup and for video and photos.

The iMac is of less interest because once I hook up a scanner and hard drives, the computer is going to look cluttered, not like it does in the Apple Store.

September 23, 2017, 05:18 PM

SIGWALLY

I was considering the Mac Mini as my first computer. I will wait till October hoping for the updated model. I am currently using the Logitech review box (Msntv2) and it no longer supports Youtube so I am finally ready.

September 23, 2017, 05:26 PM

Z06

My 5th MAC is a Mini. In the almost 6 years I have had it my only problem was the CD drive died. Found out they almost all die hence the Gen after mine no longer offers that drive.

It is my main business computer with a Mirror Door as the graphics computer. This is my 45th year in industrial and graphic design.

I will get another Mini.

September 23, 2017, 10:58 PM

henryaz

Mini's get hot. If you can arrange some kind of of fan to blow across them, they will last years and years.

September 24, 2017, 01:14 AM

ftttu

quote:
Originally posted by snwghst:
quote:
Originally posted by ftttu:
My Mac Mini is my main computer, and it worked perfectly for the first year. After that, it started having several panic attack a day, where it would shut down and restart for no apparent reason.

Since my warranty had run out and I didn't want to stand in line for two days at the genius bar, I just lived with it. Finally, it got to the point I couldn't boot that drive so I added an external drive, and ran that drive as my main computer.

That worked for a short time, and it started having panic attacks also. I finally got disk warrior, and I moved my Mini's images and other documents to that new drive after disk warrior got me back in. I then reformatted the Mini's drive, and it started having numerous panic attacks again.

I finally went to another external drive, but again, panic attacks. After a few OS updates, my Mini's drive started only having panic attacks about once a week, so that's where I'm at now.

Since I still have both external drives attached, I can boot to them, but within about 30 minutes of use just looking at images in photos or surfing the web, the drive will have a panic attack and reboot.

When I updated to the most recent OS mine froze up

I made an appt at Genius Bar. Had an awesome young lady look at it. Did a whole bunch of behind the scene stuff on it. Took her about 1.5hrs. NO Charge!! And out of warranty

Don’t be afraid to make an appt and take it in and have it looked at. Be upfront with them while they diagnosing. It’s key to make the appt. you will be seen promptly and not get frustrated standing in an endless line of others

I’ve never had a bad experience at a Genius Bar for anything. Just make the Appt

If I start getting the multiple daily panics attacks again, I will take it in.

Just FYI, this is a late 2012 model which I purchased late October 2012 - the day Windows 8 was released. I hated Win 8 so much, it drove me to Mac that day. Even with the problems I've had with this Mini, I'm still a Mac user.