Goodbye MacBook Air 11inch! Hello Mac Mini! (iPad & iPhone Included)

[HappyDude20]

Hello everyone. Quite quickly:

I got the 3rd Gen iPad when it came out in April 2012. I've since lived on only the iPad while attending university and it's worked out quite well, despite very minor bumps along the way.

I gave up my 13inch 2009 MacBook Pro and gave it to the folks back at home.

Since April 2012 I was waiting for the 13inch Retina MacBook Pro and purchased it the week it came out; only to be not satisfied with the high price tag and relating (lack of) upgrades.

I returned it for an 11 inch MacBook Air in November, hoping it would be my solution in having a "home base" for everything of mine...

..only to discover the 11 inch isn't really that great.

I've come to the (startling) realization that the iPad is my go-to-device, while the "Mac" is my "home base" for everything of mine; including but not limited to photos, videos, home videos, hollywood films, etc etc etc.

Aside from attempting to welcome myself into this sub-forum, I feel the need to ask if there is anything i should be aware of going into this head first.

Specifically, I owned my first Apple product back in late 2006 with the white plastic MacBook, and then the aluminum MBP.

Now that i'm going "desktop" just wondering if there are any pitfalls or encounters I should be aware of?

I already have the bluetooth keyboard in my apartment, and an Apple TV ((of which i plan on selling) after all, what's the point of having a Mac Mini & Apple TV connected to the same TV?)

i'm excited to to get the Mac Mini, and would preferably get a refurbished model as i've down with all my previous Apple portable devices, as to save on cost (college student).

Hi all!







EDIT: BTW, I noticed the Mac Mini's begin at $599 here in the U.S. and yet the refurbished section offers nothing less. Anything else available? As mentioned above, I have the Apple bluetooth keyboard already and would only need the Magic Trackpad (unless someone can convince me of the mouse, but doubtful).

 

[polarsirkelen]

Good for you! Have fun with your new mac mini...

But what's your question?

 

[justperry]

Good for you! Have fun with your new mac mini...

But what's your question?

Now that i'm going "desktop" just wondering if there are any pitfalls or encounters I should be aware of?

This.^^

 

[HappyDude20]

Good for you! Have fun with your new mac mini...

But what's your question?

Well, I'm planning on returning my MBA tomorrow. This could be either via shipping through mail, or directly at an Apple Store. I was hoping to find a lower priced refurbished model via the refurbished section on the Apple Store website, but I can't seem to find anything lower than the current model.

If so, I would go that route, but as of now am thinking about simply returning this 11inch MBA at an Apple Store and going for a Mac Mini. I already have the bluetooth wireless keyboard, but not the trackpad. i figure I would need the apple magic trackpad or wireless keyboard, (unless there is a way to make the iPad as a magic trackpad)...

Cost is an issue for me as a university student (no price is too low).

Just wanting to make sure i go about this the most logical and satisfying way.

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This.^^

lol/...

???

 

[53x12]

EDIT: BTW, I noticed the Mac Mini's begin at $599 here in the U.S. and yet the refurbished section offers nothing less. Anything else available?

The base Mac mini is routinely on the refurb section but sell out. Most recently it was being sold for $509 (base i5). I believe their inventory sold out in ~ 2 days. Keep looking.

 

[polarsirkelen]

Okay, well almost any bluetooth keyboard and mouse will work. So I don't think you will have any problems.

If your doing high demanding performances it will get hot and the fans will start to blow really hard. But same thing with your MacBook Air

 

[HappyDude20]

I believe their inventory sold out in ~ 2 days. Keep looking.

Are you saying it sold out 2 days ago? & it keeps "refreshing" with new inventory every few days?

If that's the case then I think it best to simply return my MBA 11inch tomorrow at the Apple Store and get an Apple Gift Card (as opposed to swaping it for the Mac Mini) and then ordering a refurbished Mac Mini Refurb when it becomes available online...

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Okay, well almost any bluetooth keyboard and mouse will work. So I don't think you will have any problems.

If your doing high demanding performances it will get hot and the fans will start to blow really hard. But same thing with your MacBook Air

True.

in complete honesty i was hoping the MBA would be a perfect companion to my iPad lifestyle (of which i use my ipad for everything, including essay writing and typing in class), but no luck. Still, I use my iPad for everything.

 

[justperry]

lol/...

???

I deleted the wrong sections, saw this before you responded yet edited it too late.

 

[53x12]

Are you saying it sold out 2 days ago? & it keeps "refreshing" with new inventory every few days?

If that's the case then I think it best to simply return my MBA 11inch tomorrow at the Apple Store and get an Apple Gift Card (as opposed to swaping it for the Mac Mini) and then ordering a refurbished Mac Mini Refurb when it becomes available online...

I can't predict when the refurbs will come up again. But as a point of reference, yesterday the 2.3 i7 refurb mini was posted with a 30 business day wait. Was sold out later that day. Then they posted some more 2.3 i7 minis today with a 1-3 business day wait. Those also sold out today.

So long story short, when Apple posts refurbs is impossible to tell. They probably do it as they get enough inventory to post. But these '12 mini refurbs probably won't last long once they are listed by Apple.

As a note, I would get a refund if you are returning it. If for no other reason than to buy with a credit card and the extra protection that provides; accidental damage within first X days, automatically extends manufacturer warranty...etc. Don't get a gift card if you can help it.

 

[HappyDude20]

I deleted the wrong sections, saw this before you responded yet edited it too late.

Oh, well... what were you trying/going to say?

Bear in mind, I'm totally new to the Mac Mini area.

As a discretion:

I've used my iPad exclusively for the past 9 months in everything. Everything except sites needing flashing, which for me are only job application sites.

My Mac Mini will be a place to store everything of mine that is captured on my iOS (iPhone & iPad) devices.

I've lived abroad before and would imagine living abroad again in the future. In other words, a place to house (and take) everything of mine.

Though, while living at this university apartment a block away from campus, connect this Mac Mini to the HDTV here at home.

 

[RicWeb]

Rather than get a refurb can you not use your student discount? I bought 2 x ipad 4, 1 x ipad 2 and my Mac mini 2012 and got the discount on all of them.

 

[danbeckemeyer]

Other members have reported receiving 3yrs of AppleCare by default when ordering through the Education Store. I'm not aware if this includes refurbished products or not, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.

 

[Luis2004]

I'm kind of in the same boat, with a few differences.

I've been a PC user all my life, while my best friends are all Mac people. I finally bought an iPad last year and soon wondered where it had been all my life. I use the iPad for everything; note taking, web surfing, emails, iMessages, studying, reading, etc.

My PC finally died a painful death last week and I jumped and decided to go with a Mac. I just couldn't decide between an iMac or a mac mini. The customizability of the mini's internals and monitor made me go with that. I now enjoy a beautiful 23" screen (iMac's 21" was way too small and the 27" was a bit too big), replaced the internal hard drive with an SSD, and upgraded the RAM to 8GB, which for my needs is plenty.

Couldn't be happier with my purchase. I'm really trying to think of pitfalls, and I can't. Maybe one pitfall is that it's not as portable as a macbook pro or air, but then again, that's what my iPad is for. The mini handles everything I throw at it and keeps asking for more. I use Parallels for work (many law firms won't break free from the dinosaur that is WordPerfect, so I'm stuck), but it handles it like a champ.

BTW, I went with the 2.3 i7 model.

You won't regret it.

*Disclaimer* I'm not a full iSheep yet, as I love my Galaxy Nexus too much to go with the smaller-screened iPhone 5, lol.



P.S. I can't speak to the Apple Care thing, since I got it at Best Buy and went with their protection plan. But it's pretty good, as it covers accidental damage in addition to wear and tear.