M1 Air to Mac Mini for desktop users?

[igneousc]

Anyone who currently uses a mac laptop thinking about grabbing a mac mini to replace using a mac laptop for desktop use?
I currently use an M1 Air and have a 4k external monitor. I rarely if ever find that this computer is too slow, but it is the base model and I know there are times where it could be quicker. But between the extra power and the ability to rock two 27" 4k monitors I'm super intrigued to be able to potentially do all of this for under $1,000 even with the monitor/keyboard/maybe speakers?

My main concern is the complications of accessories. The speakers on my air are not the greatest but all I need for daily youtube/tv show viewing while I'm working and stuff. The speaker on the mini is supposed to be ok but I cant imagine that it's great, so now I need to think about computer speakers again? That's more stuff on my desk. I'll also have to pick up a keyboard, which for muscle memory purposes sounds annoying but I think something with a numberpad would actually be amazing once I got used to it.

Is anyone else in this same boat of considering this? I'd keep my air for the rare times I need my computer elsewhere, or travel. I think I'm just on the fence and need to be pushed in either direction, but maybe I'm missing some of the benefits and downsides as well.

 

[Ben J.]

But between the extra power and the ability to rock two 27" 4k monitors I'm super intrigued to be able to potentially do all of this for under $1,000 even with the monitor/keyboard/maybe speakers?

So, basically this is it? It's working to your satisfaction now, but you want the option to have another monitor, and extra cpu power that you're not sure if you'll need? Seems a little pointless to me. Tidying up the desktop a little by getting rid of the macbook should feel nice, though.

But if you really want to renew, and you have the money to spend, I'd say yeah, get a mac mini, M4, M2pro or M3pro, they should be affordable on the second-hand market now. Get a second monitor. and put a couple of hundred into a set of proper powered speakers. You'll lose the camera and microphone when you drop the Macbook, that's something to consider.

Or you might wait a bit and not get something new simply because it's new, but get a new setup when you have a really good idea how to transform your mac into something new.

I've had a large TV as my main mac screen for a decade now, and I have several sets of bluetooth mouse/keyboard around the room, and with a resolution of 1920x1080 and some tweaking of settings, I can read text fine from several meters' distance. A good stereo provides the sound. It works as a mac and a TV (and a radio and a stereo) equally good. For some things, I need to sit close a screen like a regular computer screen, and for that I have a 32" just below the TV.

Not for everybody, but I love it.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

There are people who need a new Mac(have an actual use-case that’s supported), and those that want a new Mac. I tend to be the latter, though I don’t go hog-wild with it. My M1 16/512 mini was doing the job just fine, but I got the M4 Pro 24/512 just so it would do it a little faster.

If you want a mini to replace your MacBook Air then ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Vaya con Dios

 

[NYCValkyrie]

I'd keep my air for the rare times I need my computer elsewhere, or travel. I think I'm just on the fence and need to be pushed in either direction, but maybe I'm missing some of the benefits and downsides as well.

So you aren't replacing it. You're just adding to your home setup and still have a laptop for travel. Great. Enjoy.

I have both. My 2018 MacMini still works fine. Everything I need for work, works. I upgraded a pre-M Air to the M2 MBA last year. It's a great combo.