Mac mini M4 (2024): docks, stands and other accessories

[EugW]

From reply 447 above:
"Having a limited budget and wanting the best value I have naturally wanted to buy the base model but I am not at all keen on the very restrictive storage of it."

If you buy only "the base model", you may find yourself unhappy with it before too long.

I'd suggest the m4 Mini, 32gb of RAM, and a 1tb SSD.
That should remain competitive for 5-7 years ahead -- it has "room to grow" that will fit the growing demands of the OS.

To save money, IF you have the ability to buy from Apple's online refurbished page, get it from there.

You could get away with 32gb/512gb, with an external SSD.
But you want to be able to BOOT and RUN from the internal SSD.

I went from a 1 TB M1 Mac mini to a 512 GB M4 Mac mini. I still have 335 GB free. I keep my big Photos Library on an external USB 4 / Thunderbolt SSD.

I found 1 TB was either too little or too big. With the Photos Library on it, it was way too cramped. With the Photos Library moved to an external drive, the 1 TB internal SSD was huge overkill. 512 GB internal SSD with an additional external SSD is by far the best solution in my situation.

 

[M4th]

@Ishimura I'd stick with a refurb 16/512 (or 24/512 if you can swing it) and 2tb (or 4tb, check the couch for spare change) for the external in whatever brand suits your budget/style. WD has worked for me in that regard.

 

[HuskerHarley]

Note: Apple's education discount, refurb store and 3rd party vendor sales should not be ignored. I'm seeing some nice stuff of the refurb. store right now.

There’s also a 10% military discount for active and Veterans.

 

[Fishrrman]

Husker wrote:
"There’s also a 10% military discount for active and Veterans."

I bought a refurbished m4 Mini (32gb/1tb) through the Apple refurbished store.

First you sign into the veterans discount "page" (requires a registration with ID.me), and from there you are sent to Apple's "regular" order page (with prices reflecting the discount).

However, at the bottom you can still click on "refurbished" and then will be taken to that section. In addition to the veterans discount, the savings for refurbished will be "piggybacked" onto that as well.

When it tallies up, I got just shy of a 25% discount on the Mini above.

Veteran's discount page:

Veterans and Military Store

Veterans and Military personnel receive a 10% discount on Apple products. You may also purchase for immediate family who live in the same household.

www.apple.com

 

[mjcharlton71]

That's a £1400 machine, full price.

I said I was on a budget and that I was looking at the £600 model, which can now be had for around £500. I'm not sure why you're suggesting a spec that costs more than double what I said I was looking at.

With EDU discount, I paid £589 for the base M4 mini with 3 years AC+

Base model more than enough for my needs, as I’ve also a M3 Pro MBP that doesn’t get canned hard enough!

External U4 NVMe for Logic Pro library and Cubase components. Works fine for what I need and even though I could have went spec crazy, the additional 5-600 quid to match the M3 Pro spec was better off being burned for holiday funds.

 

[HuskerHarley]

Husker wrote:
"There’s also a 10% military discount for active and Veterans."

I bought a refurbished m4 Mini (32gb/1tb) through the Apple refurbished store.

First you sign into the veterans discount "page" (requires a registration with ID.me), and from there you are sent to Apple's "regular" order page (with prices reflecting the discount).

However, at the bottom you can still click on "refurbished" and then will be taken to that section. In addition to the veterans discount, the savings for refurbished will be "piggybacked" onto that as well.

When it tallies up, I got just shy of a 25% discount on the Mini above.

Veteran's discount page:

Veterans and Military Store

Veterans and Military personnel receive a 10% discount on Apple products. You may also purchase for immediate family who live in the same household.

www.apple.com

Thanks for the tip; I didn't know I could PB the Vet 10% on refurbs.