What can one person do with multiple mac minis?

[sonicrobby]

Lets say you have a main computer, and one mac mini as a media server, and a second mac mini. What can be done with that second mini to put it to good use?

Can I somehow turn that into an online gaming server (such as for counterstrike or something like that)? A home server? Any other ideas?

What would you do with a second spare mac mini (assuming you want to keep both of them)?

 

[COrocket]

I put mine on Folding At Home distributed computing. It helps do computations to understand the nature of diseases. I think it's a noble cause.

https://folding.stanford.edu

Macrumors has a team and there's also a sub forum to ask questions.

 

[blueroom]

Elgato eyeTV or Bootcamp WMC7 on it and use it as an OTA DVR using HDHomeRun tuners and an eHome or Bluetooth remote.

Better yet sell both Minis and buy a nice Synology NAS.

 

[blanka]

I hope you have that mini media server hooked up to your TV. If not, ditch whatever you have on your TV, and connect the 2 mini's directly.

 

[sonicrobby]

I put mine on Folding At Home distributed computing. It helps do computations to understand the nature of diseases. I think it's a noble cause.

https://folding.stanford.edu

Macrumors has a team and there's also a sub forum to ask questions.

This is a good option! If I find no other use I may do that also

Elgato eyeTV or Bootcamp WMC7 on it and use it as an OTA DVR using HDHomeRun tuners and an eHome or Bluetooth remote.

Better yet sell both Minis and buy a nice Synology NAS.

I actually dont have any kind of TV service, so this would do me no good :[ And I already have my time capsule set up as an NAS

I hope you have that mini media server hooked up to your TV. If not, ditch whatever you have on your TV, and connect the 2 mini's directly.

Wait, why would I use 2 minis as media servers? Is there some kind of advantage to that?

 

[barkmonster]

Use Reaper and Reamote to host software synths on the additional system (Or Logicnode with Pre-Logic X versions to achieve the same thing).

You could also use screen recycler and a VNC client to use the additional Mac as an extra display.

 

[dudedude]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7fchtEJpy8

 

[foobarbaz]

If you don't have any need, why waste electricity on it?
If you don't use it, why waste money by having it lose value?

 

[sonicrobby]

If you don't have any need, why waste electricity on it?
If you don't use it, why waste money by having it lose value?

Do any of us truly need everything we have? Money is not an issue for me atm, Im looking to find a good use if there is one

 

[xlii]

You could always give it away to a family member or a relative who may need a computer. Or donate it to someone less fortunate if your relatives are all set.

 

[blanka]

, why would I use 2 minis as media servers? Is there some kind of advantage to that?

Not as server, but other devices like AppleTV's Chromecast and other crap are incapable of doing one of the most essential things a media player should do: support the refresh rates of the content, 24hz for movies, 50 for PAL content and not just the 60Hz NTSC content rate. Also the Mini does DTS, decodes MKV's, is able to deal with 16:10 aspect screens etc. etc.