Why don't more people who buy MacBooks buy a Mac Mini as well?

[WriteNow]

Most people only need one or the other. Though I suspect many who like the "idea" of a notebook never actually leave the house with theirs. In their case a mini would suffice.

I can name people like this. Heck, in some cases, the laptop hardly ever even leaves the desk/computer table!

 

[DeepSix]

Exactly! Except in less than common cases. A MacBook can do anything a Mac mini can do, with the added benefit of mobility and the ability to run unplugged.

Okay but Mac Mini still has distinct advantages over MacBook. And it being a fraction of the cost (base model) is icing on top.

 

[lowendlinux]

I have a Mac Studio and a MBA. I use the Mac Studio for all my desktop stuff and use the MBA the way most people would use an iPad because I prefer MacOS and a keyboard.

 

[randyroverly]

I understand that the Mac Mini is a niche device. MacBook is by far the best selling computer that Apple sells. But it got me thinking the other day. My question is when people buy MacBooks why aren't they buying a Mac mini as well at the same time. I say this because there are several benefits to owning both.

1) Mac Mini has no battery so you put zero wear on your battery like you would on a MacBook.
2) Mac Mini is stationary so there is zero chance of accidentally dropping it or banging it against something because you don't have to pick it up all the time like you would with a MacBook. Each time you pick up your MacBook you risk dropping it or banging it on something that could cause catastrophic failure.
3) Mac mini is lighter and takes up less space.
4) You put the wear and tear on the Mac Mini fan and not the MacBook fan. It's much easier to replace a fan in a Mac Mini than a MacBook.
5) If you wanted to carry your Mac Mini with you, you have the option of going with a display larger than 16 in. You could carry around a 32 in monitor if you wanted. You only have the option of maximum 16 in on MacBook.
6) there's no hinge on the Mac Mini so you don't have to keep opening and closing it every single time you want to use it. No hinge means no wear and tear.
7) if something goes bad, like the screen for example, it's a lot cheaper to replace a Mac Mini than a MacBook.

I think that's about it. But clearly there are big benefits to owning a mini too as well as a MacBook for at home use. Perhaps Apple should be selling bundles where you get both of them together for a great price.

I think the better question is why aren't more iPad Pro users adding a mac mini to their setup. The huge benefit there is of course remoting into the mini when you need a desktop browser, desktop software, etc..

 

[DeepSix]

I think the better question is why aren't more iPad Pro users adding a mac mini to their setup. The huge benefit there is of course remoting into the mini when you need a desktop browser, desktop software, etc..

Because iPad pros turn heads in Starbucks (especially with the Magic Keyboard) and Mac Minis don't.

 

[darngooddesign]

Okay but Mac Mini still has distinct advantages over MacBook. And it being a fraction of the cost (base model) is icing on top.

However... once you add an apple keyboard with Touch ID, mouse/trackpad, and 3rd party display it's around the same price as a base MacBook Air. Without those things it's just a paperweight.

 

[IvyKing]

However... once you add an apple keyboard with Touch ID, mouse/trackpad, and 3rd party display it's around the same price as a base MacBook Air. Without those things it's just a paperweight.

The keyboard, mouse/trackpad and displays can last for more than a decade, so updates could be significantly cheaper than the MacBook Air. The Mini has more ports than the MacBook, which can mean not needing an external hub. The better cooling of the Mini means less likelihood of thermal throttling under heavy use.

For a lot of people, the MBA would make more sense than the Mini, but for a good number of people the opposite is true.

 

[darngooddesign]

The keyboard, mouse/trackpad and displays can last for more than a decade, so updates could be significantly cheaper than the MacBook Air. The Mini has more ports than the MacBook, which can mean not needing an external hub. The better cooling of the Mini means less likelihood of thermal throttling under heavy use.

For a lot of people, the MBA would make more sense than the Mini, but for a good number of people the opposite is true.

Deep6 was proposing that people buy a second computer which means they wouldn't have any of those things.