Are you wondering what goes on inside Apple’s Mac mini? Perhaps you’ve bought one and want to see what you can do with it?

If so, read on to discover everything you need to know about the Mac mini, from what it is, to how to set it up and tons of different things you can use it for, outside of a regular PC.

What is a Mac mini and what does it do?

The Mac mini is a small desktop computer made by Apple. What makes the Mac mini different from a regular computer is that it’s shipped without an accompanying screen, keyboard or mouse. As Apple likes to say, it’s “BYODKM” (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse).

A 'Mac mini' is usually used as a desktop computer. However, by adding a few accessories to it, a 'Mac mini' can travel well with you. When you travel with it, your 'Mac mini' can be used as your main portable computer or as a backup for your existing laptop computer. The Mac mini is the cheapest Mac you can buy. Its small form factor and quiet operation makes it easy to integrate into a home entertainment system or use as a server stashed away in a corner. You can use a single Mac mini for a small group of Macs for basic services or as a general-purpose web server. You also can use multiple Mac minis to serve larger networks. The Mac mini, starting with the mid-2010 model, also called unibody, makes a way better server than earlier models.

The reason behind the Mac mini being shipped solo, is because most of its use cases feature around using it to power up another device, as we’ll discuss in more detail below.

It also makes for more of a flexible purchase. For example, if you already have a screen, or a keyboard and mouse, you can pair these with the Mac mini rather than forking out for new ones. And if you don’t, you can easily purchase them alongside the Mac mini anyway.

The Mac mini has been around since 2005 (launched at the same time as the iPod shuffle) but its design and functionality have changed since then.

The latest 3.6 GHz Mac mini released in 2018 comes in two types of processing speed, the 3.6 GHz Mac mini Core i3 costing about $799 and the 3.0 GHz Mac mini Core i5 costing about $1099.

Specification of the Mac mini

Uses for the Mac mini

• Share presentations to screen
• Listen to music through an app like Spotify
• Share photos to a TV screen
• Access emails
• Play games

Benefits of the Mac mini

Some of the key benefits of the Mac mini include:

• The cheapest Mac Apple sells
• Built in apps such as FaceTime, iBooks, Maps, iTunes and Mail
• Multiple ports, making it more akin to a PC than a media device
• Apple quotes that with fourth-generation Intel Core processors, the device is able to “keep up with computers twice its size”
• Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth
• Easy setup for a keyboard, mouse or screen
• The perfect size to use as the centre of a “digital home”

How to set up a Mac mini

Here’s how to get your Mac mini running, from getting it out of the box to using it for a purchase such as connecting to your home TV.

Before you begin setup some of the questions you may want to consider include:

• What screen will you be connecting to? You’ll need a desktop or a TV screen to get your Mac mini up and running
• How will you connect to the screen? Depending on what screen you’re connecting to you may need a converter lead
• Do you have a Wi-Fi connection? You’ll need this to set up some of the Mac mini features
• How will you control the Mac mini? You’ll likely need either a keyboard and mouse combo or an Apple remote

Once you’ve made your decision and purchased any additional items you need, here’s how to get set up.

1. Add power

Plug the power adaptor into your Mac mini and plug the other end into your power outlet. Press the power button on the back of the Mac mini.

2. Attach to your TV or monitor

Connect your Mac mini to your TV or desktop. The Mac mini comes with a HDMI-to-DVI adapter for connecting to a monitor's DVI port, which will allow you to connect to an Apple monitor.

If you want to connect to a TV screen you may need to purchase a mini-displayport-to-VGA adapter which will allow you to connect your Mac mini to a standard analog monitor, projector, or LCD that uses a VGA connector or cable.

3. Connect to Wi-Fi

Once turned on, the setup guide should take you through a few simple steps, including setting up a Wi-Fi connection.

4. Sign in with your Apple id

This will give you access to the App Store and and will link your iCloud account if you wish to connect to your Mail, Photos, Calendar and so on.

5. Begin using your Mac mini

From here, you can begin using your PC or TV screen as a computer, using the desktop to search for apps, open web pages and more.

What can you do with your Mac mini?

Want to ensure you’re getting the most from your Mac mini device? Here are some ideas on how you can use it:

1. Access apps on a TV screen

The Mac mini is a great way to take everything you’d usually do on your phone or laptop and access it on your TV screen. This could be sharing photos with a room, opening mail or accessing your documents.

1. Use any screen as your computer

The Mac mini is super light, which means you can take it anywhere, plug it into a desktop and you’ll have a powerful computer. This allows you to work from anywhere, or set up shop in any location where there’s a monitor and Wi-Fi available.

1. Set up digital signage with the Mac mini

The Mac mini is a great way to turn any screen into a digital sign. This allows you to pre-schedule and setup content to show on your digital screen such as social media feeds, presentations, travel updates, news feeds and more. Read the full guide on setting up digital signage with the Mac mini here.

4. Create a home viewing centre

With the Mac mini and a screen, or desktop, you can create a home viewing centre that allows you to watch movies, surf the internet and listen to music. Via streaming apps such as Netflix, or even through movies you’ve bought on iTunes, you can easily set up movies to play on any screen. You can also use music apps available in the Apple App Store or use Safari to get online.

5. View and share photos

The Mac Mini includes a SDXC card slot so you can simply remove the memory card from your camera and insert it. This allows you to view photos on a monitor, or share them with the room from your TV screen.

Mac mini question buster

Can you use any monitor with a Mac mini?

The Mac mini doesn’t come with a monitor, but you can connect it to one using one of the ports on the back of the device. Using the right adapter, you can connect the Mac Mini to any computer screen with a VGA port. The Mac Mini ships with a HDMI-to-DVI adapter but it’s only really Apple monitors which use DVI, so for a regular monitor you may need a HDMI-to-VGA or mini displayport-to-VGA connector instead.

How do you turn on a Mac mini?

Simply press the power button on the Mac mini box.

Can you use any keyboard with a Mac mini?

Most keyboards and mouses can be used with the Mac mini by connecting them using the USB port. For Bluetooth devices, connect the USB dongle to the Mac mini using the USB port.

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In the last few years, Apple has released and updated lots of Macs. We can now choose from a gorgeous iMac Pro, a powerful Mac Pro, a lightweight MacBook Air with True Tone display, and a brand new 16-inch MacBook Pro, to mention just a few.

But what more and more people realize is just how expensive most of Apple’s computers have become. The new MacBook Pro will set you back at least $2,400. Then it’s $5,000 for the basic iMac Pro and $6,000 for the Mac Pro, which doesn’t even include a monitor (add $5,000 on top for Apple’s Pro Display XDR).

Considering all this, you might wonder if there’s an affordable solution available at all: one that would also be capable of working on tasks heavier than simply browsing the web. And there is! It’s called Apple Mac mini.

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What Is A Mac mini?

Mac mini is literally a mini Mac — a tiny desktop device — that has been around for quite a while. It’s been normally positioned by Apple as a computer for casual users up until the 2014 model. However, the new Mac mini updated in 2018 has made a solid jump towards a more professional audience.

For those who’ve never seen a Mac mini before, it’s essentially a small square box, measuring 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches (similar in shape but slightly larger than Apple TV), that now only comes in Space Gray color (same color as in MacBooks or iMac Pro). It’s got a variety of ports to connect any external devices (e.g. a monitor, a keyboard) and can be used anywhere, from being your everyday computer to a part of a solid server infrastructure.

Still, some questions remain: What’s the Mac mini price? Are there any Mac mini deals? What about Mac mini ports? And should you buy a Mac mini 2020 if it becomes available? Let’s take this step by step.

When was the latest Mac mini released?

Unfortunately, Mac mini updates are not nearly as consistent as the ones for MacBook Pros or iPhones. The new Mac mini came out in late 2018, over a year ago. And a version before that was released in 2014.

So is there hope for Mac mini 2020? MacRumors, a website that tracks all Apple updates scheduled, estimates that on average new Mac minis come out every 588 days. Given that we’re getting close to 500 days since late 2018, it’s highly probable that we’ll see a new Mac mini released during Apple’s WWDC conference this June.

How much does the new Mac mini cost?

Right now, Apple offers Mac minis in two base models:

• 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Intel i3 with 128 GB of storage for $799

• 3.0 GHz 6-Core Intel i5 with 256 GB storage for $1,099

The latter model also offers a Turbo Boost of up to 4.1 GHz.

However, if you’re not satisfied with this stack, there are lots of upgrades you can buy, from increasing RAM to 64 GB to getting a 2 TB SSD, to levelling up to an Intel i7 chip, to installing a 10 Gigabit Ethernet. The most expensive setup you can build right now will cost you $3,200, most of it coming from RAM and SSD upgrades.

Some people might be wondering if Mac mini is DIY upgradeable. And generally it is, but since you have to take it apart, Apple wants you to only do that at a licensed dealer, using licensed Apple parts. Upgrades at home are then certainly not advised.

Are there any Mac mini design improvements?

Given that Apple had four full years to redesign the product, you might think there would be radical design improvements. Nope. The new Mac mini looks exactly like the old Mac mini, save for the new color alignment (Space Gray) with the rest of the Mac lineup. The old silver color is no longer available.

To sum up the new Mac mini appearance, it’s 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4-inch Space Gray box that weighs 2.9 lbs, and has just a single light indicator in the front to show if the machine is on or not.

What did change considerably, though, are the internal components, which underwent a complete overhaul.

What are the internal Mac mini updates?

The most impressive change in the new Mac mini and, possibly, in the upcoming Mac mini 2020 is the power output.

Mac mini now boasts brand new eighth-generation Intel processors and speedy 2666 MHz DDR4 memory, which results in up to five times faster system performance.

As more power means more heat, Apple has also redesigned Mac mini’s thermal architecture for double the airflow and up to 70% more maximum sustained power.

In line with all the other Macs, Apple has added a T2 security chip to the new Mac mini as well, which ensures that all hard drive data is safely encrypted at all times.

For ports, Mac mini might surprise you with its versatility, especially when compared side-by-side with the latest laptops (which are often pretty bare). It features an HDMI, two USB-As, four USB-Cs, Ethernet, and a standard headphone jack. So no USB adapters or docks immediately required.

Ways to make your Mac mini better

Overall, Mac mini might seem like a good deal. It’s powerful, affordable, and expandable. You can use any monitor you like, any keyboard, and any mouse. You might even stack up a few of them and create a formidable server. Its versatility is nearly limitless.

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What could make your Apple Mac mini even better is having a few powerful optimization apps to make the most out of its configuration.

CleanMyMac X is a top-grade utility used to clean, optimize, and protect your Mac. It’s by far the best way to get rid of all junk generated by your macOS use: system and user logs, cached files, unneeded language files, broken login items, and so much more.

To start with CleanMyMac X:

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1. Launch the app and go to System Junk

2. Click Scan

3. Find out more in Review Details

4. Hit Clean when ready

Alternatively, you can navigate to Maintenance, select the improvements you’re looking for (e.g. Free Up RAM, Flush DNS Cache), and click Run. If you think your Mac might be infected, just go to Malware Removal, click Scan, and then Remove.

Keep an eye on your Mac’s performance

Get a health check tool for your computer. iStat Menus helps you monitor active processes on Mac, preventing any misbehavior.

iStat Menus is another essential utility that should become your Mac’s primary control center. Living quietly in your menu bar, iStat Menus tracks all possible Mac indicators, from your CPU load to internal temperature, to network activity. There’s simply no better way to identify a potential problem and search for a solution, before any damage has been done.

What Can A Mac Mini Be Used For The First Time

Endurance is every MacBook owner’s dream — a small utility proven to extend your battery life for up to 20%. But there’s no battery on Mac mini, you might say. True, but consider this: Endurance gives you much more control over your Mac. So you can, for example, turn off your Turbo Boost when not needed to save your Mac from overheating. You can also snooze inactive apps to give more power to the work at hand. There are literally dozens of new possibilities with no downside!

Can A Mac Mini Be Used As Apple Tv

In the end, if you’re looking for a versatile desktop Mac, but iMac Pro and Mac Pro seem out of reach, the Mac mini latest model is a no-brainer. Should you buy it now or wait till Apple’s WWDC for a potential new model? If you can wait, wait. Otherwise, go ahead and look for some refurbished Mac mini deals — you certainly won’t regret it.

Best of all, CleanMyMac X, iStat Menus, and Endurance — all the apps to supercharge your Mac mini — are available to you absolutely free through a seven-day trial of Setapp, a platform with 170 more outstanding Mac apps to solve any problem you or your Mac could encounter, from improving efficiency to making sure your projects are going to be delivered on time. Try Setapp today to see how different your work could be.

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Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.

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