Why I Ordered a Mac Mini

I did something I never thought I would do: order a new Mac mini.

 

Before I get into specifics, below is the configuration I ordered. For my Mac mini, I opted for the i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and the 10GB ethernet options.

 

 

 

Long time readers will know that I’ve been a Mac user for some time. While I’ve enjoyed using Macs, in 2015 I took a right turn on Albuquerque and built my very first PC (dual booting between Windows 10 and macOS).  For the most part, the Hackintosh has served me well. But to be perfectly honest, it was never quite “sunshine and roses”. System updates were problematic at times, and there was a period of time where audio would simply not work under High Sierra. When the Hackintosh worked, it worked. But when it didn’t – it was a nightmare.

 

I’ve lost numerous hours to troubleshooting issues. I’ve burned many days with Google searches to find arcane solutions to vexing problems. And while I felt a sense of exhiliration in overcoming those obstacles,  I’m not sure I could easily replicate the steps if the problems resurfaced again.

In short, running a Hackintosh is a gamble; I cannot trust it for production work.

I’m at a point in my life where I just want the machine to work, with minimal maintenance. And that’s where the Mac mini comes in. I ordered one not only for what it is, but for what it can become. Despite its diminutive size, the biggest advantage that I see in the Mac mini is its modularity, due to the wealth of ports on the back of the device. Want faster video? Add an eGPU with a supported graphics card. Want extra storage? Add an external RAID array. Upgradeable RAM? Check.  I can use my existing displays and mechanical keyboard with the Mac mini. And best of all, I don’t have to constantly care and feed the beast. I want reliability and stability, with OS upgrades that just work. If it performs as expected, it should easily pay for itself with my upcoming client work.

Of course, that’s the promise of a Mac mini. It’s a promise that I will test thoroughly over the coming weeks and months ahead.

Krishna 

P.S. Spoiler alert: an eGPU is definitely on the docket. Recommendations on which unit / card to purchase for design work (Photoshop, Maya, Clip Studio Paint, etc.) are welcomed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Krishna November 13, 2018 2018 Mac mini, Apple hardware, Hackintosh