Apple Mac mini

The Many Uses of an Apple Mac Mini

The Apple Mac mini is a versatile machine noted for having a plethora of ports. Given the machine's age, it might be tempting to think of the computer as outdated. However, for specific uses such as video editing or even server hosting, the small Mac mini is an ideal alternative to the barebones PC. In something of a departure from the often-seen all-in-one iMac, the mini includes no monitor or keyboard and mouse combo. If you want to make the transition from PC to Mac, you'll like that the mini works seamlessly with many of your old PC components.

What's the Apple Mac mini Used For?

Given the low-profile design, Mac mini devices are excellent workhorses to augment existing desktops. If you want to mix audio without bogging down your desktop machine, you'll appreciate the Apple Mac mini's ability to complete such tasks. In addition, the machine offers four USB ports to make it easier to connect to external devices, which is comparable to the Apple Mac Pro. With HDMI plus an SDXC card slot, you'll find it handles even multiple monitors with no trouble.

This device also has several others uses. If you want a more robust version of the Apple TV, you'll appreciate the mini's significantly larger hard drive for storing movies. In addition, the mini's improved CPU is capable of executing other tasks, such as backing up your mobile phone's photos, while streaming movies to your TV. In this sense, the mini is a personal server too. If you want a local device that'll store and render video you're editing while also hosting a website, the mini is capable of multitasking in the background without sucking power from an unused monitor. In fact, with the right software, you can even remotely access the mini.

What Monitors are Compatible with the Apple Mac mini?

Keeping in mind that Apple got out of the monitor scene years ago, most modern monitors built for your PC also work with the mini. The Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3 ports make connecting most monitors possible, and the MacOS has built-in support for third-party external monitors. If you want to stream movies to your TV and have the connectivity to use two computer monitors, the mini can transition between those tasks with ease.

Whether you want to host your own home server or just plug your old PC components into a new Mac, a Mac mini will fill both of these roles admirably. Check out B&H Photo and Video's selection of Apple mini devices to find everything you need to get started.