Clipart For Mac Mini
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?
The worst thing about the 2018 Mac mini was its paltry integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU, but that’s to be expected from a computer that resides within such a small enclosure. Apple just gave a little upgrade love to the Mac mini, beefing up the graphics and storage, along with knocking $100 off the starting price.If you’ve been thinking about getting a Mac mini, now is the most cost-effective time in two years. They ship with the new Mac OS X Yosemite, of course.
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).
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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Got a question to add? Email us: hello@screencloud.com
Apple just gave a little upgrade love to the Mac mini, beefing up the graphics and storage, along with knocking $100 off the starting price. If you’ve been thinking about getting a Mac mini, now is the most cost-effective time in two years. They ship with the new Mac OS X Yosemite, of course. This Mac mini buyers guide and feature review will help you find the answers you need.
Clipart For Mac Mini Computers
The Mac mini desktop Mac is popular with PC switchers and maintains almost a cult following among some Mac lovers, who love the versatility. You can plug it into the HDMI port on our HDTV and turn it into a living-room media center Mac. Or you can set it up as a server — and some companies use them in data centers for small businesses. While most Mac buyers turn to the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, the Mac mini goes to people who want the greatest overall value in a Mac that’s designed to stay in one place.
The new Mac mini comes in three versions:
Mac Clip
- 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz) with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache with a 500GB hard drive
- 2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache with a 1TB hard drive
- 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache with a 1TB Fusion Drive
The Apple retail price ranges from $499 for the 1.4GHz model to $699 for the 2.6GHz model and $999 for the 2.8GHz Mac mini.
Which Mac mini Is the Best Buy?
While the $499 entry point is hard to beat, the 2.6GHz model has twice the memory (8GB instead of 4GB) and twice the storage (1TB vs 500GB) along with better graphics — Intel Iris Graphics, which are 90 percent faster than the previous generation of Mac mini that had Intel HD 4000 graphics.
For the home, the Mac mini has plenty of oomph for basic web browsing, homework, office documents, email, and photo and video editing for most users. For games and lots of open apps with multitasking, the mid-level Mac mini is the smarter all-around buy.
The top-end Mac mini will obviously be a little better for pretty much everything, but is the bump worth another $300? Probably not. Most people won’t notice the performance difference, but the Fusion Drive will boot up noticeably faster (which isn’t much of a big deal on a desktop device anyway). I recommend that buyers save the $300 and spend it in smarter ways elsewhere, like on an iPad.
One thing you might want to consider is the fact that the memory (a.k.a. RAM) is no longer upgradable by the user — it’s soldered in. While you can upgrade the hard drive to a flash-based SSD drive in the future, doing so will void your warranty (and you’ll have to get past some tamper-resistant T6 Torx Security screws).
What does this mean? It means that for basic computing users, the 4GB of memory in the low-end will be fine. And for users who want to play some games and edit some movies for YouTube, the mid-level version with 8GB will work great, too. If you want to upgrade to 16GB of memory, Apple will charge you another $200 — not compelling in an entry-level Mac. If someone wants to get into more serious computing, the Mac mini might not be the best buy — loading it up with custom add-ons from Apple will just price it out in silly ways. You would be better off getting an iMac [read the iMac Buying Guide] or MacBook Pro [read the MacBook Pro Buying Guide].
Is an Older Mac mini Smarter?
While the older generation of Mac mini can still be found with a better processor — for example, a 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 6MB L3 cache and a 1TB drive — they are still packing the older Intel HD 4000 graphics. On the other hand, you can cheaply add extra memory and easily drop in a fast flash-based SSD drive. My recommendation? Don’t overthink it. The mid-level new Mac mini will fit most people’s needs really well. (Those who have a more serious need for a quad-core processor and 16GB of memory should also be able to figure out if the older graphics will hold them back or not.)
When Does a Mac mini Make Sense?
For most users, a Mac mini is a good choice if you’re moving from a PC world to a Mac world. Because the Mac mini does not ship with a keyboard, mouse, or monitor, the Mac mini makes the most sense when a buyer already has a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to use.
If you don’t have a monitor, keyboard, or mouse, your out of pocket cost will rise. For instance, say you choose:
Clipart For Mac Mini Keyboard
- Monitor: $125-to-$145
(try the ASUS VS228H-P 22-Inch Full-HD 5ms LED-Lit LCD Monitor) - Keyboard $12-to-$70
(try the Amazon Basics Wired Keyboard or Apple Wireless Keyboard) - Mouse or trackpad ($7-to-$70)
(try the Amazon Basics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse, the Logitech M510 Wireless Mouse, the Apple Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad)
In a best case scenario, the total cost to get into a Mac mini will rise by a minimum of $150 and ramps up to $280 fairly easily. While $650 or so is definitely the most affordable way to buy a Mac, the 11-inch MacBook Air suddenly becomes much more compelling. Apple’s list price is $899, but you can often get one for a bit less at online retailers. You can still hook a MacBook Air up to an external monitor, of course, if you want a bigger screen.
Free Clipart For Mac
All-in-all, it’s important to remember one thing: Once you go Mac, you probably won’t go back to PCs.
Check Out the Mac mini: