A tiny Mac mini could be the ultimate travel companion and I can't wait for it

3 weeks ago

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As I constitute this, I'm holding an Apple TV 4K successful my hand, trying to ideate it successful aluminum and arsenic much than conscionable a set-top streaming device. The tactile research is prompted by a caller rumor from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, positing that nan adjacent Mac mini will beryllium a creation departure, shrinking to astir nan size of nan Apple TV successful my hand.

There were a batch of leaks successful Gurman's posts astir nan already confirmed upcoming Apple Mac launch, which we expect this week.

The Mac mini rumor stuck retired for maine because I deliberation it mightiness alteration really group deliberation astir and usage this sometimes dismissed aliases astatine slightest uncelebrated Mac. Starting astatine $499 (education price), nan astir three-pound machine has agelong been a comparatively affordable introduction constituent into nan Mac arena. It lacks a keyboard, mouse, and show but besides affords nan budget-conscious a measurement to proviso your ain much affordable replacement accessories.

I've ne'er considered nan Mac mini a portable computer. It's a batch to propulsion successful nan backpack erstwhile you're not moreover getting a surface aliases keyboard to support it. This rumored redesign could alteration that.

The existent Apple TV 4K is 3.66 inches x 3.66 inches by 1.2 inches gangly and weighs little than half a pound. If nan caller Mac mini is adjacent to that size, opportunity 4 x 4 inches and 1.5 pounds, that mightiness connection a different calculation erstwhile it comes to portability.

My reasoning is that professionals and students who want, say, M4 powerfulness pinch them wherever they spell – but would alternatively time off nan MacBook down – could propulsion this caller Mac mini into their backpack (with a powerfulness source, I assume). When they get astatine a library, dorm room office, aliases personification else's home, they tin conscionable hook up to immoderate disposable display, keyboard, and mouse, and get to work. The rumored other ports connected nan beforehand for further accessories you tin get is conscionable icing connected nan cake.

I'd astir apt recreation pinch my rodent of prime if it were me. However, I would presume personification has a decent Bluetooth keyboard I could borrow.

In a schoolhouse scenario, districts could manus these small boxes to students for them to return home. Not only is nan portability a positive but location are nary moving aliases vulnerable (think a glass-covered display) to damage.

Hold nan value line

Naturally, this won't activity if Apple raises nan value of nan caller Mac mini, charging a premium for this shrinkdown. The $100 discount for acquisition should beryllium included successful nan newest model. If not, it'll beryllium a large missed opportunity for Apple.

Beyond education, I deliberation imaginative professionals will emotion having their favourite level successful their backpack if they show up astatine a customer who doesn't person a Mac connected nan premises. The use is that they tin link to nan largest surface successful nan agency for maximum workspace without lugging astir a hefty 16-inch MacBook Pro.

In nan home, you tin hide aggregate Mac minis arsenic you squirrel distant nan all-black Apple TV 4K boxes underneath your TV. A mini machine connected to a TV conscionable waiting to do your Apple Intelligence bidding. It astir apt wouldn't moreover look retired of spot successful nan kitchen. I would, though, petition immoderate much colour options connected these ultra-tiny Macs.

I get that nary of this useful if Apple only gives nan M4 Mac mini a shave alternatively of a haircut. A 6-inch Mac Mini would not beryllium nan extremist redesign I imagined.

You mightiness deliberation I'm focusing connected minutiae, touting a perchance insignificant change, but arsenic I often for illustration to say, it's nan small – aliases mini-er – things that genuinely count.

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A 38-year manufacture seasoned and award-winning journalist, Lance has covered exertion since PCs were nan size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” He’s a erstwhile Lifewire Editor-in-Chief, Mashable Editor-in-Chief, and, earlier that, Editor successful Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, Inc. He besides wrote a popular, play tech file for Medium called The Upgrade.

Lance Ulanoff makes predominant appearances connected national, international, and section news programs including Live pinch Kelly and Mark, nan Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, CNN, and nan BBC.

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