Mac mini Question!

[MacFan201]

Hey all,
First post here but I've been dying to ask a question....
Is it worth getting a Mac mini, along with my iMac I have the old iPad Pro 12.9 inch. I mainly use word processing and some light gaming on my iMac and I like the look of the portability of the Mac mini and I am curious if it would be worth it to buy a second hand one.

 

[pigoo3]

Hey there MacFan...welcome...great to see you got that first question out of the way!

As far as the Mac-Mini...what are your goals with it? You said you liked the Mac-Mini's portability. What sort of portability needs do you have that your iPad Pro isn't doing...or possibly a new-to-you MacBook/MacBook Pro couldn't do better than a Mac-Mini?

- Nick

 

[ferrarr]

I agree with pigoo3, a Mac mini isn't really portable. It may be easier to transport than an iMac, but with the iMac, the screen also goes with you.

 

[MacFan201]

Yeah, seems like the best idea. Only issue I have though is the lack of USB compatibility with the iPad Pro.

 

[pigoo3]

Yeah, seems like the best idea. Only issue I have though is the lack of USB compatibility with the iPad Pro.

You saying that maybe a used MacBook/MacBook Pro would be preferred instead of the Mini?

Also...not 100% sure what devices you would like to be able to connect to your iPad Pro via USB...but maybe this adapter would get the job done (lightning-to-usb-camera-adapter):

Lightning to USB Camera Adapter - Apple

- Nick

 

[MacFan201]

Thanks Nick, a used MacBook might be the long term solution but the cheaper Lightning to USB adaptor seems like the best deal. I’ll look into it.
Cheers.

 

[pigoo3]

Excellent. I'm guessing you would prefer to continue with the iPad Pro for portability. I always wanted a 12.9 iPad Pro. Even used via eBay they're still pricey.

- Nick

 

[hughvane]

A side question here Nick - I have a new Mini with 4 lightning connection sockets but only 2 USB (grrrrr!). I'd like to utilise lightning with external USB devices via USB A female (socket). Are there adaptor cables for that purpose? All I can seem to find (here in NZ) are camera adaptors like that you've suggested to MacFan, and there's no indication of the USB size, ie. standard, mini or micro.

 

[pigoo3]

A side question here Nick - I have a new Mini with 4 lightning connections but only 2 USB ( grrrrr!), so I'd like to utilise lightning with external USB-linked devices. Are there adaptor cables for that purpose? All I can seem to find (here in NZ) are camera adaptors like that you've suggested to MacFan.

Hey there Hugh. I'm thinking you may have the port names mixed up. I think your Mini has 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports (not Lightning)...if that's the case...you need a different adapter.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

Are there adaptor cables for that purpose? All I can seem to find (here in NZ) are camera adaptors like that you've suggested to MacFan.

Just use your browser to search for 'mac lightning connection to USB' as a minimum and you shold get lots of hits with suggestions:
mac lightning connection to USB - Google Search


EDIT:
OPPPS!!! Duh!!! Nick is right and why didn't I catch that???

See typical late model mini ports etc here:
Mac mini "Core i3" 3.6 (Late 2018) Specs (2018, MRTR2LL/A, Macmini8,1, A1993, 3213): EveryMac.com

Change your search to 'USB-C connector to USB mac' for:
USB-C connector to USB mac - Google Search




- Patrick
======

 

[pigoo3]

What you need Hugh is a USB-c to USB adapter. Like this:

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

Thunderbolt 3 ports (what you have on your 2018 Mac-Mini) look/same shape as USB-C ports. Thus the need for a USB-C to USB adapter.

- Nick

 

[chscag]

I was thinking the same thing. Which model Mac Mini do you have Hugh? Is it the new 2018 model?

The 2018 model like Nick said above has 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports which are also USB-C/USB 3.1.

 

[pm-r]

What you need Hugh is a USB-c to USB adapter. Like this:
USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

I sure hope they offer Free Shipping to NZ for that price!!!



- Patrick
======

 

[pigoo3]

$19.00 is not super terrible...kind of a standard Apple adapter price ($19-$29). Here's a less expensive alternative ($8.99):

Monoprice Essentials USB Type C to USB-A Female 3.1 Gen 1 Extension Cable - 5Gbps, 3A, 30AWG, White, 0.5ft - Monoprice.com

Maybe there's a less expensive NZ local solution (total cost with shipping...or even pick-up local).

- Nick

 

[chscag]

I sure hope they offer Free Shipping to NZ for that price!!!



- Patrick
======

You're dreaming! About the only distributor that I know who ships to Australia and NZ is OWC. Most US suppliers won't do it because of customs and local VAT. If there's an Apple Store in NZ, Hugh would be better off buying it from them.

 

[hughvane]

Hey there Hugh. I'm thinking you may have the port names mixed up.

Duh! Now how could any reasonable thinking person - other than me obviously - confuse a lightning symbol with lightning? Besides, thunder doesn't have bolts. Thanks for the correction, I shall go sit in the corner.

...you need a different adapter.

I shall look at the options mentioned on this page.

 

[hughvane]

I was thinking the same thing. Which model Mac Mini do you have Hugh? Is it the new 2018 model?

Yes, and I am corrected, there are four Thunderbolt ports. The adaptor Nick suggested first is available here in NZ at about twice the US price. OWC sells them for US8-$9 Search Results for USB-C to USB Adapter at MacSales.com but shipping kills that price advantage. You may be interested to check out AliExpress.com - Online Shopping for Popular Electronics, Fashion, Home & Garden, Toys & Sports, Automobiles and More. which sells adaptors at much lower prices, and often with free (but slow - sent low priority) shipping. Making sure the item is the correct one is the challenge.

A search of NZ online sales sites shows what I think could be the solution
Tech.Inc USB-C to USB Convertor | The Warehouse
Take a good look at that price, keeping in mind it's NZ$, about half the value of the US$, thus I can buy four of those adaptors for the price of one sold in NZ by Apple.

Hugh

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Also...not 100% sure what devices you would like to be able to connect to your iPad Pro via USB...but maybe this adapter would get the job done (lightning-to-usb-camera-adapter):

Apple's Lightning to USB adapter for the iPad is rarely a satisfactory option to connect the sorts of peripherals one would expect to be able to connect to a personal computer like a laptop or a desktop Mac. The problem isn't that it's a "bad" adapter, the problem is that the iPad isn't exactly a personal computer, and so while you can physically connect peripherals to it using this adapter, the iPad doesn't have drivers for most peripherals built-in, and they don't exist to add to your iPad.

If you are looking to add things to a portable computing device, such as a printer, or a scanner, or an external hard drive, etc., I highly recommend getting assurances from the peripheral's manufacturer that it can and will work with an iPad before purchasing it for use with one.

Of course, just about any and all of the usual peripherals will work perfectly with a MacBook just as they would with a desktop computer.

 

[pm-r]

@Randy

The problem isn't that it's a "bad" adapter, the problem is that the iPad isn't exactly a personal computer, and so while you can physically connect peripherals to it using this adapter, the iPad doesn't have drivers for most peripherals built-in, and they don't exist to add to your iPad.

Thanks for the factual, honest and valid opinion, but one that may have a few number of exceptions, but not many IMHO.



- Patrick
======

 

[Randy B. Singer]

@Randy

Thanks for the factual, honest and valid opinion, but one that may have a few number of exceptions, but not many IMHO.

It's not really an "opinion". The iPad has never really accepted hard wiring of external peripherals like a laptop or desktop personal computer would. it was, and still is, not designed to.

Thank goodness that the iPad can now use at least some peripherals wirelessly. But the iPad has always had some noticeable limitations compared to using a Macbook, and even now the iPad just isn't as versatile. Members of my user group are constantly wanting to use their iPads as their only mobile computing device, but that often isn't practical.