Have you had an M4 Mac mini Pro sitting in your cart for weeks now, wondering if you should buy it? Hopefully this video will help you make up your mind. What will you be using yours for?
Of course there IS another alternative-an M4 Pro (or Max) MacBook Pro. 😉 I'm really loving my 16 inch M1 Pro MBP and it still does everything I need-but my uses tend to be less graphics-intense than yours. So I really don’t need a new MBP at this point. But with the impending Trump tariffs, I am seriously considering upgrading my MBP before Jan 20. And this video extolling the virtues of the M4 chipset only makes me more eager to go that route. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! For the record, I don't need the mobility of a laptop for travel so much as for the ability to use it wherever I want in the house, at my desk, on the couch, at the kitchen counter. So, I'm thinking of going with the 16 inch size yet again. Although the much lighter weight of the 14 inch is tempting, I'm thinking I really need the larger screen size.
At 50 years old I can't use a Macbook anyway. The screen is way too small. I need the 27" 5k monitor so the mac mini is awesome for me. Now I don't have to keep "throwing away" my entire computer w/ monitor when I just want to upgrade my mac like I had to with my iMac.
One point I noticed was when you were using the Mac Book - you didn't look at its screen - but the large monitor on the desk anyway. Doesn't that mean that 'in effect' you may as well get the Mac Mini and pair it with a large screen on the money you've saved?
In the run-up to this video, my general workflow was to have the MBP on the desk in front of me and directly in front of the Studio Display - so I used both screens. Now though I have got used to single screen working - and at the moment I'm not missing it too much either.
I've not had much experience with OBS - but all I can tell you is I have live streamed on TH-cam using my M3 MacBook Air and had no issues. Can anyone here help our friend out please?
You’re absolutely right, Apple Silicon is just too good. I ask myself, What do I do on my M1 Max Studio that actually needs to be faster? And with my current workflow, the answer is nothing. Realistically, upgrading to the M4 generation now would, at best, save me a few minutes here and there on some tasks occasionally. It’s reassuring to know, though, that when my Studio eventually reaches its limit, I could easily transition from the Studio to a Mac Mini without missing a beat-whenever that time comes.
Hi Norman - I can't believe how damned good this Mac mini is! As I mentioned I've not for a moment missed the MBP. In some ways that's sad, but in other ways shows just how fast Apple silicon is coming on!
Hi Ali - I have had these for years. I adore their flat response. I just 'know' their sound. I bought them from a company in the UK called Studio Spares. I have just checked and it seems they are out of stock - www.amazon.co.uk/Studiospares-Seiwin-Active-Studio-Monitor/dp/B07XGMCXLG?ref_=ast_sto_dp
The body size of the M4 Mac Mini makes a massive change to its mobility. It’s more than just its specs. And I use one of my iPads for light work anyway. Won’t be buying a MacBook again I believe. Thank you.
Hi Michael - great to hear from you again. MacBooks are great at what they do, but they are not very portable! Today for example, I worked on the timeline of this video at home with the Mac mini using my TV as a monitor - it was a pretty damned good set-up and easy to pack and move too
And with a laptop, you can put it to sleep, close it and everything is there when you open it. With a Mac Mini, if you want to do that, you have to carry a portable battery and that’s not portable at all
I've been enjoying your content so I've subscribed (I've always given it a like). I just retired from a job that required a lot of travel, by car and by air, so having a laptop worked best for me (M3 Pro MBP 14, base model). I've been fortunate to be able to have a desktop too, and I've been the happy owner of a base M4 Mac mini for a few weeks now (and I can definitely feel the difference in snappiness). And even though I don't "need" a laptop anymore I'm keeping the MBP for pleasure travel, and it's nice to have a second screen.
Hi Bryan - yeah, that snappiness is something I was trying to get across. It's something no benchmark can put a figure on - it's just that indefinable something...
I also buy my products, I try to not return products by getting what I need.. I bought and returned the M4 24gb, 512gb ($999) because it was supposed be just a little bit faster the my M3 Pro Laptop (Nope). I replaced it with the M4 Pro Mini and that is what I really needed.. I love you videos because you speak to what you need.. I only needed the Base M4 Pro model and it is OMG fast !!
Thanks for the support - that means so much. Yeah, this Mac mini Pro has been a revelation to me...glad you've picked up what you needed too. Such awesome Macs
Damn - what a great idea! I first built my studio for music radio - I did 10 years as a late-night radio host (rare groove & jazz). The Mac mini could work so well as a DJs rig
Have you had an M4 Mac mini Pro sitting in your cart for weeks now, wondering if you should buy it? Hopefully this video will help you make up your mind. What will you be using yours for?
Of course there IS another alternative-an M4 Pro (or Max) MacBook Pro. 😉 I'm really loving my 16 inch M1 Pro MBP and it still does everything I need-but my uses tend to be less graphics-intense than yours. So I really don’t need a new MBP at this point. But with the impending Trump tariffs, I am seriously considering upgrading my MBP before Jan 20. And this video extolling the virtues of the M4 chipset only makes me more eager to go that route. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
For the record, I don't need the mobility of a laptop for travel so much as for the ability to use it wherever I want in the house, at my desk, on the couch, at the kitchen counter. So, I'm thinking of going with the 16 inch size yet again. Although the much lighter weight of the 14 inch is tempting, I'm thinking I really need the larger screen size.
At 50 years old I can't use a Macbook anyway. The screen is way too small. I need the 27" 5k monitor so the mac mini is awesome for me. Now I don't have to keep "throwing away" my entire computer w/ monitor when I just want to upgrade my mac like I had to with my iMac.
Yup - that sure is one of the benefits of having a separate Mac/screen combo set-up 👍🏻
One point I noticed was when you were using the Mac Book - you didn't look at its screen - but the large monitor on the desk anyway. Doesn't that mean that 'in effect' you may as well get the Mac Mini and pair it with a large screen on the money you've saved?
In the run-up to this video, my general workflow was to have the MBP on the desk in front of me and directly in front of the Studio Display - so I used both screens. Now though I have got used to single screen working - and at the moment I'm not missing it too much either.
My use case is live streaming and being recorder using OBS. Im thinking of buying M4 base, 24/512. Will that be good enough?
I've not had much experience with OBS - but all I can tell you is I have live streamed on TH-cam using my M3 MacBook Air and had no issues. Can anyone here help our friend out please?
Thanks for the video! I’m a bit confused, you mentioned here 16:15 that you have 24GB of RAM on the mini…I thought you went with 48GB
so sorry - yes, my Mac mini Pro has 48GB of memory - good spot! My fault...
You’re absolutely right, Apple Silicon is just too good. I ask myself, What do I do on my M1 Max Studio that actually needs to be faster? And with my current workflow, the answer is nothing. Realistically, upgrading to the M4 generation now would, at best, save me a few minutes here and there on some tasks occasionally. It’s reassuring to know, though, that when my Studio eventually reaches its limit, I could easily transition from the Studio to a Mac Mini without missing a beat-whenever that time comes.
Hi Norman - I can't believe how damned good this Mac mini is! As I mentioned I've not for a moment missed the MBP. In some ways that's sad, but in other ways shows just how fast Apple silicon is coming on!
What studio speakers do you use at your desk ?
Hi Ali - I have had these for years. I adore their flat response. I just 'know' their sound. I bought them from a company in the UK called Studio Spares. I have just checked and it seems they are out of stock - www.amazon.co.uk/Studiospares-Seiwin-Active-Studio-Monitor/dp/B07XGMCXLG?ref_=ast_sto_dp
The body size of the M4 Mac Mini makes a massive change to its mobility. It’s more than just its specs. And I use one of my iPads for light work anyway. Won’t be buying a MacBook again I believe. Thank you.
Hi Michael - great to hear from you again. MacBooks are great at what they do, but they are not very portable! Today for example, I worked on the timeline of this video at home with the Mac mini using my TV as a monitor - it was a pretty damned good set-up and easy to pack and move too
And with a laptop, you can put it to sleep, close it and everything is there when you open it. With a Mac Mini, if you want to do that, you have to carry a portable battery and that’s not portable at all
I've been enjoying your content so I've subscribed (I've always given it a like).
I just retired from a job that required a lot of travel, by car and by air, so having a laptop worked best for me (M3 Pro MBP 14, base model). I've been fortunate to be able to have a desktop too, and I've been the happy owner of a base M4 Mac mini for a few weeks now (and I can definitely feel the difference in snappiness). And even though I don't "need" a laptop anymore I'm keeping the MBP for pleasure travel, and it's nice to have a second screen.
Hi Bryan - yeah, that snappiness is something I was trying to get across. It's something no benchmark can put a figure on - it's just that indefinable something...
I also buy my products, I try to not return products by getting what I need.. I bought and returned the M4 24gb, 512gb ($999) because it was supposed be just a little bit faster the my M3 Pro Laptop (Nope). I replaced it with the M4 Pro Mini and that is what I really needed.. I love you videos because you speak to what you need.. I only needed the Base M4 Pro model and it is OMG fast !!
Thanks for the support - that means so much. Yeah, this Mac mini Pro has been a revelation to me...glad you've picked up what you needed too. Such awesome Macs
Thinking about using a mini for Djing … has anyone here experienced lugging a monitor around with them?
Damn - what a great idea! I first built my studio for music radio - I did 10 years as a late-night radio host (rare groove & jazz). The Mac mini could work so well as a DJs rig
I feel seen 😅😅
My legal team refute all allegations that I completely ripped this video from a podcast I host with you 🤣
👍🏻👍🏻new sub
Thanks Jay - it matters so much and truly helps me out as well 🙏🏻