Mac Mini - Good Alternative to Mac Book Pro?

[jacksoe12]

I'm on a budget of about £500/$600 and need a good powerful solution for using Traktor as my current laptop is about 3 years old now and is not compatible with Traktor software.

Looking at the Mac Mini it looked like the perfect solution to pop in your bag and plug in to a TV or DSLR monitor when you want to set up at a house party or club.

Here is the idea:

Mac Mini £400

mac-mini.jpg


Mini Monitor 11 inch £100, which would be white and secured on the top of the mac mini like a small imac.

and

30 " TV monitor (i already own) for home use e.g. mixing in the studio and producing

[MyUsername]

Maybe just get a £500 windows laptop ?

Maybe not if you run a lot of vsts when you 're producing. But I think traktor would run fine on most maschines.


But I think it could look cool with a little screen on the mac mini, but only if you secure it professionally and not sloppy.

[padi_04]

I wouldn't go any lower than 13" to play live.

Personally i'll just grab a regular laptop for convenience sake.

[HighTopFade]

Personally i'll just grab a regular laptop for convenience sake.

Agree. My Mac Mini's DJ use didn't last very long.

[city_boy07]

Agree. My Mac Mini's DJ use didn't last very long.

why was that? lack of screen?

[HighTopFade]

^ I was in and out of the house a lot and needed a portable library.

[akswun]

I was considering this option but only for my home setup as I'm trying to teach my fiancee how to dj. I have a 13"Mbp and it sucks sometimes because one of us will need the computer for something, which may cut into my practice time.
But there are a few problems when using a mac mini, specifically for gigging out.

1. yes its portable but now you have to find another plug for your monitor. And most of us know, depending on the gig you might find yourself lost without an extra plug.(*dj tip: bring extra power bars)
2. no optical drive(CD/DVD) mind you newer MBP have dropped the optical drive as the future is physical medialess. I actually took my optical drive out for an optibay holding my old HD. Now my optical drive is in an enclosure and ready to go during those times at gigs when people have cds to be played. But yeah no optical drive on a mac mini
3. people cant see a glowing apple and know that you're a real dj..... ;p

[baller95]

For the price you can get a much better PC. Don't go with apple just for the name.

[mostapha]

I don't think I'd use a Mac Mini if portability was an issue.

I admire what Apple tried to do with them, but ultimately I think they're a failed experiment.

What kind of a laptop can you get for 500 quid?

[baller95]

I don't think I'd use a Mac Mini if portability was an issue.

I admire what Apple tried to do with them, but ultimately I think they're a failed experiment.

What kind of a laptop can you get for 500 quid?

IMO they're still a great laptop, just not for DJ'ing or producing.