(Open Box) Apple Mac mini M1 16GB 256GB Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU (CTO)

I recently added the Apple Mac Mini to my tech arsenal, and I must say it has completely blown me away with its performance, design, and versatility. This compact computing powerhouse has quickly become an indispensable part of my digital life. Here's why I believe the Mac Mini deserves all the accolades it receives: Compact Yet Powerful: The Mac Mini's small form factor hides an astonishing amount of power. It's equipped with the latest processors, ample RAM options, and fast SSD storage, making it capable of handling a wide range of tasks, from everyday productivity to resource-intensive creative work and even light gaming. Silent Operation: One of the standout features of the Mac Mini is its near-silent operation. Even during demanding tasks, the fan noise is barely noticeable. This ensures a distraction-free work environment and allows for peaceful entertainment. Apple's M1 Chip: The M1 chip's performance and energy efficiency are nothing short of astounding. It provides a buttery-smooth user experience and effortlessly handles multitasking, thanks to its unified architecture. Sleek and Minimalist Design: Apple's design ethos is evident in the Mac Mini's elegant, minimalist design. It's a stylish addition to any workspace, and its aluminum chassis exudes quality and durability. Versatility: Whether you're a creative professional, a developer, or just someone who wants a reliable home computer, the Mac Mini delivers. Its range of ports, including Thunderbolt and HDMI, allows for versatile connectivity, and you can easily connect it to your existing peripherals. macOS Ecosystem: The Mac Mini seamlessly integrates with the Apple ecosystem. If you're an iPhone or iPad user, you'll appreciate the convenience of features like AirDrop, Continuity, and iCloud synchronization. Energy Efficiency: The Mac Mini is remarkably energy-efficient, which not only saves you money on your electricity bill but also reduces your carbon footprint. Apple's commitment to sustainability is evident in this device. Easy Setup: Setting up the Mac Mini is a breeze. It's a plug-and-play experience, and the intuitive macOS interface makes it user-friendly, even for those new to the Apple ecosystem. Software Ecosystem: macOS boasts a vast library of software, including creative applications, productivity tools, and entertainment options. You'll find everything you need to be productive and entertained. Reliability: Apple's reputation for quality and reliability is upheld with the Mac Mini. It's a computer you can count on for years of trouble-free operation. In conclusion, the Apple Mac Mini is a remarkable piece of technology that delivers outstanding performance in a compact package. It combines power, style, and efficiency, making it suitable for a wide range of users and applications. Whether you're a professional in need of computing muscle or simply seeking a dependable home computer, the Mac Mini lives up to Apple's reputation for excellence. It's an investment in quality and productivity that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Love my M1 Mac Mini. I ordered the 16GB configuration because I do lots of video editing and this baby runs fast and smooth. It is quiet and more than fulfill my needs. I have owned a lot of MACs as far back as the Macintosh Classic. This is the best Macintosh I have ever owned. It is sleek, lightweight, and does not take up a lot of desk real estate. If there was a ‘con’ to it, it would be that it lacks additional USB ports that ‘I’ require to plug in other devices. It has one display port (Which I do not use.I connect my monitor via the Thunderbolt 3 port. It has one USB 3.1 port. One USB 4 port. One Thunderbolt 2 port. One HDMI port (this can be used to connect a monitor with an HDMI input or to a Smart TV). It has two USB-A ports. One 10/100/1000 Giga Ethernet port. Built-in 802.11ax wireless. Bluetooth 5.0 and a built 3.5mm jack. Since the Mac Mini M1’s come integrated with 256GB of storage, I wanted to connect high capacity external drives and other peripherals but not enough ports to fulfill my needs. So I ordered an OWC 14-port Thunderbolt dock 3 dock. The dock expands the capability of my Mac Mini M1 and provides me all the additional ports I need plus a MicroSD card reader and a MiniSD card reader. I use one Thunderbolt cable to connect my Mac Mini M1 to the OWC 14-port dock and everything that was plugged into the Mac Mini M1, is now plugged into the dock. I have free ports on the back of my Mac Mini if I need them. The OWC 14-port is a perfect complement for the Mac Mini M1.

I've now been using the 16gb ram model for over two months now and as of this afternoon, I have unplugged my former PC and put it away. Performance and value for your money, I feel like this is one of the first machines that Apple isn't price gouging the consumer on. I will contradict other users and flat out tell you as an IT professional to go for the 16gb ram model and skip the 8gb model. Reason being is unlike other computers that typically have a separate pool of memory for graphics, the Mac M1 Mini (and other M1 products) has unified memory. Basically this means your apps and whatever is happening graphically is all fighting for the same pool of ram. Whenever you use apps that rely on Rosetta as well, ram usage spikes. Apple is clever and does the same thing you see in Linux and will offload memory to your hard drive in the form of swap. But A. This slows your computer down significantly. B. It drastically kills your hard drives life. Long story short: Amazing machine but do not waste your money on the 8gb ram model. Get the 16gb ram model.

This is a great computer. It's small and has a small footprint. I am using all the inputs for Display, printer, keyboard/mouse, external 2TB SSD, external 1TB SATA Drive (I use a USB to USB-C Dongle so I can exchange input with a DVD/CD drive). I wish it had more inputs - I don't want a hub because I don't have any need for now and I have 2 Dongles purchased before I bought this M1. As advertised this M1 Mini is extremely fast. Documents and Internet sites come up extremely quick. I have had to reboot (Restart) a couple times because I tried to start too many things at once. I rarely turn off the power. My LG Display and printer sleep if I am idle. Only complaint is that my 2TB SSD disappears if I close it (I think this is a common complaint). But overall this is a great purchase (I bought the basic 256GB/16GB RAM for possible future). Suggest going to Site in Booklet to find out how to initialize it when you first start using the computer. It uses uncommon keys. I struggled and went for help on You Tube and then noticed in Apple booklet a site to get instructions.

The Mac Mini M1 is awesome. It is the best computer i have bought. The speed is incredibly fast. Videos open up in snap. Creating videos that are 4k with no lag. Having multiple windows and apps open have not been a problem. I have put it too its limits and the litte spinning wheel has only come on for only a few seconds and this was a couple of time. I have no Bluetooth issues. Also external hard drives I use on a C-Hub for more ports. With Surround Sound it is phenomenal for studio sound. It has been so easy to do things now it is as if i am lazy cause now i am doing so many projects at once that i am literally taking breaks just to relax. AWESOME will PURCHASE another for my ASSISTANT the 16g RAM.

Great machine and quick. Had problems with external monitor and with occasional freezes which sometimes was annoying, but overall great.

My 2012 Mac Mini (maxed out at 16gb RAM) was getting a bit sluggish to keep up with my 100's of open browser tabs and no longer gets major OS updates, so I decided to get the latest. The M1 chip performs and benchmarks very well. With two monitors and two or three videos running at the same time, it doesn't have any trouble keeping up. Apps all open quickly and everything responds very fast. I have yet to run into any compatibility issues that rosetta doesn't handle transparently. The RAM seems fast and more than enough for video editing and even running docker images. The storage is expensive for the size ($200 per 250gb) so I opted to save money and go small. The Thunderbolt 4 port makes it easy to add an external hard drive for cheaper without losing much speed. Though it can be known to cause some issues, I used the migration assistant and copied everything from my 2012 (running Catalina). The entire system was mirrored with no issues in just a few hours, saving me days of time installing and configuring everything the way I had it on the old system. Between the great performance and knowing this will last another 10 years, it is a great value for what it costs.

Love the compactness of this mac computer and the quality of the build. I'm a longtime windows user about to learn what many love about macs. There is a lot to learn and get use to but I think the experience is well worth the wait in finally buying one and getting the experience. If you are a first time user like me, YouTube has tons of good videos from experienced users with tips and suggestions on which software to get for your mac mini. Get the 16gb of ram and get yourself an external drive if you are going for the 256GB SSD storage model. I also have purchased the magic mouse 2 and the magic keyboard. I want the full mac experience.