What to do with Mac Mini

[07GD SFD]

I have a mid-2011 Mini with a 2.3GHz i5 processor, 2 gigs of RAM and a 500GB HD. It's been sitting for about a year, completely disconnected. Since I have a MBPr, I don't have much need for the Mini at the moment.

I pondered selling it but then my fianc? said she hopes I don't regret getting rid of it down the road. My question is, what exactly could I do with this thing now? It's been a bit slow for my liking as of late.

My other thought was to sell it. What's a fair price to ask for the Mini with an Apple Bluetooth keyboard and track pad?

 

[Algus]

They make for pretty good HTPCs and media servers. You'd probably want to upgrade the RAM if you were to continue using it as a desktop computer.

 

[Trees]

It might be worth keeping it around as a secondary system. RAM can be upgraded, think to 8GB or possibly more, and that should make a difference in performance.

Mac mini "Core i5" 2.3 (Mid-2011) Specs (Mid-2011, MC815LL/A, Macmini5,1, A1347, 2442) @ EveryMac.com
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202283
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3859325

 

[07GD SFD]

Yeah I figured a healthy RAM upgrade would go a long way with usability. Maybe I'll look into using it as a media server. I suppose that's a relatively easy setup process? I remember seeing an iMore article somewhere but it simply referenced the hardware needed, and I think I'm good there.

 

[Algus]

Plex is a popular app for HTPCs that aggragates your content into nice menus very appropriate for using with a media remote on a television. At its most basic, an HTPC is no more difficult than setting the computer up to the TV and opening up an app like Plex or iTunes.

There's some integrated keyboard/touchpad devices out there like the start using OS X Server and turn your Mini into a data hub for all the files you might want access to on your other devices.

 

[randally]

You can also integrate it into your car. Check out Macvroom.com (not real active, but good for ideas)

 

[07GD SFD]

Thanks for the info! I'll have to look into that a bit further.

 

[Diveo Media]

Well, I am sure you should sell it much less than the original price. You can find customers if you reduce the price for 30%.

 

[HankAZ]

Yep. I use one of about the same vintage as a HTPC and it works great. I just leave iTunes running on it at all times and then the content is accessible via Home Sharing on any of our iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs and my rMBP.

THIS ^^^^. Exactly how I do it...