How to Leverage Mac Mini M1 in a Windows/Linux Environment?

[toktik]

I am mainly a Windows/Linux user. For photo/video work, I use a dedicated Windows 11 system that has an Intel i9-12900k processor, 64GB of memory, Nvidia RTX 3080 ti graphics card, 10Gb network interface, and about 30TB of local storage (using storage spaces to mirror/stripe data). For daily general purpose computing, I use a Pop!_OS Linux system running on an older Intel-based computer (i7-9700 processor and GTX 1660 Super graphics card). I also have an MSI laptop that dual boots between Windows 11 and Pop!_OS Linux.

Last year, I purchased a Mac Mini M1 (base configuration), along with an OWC Thunderbolt dock that provides a 10Gb network interface and dual card readers (SDXC and CFexpress Type B). The dock works very well with my laptop (both operating systems) and the Mac Mini.

I purchased the Mac Mini to get familiar with MacOS, and it has been a good experience overall. However, I think I will continue to use Linux for most of my computing needs, and since I have a very powerful Windows 11 desktop for photo/video editing, I am wondering about how to best make use of the Mac Mini. I prefer not to sell the Mac Mini because I use it from time-to-time, but I would like to incorporate it into my environment, perhaps as more of an appliance than a general purpose computer.

I thought about using the Mac Mini, connected to the Thunderbolt dock, as a solution for ingesting and verifying photo and video files, but I have found that both Hedge and ShotPut Pro can run on MacOS or Windows. If you have knowledge of unique functions or software that would make good use of the Mac Mini, I would appreciate your insight.

Thank you in advance.

 

[robgendreau]

I am mainly a Windows/Linux user. For photo/video work, I use a dedicated Windows 11 system that has an Intel i9-12900k processor, 64GB of memory, Nvidia RTX 3080 ti graphics card, 10Gb network interface, and about 30TB of local storage (using storage spaces to mirror/stripe data). For daily general purpose computing, I use a Pop!_OS Linux system running on an older Intel-based computer (i7-9700 processor and GTX 1660 Super graphics card). I also have an MSI laptop that dual boots between Windows 11 and Pop!_OS Linux.

Last year, I purchased a Mac Mini M1 (base configuration), along with an OWC Thunderbolt dock that provides a 10Gb network interface and dual card readers (SDXC and CFexpress Type B). The dock works very well with my laptop (both operating systems) and the Mac Mini.

I purchased the Mac Mini to get familiar with MacOS, and it has been a good experience overall. However, I think I will continue to use Linux for most of my computing needs, and since I have a very powerful Windows 11 desktop for photo/video editing, I am wondering about how to best make use of the Mac Mini. I prefer not to sell the Mac Mini because I use it from time-to-time, but I would like to incorporate it into my environment, perhaps as more of an appliance than a general purpose computer.

I thought about using the Mac Mini, connected to the Thunderbolt dock, as a solution for ingesting and verifying photo and video files, but I have found that both Hedge and ShotPut Pro can run on MacOS or Windows. If you have knowledge of unique functions or software that would make good use of the Mac Mini, I would appreciate your insight.

Thank you in advance.

Are there any macOS specific applications that you would like to use? FCP for example? that would be the obvious use case. What to use it for in the abstract is a tough question, and we don't know what you even need it for in regard to photo work. If you use an iPhone, then the integration with that and say Raw Power would be a thought if you shoot stuff on the phone. Or say Starry Landscape Stacker, which is macOS.

If you use Apple media a lot, like their music and/or video, it might be nice for that. Or their cloud storage for photos or other stuff.

Some programs might run faster on the Mini, but we don't know what you use, or why, so hard to tell.

Many of the other features are day to day sorts of things, from Continuity to AirDrop or if you like Safari, etc. Not sure it's worth using for that given what you've already got.

 

[toktik]

Are there any macOS specific applications that you would like to use? FCP for example? that would be the obvious use case. What to use it for in the abstract is a tough question, and we don't know what you even need it for in regard to photo work. If you use an iPhone, then the integration with that and say Raw Power would be a thought if you shoot stuff on the phone. Or say Starry Landscape Stacker, which is macOS.

If you use Apple media a lot, like their music and/or video, it might be nice for that. Or their cloud storage for photos or other stuff.

Some programs might run faster on the Mini, but we don't know what you use, or why, so hard to tell.

Many of the other features are day to day sorts of things, from Continuity to AirDrop or if you like Safari, etc. Not sure it's worth using for that given what you've already got.

Thank you for your feedback. My interest, for now, is understanding the utility that the Mac Mini offers. For example, would it be a good backup server if I got a Thunderbolt enclosure, would it be a good home media server, would it be good for remote access to files while away from home, etc.? I don't anticipate becoming a big user of MacOS desktop programs, but I would consider trying some if they are known to be better than Windows or Linux alternatives.

 

[CAcreeks]

I think you should sell it or give it away. You already have more than enough computers.

If it had more memory, you could use it to run virtual machines, but alas the 8GB model is probably not enough to run W11 as a VM.

For work I do, Linux is an easier development environment than MacOS. I've gradually learned substitutes, but Xcode takes a long time to download and update compared to almost any programming environment on Linux. I'm not a Windows guy, and it was easy adjusting to MacOS after Linux.

 

[kelpdiver]

the M1 is a quieter, smaller, lower draw machine for daily consumption needs, and with the same general protections against attack as the linux box. Mount it to the back of your monitor and leave it on, turn the others on when you have a specific need for their capability.

 

[JasonTheBirder]

If you don't really have a need for it, I don't see why you should keep it. Just sell it and get something you do need.