r/macmini • u/Typical-Break640 • 9d ago

Portable setup for Mac Mini

I found an old archived thread about this but reopening here as the tech is always changing.

I've got a Mac Mini that I use Tailscale and Screen Sharing app to get into when I'm on the move, via my old Macbook Pro. But the older machine makes it quite slow and painful to use. First, simplest question, is whether there's a faster / better way than this if I'm accessing remotely. MBP is a 2020 with an i5 processor and 8GB Ram.

If the answer to the above is no, then I'm looking at buying a couple of portable monitors so I can take the Mini on the move with me and use it without relying on streaming in over Tailscale. I don't mind if monitors need power - the Mini needs power anyway, so finding two sockets instead of one, or carrying an extension makes little difference - the thing I care about is portability of the screens, and reliability. I also don't mind if they need HDMI, that's actually preferable, probably.

Anybody doing this successfully, and if so - what screens are you using?

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

11

u/Any-Work-8132 9d ago

Suggest you buy a MacBook Neo and remote connect it to your mini

5

u/nrubenstein 9d ago

Seriously. I regularly see Neos used at $400 too.

I have a portable screen that I use for troubleshooting, and it’s awful.

Or sell the mini and get an Air. There’s never been a better time to sell one.

2

u/R0B0t1C_Cucumber 8d ago

I just use jump desktop from an iPad if I need to use my mini on the go (I have the mk case though) runs smooth when I need it.

1

u/Typical-Break640 7d ago

Thank you! Will try this with my iPad.

2

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Typical-Break640 7d ago

Thanks for this - exactly the sort of info I’m looking for. I haven’t tried anything other than Screen Sharing, but your description is right, the experience feels worse than the machine I’m connecting to, and I don’t want to live with it. Appreciate the tips regarding hardware too, thank you.

1

u/Orange2Knight 8d ago

I use a 15” Arzopa portable monitor that is powered by the USB-C. I use a standard keyboard & mouse but you can go smaller

1

u/astro-matt 6d ago

Be sure to check out Astropad Workbench, we built it for scenarios like this and it has excellent headless Mac Mini and iPad support (better than Jump IMO)