No, it's the increasing benefits of Thunderbolt 3. The biggest thing that makes the Mac Mini exciting isn't even the Mac Mini itself, though with its new Space Gray color scheme and fully integrated design it's an attractive little box. However, as Thunderbolt 3 finally matures, we might consider the new Mac Mini to be a real contender as a 'main machine' for even demanding post users, like colorists. We've owned Mac Minis over the years, both in our office as a 'mini-server' and at home as a media player and all around backup system, and while we've always liked them, we've never thought of them as our main system.
While we wait on the long-rumored 2019 Mac Pro and what wonders it might offer (Thunderbolt 3 AND USB-C ports! PCI card slots!), right now, in January 2019, we spent a few weeks testing the Mac Mini. With Thunderbolt 3, it might be the best option as a main system.Īpple has been working very hard to get back into the good graces of professional users, with a huge wave of activity in 2018 letting us know that pros are a high priority. The Mac Mini has long been popular with production companies as a little 'do anything' device.