Speaking of docks - something for the Mac mini...

[RAMd®d]

Unlike most here, apparently, I'm pretty much OK with Apple's penchant for design elegance over function.

But occasionally I do find it inconvenient for a quick, temporary connection for one reason or another.

The Satechi Type-C Aluminum Stand & Hub is a very nice bit of kit that allows the mini to preserve its industrial-chíc but have some ports on the front for those times when moving the mini around to get to a port via the Helen Keller method just won't do.



It's a match to the space-gray of the 2018/2020 minis. Outsourcing ports to the front of another fairly slick looking device keeps the mini looking slick and lets me feel ok about any wire tangle and port :hudder:: in plain sight. SD cards and drives are pretty temporary by nature so I'm good with that, too.

It also has a fan which is supposed to help cool the mini.

The reviews are mixed, so I'm debating on pulling the trigger for the moment.

Returns are fairly painless, though.

[WHiiP]

RAMd®d wrote:
Unlike most here, apparently, I'm pretty much OK with Apple's penchant for design elegance over function.

Given this viewpoint, I think you should turn the hub around so the ports are on the back where Apple firmly believes they should be!


:emoticon-tv-015:

[d4]

I keep the Mac Mini permanently sideways on the desk for access to the two USB ports for my three daily USB cables.

USB 2 Micro-B for Kindle.
USB 3 Micro-B for card reader.
Lightning for iPhone.

[RAMd®d]

Nothing terminating in micro-USB shall ever touch my Macs.

They'll have to go through an intermediate hub!

[d4]

RAMd®d wrote:
Nothing terminating in micro-USB shall ever touch my Macs.
They'll have to go through an intermediate hub!

Raise the fist!

[rich in distress]

That’s a great design, and I like the idea of the fan. I guess it boils down to workflow and needs though.
The mini is designed to work without a fan. If one pushes it hard enough, it’s a great choice to consider.
Now, port access... I use software that requires iLok so it’s either plugged to a hub, or to a short usb extension.
I have at least a couple that came with thumb drives, and it works great. I like that the plugging in and out is subjected on a cheap piece that can be replaced, instead of the mobo.
Anyway...

[bazookaman]

I wish OWC would make a ministack type hub for the older minis again.

[Gareth]

RAMd®d wrote:
It also has a fan which is supposed to help cool the mini.

Are you sure it has a fan? It talks about venting, but the vents are probably for passive venting. In the Q&A, people ask if they could add an internal drive option and the manufacturer says they would need to ADD a fan if they added a drive option.

[PeterW]

Even with a fan, how could it help cool the mini? There are no vents on the bottom.

[Zoidberg]

bazookaman wrote:
I wish OWC would make a ministack type hub for the older minis again.

Ditto this.