So, the keyboard and pad is smaller than a laptop, but it's tethered to a tower that keeps it from being portable?


Sharon H.

> On May 15, 2015, at 8:45 PM, Phil Scovell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Sharon,
> 
> I thought so, too.  I don't know why they call it that other than it is smaller, much smaller, than a lap top.
> 
> Phil.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Hooley" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, May 15, 2015 5:25 PM
> Subject: Re: Mac Attack
> 
> 
> What?  I thought mini means smallest!
> 
> Sharon H.
> 
>> On May 15, 2015, at 1:43 PM, Phil Scovell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>> Vicki,
>> 
>> The MacMini is a desktop computer.  I run it on wifi but it can connect direct to the comcast cable, too.  The MacMini has larger hard drive storage capabilities that a mac air, and the MacMini has a number of additional ports.  In short, the Macmini is for fixed usage at a desk and the mac air is a netbook style portable laptop sort of thing.  The screen and keyboard ar built in and it runs on wifi.  Mac hard drives are not the old hard drives with which we are familiar.  They are fusion drives and there are no moving parts.  All data is stored electronically.  That makes them many times faster because a physical disk is not turning and magnetically recording.  Mac also tracks your usage of everything so after awhile, it will move some files and programs into a separate area because you access fewer times.  A long movie, for example, may get moved into a holding area so it isn't taking up so much space in the main work area. Some macs are both conventional hard drives and fusion drives and the less accessed files are stored on the conventional hard drive while all the other stuff that is accessed frequently, is stored in the fusion drive network.  The trackpad does allow you to tap and delete and move and open and close programs, turn pages by flicking your finger across the screen as it does on the iPhone, so the trackpad just makes it a literal hands on access screen.  Lots of various gestures available, too.  The MacMini can also use a full sized 104 or 105 keyboard.  I could have purchased a smaller keyboard that has no number pad but I wanted the full sized mac keyboard made by Das which are the click style keyboards Sandy and I have been using for years.  The MacMini just allows for more versatility, plugging in two screen, for multiple users with separate passwords, several ports, and with the 1 terabyte storage, can be used by other family members for backups and the like.  I ended up buying the least expensive mac video screen, 79 dollars, when the others are over 400 on up, so anyone using my computer could see what they were doing.  Everett picked it out and was amazed how clear the Apple 13 inch screen really is for that price.  I paid a freaking 70 dollars for a wireless mouse for the same purpose but a blind person can, to some degree use the mouse to get to places quickly.  The trackpad basically is a hands on mouse like the iPhone features of tapping and flicking and drawing alphabetic letters, the letter S, for example, to bring up files with the letter S as a prefix.  iPhones can do that sort of gesturing, too.  The trackpad is about 7 by 7 inches and I sit in the other room in my recliner, with the volume turned up in the office area, and use the computer that way occasionally, haha.  Both the macmini and the mac air allow the user to answer and initiate phone calls and you can send and receive text messages with them both as well in case you phone is hiding in the night stand drawer where you left it, haha.
>> 
>> Phil.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vicki" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, May 15, 2015 9:05 AM
>> Subject: Re: Mac Attack
>> 
>> 
>>> Wonder what the difference is between the Mac Air and the Macmini. Also will that track pad allow you to double tap and delete just like on the phone?
>>> 
>>> Curious me.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Phil Scovell <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 8:39 pm
>>> Subject: Mac Attack
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Donna,
>>>> 
>>>> Sandy and I have the I6 iPhones and really enjoy them.  Sandy got a Mac Air
>>>> about a year ago.  I kept thinking I was going to have to renew my license
>>>> for jaws again and was dreading it.  Also, my computer for windows is about
>>>> 12 or 13 years old and having lots of problems from time to time.  I learned
>>>> a mac can be formatted to be windows and mac and can be changed from one to
>>>> the other on the fly through hot keys.  I have a couple of ham radio
>>>> programs that won't work on a mac so I am going to format the macmini into
>>>> both.  I also got the trackpad which turns the computer almost into the
>>>> iPhone but it allows you to use it like it were a touch screen or the touch
>>>> screen on your iPhone.  Do I like the mac?  No, I hate it because this old
>>>> man is having to learn everything all over again.  I love the Alex voice in
>>>> the mac, the same one in the i6 iPhones, because of my loss of hearing over
>>>> this passed year.  Anyhow, the more I learn, the more I like the macmini.
>>>> My i6 and macmini automatically sync and whatever I can do on the phone, I
>>>> can do on the macmini.  I got the 1 terabyte machine since I'm basically
>>>> going to end up with two computers in one, but even 500 gigs is more than
>>>> I'll ever use.  Sandy experience with her mac air has been so positive,
>>>> paying all our bills and buying Wal-Mart groceries and having them delivered
>>>> and ordering other things online with the mac, pushed me to make the
>>>> decision to go ahead and by the macmini.  It's about the size of a cigar
>>>> box.  The trackpad also allows a blind user to work as well as a sighted
>>>> person using a mouse.  I haven't gotten to it yet but the macs have a voice
>>>> recognition program I'm trusting will work as well as dragon dictate to help
>>>> me with writing through dictation.  National Braille Press has a great
>>>> reference book a lady wrote so between that and the mac voice over mailing
>>>> list and Sandy's knowledge, it was now or never, at my age, haha.
>>>> 
>>>> Phil.
>>> 
>>> As Always, Vicki