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
>