Connecting two Mac minis and using one monitor

I am thinking about getting two Mac minis to run concurrently, accessing both on the same Thunderbolt Display (also to be acquired) using screen sharing and connecting the two Macs via firewire (or thunderbolt).
I have certain programs I need to run in Windows (Bloomberg terminal and MS Excel in Windows version) but don't want to run them in parallel on one computer as (in my experience) the performance is very slow.
By running two computers at the same time, I'm hoping that can avoid the entire system griding to a halt. I also think it will allow me to upgrade more cheaply as the Mac mini is improved over time.
Is this a completely daft idea? Would I be better off with a new iMac or a refurbish Mac Pro?
Any feedback is welcome, even of the abusive variety.

"File sharing preferences" is indeed how to do it. Connect both minis to your router (one by ethernet cable, one by wifi, it doesn't matter.)
Then turn on "File Sharing" in Sharing Prefs on both minis. Also, give them both meaningful, different names under "Computer Name".
Then, when you open a finder window on one mini, the other one should appear under "Shared", like this:

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Message was edited by: colsonjm

I was hoping there was a better option. I have the wireless keyboard and mouse, and the two computers. I doubt there is a way to switch the wireless keyboard/mouse without disabling and reconnecting the bluetooth connection (and I really do not think there is a KVM switch for bluetooth devices yet)...
That being said, I was hoping to continue to control the laptop with the laptop keyboard, and the mini with the wireless devices, and NOT go the KVM switch route... I was hoping there was a way to have the mini and the macbook both connected, and either push a button or access a menu to switch between the two...
So am I hearing that this is not a viable option? I need to invest in a potentially expensive KVM switch, or run one of the two computers remotely from the other?
The reason I am frustrated is that I was told when making the purchase that it was very much possible (by multiple employees over the phone and in store). I was also told by the tech people over the phone that everything I needed to do so would be in the box (no extra cables or anything needing purchase).
Message was edited by: colsonjm
Message was edited by: colsonjm

Connecting two Mac minis...

I'm trying to send a text file through Airport to another Mac mini. I think Personal File Sharing would allow me to put files I want to transfer in my Public folder, then retrieve them on the other Mac mini, but when I tried to do this, I had some problems...
I first enabled Personal File Sharing in System Preferences, then went to the other Mac mini and went to the address I was given in Sarfari(it was afp://(some numbers)). Then a dialog box popped up and said Connect to the file server "My Mac Mini", then had two buttons for either Guest or Registered User.
It was preset on Registered User, but was asking for a name and password which I'm not sure what password they want. Because I didn't know the password for a Registered User, I tried to access as a guest. I selected the button by Guest and pushed Connect. Another dialog window came up and asked me which volumes to mount with a list of computers(mine was the only one on there). I'm new to Macs and I don't know what mounting the volume would do. I don't need a permanent icon on the other Mac mini's desktop, I just want to access files from both computers without having to switch between computers.
Could someone please explain to me what mounting a volume does, and maybe the registered user option when you are "logging into" the computer?
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OK - Let's start with some basics:
* If all you want is to drop files onto a remote computer - it's simplest to use the Drop Box - that way you can choose guest and forget about passwords and user names.
If you need to access either the whole folder of a remote user (Their photos/documents/everything in their "Home" directory (Go -> Home on finder will take you to your local home folder) - then you need to know the short user name and password on the remote computer you want to connect to.
You can see the short name and change the password if needed using the Accounts prefernce pane.
All mounting a volume does is the user/password and create a point on your computer where the files "show up" - once that is done - you can do anything you want as if the files were really on your hard disk - except the commands to write a file, copy, delete or move the file - will go through the network if the file really is on the other computer.

Connect two Mac Minis

I'm trying to send a text file through Airport to another Mac mini. I think Personal File Sharing would allow me to put files I want to transfer in my Public folder, then retrieve them on the other Mac mini, but when I tried to do this, I had some problems...
I first enabled Personal File Sharing in System Preferences, then went to the other Mac mini and went to the address I was given in Sarfari(it was afp://(some numbers)). Then a dialog box popped up and said Connect to the file server "My Mac Mini", then had two buttons for either Guest or Registered User.
It was preset on Registered User, but was asking for a name and password which I'm not sure what password they want. Because I didn't know the password for a Registered User, I tried to access as a guest. I selected the button by Guest and pushed Connect. Another dialog window came up and asked me which volumes to mount with a list of computers(mine was the only one on there). I'm new to Macs and I don't know what mounting the volume would do. I don't need a permanent icon on the other Mac mini's desktop, I just want to access files from both computers without having to switch between computers.
Could someone please explain to me what mounting a volume does, and maybe the registered user option when you are "logging into" the computer?
Thanks!

axis2012 - best to read through this article that explains most of what you ask. Please post if a specific part needs elaboration or if you get confused about something. (skip anything about AppleTalk - that is for older pre-OS X computers - best to use the newer version if everyone is on X)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106461
the short answer is you need to enable Personal File Sharing on each computer that will accept another to see the files that are local to that computer. Then you have to choose to either share a user/password to mount a share - or restrict operations to one way dropping (Into the drop box) - with no way to look at files that are not in the public folder.

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Connecting two Mac minis and using one monitor

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