Running Mac Mini with a MacBook Pro?

Is it possible to run a Mac Mini using a MacBook Pro keyboard and display? Essentially using the keyboard and display of the MacBook to run the Mini as a normal desktop setup? I would be looking to use the Mini in Boot camp mode to run Windows and do not want to install Windows on my MacBook. Thanks for any tips.

You can remotely control most computers via software (generically) called VNC (Virtual Network Computing). The connection between the computers would preferably be via an ethernet cable.
While this can be easily set up in a Leopard-to-Leopard environment (in Leopard it is called "screen sharing"), it should also be possible in a Leopard (or Tiger) to Windows environment.
Using VNC, you should not expect the remote computer to be as responsive as using a real keyboard, mouse, and monitor directly connected to it.
You will also (temporarily) need a real keyboard, mouse, and monitor to configure the Mini initially.

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Syncing an Mac Mini with a Macbook Pro Over Wifi

I'm setting up my new office and I've got a Mac Mini I've had for several years and a Macbook Pro that I use at home. I travel quite a bit and it would be really nice to have my Mac Mini and my Macbook synced.
I'd like to work all day on my Mac Mini, then when I get home, be able to experience the exact same desktop on my Macbook as I had on my Mac Mini.
Is there a way to get the two syncing to the same backup? That way if I edit a document at the office, I can back the computer up, go home, sync my Macbook and continue working on that same document. I could then back it up and in the morning, again continue my work on the Mac Mini.
Currently I'm taking my Macbook Pro back and forth. It's really getting worn out with all the travel.

Use SugarSync (you can sync any folders, or all of them)

How do I connect wirelessly to my new mac mini from my macbook pro

Hi, I've just bought a new mac mini, its connected to my HDTV via the HDMI cable....it is showing as it should on my tv screen....but my question is: how do I connect to the mac mini via my macbook pro? I want to be able to control the mac mini wirelessly from my laptop, as the mac mini is going to essentially run my home theatre.
Thanks in advance
Matt

Use Remote Desktop
https://www.apple.com/remotedesktop/
or by screen sharing
http://macs.about.com/od/usingyourmac/qt/Mac-Screen-Sharing.htm

How can I control my my mac mini with my macbook air (no wifi)?

How can I control my my mac mini with my macbook air (no wifi)? Also...what is the best method (less lag) for screen sharing?
I own a mac mini Quad Server 2.0 i7 and I use it for audio production. It's great but I need to travel with it. I was hoping some form of screen sharing could be useful using the macbook air to control the mac mini. Therefore, I'd be using the stronger processor of the mac mini but would still be using the keyboard and trackpad from the air.
My two problems:
1. I can't depend on wifi to make this happen. Wifi is not always available when travleing. What would be the best way to configure a LAN connection?
2. The less lag the better for screen sharing. Which apps are fastest?
Thanks in advance.

Both of your devices have WiFi built in. Here is Apple Support's solution:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25616?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Hi, I would like to synchronize the calendar's items of my iPad Mini with my MacBook Pro. At today I can only do the reverse operation (from MacBook Pro to iPad Mini). Can you help me maybe with a little tutorial or something? Many Thanks.

Hi, I would like to synchronize the calendar's items of my iPad Mini with my MacBook Pro. At today I can only do the reverse operation (from MacBook Pro to iPad Mini). Can you help me maybe with a little tutorial or something? Many Thanks.

Hello there Tonynos.
The following Knowledge Base article should help with guiding you on how to synchronize information from your iOS device to your computer:
iOS: How to transfer or sync content to your computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1296
Thanks for reaching Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Pedro D.

Viewing an Mac Mini Via my Macbook Pro

Hi guys
I have a piece of software installed on a mac Mini with NO screen, its running constantly and produces certain reports, is there a way I can access the Mac Mini without having to plug in a screen?
Someone told me I could do it via Bonjour or Share screen?
I currently have the following Equipment: MACBOOK PRO (bought last week) and 5 Mac Minis (again bought Last week)

System prefs > sharing > screen sharing should give you what you want...!
More details here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/14066.html
Message was edited by: Woggledog

HT4796 Transfer files from older mac mini to new macbook pro: incompatible ports

I have an older Mac Mini with only USB ports. I just bought a MacBook Pro with thunderbolt and USB 3 ports. I need to transfer my data to my new MacBook Pro using the Migration Assistant but the direct connection ports are not compatible. How can I do this?

Use FireWire, Ethernet, or wireless. The first two can be adapted to a Thunderbolt port.
(99278)

Performance of Mac mini vs iMac, Macbook Pro

The dual 1 G mirror door G4 in my office just blew up and I need to get my stuff off the drives and on to another Mac asap. For reasons of economy I'm tempted to go with a Mac mini (I have an unused monitor) but I'm not sure it's powerful enough. I will need it for some light (basically just adjustments and corrections) Photoshop image batch processing of CR2 files from a Canon 40D as well as email, database, web authoring and surfing. I'm also considering iMacs, Macbook Pros. Since I'm not familiar with the performance characteristics of the current crop of Macs I'd appreciate inputs from anyone who is. How would a (possibly beefed-up) Mac mini compare in speed and durability to an in-the- ball-park priced iMac or Macbook Pro. The Mac mini with 7200 rpm HD plus SSD with 8GB (max) RAM, with the SSD set as the boot drive ought to be quite fast, but would it be faster than the other choices, and would it be best bang for buck? Thanks for any insights.

See
For home use would you recommend the new mini server, the plain mini or the imac?
Not entirely the same discussion, but may help you

Syncing a MINI with my MacBook Pro-13"

After some nightmare problems with my MacBook Pro-13" (likely software but that's not certain yet) - things like the cursor freezing, the internet dropping-out and not-waking from sleep - I realize I need a second Intel Mac to keep my sanity and as a backup. Sure, I have daily bootable SuperDuper! backups; and also I have a weekly one-- but if my MBP hardware fails...
I use the computer essentially daily (hourly?!) for everything from banking to eMailing to SKYPEing etc.
So if I get a MINI -(or another MBP or an iMac) then how will I be able to make sure that my eMail (some is pop; plus my MobileMe as IMAP) - and my banking (offline - storeage on my Mac) and everything else can be made identical on the MPB and the MINI?
I want to be able to try-out programs on one Mac (say the MacBook Pro) and then if they don't cause problems, either sync that to the MINI or download and install on the MINI. (Shareware etc.)
How easy is this going to be to do? Ideally if one of the 2 computers would fail or get stolen, I'd have the other 99 44/100% identical so that my life could go on...
Thanks for any suggestions - I have a Mobile Me account - and extra HD's could be obtained if needed!
Regards,
Steve

ANOTHER unanswered post - really strange that recently I get few replies to my posts... Questions must be too specific and not a concern to other or just not an issue they are seeing. OK Solved, even if not...

Can i use iCloud for connecting a mac mini with a macbook?

I want to know if the connection between mac mini and a macbook is possible.
Or do i have to use an i phone as well?

Welcome to the Apple Community.
You can sync calendars, contacts and mail between computers.
Documents requires mobile versions of iWork to work, but If you want to upload documents that aren't for use with iOS devices this User Tip might be of interest.

Please help me decide on a Mac mini server or MacBook Pro i7 for Logic

Hi folks,
I've really taxed my brain trying to figure out what's the smartest way to go. I'd love to know what any of you think I should do.
My current setup:
2007 MacBook Pro 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo
2GB Ram
FSB 667 MHz
M-Audio ProFire 610
WD-Passport external drive for samples and audio files
Logic 8 (looking to upgrade to 9)
Record 1.5
Various AU plugins including Omnisphere, Miroslav Philharmonic, Amplitude 2, FM-8, BFD 2 and Korg Legacy Analogue
Final Cut Studio (latest version) for modest HD editing but sometimes multiclips as well
I tend to use lots of tracks - around 10 vocals, 4 guitars and lots of software instruments.
As you can imagine, Omnisphere runs like a dog past 2 instances and BFD practically makes everything grind to a halt.
Since going to Record 1.5, rewiring also seems to be unusably slow.
I'd love a new iMac or Mac Pro but I make several plane journeys to visit my Mum in another country. My solution has to be mobile, although I have got monitors, a keyboard and mouse that I can use at my Mum's.
As far as I can see, there are 2 options:
1
A new MacBook Pro 2.66 Ghz i7
2
A Mac Mini Server 2.66 Ghz Core 2 Duo
Physically, the Mac Mini is the better option:
- much lighter in my hand luggage so I could take it in addition to my existing MacBook Pro.
- more USB ports
My worries with getting a Mac Mini are:
- Is it powerful enough or at least significantly better than my MacBook Pro?
- Will it run the latest version of Final Cut Studio (a little off-topic, I know but I couldn't seem to find any straight answers elsewhere).
- Is it noisy when under a heavy workload?
- There is no Superdrive so can I use my MacBook Pro to install the software DVDs across a network?
Thanks for reading this. Let me know what you think.
Kind regards,
Steve

The mini will be about as powerful as your current MBP. You could have more RAM in the mini, 2 GB is certainly not enough for any serious work.
People on this list were initially(LP 9.0.0) underwhelmed by the MBP i7 dual core, it is a step up from your older MBP, but don't expect miracles. Get lots of RAM/a SSD for optimum performance.
9.1.3 may have improved performance, not sure,
Fast and relatively cheap: iMac i7 quad core. Not very portable, though.
Not ideal either is your M-audio interface, its drivers are below par making your Mac sweat more than necessary.
My 2c,
Zip

How to transfer iTunes library from Mac Mini to New Macbook Pro?

I have my wife's iPad and iPhone synced to our Mac Mini. I purchased a new Macbook Pro for her. I want to have her iPhone and iPad now sync to the Macbook Pro and not lose any apps or data along the way. Both machines are running iTunes 11.2.1. I have read other tutorials about transfering but they are off old versions of iTunes. The new iTunes doesn't allow you to right click the device and "Transfer Purchases" manually any more. I have home share turned on and have already transfered all the music to the new Macbook.
Can someone write up a quick step by step that would allow me to sync to her new Pro without losing her app data and contacts?
I also manually sync devices on all machines instead of auto sync on plugin.
Thanks.

I think the method for transferring libraries hasn't changed since the very first version of iTunes.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder.
If you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)

I want to migrate from using 2 computers (a mac mini and a macbook pro) to only the macbook

I currently use both a MacMini at home and a MacBook Pro while I'm on the road.
My email is sync'd via Google Mail, but I have photo's and documents (for my projects) that are not sync'd between the two computers.
I use Time Machine with difference external drives to backup each computer.
I would like to migrate to using only the MacBook but I need to make sure that both machines are sync'd and my photo's and documents are the same on both.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
The Mac Mini is running OSX 10.7.5 and the Mac Book is runing OSX 10.8.3
Thanks in advance
S4Ducati

You could try using sync/backup software that could do that automatically. You have several from which to choose that might work best:
Suggested Backup Software
1. Carbon Copy Cloner
2. Data Backup
3. Deja Vu
4. SuperDuper!
5. Synk Pro
6. Tri-Backup
7. Sync Folders Pro 2.9.3
8. Folder Sync v1.4.4
9. SyncTwoFolders 1.8.4
Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.

Can I run two displays with my Macbook Pro?

I have the early 2011 Macbook Pro, with the 256mb ram on the graphics card, and what I think was the first generation "Thunderbolt" video output. I'm currently running a single 27"Cinema Display using a mini-display port adaptor out. I'm wondering if there's a way to drive two monitors with it - say a Thunderbolt display and the current Cinema Display? What configuration of displays, adaptors, and/or cables would I need to do this?
Thanks!

I suggest reviewing information here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
in the sections:
"Using the Apple Thunderbolt Display" and
"Using Mini DisplayPort displays or displays connecting with Mini DisplayPort adapters on Macs with Thunderbolt Ports:"

Completely control Mac Mini with a MacBook?

I have wifi setup at home, a MacBook and a MacBook Pro. If I purchased a Mac Mini, can I wire it to one of the MacBooks to set it up with full sharing by using the MacBook keyboard and display? If this is a possibility, can the Mac mini then be setup with no keyboard/display to control / use it wirelessly with the MacBooks?
The main goal is to set up an outdoor surveillance system using SecuritySpy with either a Mac mini to store and handle the cameras or if it cant be done without buying so much stuff I'd need to select a Mac compatible DVR.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

You can use the built-in screen sharing application. It lets you view the what is being displayed on the Mini and you can control it with mouse and keyboard commands.

Running Mac Mini with a MacBook Pro?

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