Using iMac and Mac Mini together to share screen and data

I may buy a Mac Mini in addition to my iMac 27" (Mid 2011), mostly so that I can use it for slide show presentations via a digital projector. But I don't have a separate monitor (or suitable TV), so I wouldn't be able to use the Mac Mini other than with a projector. Not a good idea. So I backed away a bit.
TDM Mode
Then I found that I could use an iMac screen as a monitor if I connect the two via a Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable in Target Display Mode, TDM (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924). A short cable costs $35.
Then I thought about those times when Photoshop is tying up my computer for hours while I batch process heaps of images (you can't use Photoshop while it is batch processing), and I wondered: why not jump across to the Mac Mini during those times?
I store all my data on external firewire drives. Nothing on the OSX drives. This leads me to a few questions. Assume I have the Mac Mini connected to my iMac in TDM via a Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable.
Ques 1
What is the best way of being able to access my data files (on external firewire drives connected to the iMac) via the Mac Mini? A scenario might be:
I've started a batch process on the iMac which ties up Photoshop and much ties up;
I switch the screen to display the Mac Mini;
I want to access my data on the firewire drives, drives that the iMac is already accessing.
Ques 2
Can I use the thunderbolt connection to not only transfer screen data, but ordinary data?
Ques 3
Or should I run an ethernet cable between the two and set up a network?

One question, how does this affect syncing to iTunes? Will it recognise the iPhoto drive on both computers (depending which one has the drive at that time) if I sync photo albums to my iPhone and iPad?
iTunes will always sync with the last iPhoto library that has been used on the computer. If you make sure, that the drive has been connected, before you launch iTunes, it will work, like Old Toad said.
Also, if I do it this way doesn't it become vulnerable due to not being connected at all times to time machine?
if you use the drive with the library the mainly on your iMac, you could exclude it from the TimeMachine backup of your Laptop. Keep it connected to the iMac, when you are not using it on the LapTop.
What would be the process if I only wanted to do this periodically and wanted to keep the main library on the iMac. Could I work on the drive on the macair and then save it back to the iMac? How do I do that without duplicating the files? If I just select copy and paste, will it only overwrite the changed files?
You would have to copy the entire library back and forth again and again, or use iPhoto Library Manager, to merge the changes into the library on the iMac. It would not be an easy workflow.

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s anyone actually using a Beoplay A8?

You can enable file sharing on the computer you want to use as a server in System Preferences.
On your other computers, you can connect to server in the Go menu of the finder and type in the server's name plus a .local extension. If you name your server computer "Server" then type in server.local and login with an account on the server.
Otherwise you can buy OS X Server from the App Store but that's more complicated if all you want to do is share files.
Hope this helps.
Taylor

I there, my question is quite simple, I would like to know if the "apple remote control" can be used with a mac mini and , if so, it can be used to control also the "logic pro" functions (e.g. record, start, stop etc). Thks a lot, Danilo

I there, my question is quite simple, I would like to know if the "apple remote control" can be used with a mac mini and , if so, it can be used to control also the "logic pro" functions (e.g. record, start, stop etc). Thks a lot, Danilo

Good work, thanks for the report.

Connecting to dial-up internet with imac through mac mini?

I can't quite figure out how to do this. I have a imac g3 and mac mini connected with ethernet crossover. the modem on imac is dead, dial-up connecting though mac mini. i can go through the menus for connecting through internet through ethernet but can't quite get it to connect to the internet on the imac. should I connect to internet on mac mini-then go try to connect over ethernet on imac, or am I missing somthing else in the configuration?
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Here's Apple's documentation on how to set up your Mac mini so your iMac can share the mini's modem internet connection.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh336.html
Hope that does it.
K.M.
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Music Production | iMac or Mac Mini, help me make a decision

I've been playing the piano competitively for 12 years, producing classical and electronic music with Cubase SX on PC for 5 years.
Just to put you in proportion, the following specs were enough until recently - my productions became better and more complicated.
Additional 40% performance would completely satisfy my needs, no way I'll need more.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/GbeTech/Compspecs2.gif
I also have a pair of monitors, a LCD screen and a sound card (Juli@: http://www.esi-audio.com/products/julia/) that I would like to use.
- The monitors are obligatory to use.
- The sound card is obligatory _unless there is an option for a sound card with identical or better performance than the Juli@_.
Question: Is it possible to buy a sound card with similar or better performance than the Juli@ with either iMac or Mac Mini?
I can't afford a Mac Pro, as my budget is 2400$ max.
I'm trying to decide between an iMac, or a MacMini;
iMac
20"
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
320GB HD 7200RPM
Wireless Mouse and Keyboard
1349$
MacMini
2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
320GB hard drive
1049$
iMac
Advantages
• A little better performance than the Mac Mini, but as both have better performance than my sufficient and current PC, I'm OK with either.
• More flexible about upgrading, changing hardware etc...
Disadvantages
• More expensive than the Mini, because the computer is actually a screen, which I don't need
MacMini
Advantages
• Possible to use my LCD screen
• Very cheap
Disadvantages
• Not really possible to upgrade anything significant.
*- Can I install my sound card into the iMac or the Mini?*
*- Is it possible to buy a sound card with the same or better performance than the Juli@?*
I prefer installing my card rather than buying a new one.
Can you help me decide?
Message was edited by: GbeTech

GbeTech,
I think it will come down to which machine you think you will enjoy using. You won't be able to use your Julia Sound Card in either machine.
I had a Core Duo 1.6Ghz Mac Mini with 2MB of Ram. I used both Logic 8 and Garageband on the Mac Mini with a Motu 896 and an external Firewire Drive using the ports on the Mac Screen. I never had any latency issues or crashes and recording was fine.
I play classical guitar and accordingly I need a system which is whisper quiet - the Mini was great in that regard.
I then switched to a 3.06Ghz iMac with 4MB of Ram. The iMac only has one FW 800 port and I was worried about daisychaining the Motu through the external Drive.
As it happened I've had no problems whatsoever using the iMac with the Motu and the External Drive. The iMac is as quiet as the Mac Mini - so for me I got a faster computer with no downside.
Having said that the old Mac Mini was quite adequate for my needs. My recordings are very simple - usually one stereo track and one mono audio track for each recording pass - if I multitrack (rarely now) multiply that by 3 plus a few synth/piano/bass tracks and I'm done. After mixing in Logic bounce as a Sound Designer file and then master using Peak 5. Quick simple process that produces fantastic results given recordings are made at home.
I use the above process for recording classical guitar. One thing though - do be careful in the type of External Drive you use - I had one that would click as it was being written to and my mircophone would pick up the clicks !! Changed to a quieter external drive and all is good.
If i'm messing around on an electric guitar - I use Garageband and plug the electric guitar straight into the back of the iMac using a cheap $2 1/4 to 1/8 jack - get a clean strong guitar signal which is then tweaked in Garageband.
I notice that you play classical piano - how you record may have a bearing on what machine you buy. If you simply use a midi keyboard then most probably either machine would be fine. However if you are using multiple mics around an acoustic piano you might want to look at Motu and the other interfaces out there, which in turn could influence your decision.
Hope the above helps.
Kind Reagrds

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Expert secrets for using RMAN and Data Pump by kamran agayev and Aman Sharm

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Is this book available in INDIA:
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How can i get this book in India.
Thanks,
Alok
Edited by: user12141893 on 6 Apr, 2012 11:25 AM
I tried to buy this book online from rampant's official site but shipping cost was more than cost of book.
Book is not available on Flipkart and Amazon also

Helios,
OP can send a mail to me too :-) .
OP,
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Aman....
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this Sunday a friend ask me to help hum with a problem on is Man Mini Server. He has a small office and uses the mini server to share a public folder to all his employees.
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Can I use my iMac with Mac mini?

Can I use my iMac (PowerPC G5 2.1 GHz, Build 9L31a, Serial # W855104UTAR, VERSION 10.5.8) as a monitor with new Mac mini.
If yes, how to do it?

Qalaska wrote:
Can I use my iMac (PowerPC G5 2.1 GHz, Build 9L31a, Serial # W855104UTAR, VERSION 10.5.8) as a monitor with new Mac mini.
If yes, how to do it?
YES!
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Using iMac and Mac Mini together to share screen and data

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