I know that I waffle on what approach I take with regards to my computer equipment. I have been known to swing between wanting one laptop I use for everything to a laptop and desktop, to just a desktop and using works laptop. Right now I have a semi-new 2012 Macbook Air. I sold my main desktop, a 27″ iMac that I bought and tricked out in 2011 over the summer. I also am selling my old 2011 Macbook Air because I wanted one computer, a laptop. At the time my thoughts were I wanted a single machine so I can go between work and home and have my stuff with me. I had the iMac because I previously worked from home 2-3 days a week and having the more powerful desktop made sense. Since I am in the office most days as of early summer that didn’t make much sense anymore. I also have a 2010 Mac Mini I have been using as a media center. Its no longer plugged directly into my TV but is hosting all my media and acts as a headless server that my Apple TV or Macbook Air connects to. I can’t use it as a desktop since the Thunderbolt display I have is not compatible with the older Mini.
Flash forward to now, and I am happy with my Air however I am finding myself wanting a desktop that is always on. I still need my laptop for now for if I need to work from the bedroom or anywhere else if the baby is in the area were my computer is, but having a desktop for me and the family has its advantages. Having a super powerful iMac still doesn’t make sense. My current solution is to get one of the new Mac Mini’s that were just announced. It is 1/3 of the price I paid for my iMac, and if i need to I can unplug the Mini from my display and plug in my laptop as needed. The 1TB Fusion drive looks like a good compromise for speed and storage space. The new Mini’s looked good enough that I ordered a new one on the 5th. It arrived Friday. So far the Cinema Display and the Mini is a great alternative to a laptop or an iMac. I still have to carry around a laptop to work but I like having a flexibility the mini provides vs an all in one iMac. Only time will say if I remain happy.