Still have some wire management, but after setting things up yesterday afternoon and running things since 7am this morning, everything is up and working and moved over from the 2013 Mac Pro trashcan.

Initial observations that others may find useful:
• there is no heat. Like none. Even after some video editing tests, the unit is cool to the touch.
• first time in probably 14 years my desktop Mac can sit on the desktop, instead of as a tower near my feet.
• Whether an app is running on Apple or Intel architecture, there's nothing noticeable to tell, because EVERYTHING IS FAST.
• I run a bunch of background utilities and 3rd party apps, from Keyboard Maestro to aText, Backblaze, TextSoap, TextSniper, Ferdi, SteerMouse, and lots of others. Every single one of them works like before. Just faster.
• My biggest concern was my video editing app, Screenflow, as they warned that it'd be a while before M1 version came out and they initially had issues with Rosetta. But even that app is flying, and initial editing chores that used to give me spinning balls are no longer dragging things down. This is probably the most shocking joy so far.
• Ok, this one is really odd, but I had some slowdowns that occurred for years, such as editing anyone's card in Apple Contacts, it would give me a spinning ball, I always presumed because it was trying to sync with iCloud. That is now all gone. I edit Contacts and it's as fast as TextEdit. Same with some spinning balls in Calendar, too. Gone gone gone.
• Speaking of TextEdit: for years, when I'd save a TextEdit doc, it would do this weird delay before the save dialog came up. Well, THAT is gone. Now it's instant.
• Saving big files to the internal SSD is insanely fast. Moving 2G files from external drives to the internal is .... like fun to watch.

There's more, but that gives you the basic ideas.

I'm looking forward too seeing just how much faster video editing is compared to the 2013 trashcan. So far, it's looking much better, and without the spinning balls.

A couple notes on migrating over from the old Mac: I never liked their Migration tool, and preferred to manually set things up, then manually bring over documents, etc. I'd never used AirDrop very much, but I could swear that AirDrop is a lot faster than using the built-in Network method. Both work. I also mucked up Photos: I copied over the entire Photos folder, and in doing so, overwrote the empty .photoslibrary file, and now Photos says it's a newer file and won't open. Not sure yet how to fix Photos.

Apple really did revolutionize things with building their own chip

EDIT: oh yeah: I could be imagining things, but I *swear* my monitors are much clearer than before. Like noticeably crisper. I was running Big Sur on my old machine, so it's not Big Sur.



Edit 2: the image I get now when I try to open Photos (again, my fault on this, but if anyone has a fix, please pass it on) -

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2020 09:34AM by tuqqer.

Sweet!!

I guess I'm so out of the loop that seeing two monitors being run off of that little box just still wows me.

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Hurts like a bastid...

which Acers are them. And the glass stands?

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!#$@@$#!

proofraed by OwEn the c@t.



Nobody remembers their first download, but everyone remembers their 1st LP.

LOVE the monitor stands.

• there is no heat. Like none. Even after some video editing tests, the unit is cool to the touch.

Wow, my 2012 mini is 'cool' at 175º and can get up to 207º, and you feel it.


• Speaking of TextEdit: for years, when I'd save a TextEdit doc, it would do this weird delay before the save dialog came up. Well, THAT is gone. Now it's instant.

I get that on my 2018 in almost every app's Save function.


I really should stop reading these threads.

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I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Nice

My 2018 mini, in an under cabinet mount with port side directed out towards the room, serves as a makeshift heater during cold winter nights...

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My music blog: [www.auditorymusings.net]


The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Quote
Fritz
which Acers are them. And the glass stands?

The Acers are the 25" 1440p G257HU. They've been great.

And the glass stands were like these:
[amzn.to]

But if I were to do it over, I might go with these, as they have the nice cut front, and come in black glass too:
[amzn.to]

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •

thanks

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!#$@@$#!

proofraed by OwEn the c@t.



Nobody remembers their first download, but everyone remembers their 1st LP.

I'm curious to know how well the M1 plays with any peripherals you are using (printer, scanner, etc.).

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It is what it is.

Quote
RAMd®d
I really should stop reading these threads.

LOL!

Give it up, RAMmie. You know how this has worked for a few years now: I buy something and write about it here, then you go out and buy it because you like it so much. Well, my M1 mini is scheduled for delivery tomorrow - why not beat fate at its own game and get ahead of the curve?

Honestly, when something better comes down the road next year you will not have any problem selling the M1 mini for close to what you paid for it. That is definitely my strategy here - in fact, I already have a buyer in mind (though she doesn't know it yet).

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It is what it is.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2020 12:55PM by N-OS X-tasy!.

.

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It is what it is.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2020 10:29AM by N-OS X-tasy!.

Quote
pinkoos
Nice

My 2018 mini, in an under cabinet mount with port side directed out towards the room, serves as a makeshift heater during cold winter nights...

My G5 Power Mac used to be GREAT for that.

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It is what it is.

How fast is it running F@H?

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

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Ways to improve web conference image and sound quality. [forums.macresource.com]

Nice looking setup!!

Have you tried opening the Photos Library from finder instead of from the Application. I have no idea if that will fix the issue-just with a try.

Nice. What, if anything, did you have to do differently to connect your monitors and other peripherals?

Quote
AllGold
Nice. What, if anything, did you have to do differently to connect your monitors and other peripherals?

Little. Just different cables for the monitors, one HDMI to monitor, other USB C to monitor.

Its got USB A ports for everything else. meh.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
AllGold
Nice. What, if anything, did you have to do differently to connect your monitors and other peripherals?

Actually, I'm having issues with the one monitor going through the USB hub; it turns off every 10-15 minutes when not in use, and then when it comes back on, completely changes the scale and position. I've always had issues with hubs like that, so I'm looking around to see what is technically possible. I know that HDMI will not support two differently monitor images (but will support mirrored dual monitors).

I may try a USB3 to dual HDMI and see if that behaves better.


EDIT: I just purchased this guy. I'll see if it behaves better. I don't like using up one USB 3 port just for this, but obviously steady monitors are critical!

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2020 06:03PM by tuqqer.

So you arent running one from the HDMI port and one from one of the USB C ports?

leaving 1 USB C and 2 USB A left?

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
jdc
So you arent running one from the HDMI port and one from one of the USB C ports?

leaving 1 USB C and 2 USB A left?

Edit: I was, and that is causing some kind of weird issue. So I'm going to try this single USB-C splitter into two HDMIs, and see if that corrects the problem.

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2020 08:47PM by tuqqer.

Maybe it’s time to go the ultrawide route — just one monitor!

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It is what it is.

Quote
N-OS X-tasy!
Maybe it’s time to go the ultrawide route — just one monitor!

This is a great solution, 34" models run $350, and there are now even 49" monitors.

Quote
tuqqer

Quote
AllGold
Nice. What, if anything, did you have to do differently to connect your monitors and other peripherals?

Actually, I'm having issues with the one monitor going through the USB hub; it turns off every 10-15 minutes when not in use, and then when it comes back on, completely changes the scale and position. I've always had issues with hubs like that, so I'm looking around to see what is technically possible. I know that HDMI will not support two differently monitor images (but will support mirrored dual monitors).

I may try a USB3 to dual HDMI and see if that behaves better.


EDIT: I just purchased this guy. I'll see if it behaves better. I don't like using up one USB 3 port just for this, but obviously steady monitors are critical!

'Attention: On Mac devices, ONLY Mirror Mode, CAN NOT extend two different Screen, due to Mac OS limitation'

[www.amazon.com]

That is not a DisplayLink adapter, so you will be mirroring both monitors.

crap. thanks for pointing this out, sekker.

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •

So I have a new Mini on order - the “USB C” ports you’re talking about are also labelled as Thunderbolt 3 ports at Apple. Would the weirdness go away if you used the two T3/USB C ports, one for each monitor? Or used a Thunderbolt 2/3 hub (plugged into one of the two T3/USB C sockets on the mini) with the two monitors plugged into the hub?

Personally, I’m still trying to get myself up to speed on this whole USB/Thunderbolt version explosion.

Good to know of others diving into the M1 Mini pool deep end. We should form a WhatsApp group to resolve issues as they come up!

And yes, I've been scratching my head over the USB-4/Thunderbolt confusion, too. From what I understand, in terms of monitors, one USB-4 port can run two 4K monitors. But so far, I haven't found any splitter that splits into HDMI ports. I think what IS possible is the DisplayPort (DP) splitter. Fortunately, my monitors have both HDMI and DP ports, so I may try to purchase a USB-4 (or USB-3) to dual DP ports, and get new cables for that.

Ah, the fun challenges of new tech.

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •

My understanding is the M1 chip can only inherently handle one external monitor on its own via the new USB4/TB3 ports. This is how the new M1 laptops work.

The M1 mini has some sort of hack where Apple somehow added a dedicated HDMI port, so the M1 mini can natively run two external monitors (one on HDMI, one on TB3/USB4).

To run more than one external monitor off the USB4/TB3 ports, the only solution I know is to use a DisplayLink-capable adapter and install the corresponding software.

Apple really does not make this clear. Why can't we just use each USB4/TB3 port to separately connect to different external displays? I have no idea, but we can't. That's the reality.

If I were setting up an M1 mini and two displays, I'd definitely use native dual monitor support when possible however.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2020 09:56AM by sekker.

Quote
sekker
To run more than one external monitor off the USB4/TB3 ports, the only solution I know is to use a DisplayLink-capable adapter and install the corresponding software.

What an odd limitation, to not easily run two monitors.

If you have more information on this DP adaptor and software, please pass it on. I'm still on the hunt for the full info and solution, too.

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •

Quote
tuqqer

Quote
sekker
To run more than one external monitor off the USB4/TB3 ports, the only solution I know is to use a DisplayLink-capable adapter and install the corresponding software.

What an odd limitation, to not easily run two monitors.

If you have more information on this DP adaptor and software, please pass it on. I'm still on the hunt for the full info and solution, too.

There have been some prior threads on this, might be good to consolidate. I use this: [smile.amazon.com]

There are other products from that same vendor that look even better, but I have not used them.

Our sponsor sells a solo USB to DVI displaylink adapter I've used on Macs and Windows machines (though I have not confirmed to work on M1 Macs, should be fine based on my Tobenone experience): [eshop.macsales.com]

The key to look out for - needs to specifically require DisplayLink software. Otherwise, it will only mirror the Mac OS display.

If I were to get a mini, I would have to have 3 monitors.

1 4K, running off the USB C
1 non 4K, running off HDMI
1 non 4K using a display adpter, from one of the USB A ports.

Ive used on similar to what sekker just posted on my 2010 iMac. Ran 3rd 1080 screen via its USB 2 port. it worked fine. It was for text only, never really tried any video, but didn't need to.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.