Mac mini, now 20 years old, became the guiding light for Macfilos

Every wondered why this photographic blog is called Macfilos? It's a story than started 20 years ago this month…

It was the Mac mini wot did it, ‘Guv. Not guilty. Yes, the inspiration for the Macfilos website, now devoted mainly to Leica and photography in general, came twenty years ago. The Mac mini gem, which was then going for a reasonable £200 or so, caused your editor to give up on Microsoft and Windows and turn to Apple. We’ve never looked back.

After a working life using Microsoft and Windows (and various odd computers before that) I began to take an interest in the Mac world early in the Naughties. But at the time, I couldn’t justify the expense of changing everything over.

Then along came the reasonably priced Mac mini, with its enticing prospect of being able to work with my existing screen, mouse, and keyboard. I took the bait, not least because I knew I could return it for a full refund within two weeks if I didn’t like it. This was something novel at the time — to return something just because you didn’t like it. Now it’s an almost universal principle of shopping.

Good money after good

The surprise was that I did like it. I liked it so much that two weeks later I was in the Apple Store in London’s Regent Street once more. But the occasion was not to return the Mac mini.

No, I was investing in an Apple PowerBook portable, the new jewel in my computing crown. Within a couple of weeks, I had ditched Windows completely and converted irrevocably to the Macintosh dream.

All this happened by chance. Although I had watched Apple from afar, often with some disdain, I didn’t really imagine I would be converted, lock, stock, and barrel. And so quickly.

I was just ready for the challenge, I suppose, or maybe the acquisition of the original iPod in 2002 had accustomed me to the Apple way of doing things. I really don’t know.

What I do know, however, is that within two years, around the time of the introduction of the iPhone, I had become so keen on Apple products and the ecosystem that I started Macfilos. I had been thoroughly captivated by the “nerdiness” of Apple and spent vast amounts of time reading all the pundits and all the tech sites.

Mac mini: First flush of enthusiasm

This level of enthusiasm wasn’t to last, nevertheless, despite the blog. But while I have never lost my love of Apple products and would never countenance moving to another platform, I did run out of steam as far as the Macfilos blog was concerned. What happened was that my nerdy Mac world became mainstream. Apple is now for everyone, and much of the exclusiveness of ownership has gone.

As the first-flush of enthusiasm waned, though, another one waxed. I had owned Leica film cameras off and on since the Seventies, but eventually settled for a Nikon system. Yet, around 2010, I was attracted to the idea of a digital Leica M and saw it as a way of resurrecting my earlier love for the marque. I managed to avoid the M8 (although I subsequently purchased one as an additional body) and bought my first M9.

All hail the niche

Within a few months, the number of Apple posts on Macfilos had dwindled. I tried to keep computer and photography co-existing for a time, but then gave in and turned over entirely to Leica and photography.

For me, Leica was and still is a niche product — as was Apple twenty years ago. I appreciate the “club-ability” of the Leica world. It is small, but perfectly formed. It gives me the same sense of belonging that I used to get with Apple between 2005 and 2012.

So why is the blog still called Macfilos? The short answer is that I never found the right time to change the domain name. Would it have been better with a nod to Leica or photography in the domain name? Or does anyone care?

From what I hear from readers, most have no knowledge of the Apple connection and just accept Macfilos as a name. There doesn’t seem to be much point in thinking of change at this stage.

Choosing the perfect setup

The Mac mini therefore has a lot to answer for. As a model in the Apple line-up, it is still alive and kicking — very much so since the recent makeover. The concept of a tiny computer connected to a monitor and peripherals of choice is better than the all-in-one concept of the iMac, I believe. Peripherals often have a longer life, whereas the brainbox itself needs relatively frequent updates if you are to stay ahead of the game.

Of course, a so-called “desktop computer”, whether mini, Studio or iMac, isn’t everyone’s ideal. Many prefer the versatility of a powerful MacBook Pro, which can be used anywhere, whether hooked up to a desktop monitor or on a table in Starbucks. I prefer to use both a desktop Mac (the Mac Studio) and a MacBook Air for travelling.

The Mac mini and Apple Studio display — a sensible and effective solution (Image Apple website)

While juggling two computers used to be a pain in the USB port, it is now completely seamless. With desktop synchronisation and cloud storage (in my case iCloud and Dropbox), I can run Macfilos from anywhere and never have the slightest problem in finding anything.

A lot has happened in my individual world of computing and photography in the past twenty years. After a lifetime of searching for the next big thing, I’ve been perfectly content within my Apple and Leica worlds, both of which have similarities. I can thank both companies for making life easier. And, to seal the deal, I have met so many wonderful people along the way.



10 COMMENTS

  1. I started my Apple journey in 1989 with a Macintosh Plus integrated computer and screen costing $A3,195 ! It included an external hard drive with 20MB capacity which I never filled in about five years of usage. Now I couldn’t even fit one Q3 raw file on that. I had a break from Apple for a few years but got back in when they released the iMac G4 version that looked like a shaving mirror.

  2. Nice article Mike! Thanks.
    I also miss the days of being a nerdy renegade by using a Mac. Back in the early days of digital photography, I worked with Apple to evangelize digital capture. At that time (early 90s) it was only feasible for pros. One could easily spend $10K USD, just on a tricked out Mac Quadra 900 system. Not to mention an entry level price of $30K (ish) USD for a Leaf back to put on your Hasselblad. And that was a basic system! It wasn’t uncommon for me to put together “digital imaging” systems for pro studios that cost over $100K USD.

    But I digress. I very much enjoyed this article and it helped me reminisce about the good ol’ Apple days. Even though I learned programming in college, I wondered why other people wanted to fight their computers, typing in cryptic DOS commands in green text, when they could be using such a friendly and intuitive interface on a Mac. I suppose that was the photographer in me.

    • Many thanks and I’m glad you enjoyed the article. It appears that many of our readers are also Apple users. Perhaps it’s just a sign of good taste!

  3. When I first moved to digital from film I was advised by a trusted friend to get a purpose built PC from a local company and take Photoshop lessons with a local ‘expert’. The PC was a disaster and the local expert was a terrible tutor who just wanted to show off his skills, with BO thrown in for free. I then went to the Photography Show at the NEC the year Apple were there with the newly available Aperture software. The next week I bought my first i-Mac and Aperture software, and have not looked back (moved to LR when Apple dropped Aperture). Now using Mac Mini Pro for photo editing and could not be happier with performance. The speed with the new LrC masks is amazing.

  4. My main problem with Apple, being a user of a MacBook (M1 chip), iPad (6th generation), iPhone 14 Pro, and Apple Ultra Watch, is that they all still work absolutely fine and I have no reason whatsoever to upgrade. And I do like a new gadget!

    • I have long used the “cascading” principle, where I pass on my little used equipment (one elderly owner, never raced or rallied) to discerning friends and relations. They sit there like little chicks waiting for me to get fed up with my latest Apple gadget. But I do know what you mean. I skipped the iPhone 16 because the 15 does everything I need. Result, cries of outrage from the nest. All those little beaks desperate for my iPhone 16. And it will be two generations out of date before my next phone, the iPhone 17, comes along. Such is the way of the world.

  5. Very nice reading! I find that I have around 25 years as a Mac owner/user. The company I worked for was strictly Windows, and the eternal hassle made me swear never to spend a single penny of my own money on anything Microsoft. So I bought the first iBook model (colloquially called the “Toilet Seat” for its design). Absolutely wonderful compared to those Windoze contraptions I had used so far. And, it even was its own computer case: just close it and fold out a handle that allowed you to carry it wherever you went!

    A number of MacBooks, one beautiful Cube, a couple of “cheese grater” MacPro´s, and the last 27″ IMac later, I now sit with a 2023 Mac Mini before me. Its M2 Pro processor and 16 GB RAM still handles the 60 MPix DNG´s from my new Leica M11-P quite well, so I see no upgrade coming my way for a few years, at least.

    And, still no Microsoft…

    • Thanks, Per. Sounds like a familiar progression, although I was five years later to the party. I truly wish I had moved to Apple earlier (and bought some stock earlier, too!).

  6. Thanks Mike. I recently added a fast Mac mini M4 Pro to handle image work, and allowing me to have a relatively messy desktop with multiple documents running. I’m hoping it lasts a good few years and I just need to replace the mini itself, now I have a standalone screen.

    • The good thing is that the mini is still a reasonably cheap computer, and you can keep your screen and other peripherals. In contrast, I have a 2015 27in iMac sitting in the store room. The computer within is now ancient (although it still works) but the magnificent 27in monitor is perfect and could easily be used as a monitor. But it’s all a bit messy. I have just added a second Studio monitor to my set-up, giving me a cool 47in width of desktop space. It is ideal for working on Macfilos and makes life so much easier.

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