Mac mini Hacks & Mods

About This Book

Mac mini Hacks & Mods For Dummies gives you several different approaches to information about modding. Some chapters give you specific projects to work on. For these, I provide step-by-step directions on how to achieve a par­ticular objective, such as upgrading the internal hard drive or modifying the mini’s outer casing. I’ve peppered these sections with plenty of tips and tricks and lists of tools that you’ll need.

With some other mods, however, there are just too many options to give you a step-by-step procedure. For these, I present descriptions of what’s involved with a type of mod and show you the modding techniques for doing it. You also find lists of what you’ll need to acquire and where to get it.

In some parts of this book, I try to provide you with ideas for further mods, or to help you come up with your own ideas.

I can’t take all the credit, though. Writing this book was such a big task that I enlisted the help of Arnold Reinhold to write six of the chapters, including everything on installing a Mac mini in your car. He also tackled the chapter on kitchens and the chapter at the end of the book that lists ten more things you can do with a mini.

How This Book Is Organized

Mac mini Hacks & Mods For Dummies is split into seven parts, with a trou­bleshooting appendix tacked on at the end. You don’t have to read the book sequentially, and you don’t even have to read all the sections in any particu­lar chapter. You can use the table of contents and the index to find the infor­mation you need and quickly get your answer. If you’re going to open the mini, however, be sure to read Part II first.

Part I: Owning a Mac mini

I start the book with an introduction to Mac mini modding, describing what your modding options are, what your expectations should be, and what bene­fits you might get from different approaches. I also offer some recommenda­tions that might help you plan and choose a mod.

I then start you off with the simplest projects — modding by plugging things in. This includes what the ports do and how to convert between different types of connectors, as well as how to do some rather unusual things with the ports. I round off this trio of chapters with tips on how to take your mini on the road.

Part II: Cracking Open the mini

Turn the mini around in your hands, and the question comes to mind “Where are the screws?” Well, you won’t find any. Opening the Mac mini isn’t something you can figure out by looking at it. That’s why I provide detailed instructions with photos, and I tell you exactly what tools work best.

Don’t let the title of Chapter 5 fool you. “First Mods Inside the Mac mini” includes hands-on instructions to help you begin disassembling the guts of the mini.

Part III: Upgrading the mini Yourself

This is where I debunk the myth that the mini is not upgradeable. Add more RAM; replace the internal hard drive with a bigger, faster model; swap out the internal Combo Drive for a DVD burner; and add wireless networking and Bluetooth. If that’s not upgrading, I don’t know what is.

Part IV: Mods for the Home

Here is home improvement, mini style. Expect to read about some very cool things that your mini can do in your house or apartment: the mini as a multi­purpose home appliance in the living room and in the kitchen. If that’s not enough, have the mini control all your other home appliances.

Part V: Modding Your Car for the Mac mini

This part is Arnold’s baby. Here, he takes you through the joys of having a mini installed in your car. You find out where to put it, how to power it, and how to display it.

Part VI: Maxi mini Mods

Want to do some radical stuff to your mini? I’m talking about using rotary saws, soldering irons, and spray paint. Don’t worry if you’ve never handled these tools; I provide detailed instructions on the tools and techniques that you need. You’ll find some cool pictures, too. See the photos of how I destroy the top casing of the Mac mini. There’s no going back with these mods. I also show you some software hacks that let you do similar things to Mac OS X.
Part VII: The Part of Tens

Arnold and I describe ten places to visit on the Web to get more help and information, and ten more things you might want to do with a Mac mini.
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