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Re:Ask HN: Has anyone created a Mac mini doc with a battery? by brcmthrowaway on Sunday November 24, 2024 @03:28PM (#42230252)
Use an EcoFlow
Re:Ask HN: Has anyone created a Mac mini doc with a battery? by runjake on Sunday November 24, 2024 @05:49PM (#42231309)
It does exist. It’s called an EcoFlow or Jackery battery unit. It will be big and heavy, but that’s what’s needed to power a 120 volt mini.

The problem with using them is that it’s pretty inefficient to provide 120 volts for the mini’s power supply, only to down convert the voltages to what the logic board and components use. You’ll need way more mAh than you’d need to just power a MacBook.

Re:Ask HN: Has anyone created a Mac mini doc with a battery? by solardev on Sunday November 24, 2024 @06:26PM (#42231533)
On top of the inefficiencies going from DC to AC and back to DC, I imagine there would also be differences in the CPU throttling curves, the kind of fan used, etc.
Re:Ask HN: Has anyone created a Mac mini doc with a battery? by stephenr on Monday November 25, 2024 @09:44AM (#42236667)
If you want to travel occasionally what benefit would this proposed setup have, over a MacBook Pro? Even if you add in a dock/hub to get more ports (e.g. the mini has wired ethernet), it's still less faffing around, likely less cost, and gives you a bigger screen than the iPad, without the issues inherent to using an iPad as a computer screen.

It isn't 2002. Laptops with features comparable to desktops do not require a three point lifting harness and a recurring appointment with a chiropractor.

For reference, I've used a desktop as my primary workstation since late 2018. For the ~decade before that I used a laptop as my primary workstation.

Re:Ask HN: Has anyone created a Mac mini doc with a battery? by idontwantthis on Monday November 25, 2024 @02:20PM (#42239269)
What about leaving the mini at home and remote desktop from the ipad? Probably still inferior to a macbook, but sounds better to me than a battery powered mini.
Re:Ask HN: Has anyone created a Mac mini doc with a battery? by KomoD on Wednesday November 27, 2024 @07:02AM (#42255384)
At that point I'd just get a MacBook.