access to wall plugs — then there’s no setup
more perfect. Making this project made me
realize that this is the purpose of being a maker:
to create the solutions for our own very unique
problems and fill the needs that cannot be
addressed by companies with mass-produced,
one-size-fits-all solutions.
Project video:youtu.be/XFZ5l9SaIVw
How to boot up Mac into Duet: tinyurl.
com/pmmduet
85
make.co
As someone obsessed with modding and
tinkering to get the most out of what I own, I’ve
always thought my Mac Mini was not being used
to its full potential. With its impressively small
footprint and light weight, I wondered why no one
had attempted to turn it into a portable setup.
Meanwhile, I’ve always been disappointed
by laptops, whether it’s due to the short-lived
batteries, overheating, or expensive price tags.
Finally, as I don’t work on-the-go often, my ideal
setup has always been something between a
laptop and a desktop computer: something
that can be portable when I need to work from
another location once or twice a month but
without compromising performance.
After a year of loving the M1 Mac Mini, I was
drawing on my iPad Mini 6 when I realized they’re
exactly the same width, making the iPad Mini the
perfect monitor in a portable setup, with the aid
of software like Sidecar or Duet.
After some brainstorming and quick sketches,
I began designing a 3D-printable rig that could
not only bond these two devices physically but
also house a USB-A-to-C cable to connect them,
as public Wi-Fi usually isn’t consistent enough
to allow the iPad to wirelessly act as a reliable
monitor. Ultimately I designed the rig to embrace
the familiar laptop-esque form so that the screen
of the iPad can close against the Mac Mini, giving
the setup the slimmest profile possible while also
protecting the screen (Figures
A
and
B
).
Amazingly, the Duet app and Sidecar both
support Apple Pencil and touch as inputs for
macOS, so a mouse is optional. When it’s time
to travel, I use Apple’s Magic Keyboard for its
Bluetooth connectivity, long battery life, and slim
and lightweight design.
I know this design isn’t for everyone and I
definitely don’t recommend going through the
effort to make this rig if you often work on-the-go,
as this does not prioritize mobility. The combined
cost of an iPad Mini 6 and M1 Mac Mini is around
the price of an M1 laptop, which has built-in
batteries, a trackpad and keyboard, and a much
thinner profile.
Nevertheless, if you’re like me — already have
the Mac Mini and maybe the iPad, don’t work
mobile enough to justify purchasing a laptop,
but still want the option to work remotely given
Written by Nico Jan and Scott Yu-Jan
Photographed by Scott Yu-Jan
A
B
SCOTT YU-JAN is an artist and
designer on YouTube who's on a
mission to inspire a new generation
of makers by sharing his creative
process through storytelling and film.
YouTube and Instagram: scottyujan
B
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