Apple’s Mac Mini is a near perfect solution for use in the classroom; it has out of the box support for OSX and Windows, has a small form factor, and is relatively low cost. It does have its own unique challenges, one of which is a rear mounted power switch that requires a mechanical lever when securely rack mounted. At Carleton College, we were tasked with improving the performance and mechanical reliability of our Mac Minis by making them better than they were before. Better hard drives. Stronger power switches. Faster boot times. In this presentation, I’ll discuss how we increased overall performance using a combination of new boot protocols, SSDs, auto parts, a soldering iron, and a drill press.
