Apple Mac Mini Mid2011 User Guide

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Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
Built-in infrared (IR) receiver
Use	an 	optional 	Apple 	Remote 	(available 	separately) 	with 	the 	IR 	receiver 	to 	control 	system	
volume, 	play 	music 	from 	your 	iTunes 	library, 	watch 	photo 	slideshows 	in 	iPhoto, 	and	
control 	Keynote 	presentations 	on 	your 	Mac 	mini—all 	from 	up 	to 	30 	feet 	(9.1 	meters) 	away.
Power indicator light
A	steady	white	light	indicates	your	Mac	mini	is	on; 	a	pulsing	light	indicates	it’s	in	sleep.
Memory access cover (on bottom)
The	removable	foot	provides	easy	access	to	the	memory	module	slots.
ZAirPort Extreme wireless technology (inside)
Connect	to	a	wireless	network	using	built-in	AirPort	Extreme	technology.
◊Bluetooth® wireless technology (inside)
Connect	wireless	devices, 	such	as	Bluetooth	printers, 	wireless	headsets,	or	input		
devices	such	as	the	Apple	 Wireless	Keyboard,	Magic	Mouse,	or	Magic	Trackpad	
(you	can	purchase	the	Apple	 Wireless	Keyboard,	Magic	Mouse,	or	Magic	Trackpad	at	
www.apple.com/store	or	your	local	Apple	Retail	Store).
Note:  Display	adapters	and	other	accessories	for	your	Mac	mini	are	sold	separately	at	
www.apple.com/store	or	your	local	Apple	Retail	Store. 
						

							32Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
What’s on the Back of Your Mac mini
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							33
Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
~Power port
Connect	the	power	cord	that	came	with	your	Mac	mini.
HDMIHDMI port 
Connect	a	TV	or	other	device	that	uses	an	HDMI	connector. 	
Thunderbolt port (high-speed data, video, and audio)
Connect	 Thunderbolt-compatible	devices	for	high-speed	data	transfer, 	or	connect	
an	external	display	that	uses	Mini	DisplayPort. 	You	can	purchase	adapters	to	connect	
displays	that	use	DVI	or	 VGA.
dFour high-speed USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 ports
Connect	an	iPod,	iPhone,	iPad,	mouse, 	keyboard, 	printer,	disk	drive, 	digital	camera, 	
joystick, 	external	USB	modem, 	and	more.	You	can	also	connect	USB	1.1	devices.
SD card slot
Insert	a	standard	Secure	Digital	(SD)	card	from	a	digital	camera	or	other	device. 		
For	more	information, 	see	“Using	SD	Cards” 	on	page	36.
fAudio out port
Connect	headphones, 	external	powered	speakers, 	or	digital	audio	equipment. 	This	port	
also	supports	input	and	mics	on	devices	such	as	headsets	with	microphones.
,Audio in port
Connect	a	line-level	microphone	or	digital	audio	equipment.
HFireWire 800 port
Connect	high-speed	external	devices, 	such	as	digital	video	cameras	and	storage	devices.
GEthernet port
Connect	to	a	high-speed	10/100/1000Base-T	Ethernet	network, 	a	DSL	or	cable	modem,	
or	another	computer. 	The	Ethernet	port	automatically	detects	Ethernet	devices	and	
doesn’t	require	an	Ethernet	crossover	cable.
®Power button
Press	to	turn	your	Mac	mini	on	or	off, 	or	put	it	to	sleep. 
						

							34Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
Using the Apple Remote
With	the	optional	Apple	Remote, 	you	can	control	system	volume,	play	music	from	your	
iTunes	library, 	watch	photo	slideshows	in	iPhoto, 	and	control	Keynote	presentations	on	
your	Mac	mini—all	from	up	to	30	feet	(9.1	meters)	away.
The Apple Remote can:
	
ÂNavigate	in	iTunes, 	iPhoto,	and	DVD	player.
	
ÂPut	your	Mac	mini	to	sleep	or	wake	it	up.
To use the Apple Remote:
	
ÂPress	the	Play/Pause	button	(’)	to	play	or	pause	a	song, 	slideshow,	or	movie.
	
ÂPress	Right	or	Left	to	skip	to	the	next	or	previous	song	in	your	iTunes	library	or	the	
next	or	previous	chapter	in	a	DVD	movie.
	
ÂHold	down	Right	or	Left	to	fast-forward	or	rewind	a	song	or	a	movie.
	
ÂPress	Up	or	Down	to	adjust	the	volume.
Up
Down
Play/PauseMenu Left
Right
Select 
						

							35
Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
Pairing Your Apple Remote
To	make	sure	that	your	Mac	mini	can	be	controlled	by	only	your	Apple	Remote, 	you	
can	 “pair” 	them. 	This	is	helpful	if	you	use	your	Mac	mini	where	there	are	other	Mac	
computers, 	televisions, 	audio	equipment, 	or	other	devices	that	use	an	infrared	remote.
To pair an Apple Remote and your Mac mini: 
1  Point	the	remote	at	the	IR	receiver	on	the	front	of	your	Mac	mini	from	a	distance	of	
3	to	4	inches	(8	to	10	cm).
2  Hold	down	the	Right	button	and	Menu	button	(»)	simultaneously	for	5	seconds.
After	pairing, 	a	chainlink	symbol	(
)	appears	onscreen.
To unpair an Apple Remote and your Mac mini:
1  Choose	Apple	()	>	System	Preferences	from	the	menu	bar.
2  Click	Security, 	and	then	click	Unpair.
For	more	information	about	using	an	Apple	Remote	or	changing	the	battery, 	see	the	
documentation	that	came	with	your	optional	Apple	Remote. 	
Turning Off IR Reception
If	you	want	to	prevent	your	Mac	mini	from	being	controlled	by	any	remote, 	you	can	
use	Security	preferences	to	turn	off 	IR	reception.	
To turn off IR reception:
1  Choose	Apple	()	>	System	Preferences	from	the	menu	bar, 	and	then	click	Security.
2  Select	the	 “Disable	remote	control	infrared	receiver” 	checkbox. 
						

							36Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
Using SD Cards
The	SD	card	slot	on	the	back	of	your	Mac	mini	accepts	most	standard	SD	(Secure	
Digital),	SDHC	(SD	High-Capacity), 	and	SDXC	(SD	Extended	Capacity)	cards	from	digital	
cameras	and	other	devices. 	You	can	also	use	MiniSD, 	MicroSD,	and	other	smaller	cards	
in	a	passive	adapter. 	For	more	information	about	card	sizes, 	speeds,	and	capacities, 	
search	for	 “SD”	on	the	Apple	Support	website	at	www.apple.com/support.
To insert an SD card:
	
mHold	the	card	with	the	metal	contacts	facing	down	and	toward	the	computer, 	and	slide	
the	card	into	the	slot.
NOTICE:  Don’t	try	to	insert	any	card	that	exceeds	standard	SD	card	dimensions, 	and	
don’t	force	any	SD	card	into	the	slot. 	Doing	so	could	damage	your	Mac	mini.
Getting Answers
More	information	about	using	your	Mac	mini	is	available	in	Help	Center	on	your	
computer,	and	on	the	Internet	at	www.apple.com/support/macmini.
To open Help Center:
1  Click	the	Finder	icon	in	the	Dock	(the	bar	of	icons	along	the	edge	of	the	screen).
2  Click	the	Help	menu	in	the	menu	bar, 	and	then	do	one	of	the	following:
	
ÂType	a	question	or	term	in	the	Search	field, 	and	then	choose	a	topic	from	the	list	of	
results	or	choose	Show	All	Results	to	see	all	topics.
	
ÂChoose	Help	>	Help	Center	to	open	the	Help	Center	window, 	where	you	can	browse	
or	search	topics. 
						

							37
Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
More Information 
For	more	information	about	using	your	Mac	mini, 	see	the	following:
To learn aboutSee
Troubleshooting	your		
Mac	mini	if	you	have	a	
problem Chapter	4,
	“Problem, 	Meet	Solution” 	on	page	47.
Finding	service	and	support	
for	your	Mac	mini “Learning	More,
	Service,	and	Support” 	on	page	62,	or	go	to	the	
Mac	mini	Support	site	at	www.apple.com/support/macmini.
Using	Mac	OS	X	Lion	or
Mac	OS	X	Lion	Server The	Mac	OS	X	Lion	site	at	www.apple.com/macosx.
	Or	search	for	
“Mac	OS	X” 	in	Help	Center.
The	Lion	Server	website	at	www.apple.com/macosx/server. 	
Or	open	the	Server	application	and	then	choose	Server	Help	
from	the	Help	menu.
Moving	from	a	PC	to	a	Mac “Why	you’ll	love	a	Mac”	at	www.apple.com/getamac/whymac.
Using	iLife	applications The	iLife	website	at	www.apple.com/ilife. 	Or	open	an	iLife	
application, 	open	Help	for	the	application, 	and	then	type	a	
question	or	term	in	the	search	field.
Changing	System	Preferences System	Preferences	by	choosing	Apple	(
K)	>	System	
Preferences. 	Or	search	for	 “system	preferences” 	in	Help	Center.
Using	SD	cards The	Apple	support	page	at	www.apple.com/support	and	search	
for	“sd.”
Using	AirPort	Extreme	wireless	
technology The	AirPort	Support	page	at	www.apple.com/support/airport.
		
Or	open	Help	Center	and	search	for	 “AirPort.”
Using	Bluetooth	wireless	
technology The	Bluetooth	Support	page	at	www.apple.com/support/
bluetooth.
	Or	open	Help	Center	and	search	for	 “Bluetooth.”
Connecting	a	printer Help	Center	and	search	for	“printing.” 
						

							38Chapter 2      Life with Your Mac mini
To learn about See
FireWire	and	USB	connections Help	Center	and	search	for	“FireWire”	or	“USB.”
Connecting	to	the	Internet Help	Center	and	search	for	“Internet.”
Using	a	display Help	Center	and	search	for	“display.”
Using	the	 Thunderbolt	port Help	Center	and	search	for	 “Thunderbolt.”
Connecting	a	 TV The	Mac	mini	site	at	www.apple.com/support/macmini.
Apple	Remote Help	Center	and	search	for	“remote.”
Specifications The	Specifications	page	at	www.apple.com/support/specs. 		
Or	open	System	Information	(in	the	Utilities	folder	in	
Launchpad)	and	then	clicking	More	Info.
Apple	news, 	free	downloads, 	
and	online	catalogs	of	
software	and	hardware The	Apple	site	at	www.apple.com.
Instructions, 	technical	support, 	
and	manuals	for	Apple	
products The	Apple	Support	site	at	www.apple.com/support. 
						

							www.apple.com/store
Help Center       RAM 
Boost Your Memory
3  
						

							40Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
Your	Mac	mini	came	with	at	least	2	gigabytes	(GB)	of	memory	on	a	pair	of	1	GB	
memory	modules. 	You	can	replace	these	with	a	pair	of	2	GB	or	4	GB	memory	modules, 	
for	a	maximum	of	8	GB	of	memory.
The	following	pages	show	you	how	to	install	memory	modules	in	your	Mac	mini.
WARNING:  Apple	recommends	that	you	have	an	Apple-certified	technician	install	
memory. 	To	arrange	for	installation, 	contact	an	Apple	Authorized	Service	Provider	
or	an	Apple	Retail	Store. 	Damage	you	cause	to	your	equipment	while	installing	
memory	isn’t	covered	by	the	limited	warranty	on	your	Mac	mini.