So I can somewhat speak to this, as I actually did this for a while c. 2021 and 2022.

The issue (apart from my Mac mini still having the old, bigger form factor back then) is that this requires a full shutdown (obviously), and that is more friction than opening a closed laptop lid. It just takes a moment for every app and background service etc. to settle back in after, and depending on how your brain works, you might not like that a whole lot.

It absolutely is a cool feeling to carry a pretty mighty desktop in the backpack, though.

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matt-p 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I think it's actually good to have a forced reboot from time to time, but then I'm not very disciplined in closing stuff I'm no-longer using! Especially like docker containers I was using months ago, that I forgot to shutdown.

	▲	msdz 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yeah, I agree (with the same unfortunate habit) – but up to twice a day of forced work full stop is overdoing it, too.

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anentropic 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I did this for a few years, going further back in time.

The shutdown thing didn't bother me, and in fact the Mini was lighter than a Macbook Air at the time. So all in all it was pretty convenient.

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mettamage 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

What if you have some battery system working? Then technically, you could travel with it

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boromisp 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

At that point you lose too much convenience. Maybe if someone built a mini UPS with at least 10000Ah capacity, USB-C 4 pass-through and the right form factor to permanently attach it on top of the mini.

	▲	jiveturkey an hour ago \| parent [-]
		https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8okiCCZk7U8

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msdz 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

And imagine plugging a small iPad screen into the thing with sidecar… Almost like a Macbook!