Mac mini or Mac Book Air as server for iPads

[djones]

What would you go for? I'm about to order x15 iPads for Primary use and understand it would be beneficial to have a Mac Server to help manage them. I presume I can buy OS X Server (cost?) and install this on a Mac Book Air (as that would be my preference)?

 

Dave

[Sylv3r]

MacBook Air is pretty expensive for what you need.

 

A Mac Mini is a third of the price and will be perfect.

 

We use a Mac Mini for one of our sets of bookable ipads and it works well.

[Guest Guest]

Is there a chance that you may buy some macs in the future? Is so then a macpro/macmini would certainly be a better option. I agree with above, the air is £300 more than a mini and unless you are going to use it as a laptop...

[Arthur]

What would you go for?

Mac mini! The mini also has the advantage that you can easily upgrade the hard drive to a larger or faster model and/or add a second drive (with the appropriate cable) should you need more disk space.

 

I presume I can buy OS X Server (cost?)

OS X Server is £11.66 (ex. VAT) from the Mac App Store.

[djones]

Ok, so a Mac Mini seems to be the consensus however, I may use a MacBook Air as the laptop it is ultimately meant to be (if only as I have little recent experience with a Mac and fancy getting to know it a bit more). Also, (potential silly question) how does the management work with a Mini? Over the network or does each iPad need to be plugged in (USB) locally? I also presume the MacBook would be the same.

[speckytecky]

Another vote for Mac Mini and in view of your latest post DJ I'd also recommend getting a quote from Ross at EduMac, Apple Education Consultant to look at setting your system up. It won't break the bank and you will probably learn a shed load of useful stuf if you get him in as we'll - I certainly did!