Macbook or Mac mini for digital front end?

[jtm]

I also prefer the MacBook Pro for the practical part - keyboard, trackpad, display - they make it simple to select and drag'n'drop files into the playlist.

 

Extra wiring for a display and the place to fit it near the system once its needed might be considered in the layout of your future system in case you want to use the Mini.

 

If you want you can add a linear power supply to the MBP as well (Uptone Audio, Mojo Audio, Keces, ...).

 

The MacBook Air doesn't have Ethernet, which is mandatory for me as my huge library cannot fit on internal SSD/HDD drives and requires a NAS.