Mac – Will the Mac Mini late-2012 try to reformat dual PC raid discs when I plug them in

You have to decide what you want in terms of storage, performance and OS since there is no option to have 2x1TB drives in the $799 model and there's no option to have a 1TB Fusion Drive in the $999 model.

Essentially, you're paying $200 more to get OS X Server and for the ability to have a second hard drive (doing it yourself is an option if you can follow guides on iFixit and have the tools and accessories required).

Choose the $799 model with:

1. A 1TB Fusion Drive - $250
2. OS X Server - $19.99

Total: $1068.99 (but you'll have a faster drive but half the storage space of the default $999 model).

Choose the $799 model with the default 1TB drive:

1. add another 1TB 2.5" 5400 rpm drive - about $80+ (approximate cost from newegg)
2. OS X Server - $19.99
3. The Mac mini Dual Hard Drive kit from iFixit - $49.95

Total: $948.94
Hassle of doing it yourself: Priceless

Dual yes natively, Triple not without USB adapter one of the displays.

You can look over these two articles:

• Apple Thunderbolt Adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) - HT5309
• Thunderbolt ports and displays: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) - HT5219

[Item 23] of the HT5219 article is most relevant3:

Q23. How do I connect my Mini DisplayPort monitor or monitor using a Mini DisplayPort adapter to my Thunderbolt-equipped Mac when I have other Thunderbolt devices connected?

When connecting a Mini DisplayPort display or a display using a Mini DisplayPort adapter to a Thunderbolt peripheral (except as described in question 24), make sure the display is connected at the end of the Thunderbolt chain. You can use only one Mini DisplayPort device in the Thunderbolt chain.

Note: Systems with more than one Thunderbolt port, like an iMac, can have more than one Mini DisplayPort monitor or monitor connected with a Mini DisplayPort adapter connected as each Thunderbolt port can support one Mini DisplayPort display.

Item #18, footnote 4 explains that you only get two monitors with the Late 2012 Mac Mini using Thunderbolt and/or HDMI. To add a third, you'll need a USB adapter for the one that has the fewest pixels / slowest refresh rate requirements. Perhaps you can get a newer (or used but more capable) Mac when it's time to run the Wacom Touch.

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012), and Mac Mini (Late 2012) computers can use an HDMI-compatible device on it's HDMI port while using one Thunderbolt display, or they can use two Thunderbolt displays.

You'll want to use either a thunderbolt to the exact adapter for each monitor rather than chaining two adapters together if at all possible.