Apple iTV or Mac Mini

[Blazer5913]

Sounds good to me. I think most of the people who are complaining about the aTV (me included) are going the Mac mini HTPC route. Personally, I'm waiting for the Core 2 Duo version of the mini before I plunk any money down.

ft

I was thinking the exact same thing. Wait for a stronger upgrade in the Mac Mini, as well as ensuring that it has a Airport Card capable of "n" technology. Do you guys recommend it having a DVD burner in it? I already have two macs in the house with one, as well as an external DVD+-RW, so would I really ever need it? Any other suggestions on either RAM or extra HDD space to basically "pimp out" this setup? Thanks alot guys...

 

[ftaok]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Wait for a stronger upgrade in the Mac Mini, as well as ensuring that it has a Airport Card capable of "n" technology. Do you guys recommend it having a DVD burner in it? I already have two macs in the house with one, as well as an external DVD+-RW, so would I really ever need it? Any other suggestions on either RAM or extra HDD space to basically "pimp out" this setup? Thanks alot guys...

Well, for my future Mac mini HTPC set-up, I will opt for the SuperDrive. Partly because I want the top-line mini and Apple will assuredly put a SuperDrive in the top-line mini. Also, in our household, my wife's Macbook is the only one with a DVD burner. Unfortuneately, it's not a dual-layer burner. So the next Mac we get, it must have a DL burner.

Another reason I want a SuperDrive on the mini is that the mini will have an HD tuner connected to it (via EyeTV with a Miglia or ElGato unit). I'll probably want to burn some of what I record onto a DVD for future viewing or lending to family/friends. A SuperDrive would be useful for that.

ft

 

[roland.g]

Also, does anyone make an HDMI to DVI cable going the other way. Typically, the output device is DVI and the input device is HDMI. The output device needs a separate way for the audio in this case. In the case of the aTV, the HDMI would be the output, but the input device may not be able to accept the HDMI audio. I suppose it would work with aTV's optical audio out, but I'm not sure if the aTV can be set that way.

I have a Samsung DLP hooked up to my Dish 622 PVR rec'r. The output on the rec'r is HDMI, the input on the TV is DVI. When they hooked it up it came with a HDMI->DVI cable. I then used RCA audio cables for the audio. What I couldn't find was a DVI to Component cable or converter to hook up a Mac Mini to Plasma. I had to use a Apple DVI->S-video adapter and then the S-Video cable as was not able to get as many resolutions as I wanted. Left an inch of black on either end of the screen.

 

[Blazer5913]

Well, for my future Mac mini HTPC set-up, I will opt for the SuperDrive. Partly because I want the top-line mini and Apple will assuredly put a SuperDrive in the top-line mini. Also, in our household, my wife's Macbook is the only one with a DVD burner. Unfortuneately, it's not a dual-layer burner. So the next Mac we get, it must have a DL burner.

Another reason I want a SuperDrive on the mini is that the mini will have an HD tuner connected to it (via EyeTV with a Miglia or ElGato unit). I'll probably want to burn some of what I record onto a DVD for future viewing or lending to family/friends. A SuperDrive would be useful for that.

ft

Could you explain more in depth what you mean about HD tuner? If I get the EyeTV Hybrid, will this cover me? I def will want to be recording HD content on this... But I thought that the EyeTV Hybrid would be enough...

 

[SMM]

Maybe the iTV will come out with features to make this moot?

 

[ftaok]

Could you explain more in depth what you mean about HD tuner? If I get the EyeTV Hybrid, will this cover me? I def will want to be recording HD content on this... But I thought that the EyeTV Hybrid would be enough...

The EyeTV Hybrid may work for you. It depends on how you plan on getting your HD content. You basically have 4 options.

1. Get your HD over the air (OTA) by using an antenna.

2. Get your HD from the cable company without a set top box. (QAM)

3. Get your HD from the cable company with a set top box.

4. Get your HD from a satellite company.

5. I don't know much about Verizon FIOS, so I'm not listing it as an option.

The EyeTV Hybrid will only work with Option 1. If you can find an EyeTV 500, you have both Options 1&2 available.

Options 3&4 require something other than the Elgato type devices.

For OTA and QAM, you will only get the local HD channels, so don't count on being able to record ESPN, HBO, etc.

ft