How can I turn the Mini into a Home Media Box?

[pianojoe]

OK, I'll get me a Mini as soon as I can afford it. It will replace my badly hacked LinkStation that doubles as a web and music server right now.

What hardware will I need to make it my Home Media Center?

I'll definitely get the Bluetooth BTO, and then use my Palm w/ Sailing Clicker as a remote. I'll also get this $19 DVI->TV adaptor, and I'll use an external USB drive for media.

What's still missing is TV in, and Dolby 5.1 out. Isn't that what the mysterious Asteroid is supposed to provide? What other hardware is recommended to turn the machine into a video recorder: Canopus? Elgato? Any experiences?

 

[Chaszmyr]

The best solution I'm familiar with would be EyeTV 200 and EyeHome, but the pair would run you around $450, and you would still lack Dolby output. EyeTV is a great solution if you want to be able to easily burn DVDs if you have a DVD burner, or if you want to be able to edit video that you record on your computer or that kind of thing... Unless someone can give you a better option than this, though, you might just rather get a TiVo.

 

[jadam]

get the Ati TV wonder USB 2.0 version, the mac one was introduced at macworld if I remember correctly, and costs around $150 and has the Elgato EyeTV software. http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvwonder

Also

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/firewave/index.php


Should run you around $250 to get 5.1 audio and good quality TV in.