Most of the people I know using HTPC's run thier media off an external HD anyways so the argument about the mini have a small HD is kind of pointless. I also think with the new mini being N capable you can now effectively stream your media to the machine over you network with your server and other goodies in another room. I havent seen too many small footprint PC's out there and the really cheap guys are full sized towers. My idea of a HTPC is something that goes on the shelf with the rest of my equipment. Also the point of a HTPC is HOME THEATER. So a big picture is nice but if your running all of you audio off you TV speakers your a tool anyways. So the optical out running to my receiver is a given no matter what I have hooked up.
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Mac Mini as HTPC - convince me! :-)
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flopticalcube
macrumors G4
The ethernet is optional of course given the builtin WiFi. Its only one extra cord (optical cable) over a PC HTPC.
fohawk17
macrumors regular
i agree. you arnt gonna get away with only 1 or 2 cords, and 4 is pretty decent, and with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse you can use them from another desk of something, and you wont be limited to a remote
BTW new mini=599.00
Comparative HT equipment it replaces.
Mass CD changer 199-299
DVD burner/player 150-300
DVR-100-200
I could list some other stuff but all of this and a ridiculously easy to use interface along with a full blown computer for the same if not less than what you would spend on the other equipment.
Comparative HT equipment it replaces.
Mass CD changer 199-299
DVD burner/player 150-300
DVR-100-200
I could list some other stuff but all of this and a ridiculously easy to use interface along with a full blown computer for the same if not less than what you would spend on the other equipment.
FWIW, noise is hardly an issue if you buy the right components, rather than buy what's given to you by OEM's. You could easily build a much quieter computer with $4 Yate Loon fans and a screwdriver.
Anywho, a lot of it comes down to how you want to set up your HTPC. The Vista (and soon Win7) MCE has some pretty good integratino with TV tuners, and it automatically detects your network media and devices as well (such as your 360) so that's something you want to consider with what side you want to go towards. Same for things like Blu-Ray hardware, HDMI, video card, any encoding/decoding you want the machine to do, etc.
Think of how you are going to layout your HTPC, any devices that would be connected to it, your budget, and what you hope to use in the future from it
HDMI 1.3 can run up to 2560x1600 and even HDMI 1.0-1.2 goes up to 1920x1200. For a HTPC this doesn't really matter because you'd be watching on a 1080p HDTV anyway, right?
To me the Mac Mini doesn't make much sense as a HTPC. The PS3 is cheaper, has HDMI connection (that also carries audio I think), plays BluRay and can handle lots of media types on USB sticks or external hard drives.
See my post here for my thoughts on the Mini as a HTPC:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/662526/
Presently I love it. I had bad experiences with a Windows based HTPC before, this is like night and day.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/662526/
Presently I love it. I had bad experiences with a Windows based HTPC before, this is like night and day.
There is another very good reason why the mini, and other mac's for that matter, is a good choice for a HTPC: with iPhone or iPod touch and the remote app for iTunes you don't have to turn on a monitor to play music. Can you imagine the following scenario:
Fireplace, relative darkness, red wine, maybe female companionship and increasingly good mood. Having to turn on the telly or a computer monitor would just ruin the day!
cheers
Frode
MagicBoy
macrumors 601
Fair point, then again the PS3 (or xBox or an HPTC) pulls a couple of hundred watts, whereas the mini is about 40w on a bad day, a lot quieter and more wife friendly.
Wild-Bill
macrumors 68030
Go hackintosh
Personally I think it's better to go Hackint0sh for an HTPC. The Mini @ 599 is not worth it, no matter how you slice it. First of all, why can't they put HDMI on the thing? They figured it out with the AppleTV, why not the Mini? Oh that's right, they wanted to put a mini displayport so you can use their uber-expensive 24" displayport monitor.
Second, the build of materials for the mini is nowhere near the 599 they want for it. I don't care how small the logic board is. You are NOT getting your money's worth for that machine. And quite frankly 599 is a lot of money to blow on a machine that is going to be strictly relegated to HTPC duties.
An AppleTV would make a decent HTPC of sorts, except for the fact that 1) it doesn't do 1080p and 2) it doesn't play very much content without adding 3rd party software solutions to it.
Gizmodo ran an article recently that opined the "upgrade" options on the Mini - specifically choosing the updated 2.26 model over the stock model and they determined that anyone spending an extra 200 bucks for 226 MHz extra processing speed, 200 gigs extra hard drive space, and an extra 1 gb of RAM was being raked over the coals in a MAJOR way. Two out of 3 of those options can be remedied on your own for 70 dollars.
iFixit, Gizmodo, and other sites, as well as users here report that the CPU is now soldered in. Additionally, the websites reported that Apple has made it HARDER for people to upgrade. They want to suck every last dollar out of you.
If you've got spare PC components lying around and a little time on your hands, start reading up on OSX86 and build a Leopard-based HTPC yourself. At worst you are breaking Apple's end user license. you're not committing a felony. And, since the EULA says "Leopard can only be installed on a Mac-labeled computer, ease your mind further by slapping an Apple sticker on the back.
The pricing scheme Apple came up with on this most recent desktop line update will only serve to grow the hackintosh community that much more. The fanboys can argue to they're blue in the face, but at the end of the day there is no way on this earth that they can justify the 599 price for a Mini, given its specs, the build of material cost, and the assumed labor and shipping costs. The ONLY way the 599 price starts to make sense is when you factor in a 28% profit margin for Apple. And in this day and age, that is downright offensive.
Happy hacking. 😉
Personally I think it's better to go Hackint0sh for an HTPC. The Mini @ 599 is not worth it, no matter how you slice it. First of all, why can't they put HDMI on the thing? They figured it out with the AppleTV, why not the Mini? Oh that's right, they wanted to put a mini displayport so you can use their uber-expensive 24" displayport monitor.
Second, the build of materials for the mini is nowhere near the 599 they want for it. I don't care how small the logic board is. You are NOT getting your money's worth for that machine. And quite frankly 599 is a lot of money to blow on a machine that is going to be strictly relegated to HTPC duties.
An AppleTV would make a decent HTPC of sorts, except for the fact that 1) it doesn't do 1080p and 2) it doesn't play very much content without adding 3rd party software solutions to it.
Gizmodo ran an article recently that opined the "upgrade" options on the Mini - specifically choosing the updated 2.26 model over the stock model and they determined that anyone spending an extra 200 bucks for 226 MHz extra processing speed, 200 gigs extra hard drive space, and an extra 1 gb of RAM was being raked over the coals in a MAJOR way. Two out of 3 of those options can be remedied on your own for 70 dollars.
iFixit, Gizmodo, and other sites, as well as users here report that the CPU is now soldered in. Additionally, the websites reported that Apple has made it HARDER for people to upgrade. They want to suck every last dollar out of you.
If you've got spare PC components lying around and a little time on your hands, start reading up on OSX86 and build a Leopard-based HTPC yourself. At worst you are breaking Apple's end user license. you're not committing a felony. And, since the EULA says "Leopard can only be installed on a Mac-labeled computer, ease your mind further by slapping an Apple sticker on the back.
The pricing scheme Apple came up with on this most recent desktop line update will only serve to grow the hackintosh community that much more. The fanboys can argue to they're blue in the face, but at the end of the day there is no way on this earth that they can justify the 599 price for a Mini, given its specs, the build of material cost, and the assumed labor and shipping costs. The ONLY way the 599 price starts to make sense is when you factor in a 28% profit margin for Apple. And in this day and age, that is downright offensive.
Happy hacking. 😉
Well I usually take some comfort knowing the manufacturer makes a profit. Yeah I want a good deal like the next guy but at the same time profit=stability. When profit margins get squeezed down into the 5-10 range you start to see manufacturers cut corners and suddenly that machine you thought you got a great deal on is a nice door stop.
Thanks but I will take my hard earned money and buy a computer that I know will work.
Thanks but I will take my hard earned money and buy a computer that I know will work.
Cave Man
macrumors 604
You keep saying this on various threads, but you do not list the equipment you'd use. I have checked into this and the simple fact is a hackintosh equivalent of a Mini is nearly impossible to build. Please, share with us your parts list.
The market will determine the price. Apple apparently made sufficient money of the last revision that they have kept it where it is. Don't expect it to change, and do expect it to sell.
You have it all wrong.
1. HDMI comes at a price - a real price, because it is proprietary and requires licensing. DisplayPort is public domain and has no royalty associated with it, and you will soon see displays from other companies with it.
2. HDMI is limited to 1920x1200 without a dual-link connector, and I know of no TV that has dual-link HDMI input. Putting HDMI on a Mini would limit its 2560x1600 resolution down to 1920x1200. Not a smart move for a computer.
3. HDMI is fine for the Apple TV because the Apple TV is intended to be connected to a TV. Since all HD TVs have HDMI, this was a decision of practicality more than anything else.
4. The Mini DisplayPort specification has the bandwidth for transmitting HD audio. What we don't know is if Apple has implemented it (my money says they have). Only time will tell. If so, then it should be easy to get a MDP to HDMI adapter. But without content that has HD audio, what would be the point? Apple would have to introduce Blu-ray for that to happen, and that could be many months to years (if ever) away.
2. HDMI is limited to 1920x1200 without a dual-link connector, and I know of no TV that has dual-link HDMI input. Putting HDMI on a Mini would limit its 2560x1600 resolution down to 1920x1200. Not a smart move for a computer.
3. HDMI is fine for the Apple TV because the Apple TV is intended to be connected to a TV. Since all HD TVs have HDMI, this was a decision of practicality more than anything else.
4. The Mini DisplayPort specification has the bandwidth for transmitting HD audio. What we don't know is if Apple has implemented it (my money says they have). Only time will tell. If so, then it should be easy to get a MDP to HDMI adapter. But without content that has HD audio, what would be the point? Apple would have to introduce Blu-ray for that to happen, and that could be many months to years (if ever) away.
Can you provide us the parts list of a PC built with these components? I seriously doubt you can do it in a box that's 6.5" x 6.5" x 2" and is virtually silent for all but the most processor demanding tasks (e.g., Handbrake transcodes, Aperture raw image manipulations, etc.). Do you also take into account the annual cost of running a computer? That goes into the total cost of operation, and I guarantee you a Mini will cost less to run than any PC out there.
Well now, that's just a personal opinion on your part. I'll have you know that I spent $800 on a Mini solely for this purpose myself. 😉
You seem to be mad that Apple won't build for you a crappy PC for dirt cheap. You also make assertions that are simply ill-informed opinions. Apple is a company and it is supposed to make money. They seem to be doing things right, eh?
With a Mini as HTPC, why AppleTV?
I've been thinking about getting a Mini, and am intrigued with the idea of using it as a HTPC. To me it seems to be a better solution than
TV.
Granted, I realize they have different intended purposes But, if you have a Mini and use Front Row and something like EyeTV, you have iTunes automatically, so what additional functionality/benefits doesTV give you?
Besides, of course, the ability to rent HD movies from iTunes, and stream from the store. Never had a mac, orTV, so bear with me if I'm missing something patently obvious. - thanks
I've been thinking about getting a Mini, and am intrigued with the idea of using it as a HTPC. To me it seems to be a better solution than
TV.Granted, I realize they have different intended purposes But, if you have a Mini and use Front Row and something like EyeTV, you have iTunes automatically, so what additional functionality/benefits does
TV give you?Besides, of course, the ability to rent HD movies from iTunes, and stream from the store. Never had a mac, or
TV, so bear with me if I'm missing something patently obvious. - thanks+1
You just describe 99% of the Mini haters.
Apple delivered an expensive (I'll even agree with slightly overpriced) orange (Mini), and the haters are pissed because it's not a bargain-basement priced cantaloup (mini-tower) 🙄
It's going to be my music and movie server (although I'm quickly building up my Blu-ray collection, so not so much for movies), as well as occasional web surfing computer. I won't have to deal with Windows and endless anti-virus/anti-spyware updates, which is worth $200 right there, just for the hassle factor!
saltyzoo
macrumors 65816
It's not really a law either....
- It's the quietest pc available.
- It's the smallest pc available.
- It looks nice.
- It performs more than well enough for the task.
- It WORKS
- It requires nearly 0 maintenance - runs as good 2 years later as the day you install it.
In my experience the above are all improvements over any other offering for a home media center. It's a good value. JME
cleric
macrumors 6502a
The problem is it can't play all 1080p except with CoreAVC in Windows even on my new mac mini and my NMT costs $180 has no moving parts or fans (so its completely silent) unless you add a hdd and plays everything, it also has HDMI.
Don't get me wrong I love my mini as a desktop but it just doesn't seem to have much to offer other than a pretty case for HTPC use.
Let me kinda hijack this thread, a little.
I just bought a Mac Mini cheaper than I could have bought a 40 GB Apple TV, although its a G4. Unfortuanley, I am on the road for the next month and I won't be able to test drive it. I assume that it will run Front Row, since its a native OSX app but I will not be able to run other media type programs such as Plex.
Is a G4 mini a viable media center?
I just bought a Mac Mini cheaper than I could have bought a 40 GB Apple TV, although its a G4. Unfortuanley, I am on the road for the next month and I won't be able to test drive it. I assume that it will run Front Row, since its a native OSX app but I will not be able to run other media type programs such as Plex.
Is a G4 mini a viable media center?
MagicBoy
macrumors 601
I've chucked a a number of 1080p MKVs at my nVidia Mini (low end model) and it plays them no problem at around 50% CPU.
Same can't be said of my MBP - it's fine with 720p, but can't keep up with 1080p. I reckon the new machines are utilising hardware assist from the graphics card (which the ATI X1600 in the MBP doesn't have for x264/VC1).
That said I've already got a WD TV (similar the NMT but without networking) so that will be staying on media duties.
I've been thinking about getting a Mini, and am intrigued with the idea of using it as a HTPC. To me it seems to be a better solution than
Granted, I realize they have different intended purposes But, if you have a Mini and use Front Row and something like EyeTV, you have iTunes automatically, so what additional functionality/benefits does
Besides, of course, the ability to rent HD movies from iTunes, and stream from the store. Never had a mac, or
No, that's how I see it. I have the 160GB AppleTV, but I'm 99% of the way to ordering a new Mini (base model).
The computer has the ability to play way more codecs, and do far more to correct some the issues that can arise when playing things back (wrong aspect ratio, for example).
The Apple TV's claims to fame are (a) ability to rent HD, (b) ability to stream content from the ITMS. There are also some pretty large limitations. For example, although it will do 720p, it's limited on the framerate (25 I believe). So, if you use Handbrake to convert something that's 720p, using the Apple TV preset Handbrake will downscale it to 540p. You can override it, of course, but the point is that the Apple TV is rather limited in its ability. Thus, even if you're willing to go through the very long hassle of converting things, in many cases it will have to be downscaled. Not so with the mini. Also, although you don't need a computer to sync your content to the Apple TV (things can be bought directly from the store on the apple tv), other content has to be synced. In the end you have your content in two places. Pretty annoying, especially when most of it is throwaway content (nice to have, but no big deal if lost).
On the mini, with Front Row (and the alternatives), you get the same slick interface to your content. Of course, as I understand it, Front Row only uses quicktime, which can pass through AC3 only from DVDs and some containers (like m4v). So, if you're playing, say, an AVI with AC3, you'll want to use VLC and not Front Row, as I understand it. (Anyone know better?)
And you get the bonus of having another machine, to download torrents for example.
Cave Man
macrumors 604
There's also 3 audio outputs (vs. the Mini's one) and relative ease of use.
Plex is the best playback app for Macs. Certainly not VLC.
OK, I guess that lets you connect the Apple TV to more than one amp/speaker setup. I gather you connect your Apple TV to both Onkyo receivers.
Thanks, though I can't seem to get it to see my media. It says to switch to files view, but I don't see how to do that. Front Row conveniently just shows whatever is in my movies folder. The only other one I was aware of was MediaCentral.
Mini is not a good option as a media center; there are other cheaper ways to go. But mini is an excellent HTPC option. I use it like this and I can say there is no better machine for this job.
Cave Man
macrumors 604
For my ATV, one to my TV (HDMI) and one to my Onkyo (optical). For my Mini, the audio goes to my other Onkyo (optical). With the ATV I can use either the TV's speakers or the Onkyo's speakers. For the Mini, I have no choice - I must playback through the Onkyo (which isn't a big deal, since it's projector-based).
Plex has a bit of a learning curve to it, but once learned it is substantially better than the other apps. It has the most efficient playback algorithms and can handle a larger number of file formats, including Blu-ray m2ts with any of the three video codecs and Dolby Digital, DTS, True-HD or DTS-HD (by extracting the cores on the fly) digital audio up to 7.1. And now there's the Daily Show from within Plex. What else does one need? 😉