Mac Mini G4 1.42ghz - media centre?

J

jamies90

macrumors regular
Hey everyone!

Been lurking on the site for a while - but needed some advice so finally joined!

Im interested in backing up my DVD collection to a media pc so I dont need to go find the discs all the time etc.

Ive been looking at getting an old Mac Mini, but my budget is kinda tight at the mo! Would a Mini with a Power PC 1.42ghz run my setup ok? Would I also be able to access iPlayer and all will run fine, or am I expecting too much?

Thanks

J
 
It would be okay for DVD and non-MKV 720p video. You will need an external drive, the internal one is very small and expensive to upgrade.
 
fedup flyer said:
HUH?!
Its a laptop hard drive inside the Mac Mini
Click to expand...
Unfortunately since they are PATA drives, they are becoming increasingly rare and more expensive. The original drives are 4200RPM, very slow.

OP, save up for a 1.66CD Intel mini. It will have a far more useful life in it.
 
jamies90 said:
Hey everyone!

Would a Mini with a Power PC 1.42ghz run my setup ok?

J
Click to expand...

Downside with a Power PC version is it doesn't support front row and no remote control like in the Intel version. I was thinking the same thing when I bought an unknown processor Mac Mini off of Ebay and it turned out to be a PPC insted of Intel cpu. I promptly sold it.
 
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As long as you get a decent amount of RAM in it, (512 MB or more) it'll work great. An external drive might be something to consider as well, as others have pointed out, the hard drives in the PPC minis were fairly small.
 
300D said:
You sure? It works fine on my Mini and G5. I just have to use my iPhone as the remote.
Click to expand...

I upgraded the ram in the PPC MacMini to run 10.5 and it would not install Front Row. This particular unit did not have an Airport card either so using my Iphone was out of the question and I did not feel like dropping another $100 for an Airport card. I made the assumption the PPC Mini could use the IR remote but that is not the case.

I am currently looking to buy a cheap Intel Mini but the knuckleheads at Ebay are paying way to much for my tastes.
 
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