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Use Intel mini as Apple TV

C

cvzyl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
I'm sorry if this question has been answered in some way already. I am a total newbie when it comes to the Apple TV and I'm wondering if it isn't better to get the bottom of the range Mac mini rather than the ATV. I feel that the mini can do additional stuff like do encoding with Visual Hub during the night rather than doing it on my MBP.

What will I loose if I choose the mini rather than the ATV? Which functionality does the ATV have that the mini doesn't? Am I just uninformed or is the ATV just a "stripped down mini" running Front Row?

Thanks for your replies.

Cobus
 
I Think the only thing you can't do with the mini is youTube via the Front-row app. And hdcp, component and hdmi of course
 
The mini is great as a media center machine. I actually an old G4 Mini ($400) and bought a remote for it and stuck Front Row on it. Works great for downloading media, music, pictures, or playing DVD's. An Intel Mini would be much faster for ripping video too. I configure everything through my iBook via VLC and FTP so I never have to use a keyboard/mouse in the living room.

Yes, it doesn't have HDMI, but pretty sure it has N-wireless (and if not you get G which is by no means slow). Though it does have DVI output or S-video if you get the connector.
 
The mini also has a DVD Player/Burner, Firewire connection and can be used for editing some home movies.

The hard drive in the low end Mini is larger than the low end ATV but only half the size of the top end ATV.

So, you are looking at $599 vs. $299 or $399.

Personally, I like your idea. If price is not a factor that's what I would do.
 
cvzyl said:
I am a total newbie when it comes to the Apple TV and I'm wondering if it isn't better to get the bottom of the range Mac mini rather than the ATV. I feel that the mini can do additional stuff like do encoding with Visual Hub during the night rather than doing it on my MBP.
Click to expand...

The largest advantage of the :apple:tv is it's simplicity. It does not do everything, but what it does it does well and with no real fuss. This makes it appealing to people with little to no experience with - or a desire to own - a computer.

The Mac Mini can do much, much more thanks to being a "real" computer. But it adds complexity because you have to know how to use a computer.

As someone who is very comfortable with computers and being the only user, I really think I am going to go with the Mac Mini.

But if I was buying for my parents? :apple:tv. No contest.
 
GimmeSlack12 said:
The mini is great as a media center machine. I actually an old G4 Mini ($400) and bought a remote for it and stuck Front Row on it. Works great for downloading media, music, pictures, or playing DVD's. An Intel Mini would be much faster for ripping video too. I configure everything through my iBook via VLC and FTP so I never have to use a keyboard/mouse in the living room.

Yes, it doesn't have HDMI, but pretty sure it has N-wireless (and if not you get G which is by no means slow). Though it does have DVI output or S-video if you get the connector.
Click to expand...

You can get the IR receiver that works with the Apple Remote here:

http://twistedmelon.com/mira/
 
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