Mac Mini - Obsessive HTPC Thinking
By Jonathan Greene |
January 12th, 2005
Comments (7)
I can’t get the Mac Mini out of my head and some quick browsing today has led me to all but pre-order it immediately. All elements that might seem to be missing from the ideal HTPC configuration can easily be solved with the help of third part products.
Current Plan
- Mac Mini - Faster model, but just 512MB… debating on super drive needs, it might just be nice to have the option.
- Apple composite/S-Video adapter - direct to my 34″ Toshiba HDTV via Composite Connection
- M-Audio Transit to enable digital audio out to my stereo
- Griffin just came out with the Firewave which is another digital surround sound option
- iTunes for Audio - nice!
- I can either use the eyehome for video playback or instead just go with VLC, Quicktime or Mplayer. Pop in a DVD and it’s on!
As mentioned earlier the EyeTV 500 now supports digital cable (hell yeah!) and OTA broadcasts. Optional… I was also just checking out a Miglia Director’s Cut 2 to use as a video/VCR out from my HD cable box to archive those programs I might not be able to initially capture and archive for certain reasons with the EyeTV.
There’s also a very cool program called DropDV which will let you convert MPEG2 to DV for editing. Bye bye commercials for permanently archived TV.
Another option is to run MythTV directly on the Mac Mini. Using the same parts to enable TV capture and digital audio out, I’d be able to have a standard media center UI which is something I mentioned yesterday that I thought was definitely missing to make this whole thing easy to use without a keyboard and mouse – at least after the initial set-up. The set-up certainly has a much higher geek quota, but seems to be worthwhile for the end game.
This could be really slick!!
January 16th, 2005 at 9:28 pm
i just read your article and will be setting up a similar system. so i wanted to share that a dvi-i to component connector is available in the latest cyberguys catalog for about $30. i believe this will provide a better picture over component and s-video. i’m really looking forward to setting this up. please let us all know how well the myth tv install goes. thanks.
January 16th, 2005 at 9:37 pm
Thanks for the pointer but I am pretty sure that does the same thing as the apple adapter that costs about 10 dollars less.
I’ll keep you posted… I have not ordered yet. The cost for what I want is actually a bit over 1000 bucks. Have to wait to see the how-to’s on self-installing RAM after people get their deliveries.
When I last checked Apple was saying 3 weeks.
January 17th, 2005 at 1:07 am
To control your media centre Mac mini, try Salling Clicker. It allows you to control a Mac with a PDA/mobile phone via Bluetooth.
I have made a list for my dream Mac mini config, more at: http://thefilter.blogs.com/thefilte…ini_as_a_m.html
January 30th, 2005 at 12:54 am
Hey everybody, I’m new and all but thought I’d share.
This really works! TechTV did a special on it you check out at http://www.g4techtv.com/videos/inde…?video_key=8872.
Here’s how it works:
Click on this link or copy it to the address bar:
http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/?r=14554233
You setup a free account with them. I personally used a free yahoo address to sign up just in case they send junk mail. So far I haven’t recieved any junk anyway, but its nice to be safe. You will have to provide a real mailing address, this is where they ship the Mac Mini.
Complete any offer listed. Most of them are really easy and do not cost anything. You can get a new Discover Credit card, try Rhapsody Music services (like napster), or anything. All of them are completely legitimate with big name companies, nothing sketchy and some really useful. No commitments required on any so you can (and probably SHOULD) cancel after you’ve recieved credit for having completed the offer.
After you complete an offer you will recieve credit for having completed it, and thats it. After that you just refer a couple of friends to do the same thing, and you get your free Mac Mini! Free shipping and everything! Just check out the link it really works http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/?r=14554233
Read about it at techtv!! http://www.g4techtv.com/videos/inde…?video_key=8872
The link one more time: http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/?r=14554233
February 1st, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Thanks for the word~~ are you sure I won’t wake up with a hard drive full of worms? I am always skeptical of these types of “gimmicks.” I have been burned before…
February 1st, 2005 at 12:20 pm
No idea on the worms, but Macs are generally much safer than PCs. Though I have a feeling you are referring to the free offer. I signed up and only got 8 people to complete out of about 50 who signed up….
I did make the purchase and just got it configured yesterday actually. The Apple connector is only S-Video or Composite. I do have the Cyberguys DVI - Component onorder and expect within the next few days which will hopefully make a nice improvement.
You can read my full setup piece here.
February 1st, 2005 at 1:30 pm
Yeah this one seems pretty legitimate. No worms so far, no junk mail to my new account either which I was really surprised. Seems like getting 10 people to go through is almost impossible though :confused: oh well