Mac Mini as Media Centre?

[Tokyo Slim]

Originally Posted by grimslade

I just wanted to congratulate Tokyo Slim for his dispassionate and well-reasoned response to the question.
Out of all the desktop or home computers that Apple has built since Jobs took over, I think the Mini is pretty much the only one I think is actually reasonably priced for its performance. (I'd still say it was about $100 too much, but its the closest that Apple's ever gotten, so I'll let it slide) It is also a fairly useful form factor and while not exactly super-innovative, it was at the time, the only computer on the market that small. (I used to work for a company that made its name selling computers that were about the size of a brick.) I still think it would look better in black, since all electronics should be black. But whatever. I've heard a rumor that Steve Jobs is having pretty severe health problems right now and is going to be stepping down soon. It will be interesting to see how the company handles it.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

http://gizmodo.com/5121681/new-mac-m...B-time-capsule

Sometimes I think they are spying on me.

 

[countdemoney]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

http://gizmodo.com/5121681/new-mac-m...B-time-capsule

Sometimes I think they are spying on me.

Steve Jobs knows all.

Hail Steve!

 

[tiecollector]

I'm in the market for a HTPC now as well. Would have gone for the mac mini a year ago but I'm leaning towards a PS3 now.

thoughts?

 

[A Y]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

I'm in the market for a HTPC now as well. Would have gone for the mac mini a year ago but I'm leaning towards a PS3 now.

thoughts?

What kind of HTPC stuff do you want to do? I have a PS3, and it's basically a Blu Ray player for me, and it's very good at that, possibly still the best available until the Oppo ships. You can stream videos and pictures from a PC server with it as well as rent and buy stuff from the Sony online store, but I never do those things. I don't think it can do Tivo-like functions.

--Andre

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by A Y

What kind of HTPC stuff do you want to do? I have a PS3, and it's basically a Blu Ray player for me, and it's very good at that, possibly still the best available until the Oppo ships. You can stream videos and pictures from a PC server with it as well as rent and buy stuff from the Sony online store, but I never do those things. I don't think it can do Tivo-like functions. --Andre
I mainly want to stream mp3s off a server and play dvds/bluray. Streaming Netradio would be good too. TiVo like functions might be good too. I will probably just the Dish Networks DVR though, unless there is a compelling reason to use an HTPC for this.

 

[A Y]

You can stream MP3s off a Windows computer, but I've never tried Internet radio stations on the PS3. Probably a Google search would tell you more about that.

I built my own HTPC for DVR functions, but that's because I wanted to record 6 channels at a time, and I only watch regular cable and OTA HD. With the Dish DVR, you can record their HD channels in full fidelity, so if you watch a lot of that, you should probably stick with that.

--Andre