Comments on: A Mac Mini or an AppleTV? Why that extra $300 might make your day http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day what's next in gadgets and tech Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:17:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Sid http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-4455 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 05:15:37 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-4455 I found this article on using the mini to control and record a firewire HD cable box, but it says that there is no player capable of playing back HD streams in the MPEG-2 format the cable box spits out. Since the article was written in 2005, I was wondering if anyone had solved this problem. http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2349&p=4 I found this article on using the mini to control and record a firewire HD cable box, but it says that there is no player capable of playing back HD streams in the MPEG-2 format the cable box spits out. Since the article was written in 2005, I was wondering if anyone had solved this problem.

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2349&p=4

]]> by: pete http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-3273 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 03:54:16 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-3273 looking up the equipment you mentioned in this article, roughly I get: rca adapter 1.95 dvi hdmi cable 19.95 my book 188 appl keyboard 59 logitech wireless trackball 58 mac mini 600 approximate total: 926.9 mactv: 300 dvi hdmi cable 19.95 approximate total:319.95 difference: 609.95 Excluding an hdtv/monitor which a majority of consumers haven't purchased as of yet; while including those who already have a personal computer, "Why that extra $600 might make your day" seems a more appropriate title. looking up the equipment you mentioned in this article, roughly I get:
rca adapter 1.95
dvi hdmi cable 19.95
my book 188
appl keyboard 59
logitech wireless trackball 58
mac mini 600
approximate total: 926.9

mactv: 300
dvi hdmi cable 19.95
approximate total:319.95

difference: 609.95

Excluding an hdtv/monitor which a majority of consumers haven’t purchased as of yet; while including those who already have a personal computer, “Why that extra $600 might make your day” seems a more appropriate title.

]]> by: IceMacK http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-1825 Tue, 01 May 2007 03:40:59 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-1825 Use Remote Buddy and you will enjoy the htmac more. The program works with the Apple Remote control and some other remotes like the Wii-controller. I never thought that I would use my remote so much on my macbook pro, sometimes it will be quicker to use the remote to find movies and play them then with Front Row. It is a program that shows the power and easiness of Macs. I use it both on the my MBP and on my Macmini G4 media center. Use Remote Buddy and you will enjoy the htmac more. The program works with the Apple Remote control and some other remotes like the Wii-controller.
I never thought that I would use my remote so much on my macbook pro, sometimes it will be quicker to use the remote to find movies and play them then with Front Row. It is a program that shows the power and easiness of Macs.
I use it both on the my MBP and on my Macmini G4 media center.

]]> by: Fance http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-1149 Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:22:24 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-1149 i've both an apple tv and iMac connected to my HDTV I've noticed that HD content plays back more faithfully on the Mini than tha Apple TV, not to mention the convenience of a built in DVD player. The only thing letting the side down for the Mini is that it doesn't grok using the HDMI port as effectively as the Apple TV (meaning sodding about with displayresx and still being unhappy). Have switched to RBG and bypassed the whole damn nightmare (even if it results in a slightly more noisey picture). For now, stick with the Mini... i’ve both an apple tv and iMac connected to my HDTV

I’ve noticed that HD content plays back more faithfully on the Mini than tha Apple TV, not to mention the convenience of a built in DVD player.

The only thing letting the side down for the Mini is that it doesn’t grok using the HDMI port as effectively as the Apple TV (meaning sodding about with displayresx and still being unhappy).

Have switched to RBG and bypassed the whole damn nightmare (even if it results in a slightly more noisey picture).

For now, stick with the Mini…

]]> by: Warbird http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-866 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:00:44 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-866 I have this exact same setup, Its awesome since that I'm in the middle east I now have better "cable" than I did when I was in the US. Great story. I have this exact same setup, Its awesome since that I’m in the middle east I now have better “cable” than I did when I was in the US. Great story.

]]> by: Ben http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-864 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:15:18 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-864 Awesome, awesome setup. I think I'm gonna add this to my own setup soon. Props. Awesome, awesome setup. I think I’m gonna add this to my own setup soon. Props.

]]> by: Adam K http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-853 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:12:20 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-853 @MartinS My understanding is that the EyeTV only captures standard def channels, unless you are on something powerful like a Mac Pro or MacBook Pro. I didn't include it in my post because: A. I can just wait a day and download shows in 720p (albeit slightly compressed, but it looks way better than standard def) B. I'm hardly home, so whats the point of having something I would only use once in a blue moon? And I think people started to forget, this is a Mac Mini, it is only capable of becoming a standard def DVR for a HD setup. Please tell me I am wrong and that Mac Mini can capture HD content, otherwise mentioning the EyeTV is sort of a waste of time. @MartinS

My understanding is that the EyeTV only captures standard def channels, unless you are on something powerful like a Mac Pro or MacBook Pro. I didn’t include it in my post because:

A. I can just wait a day and download shows in 720p (albeit slightly compressed, but it looks way better than standard def)

B. I’m hardly home, so whats the point of having something I would only use once in a blue moon?

And I think people started to forget, this is a Mac Mini, it is only capable of becoming a standard def DVR for a HD setup.

Please tell me I am wrong and that Mac Mini can capture HD content, otherwise mentioning the EyeTV is sort of a waste of time.

]]> by: MartinS http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-851 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:43:23 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-851 Interesting site and thread. I'm running EyeTV in addition to the above. The EyeTV software isn't great, but it does the trick as a DVB-T PVR. One difference though is I'm using a VGA cable to my 32" JVC HDTV, the reason being is the native screen res is 1366x768. Using a DVI to HDMI cable and outputting at 1280x720p I found the picture either had black boarders or the TV upscales to the native resolution with horrible results. Using screenresx I couldn't change the TV wouldn't accept 1368x768 (nearest suitable res), but it did via VGA. I never tried 1080i though, is this likely to look better, or would I have similar problems? Martin Interesting site and thread.

I’m running EyeTV in addition to the above. The EyeTV software isn’t great, but it does the trick as a DVB-T PVR.

One difference though is I’m using a VGA cable to my 32″ JVC HDTV, the reason being is the native screen res is 1366×768. Using a DVI to HDMI cable and outputting at 1280×720p I found the picture either had black boarders or the TV upscales to the native resolution with horrible results. Using screenresx I couldn’t change the TV wouldn’t accept 1368×768 (nearest suitable res), but it did via VGA.

I never tried 1080i though, is this likely to look better, or would I have similar problems?

Martin

]]> by: ObeytheFist http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-843 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:13:54 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-843 Yes, just get an HDMI to DVI cable. That's how I'm doing it. Yes, just get an HDMI to DVI cable. That’s how I’m doing it.

]]> by: Andy http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-842 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:32:09 +0000 http://nextlust.com/a-mac-mini-or-an-appletv-why-that-extra-300-might-make-your-day#comment-842 Also, if my TV has DVI in, can I just use that? Also, if my TV has DVI in, can I just use that?

]]>