betty boop Posted June 15, 2010 Posted June 15, 2010 new mac mini, now I reckon this would be one hell of a little media centre, http://www.apple.com/macmini/ not cheap no. but with all the mac niceties in a small compact package.... no BD drive though. that would be a bit too much of an ask
petetherock Posted June 15, 2010 Posted June 15, 2010 Processer is not much of an improvement though....
diesel Posted June 15, 2010 Posted June 15, 2010 The pricing is odd IMO. It's expensive for an entry level unit with older C2D processor. If it was around $750-$800 it'd be much better value, but $1k is too much for tech that is getting old. Other than that, it's a very nice looking unit. How they squeeze in so much into something so small is amazing and worrying - are there going to be heat issues????
ajm1503559545 Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 My issue with Macs as a media centre has always been with the codec support. If it will play anything then it's a lovely looking (albeit very expensive) media unit but if it's going to baulk at any kind of format then it'd annoy the hell out of me.
evil_josh Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 The pricing is odd IMO. It's expensive for an entry level unit with older C2D processor. If it was around $750-$800 it'd be much better value, but $1k is too much for tech that is getting old. Other than that, it's a very nice looking unit. How they squeeze in so much into something so small is amazing and worrying - are there going to be heat issues???? Yeah Aus vs US pricing also bears no resemblance to the exchange rate which is especially annoying. (pricing is at an equivalent exchange rate of 70c whereas we are currently sitting over 85). More realistic pricing would be around the $850 mark.
evil_josh Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 My issue with Macs as a media centre has always been with the codec support. If it will play anything then it's a lovely looking (albeit very expensive) media unit but if it's going to baulk at any kind of format then it'd annoy the hell out of me. Codec support is pretty good, I have not had any problems with content from a variety of sources. With the Perian plugin you can play the following formats through quicktime, which means they are playable through frontrow and controllable through the apple remote: File formats: AVI, DIVX, FLV, MKV, GVI, VP6, and VFW Video types: MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivx, H.264, Sorenson H.263, FLV/Sorenson Spark, FSV1, VP6, H263i, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Snow, NuppelVideo, Techsmith Screen Capture, DosBox Capture Audio types: Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), and MPEG Layer I & II Audio, True Audio, DTS Coherent Acoustics, Nellymoser ASAO AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3 Subtitle support for SSA/ASS and SRT
WAY Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 Hi guys, I am a real n00b at this media player stuff, but the new Mac Mini has me very interested. I am currently running a 3-4 year old Sony Hi-def twin tuner HD recorder, a DVD player, and having to plug in my laptop onto my plasma everytime I want to watch downloaded stuff. My Sony has been playing up for the last few months, and I can see how Mac Mini would allow me to consolidate everything into that little box plus a dedicated hard drive instead of just replacing the sony with another HD recorder. So the question is, what do I need besides the MM and hard drive? Tuner is the only thing I can think of. Would this be a difficult set up? What non-out of the box software would I need? Also, what is the best twin tuner hi-def USB tuner out there (I am assuming I will need to use a USB tuner)? Picture quality is important to me. I hear I can also use my iPad to control this device? Thanks in advanced.
ajm1503559545 Posted June 17, 2010 Posted June 17, 2010 Codec support is pretty good, I have not had any problems with content from a variety of sources.With the Perian plugin you can play the following formats through quicktime, which means they are playable through frontrow and controllable through the apple remote: File formats: AVI, DIVX, FLV, MKV, GVI, VP6, and VFW Video types: MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivx, H.264, Sorenson H.263, FLV/Sorenson Spark, FSV1, VP6, H263i, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Snow, NuppelVideo, Techsmith Screen Capture, DosBox Capture Audio types: Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), and MPEG Layer I & II Audio, True Audio, DTS Coherent Acoustics, Nellymoser ASAO AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3 Subtitle support for SSA/ASS and SRT I do like the sound of that, thanks for posting. Just need to do something about the price tag Seriously considering a MacBook Pro for work and study so it's good to know these things are available to make the Mac a reasonable media player as well. What about Blu-ray .ISO files?
DeeVee Posted June 17, 2010 Posted June 17, 2010 vlc for mac plays m2ts files. If you can extract the m2ts from your iso file, the mac will play these ok.
diesel Posted June 17, 2010 Posted June 17, 2010 Ifixit teardown - here I love how these guys pull stuff apart... So the question is, what do I need besides the MM and hard drive? Tuner is the only thing I can think of. Would this be a difficult set up? What non-out of the box software would I need? Also, what is the best twin tuner hi-def USB tuner out there (I am assuming I will need to use a USB tuner)? Picture quality is important to me. I hear I can also use my iPad to control this device?EyeTV tuners are probably the best bet for Macs, but for $1k-$1300, I think you are spending much more than you need to for a HTPC.
evil_josh Posted June 17, 2010 Posted June 17, 2010 Hi guys, I am a real n00b at this media player stuff, but the new Mac Mini has me very interested. I am currently running a 3-4 year old Sony Hi-def twin tuner HD recorder, a DVD player, and having to plug in my laptop onto my plasma everytime I want to watch downloaded stuff. My Sony has been playing up for the last few months, and I can see how Mac Mini would allow me to consolidate everything into that little box plus a dedicated hard drive instead of just replacing the sony with another HD recorder. So the question is, what do I need besides the MM and hard drive? Tuner is the only thing I can think of. Would this be a difficult set up? What non-out of the box software would I need? Also, what is the best twin tuner hi-def USB tuner out there (I am assuming I will need to use a USB tuner)? Picture quality is important to me. I hear I can also use my iPad to control this device? Thanks in advanced. The best software by a country mile is eyeTV, and the diversity hardware is a twin tuner device. It is around $240 from the shops, and a little less on ebay. http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/...roduct1.en.html http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ELGATO-eyetv-divers...=item5887cf1cbe
diesel Posted June 19, 2010 Posted June 19, 2010 Quick review here about using it as a HTPC - still not plug and play though.
evil_josh Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 Quick review here about using it as a HTPC - still not plug and play though. Newsflash: Using a computer requires a keyboard and mouse...
swordfish805 Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 Newsflash: Using a computer requires a keyboard and mouse... Have you seen an iPad?
hazzad Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 Have you seen an iPad? You mean that thing that looks like a giant Iphone? Wouldnt call it a computer really would you? Its really limited to what it does.
betty boop Posted June 29, 2010 Author Posted June 29, 2010 Have you seen an iPad? hehe apple will tell you its not a computer. a nifty thing though in use. perhaps apple will provide an ipad app to run the mac mini and then no keyboard or mouse required !
FMB Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 You mean that thing that looks like a giant Iphone? Wouldnt call it a computer really would you? Its really limited to what it does. I wouldn't either, but it's pretty close. My wife hasn't used her netbook once since she got her iPad I haven't been into the study once since I got mine I don't use it at work, but at home it does what I need it to.
betty boop Posted June 29, 2010 Author Posted June 29, 2010 I wouldn't either, but it's pretty close.My wife hasn't used her netbook once since she got her iPad I haven't been into the study once since I got mine I don't use it at work, but at home it does what I need it to. hehe ipad does what I need at home too. leave my wife to our macbook, but she's always trying to wressle the ipad off me ! and I'm trying to hide it from the kids otherwise cant get them off it either
FMB Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 hehe ipad does what I need at home too. leave my wife to our macbook, but she's always trying to wressle the ipad off me ! and I'm trying to hide it from the kids otherwise cant get them off it either My son bought an iPad After playing with it for 10 minutes, I went out and bought one After taking it home, my wife wanted one so I bought her one the next weekend
hazzad Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 (edited) My son bought an iPadAfter playing with it for 10 minutes, I went out and bought one After taking it home, my wife wanted one so I bought her one the next weekend Wow i really dont see the appeal myself. Way to limited in what it can do. For my needs anyway? Particularly given its little more than oversized Iphone. Not to mention the cost. Edited June 29, 2010 by hazzad
evil_josh Posted June 30, 2010 Posted June 30, 2010 hehe apple will tell you its not a computer. a nifty thing though in use. perhaps apple will provide an ipad app to run the mac mini and then no keyboard or mouse required ! Already done: http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/air-mouse-p...d289616509?mt=8
evil_josh Posted June 30, 2010 Posted June 30, 2010 Wow i really dont see the appeal myself. Way to limited in what it can do. For my needs anyway? Particularly given its little more than oversized Iphone. Not to mention the cost. I like the idea of streaming tv/movies wherever I am sitting in the house. Also it works really well on the plane where you don't have room to open a laptop. Nice and portable too. I have a laptop bag full of stuff required to operate on the road. With this all I need is the tablet which slips in a stachel.
Hi-Fi Whipped Posted July 6, 2010 Posted July 6, 2010 Quick question maybe a little bit off topiic. If I purchase a Sonos Zone Player and load the software on a Mac Mini will it become another Zone player that can output music via USB or optical?
OLDKNEES Posted July 6, 2010 Posted July 6, 2010 Quick question maybe a little bit off topiic.If I purchase a Sonos Zone Player and load the software on a Mac Mini will it become another Zone player that can output music via USB or optical? I don't think so. The sonos will be able to gain access to your mini mac and play music off the computer (if its connected to your network) into the zone that the zone player is connected; and you will be able to access and play your music via the sonos GUI on your mac (again to the zone that the zoneplayer is connected to) - but it will not become another independent zone -
Hi-Fi Whipped Posted July 6, 2010 Posted July 6, 2010 I don't think so. The sonos will be able to gain access to your mini mac and play music off the computer (if its connected to your network) into the zone that the zone player is connected; and you will be able to access and play your music via the sonos GUI on your mac (again to the zone that the zoneplayer is connected to) - but it will not become another independent zone - Thanks for the reply, just confirmed the same thing myself, it wont work that way.
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