2010 Mac mini HTPC?

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Anybody got a new 2010 Mac Mini with HDMI as a HTPC? I'm strongly considering purchasing one. I know it doesn't have a BluRay drive but I already have a BluRay player. Would like to hook it up to my 40" Sony LCD and Yamaha receiver and running Boxee on it. Comments? Suggestions?
 
why not rather get this

http://www.expansys.co.za/d.aspx?i=200636

its more than capable of running boxee... has a dvd drive (overseas there is a model that has a blue ray player inside)

i have an acer revo.. running xbmc with hdmi out and it was money well spent :)

oh and its WAY cheaper than a mac mini..
 
Well that is a good little machine. The Mac Mini is Core 2 Duo with nVidia 320m graphics, which is a lot more powerful than just an atom, which makes it a good general purpose PC as well. So it depends if you're just going to watch video, or actually use it for a PC too.
 
How much is it? You do get ITX form factors which don't use the Atom/ION chipsets.
 
What are the advantages of Boxee over the normal FrontRow?

My mini (core duo) has been faithfully driving my plasma for more than four years now so I consider it to have been a pretty good investment.
 
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dinkd said:
i have an acer revo.. running xbmc with hdmi out and it was money well spent :)

oh and its WAY cheaper than a mac mini..
Click to expand...

I have the same setup - it works perfectly and is accessible and fully customizable.

Or, you can go ahead and spend exorbitant amounts of money for limited functionality.
 
not to mention the next stable build of xbmc has just going out to beta...... :D
 
TheMightyP said:
I have the same setup - it works perfectly and is accessible and fully customizable.

Or, you can go ahead and spend exorbitant amounts of money for limited functionality.
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:confused: Limited functionality? It's a desktop computer.
 
he's referring to the limited functionality with regards to the media centre abilities.. nothing comes close to xbmc/boxee
 
dinkd said:
he's referring to the limited functionality with regards to the media centre abilities.. nothing comes close to xbmc/boxee
Click to expand...

Which you can both run on a Mac. The EEPC box might be sufficient but it's not everyone's taste. To me, the Revo and EEPC box style looks silly (the boxee box looks even worse in my opinion). And as someone rightly mentioned, the Mac Mini is way more powerful.
 
I have my ps3 (and previously xbox 360) networked to my mac mini in my study using PS3 Media Server or Yazsoft's Playback and have access to all my movies, pictures and music and blu-ray drive on my ps3. Once upon a time I used my mac mini as my htpc device but felt that its overkill and while you think its great to have a computer linked to your tv its really not that practical. i.e. need w/less keyboard, w/less mouse (and what surface do you use for the mouse to track) etc etc. For me, having access to my movies and music is all that I really need to accomplish and leave the rest to my dedicated devicies like my mac etc.
 
The latest issue of PC Pro says the new Mini should cost 1/2 as much as it does. Heavily overpriced.
 
i think the whole question is very subjective as its all dependant on what you need it for... using it solely as a media centre.. having a more powerful mac mini for twice the price is definitely an overkill, but its personal preference :)
 
Well that's there opinion. It is expensive, I agree but it's quality. There's really nothing similar. (tiny little Core 2 Duo box with nVidia graphics)
 
Its definitely preference and ensuring you use it for your intended purpose because the costs do stack up quickly, almost R8k for the mini, then b/tooth keyboard R850, b/tooth mouse R800, ext HDD R800-R1200 since the mini's 320gb just wont cut it. I also found that the resolution of the lcd tv's when used as computer screens was not that great. Once again its preference and really down to what floats your boat because we all know logic flies out the door when that happens!
 
SL1v3R said:
Its definitely preference and ensuring you use it for your intended purpose because the costs do stack up quickly, almost R8k for the mini, then b/tooth keyboard R850, b/tooth mouse R800
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Why do you need BT mouse and keyboard if you're using it as an HTPC? It comes with a remote.

SL1v3R said:
ext HDD R800-R1200
Click to expand...

I don't know about Boxee, but XBMC running on my Mac streams 1080p video (4GB for 40 minutes - you do the math) just fine off a file share on my linux box. So if you already have your stuff on a computer somewhere, there's no need for an extra external drive.
 
koffiejunkie said:
Why do you need BT mouse and keyboard if you're using it as an HTPC? It comes with a remote.
Click to expand...
I've got both the keyboard and mouse but 95% of the time I use my iPhone as a keyboard/mouse or just use screen sharing from my laptop.
dinkd said:
he's referring to the limited functionality with regards to the media centre abilities.. nothing comes close to xbmc/boxee
Click to expand...
Both of which can be installed on the mini. :confused:
 
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