Road to Expo: Reborn Mac mini set to take over the living room

Think Secret ^ | 11/29/2005 | By Ryan Katz, Senior Editor

[Swordmaker]

Mac Mini being redirected as a home entertainment center device?

Rumor PING!

Thanks to Cabojoe for the heads up.

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Southack]

Oh my goodness...who woulda thunk that this could have been done for less than $2,000?!

Ha!

[Southack]

"It could be the ultimate media device to connect to an HDTV home theater - with the addition of a Blu-Ray Superdrive later next year. 1 posted on 11/29/2005 1:36:13 AM CST by HAL9000"

Picture this:

You're a parent. Your kid wants a computer for school, you want TiVo to record your SexndaHood re-runs, and your kid also wants an XBox-360 videogame machine. Oh, and you want a new stereo that can play MP3's/IPOD songs and music CD's.

But instead of buying all those devices when you go into the store, you buy one Mac Mini media device. It's a TiVo DVR. It's a home computer that has a free giant screen (your home TV), and it plays lots of video-games as well as plays your DVD's and your MP3's and music CD's.

Now add an option to it: Voice over IP telephone service with a kicker: two-way TV.

[HAL9000]

It would be a great addition to a Samsung DLP HDTV at 1080p resolution - the best picture available.

[cabojoe]

This is coinciding with Intel's Viiv release. Look for other manufacturers to use the same technology, but if the mini is still priced the same it will be a unit that will be hard to beat. Viiv release info: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27982

[goldstategop]

I gave in and bought a Mac Mini. Does any one know what cable can connect it to an analog TV with s-video inputs? Mine doesn't have any DVI jacks so for sure my next TV will be equipped with those ports.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

My Mac Mini cost me $530 and with all extras thrown in. So I haven't spent 2 grand on it if that's what you're asking. That being said, its small enough to be a TIVO without the monthly expense in a home entertainment setup.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[counterpunch]

You can do all of this and a whole lot more with a PC already.

[HAL9000]

The cable is the "Apple DVI to Video Adaptor" - (Part Number: M9267G/A, $19.00 at the Apple Store). The description says "The Apple DVI to Video Adapter was designed specifically to allow Mac mini and Power Mac G5 systems users to connect from the DVI port to S-video or Composite video devices such as TVs, VCRs, or overhead projectors with S-Video or RCA (Composite) connectors."

Be advised will be difficult to use most Mac applications on a standard analog television set, due to the low resolution. You really need at least a 720p HDTV set to have an good experience. You'll probably want to use the DVI connector, or the VGA adapter, most of the time.

[HAL9000]

You can do all of this and a whole lot more with a PC already.

Right, including a remote control with 48 buttons, and the usual security headaches. Apple's remote has six buttons, and it's simply a better system.

Here is Apple's web page which describes Front Row 1.0 - link.

Apple also has an excellent demonstration of Front Row on a streaming video.

[Bob J]

I've got DVR's in my cable boxes. Why would I buy aftermarket?

[Terpfen]

...and it plays lots of video-games as well as plays your DVD's and your MP3's and music CD's.

The Mac is not a great gaming platform. If the kid wants an Xbox360, I'd get him an Xbox360 over a DVR Mac Mini: the X360 features a Media Center anyway.

I hope Think Secret is right. It took Apple way too long to get DVR features going in the Mini. I hope the sound system gets a nice upgrade.

[HAL9000]

I've got DVR's in my cable boxes. Why would I buy aftermarket?

Let's assume you have an HDTV and a good set of speakers in your living room.

You connect the new Mac mini with a wireless remote control, keyboard and mouse, and an Internet connection, then settle back in your favorite chair and start using the standard Mac applications on the big screen. For example -

* Record and watch television programs with the DVR feature

* Edit and present your digital photo albums with iPhoto

* Play music with iTunes, with realtime visualizations and album art

* Edit your home movies with iMovie and burn discs with iDVD

* Surf the Internet with Safari or Firefox, and send email

* Text messaging and 4-way video conferences with iChat

* Much more...

Since it is Intel based, it should run Windows too.

That is a lot more functionality in a small box than a regular DVR.

[Bob J]

I posted that before I saw all the other features the new Mac box offered.

[goldstategop]

I don't suppose it matters the current Mini doesn't have an I-pod port does it, you could connect it to an external drive. I have an Acomdata 160 GB companion drive. That should hold a lot of TV shows an I-Tunes the 40 GB built in drive can't handle. Of course, that can be upgraded to 100 GB HD as well. No worry about running out of room.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[HAL9000]

The current Mac mini does have Firewire and USB, so the iPod can be connected that way. According to the rumor, the new Mac mini will have a built-in iPod docking station which will be a little more convenient.

[goldstategop]

At the moment, I'm going to get a KVM switch to go between the Mac Mini and my PC. I'm disappointed Belkin's Flip is vaporware. Its cool since it could be stacked right underneath the Mini.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[anonymous_user]

The Mac is not a great gaming platform.

Wouldn't it be funny if Mac struck a deal with Sony where the "Home Mac" could play PS2 (PS3?) games? Technically, I'm sure that's a pipe dream, but how cool would that be?

[Terpfen]

It's definitely a pipe dream. The Cell is not a PowerPC (no matter what some people here will claim), and the PS3's RSX GPU isn't matched by anything available on the video market right now, let alone anything available for the Mac.

The Mac is great at a lot of things, but gaming isn't one of them.