Farewell Mac mini, Hello ATV

[iknowyourider]

Looking for some encouragement. Looks like I may give my 1st gen Intel mini to my son. It's about as hard as it was giving him my mint maxed-out 12" PowerBook (but I lived).

The mini lives on my 50" plasma for movies, music videos and occasional internet for a missed tv episode or youtube.

I thought I would ask him to give me his ATV in exchange. He has the new small black one.

1. I guess the ATV will stream movies from my MacBook's iTunes?
2. How can I watch avi / divx / VLC type movies?

Thanks for any help, Mick

 

[marc11]

1. Yes
2. A few options here, jailbreak and run plex or xmbc, run the plex server and client on your iOS device and use AirPlay built into the Plex ios app to watch them on the atv or use Handbreak to convert the files to a version iTunes will play native.

 

[iknowyourider]

1. Yes
2. A few options here, jailbreak and run plex or xmbc, run the plex server and client on your iOS device and use AirPlay built into the Plex ios app to watch them on the atv or use Handbreak to convert the files to a version iTunes will play native.

Thanks Marc. I guess I'll use Handbrake and iTunes.

 

[AdrianK]

I don't see what you'd gain from doing that, I'd trade my ATV for an '06 Mac Mini in a heartbeat.

• You'll have to re-encode your library if it's not H264 already, XBMC/Plex are kind of buggy
• No 1080p output
• Only netflix, no hulu etc
• Have to leave a server on

Anyway, if those are non-issues then go for it

 

[Alrescha]

Looking for some encouragement.

I went from a Mac mini hooked up the the TV to an Apple TV and I couldn't be happier. It's much less fiddly to get working - was truly plug-and-play for me.

No 1080p output
Only netflix, no hulu etc
Have to leave a server on

Most people won't notice the difference between 720p and 1080p - they don't have screen sizes/viewing distances that make that significant.

Saying that the Apple TV has 'only netflix' is ignoring hundreds of audio and video podcasts, sports channels, YouTube and Vimeo, Photostream and Flickr, and hundreds of streaming radio stations.

If you have an Airport Extreme, you don't have to leave a machine on, as the AE supports the Bonjour proxy protocol and will wake your iTunes host on demand.

A.

 

[jackrv]

Most brand name TVs have excellent 720 to 1080 up scaling.

 

[marc11]

Not to mention with iCloud and iTunes match you do not need iTunes running for your music or tv shows. And with an iPad, touch or phone with AirPlay you have even more audio and video options all without the need of a server running.

 

[iknowyourider]

I don't see what you'd gain from doing that, I'd trade my ATV for an '06 Mac Mini in a heartbeat.

• You'll have to re-encode your library if it's not H264 already, XBMC/Plex are kind of buggy
• No 1080p output
• Only netflix, no hulu etc
• Have to leave a server on

Anyway, if those are non-issues then go for it

Issues - Yes. Gain - No. He just needs a new computer while his Mom and I have three.

Thanks

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I went from a Mac mini hooked up the the TV to an Apple TV and I couldn't be happier. It's much less fiddly to get working - was truly plug-and-play for me.




Most people won't notice the difference between 720p and 1080p - they don't have screen sizes/viewing distances that make that significant.

Saying that the Apple TV has 'only netflix' is ignoring hundreds of audio and video podcasts, sports channels, YouTube and Vimeo, Photostream and Flickr, and hundreds of streaming radio stations.

If you have an Airport Extreme, you don't have to leave a machine on, as the AE supports the Bonjour proxy protocol and will wake your iTunes host on demand.

A.

Thank You. That's the encourgement I'm talking about.

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Most brand name TVs have excellent 720 to 1080 up scaling.

Not to mention with iCloud and iTunes match you do not need iTunes running for your music or tv shows. And with an iPad, touch or phone with AirPlay you have even more audio and video options all without the need of a server running.

Thank You

 

[iknowyourider]

Times can be hard for kids. He's 26 and married. Moved out of state to work in a church for free. He's the musician I wanted him (me) to be. He loves me and I'm the only Dad he has ( he lost his real Dad when he was 3 ).

I'm getting fond of the idea of giving him my beloved Mac mini.

Thanks Guys, Mick

 

[gabicava83]

Times can be hard for kids. He's 26 and married. Moved out of state to work in a church for free. He's the musician I wanted him (me) to be. He loves me and I'm the only Dad he has ( he lost his real Dad when he was 3 ).

I'm getting fond of the idea of giving him my beloved Mac mini.

Thanks Guys, Mick

Out of context, but you sound like a great.

your mini will be a great sacrifice

 

[shane.reid]

If you have an Airport Extreme, you don't have to leave a machine on, as the AE supports the Bonjour proxy protocol and will wake your iTunes host on demand.

A.

Woah! Really? So I can have the Mac Mini (my itunes server) OFF or just SLEEPING?

How long is the lag between the apple tv asking for content and getting in in this situation?

Does the computer still come up under the "computer" list on appletv when the computer is sleeping/off?

 

[sampdoria]

I went from a Mac mini hooked up the the TV to an Apple TV and I couldn't be happier. It's much less fiddly to get working - was truly plug-and-play for me.

Agreed. ATV2 is plug-n-play and has a beautiful, simple interface for your TV. Also, you can "Airplay" content from other iOS devices to your ATV2 (if you have any).

Most people won't notice the difference between 720p and 1080p - they don't have screen sizes/viewing distances that make that significant.

I have to somewhat disagree. Just compare a Pixar or Dreamworks movie from a bluray disc with a 720p version and you'll see a big difference on a 40+" display. Therefore, my bluray player and ATV2 happily coexist together until Apple can deliver 1080p (without jailbreaking ).

 

[Alrescha]

Woah! Really? So I can have the Mac Mini (my itunes server) OFF or just SLEEPING?

Sleeping. Nothing but a push of the power button will wake your mini when it's really off. But from a power-conservation standpoint, there isn't a whole lot of difference between sleeping and off.

How long is the lag between the apple tv asking for content and getting in in this situation?

Honestly, my mini doesn't get much of a chance to sleep (maybe in the wee hours of the morning - sometimes), but I tested it. I noticed that it did not always wake up on the first try, but when it did wake up it was within one second of my hitting the menu item on the Apple TV. There was a delay while my external drives spun up, plus the usual loading of the metadata, so that is very variable depending on your drives and how much data you have.

Does the computer still come up under the "computer" list on appletv when the computer is sleeping/off?

Yes. The Apple TV displays the computer in the list (how else would you wake it up?

An interesting observation: When the mini wakes up on request like this, it appears to be in a special state. The monitor does not come on, iChat does not reconnect. All this will happen if you press a key, but otherwise it seems to have woken up just for iTunes.

A.

 

[iknowyourider]

Looking for some encouragement.

Times can be hard for kids. He's 26 and married. Moved out of state to work in a church for free. He's the musician I wanted him (me) to be. He loves me and I'm the only Dad he has ( he lost his real Dad when he was 3 ).

I'm getting fond of the idea of giving him my beloved Mac mini.

Thanks Guys, Mick

Out of context, but you sound like a great.

your mini will be a great sacrifice

I was encouraging myself.

 

[davids8477]

Looking for some encouragement. Looks like I may give my 1st gen Intel mini to my son. It's about as hard as it was giving him my mint maxed-out 12" PowerBook (but I lived).

The mini lives on my 50" plasma for movies, music videos and occasional internet for a missed tv episode or youtube.

I thought I would ask him to give me his ATV in exchange. He has the new small black one.

1. I guess the ATV will stream movies from my MacBook's iTunes?
2. How can I watch avi / divx / VLC type movies?

Thanks for any help, Mick

I've recently done the same thing.

I had a Mac Mini running PLEX etc on my media center with 55" TV, streaming video music etc from a central server (also Mac Mini) It was great BUT I was the only one who could use it - and even then I would occasionally have to reboot it. Result is a ticked of family.

Since adding another ATV2 (on was on the patio) I have no family frustrations etc. Yes I sacrifice a little resolution as the Mini streamed 1080p, but in all honesty there does not appear to be that much difference compared to the easy of use.

Yes I'll get an ATV3 (if it does 1080p) when it eventually comes, but I have completely satisfied with the choice.

 

[iknowyourider]

Thanks everyone. I'm still enjoying hearing the ATV2 success stories. My son is driving from Tennessee to Texas tonight. I'll meet him tomorrow, then my daughter will fly in from Colorado Monday. I'm so excited, it will be our Christmas.

We will do the trade and transfer his iLife from his PowerBook. I kinda hope he offers me the PB back. No Thank You if its dented though. I've always thought it would look cool under my monitor as an elevator.

 

[Scarpad]

Not only that but I find the ATV's video output looks a whole lot better than my mini thru the same HDMI Port. I'm using my Mini right now strictly for a EYE TV One to record shows.

 

[iknowyourider]

Three broken / missing keys on the PB. It's been a good one. Still his primary computer till today. I said my mini was a 1st gen Intel. Correction; It is a 1st gen Intel C2D. We installed Lion last night. I think he is happy.

He did not want to trade his ATV so he brought me a new one in the box. I was so excited to open it my self. I savored it and thought about Steve Jobs and Jonathon Ive caring about the wonder of Apple packaging. (I read Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs)

I'm at home now with no hdmi cable. My ATV is sitting on my TV stand though and I've read the manual.

 

[mike457]

Three broken / missing keys on the PB. It's been a good one. Still his primary computer till today. I said my mini was a 1st gen Intel. Correction; It is a 1st gen Intel C2D. We installed Lion last night. I think he is happy.

He did not want to trade his ATV so he brought me a new one in the box. I was so excited to open it my self. I savored it and thought about Steve Jobs and Jonathon Ive caring about the wonder of Apple packaging. (I read Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs)

I'm at home now with no hdmi cable. My ATV is sitting on my TV stand though and I've read the manual.

Happily, the keys are easy to find and replace. I don't know how I'd take the new toy/no cable problem, though! I bet it's the first destination tomorrow. Just make sure they don't sell you a ridiculously expensive cable, though. Congratulations!

 

[iknowyourider]

Happily, the keys are easy to find and replace. I don't know how I'd take the new toy/no cable problem, though! I bet it's the first destination tomorrow. Just make sure they don't sell you a ridiculously expensive cable, though. Congratulations!

I gave him 2 boxes of his original Star Wars toys he plans to sell on eBay. It's his first time on eBay so I hope he will get some replacement keys while he's there.

Man it was tough with the new toy / no cable. The wife got me a (good deal on a) cable today but she's a hundred miles away at her parents and we'll be together tomorrow. I plan to boot it up about bedtime tomorrow night.

Thanks for the kind words, Mick

 

[iknowyourider]

I love ATV, Home Sharing and NetFlix!

Stay out from under that rock! There's no ATV there.

 

[chiefpavvy]

No argument here. Why on earth waste a $600+ Mac Mini for something as menial as audio/video playback on a TV? ATV2 does the job and at $99 is cheap enough to put one everywhere...even in the garage or spare bedroom.

 

[jeremyshaw]

AirPlay. I love it for my iPhone 4s. Can cook and control the music from the kitchen.... And browse teh intertubes fer how te cook I suck at cooking, lol.