I want YOUR Approval! :)

[YanniDepp]

Another Question I had was if I decided to do the MacMini, does it matter how fast it is if I am just running iTunes? Reason I am asking is because do I buy a new low end one from Apple or buy a used Old one on eBay. (Like the old 1.6GHz, 1GB Ram)

If this is all you'll be doing with the Mini, then even even a CoreDuo or G4 would suffice! Assuming Apple don't release a major update to iTunes and the ATV software that only works on Snow Leopard.

I have the exact same setup: an external HDD with videos on it, which were added to iTunes. iTunes then streams stuff to my Apple TV.

It works brilliantly on my new 2009 Core2Duo Mac mini, and it worked just as well on my 2005 G4 mini.

 

[FoundAHalo]

Ok, I think I am going with what "FoundAHalo" is doing. Its a cheaper route. Which one seems better out of the 2 or is there a better deal anyone can find?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-eMac-G4-1-25-GHz-512MB-40GB-17-Display_W0QQitemZ230321198713QQcmdZViewItemQQptZApple_Desktops?hash=item35a0369679&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1234%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-G4-eMac-1-25GHz-512MB-CDROM-40GB-Leopard_W0QQitemZ220446722255QQcmdZViewItemQQptZApple_Desktops?hash=item3353a608cf&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1199%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50

I'd probably go with the second as well. It's about the same as what I got, and I was going to max out the RAM, but never got around to it, yet haven't felt constrained.
And yes, shipping on it is a pain, as it's rather massive. Finding a suitable home is also tricky. I've got mine set on the top shelf of a closet, with a vent into the attic. It's slightly noisy when the fan starts going on it, but can't be heard outside the closet. It's set to use the built-in OSX shut-down/wake-up settings, so it powers off during non-peak hours to save power, and the display is always off.

 

[Unverrich]

So when you have a setup like this, what do you do when you rip a movie on your main computer? Do you just send the file over to your HD's and then update iTunes on the other computer?

 

[FoundAHalo]

So when you have a setup like this, what do you do when you rip a movie on your main computer? Do you just send the file over to your HD's and then update iTunes on the other computer?

I encode any media files on my MBP (Elgato Turbo H.264 stick ~$99), and then copy them over via network (or via remote-connection). Then screen-share with the eMac, and copy the transferred files into iTunes (which copies it automatically to the external drives).

As a sidenote, an added benefit of the automatic daily restarting of the eMac is that iTunes is restarted, as occasionally videos copied into iTunes don't appear on the Apple TVs immediately until iTunes is restarted. Don't know why, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.

 

[Unverrich]

Right now I have two Airport Extreme base stations hooked up, one is for my internet and one is hooked up with all my HD's to it. Will this make a difference or should I just stick to one Airport Extreme?

 

[FoundAHalo]

Right now I have two Airport Extreme base stations hooked up, one is for my internet and one is hooked up with all my HD's to it. Will this make a difference or should I just stick to one Airport Extreme?

Personally, I'd stick with one station for the sake of simplicity, and hook up the HDs to the eMac.

Also, bear in mind that the earlier G4 eMacs have USB 1.1 ports as opposed to USB 2.0 in the later G4s, which will cause a significant speed difference. They do have Firewire 400 though, which is what I'm using.

 

[Chris Rogers]

I had an Apple TV connected to Airport Extreme and just changed to a New Base Mini + Drobo. I'd approve that

 

[DoNoHarm]

Good Call, I took it off.

I just googled my name and found out that there are companies that stockpiled all my information to the point where they have all my addresses since I was in 7th grade. I'm in graduate school now!

 

[Unverrich]

haha wow! The things people do...

 

[Unverrich]

Ok. So heres how i have my setup now. I have all my HD's hooked up to a USB hub and then plugged into my Airport Extreme. Then I have a ethernet cable coming from my Airport Extreme to my computer and have all my HD's in the Shared folder. Anyway I can keep those mounted or set something where it mounts automatically? Like when I restart my computer?

 

[McGiord]

I had several mounting issues in the past with my external HDD and the AirPort Extreme I have. The Airport Extreme I have is the previous generation 802.11n, which has only one channel, anyway, my point is that after updated the firmware and the OS X it works fine. Once you mount your HDD, ensure that you user and setting are stored in your keychain, and you'll forget about password entering again.

I have all my iTunes Library there and works perfect.

 

[Unverrich]

Do you have yours wired or wireless? Does it ever lose connection or slow down at all?

 

[Unverrich]

I have another question. When you mount 6 HD's to your computer through USB, in the finder window it will show all 6 mounted. Is there a way to make it just show one, then when you go into it it will show all drives? Kind of like it is when its hooked up to the Airport Extreme?

 

[TuckBodi]

I encode any media files on my MBP (Elgato Turbo H.264 stick ~$99), and then copy them over via network (or via remote-connection). Then screen-share with the eMac, and copy the transferred files into iTunes (which copies it automatically to the external drives).

You have an Intel Macbook Pro and you still use a Turbo stick? I would think the speed comparison would be similar and with using your MBP you wouldn't get the macro-blocking and fuzziness those Turbo's were famous for.

Back on topic to the OP, I'd be careful putting things into a closed closet without and good ventilation. I have a couple of Rosewill dual drives and "used" to have a couple of MyBooks in a closet like environment and all but one of the MyBooks died about the same time. And every now and then one of the Rosewill's would cause my Mac mini to shutdown. This even with extra fans in the space. I've since moved my HTPC out into the living room with plenty of air space and since then no problems.

 

[Unverrich]

I have another question. When you mount 6 HD's to your computer through USB, in the finder window it will show all 6 mounted. Is there a way to make it just show one, then when you go into it it will show all drives? Kind of like it is when its hooked up to the Airport Extreme?

 

[Unverrich]

?

 

[jeb1]

I was having the same sorts of questions earlier. apparently when snow leopard comes out apple tv will be able to see all your files on your harddrives attached to your base station without you having to have your computer turned on.

 

[jeb1]

I was having the same sorts of questions earlier. apparently when snow leopard comes out apple tv will be able to see all your files on your harddrives attached to your base station without you having to have your computer turned on.

My bad sorry, it does have to be turned on but it can be asleep. I have a mbp that i have my itunes on with my media on an external linked to aebs but i dont want my mac on all the time when i get apple tv so it looks like im going to have to do what your planning and get a mini or something just to stick itunes on. If i do that though and i have the mac wired to aebs will will the base station stream to the tv or the mac?? If its the mac its going to need a speedy wifi.