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Is Your Computer On All The Time?

slothrob said:
This is the part that won't work. The Time Capsule can act as a network drive, but won't serve to the aTV unless you have a computer on running iTunes.

I can't say I understand your logic for not just using the laptop you already have, but if it makes sense to you and a Mini isn't difficult for you financially, then that is a good solution.

If you plug the Mini into your surge protector at your desk, it will have the same problem of shutting off that a notebook would have, without the battery. You could still use the laptop while it was serving iTunes content, I do, but the Windows version of iTUnes is a bit of a resource hog and you will notice it slow down if it has a slow processor or is short on RAM.
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OK - the first part I did not know - thank you! Rules out time capsule.

The laptop I have now is running Win7 64bit with 4GB of RAM and runs iTunes like a dog, plus it is running out of HD space. Hence my desire to switch to a Mac device (with more capacity), makes kinda sense also with my other investment in the Apple eco system!

Normally finding the cash for a new PC / Mac would be a struggle, but my company runs a home computing lease program every June where you can buy kit and pay it back straight from salary over 3 years and with a tax break thrown in, so this is what is making it all possible.

I would place the Mac Mini, not in my office but in the lounge and connect it via HMDI to my TV. Then I could leave it on all of the time plugged into that surge protector as this is left on all of the time for the Sky box etc.

Thanks again for your advice!
 
scottpat78 said:
OK - the first part I did not know - thank you! Rules out time capsule.

The laptop I have now is running Win7 64bit with 4GB of RAM and runs iTunes like a dog, plus it is running out of HD space. Hence my desire to switch to a Mac device (with more capacity), makes kinda sense also with my other investment in the Apple eco system!

Normally finding the cash for a new PC / Mac would be a struggle, but my company runs a home computing lease program every June where you can buy kit and pay it back straight from salary over 3 years and with a tax break thrown in, so this is what is making it all possible.

I would place the Mac Mini, not in my office but in the lounge and connect it via HMDI to my TV. Then I could leave it on all of the time plugged into that surge protector as this is left on all of the time for the Sky box etc.

Thanks again for your advice!
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Tax break and a three year payment plan aside, getting a Mac Mini to do what you could achieve with a WD TV Live and an external HDD seems a bit overkill. Like using a lorry to go down to the store for a pint of milk.

My advice would be that you ask yourself what you really want and need, then make your decision based on that. Or, if you're dead set on getting a Mac Mini, try to make the most out of it.
 
hafr said:
Tax break and a three year payment plan aside, getting a Mac Mini to do what you could achieve with a WD TV Live and an external HDD seems a bit overkill. Like using a lorry to go down to the store for a pint of milk.

My advice would be that you ask yourself what you really want and need, then make your decision based on that. Or, if you're dead set on getting a Mac Mini, try to make the most out of it.
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lol - I get that - iTunes media hub will only be one of the uses of any new Mac. Whatever I go for will be replacing my Windows laptop as going to sell that at the same time.

I like the idea of hooking the mini up to the TV though so it can be used in the lounge, but I agree it may be overkill and if I want to use it I can't then have the TV / sky on.

Back to the thinking stage I reckon, might be a Macbook left on all the time after all.

Scott.
 
scottpat78 said:
lol - I get that - iTunes media hub will only be one of the uses of any new Mac. Whatever I go for will be replacing my Windows laptop as going to sell that at the same time.

I like the idea of hooking the mini up to the TV though so it can be used in the lounge, but I agree it may be overkill and if I want to use it I can't then have the TV / sky on.

Back to the thinking stage I reckon, might be a Macbook left on all the time after all.

Scott.
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Remember the MacBook Pro doesn't have to stay on all the time. As long as the lid isn't closed and it's only in sleep mode, the ATV3 will wake it up when it wants to access the iTunes library.
 
hafr said:
Remember the MacBook Pro doesn't have to stay on all the time. As long as the lid isn't closed and it's only in sleep mode, the ATV3 will wake it up when it wants to access the iTunes library.
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Now that is handy and could probably seal any decision. What is the normal battery life when in sleep, and how much use could you get out of it on battery if all it is doing is streaming to ATV. Anyone know?

Thanks for the info.
 
scottpat78 said:
Now that is handy and could probably seal any decision. What is the normal battery life when in sleep, and how much use could you get out of it on battery if all it is doing is streaming to ATV. Anyone know?

Thanks for the info.
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I have no idea, never even thought about worrying over battery time in sleep mode since I never go a day without having access to my charger... Also, if you have it at home and it's going to be on stand by to stream content to the ATV3, why not just let it be plugged in to the charger? It's not harmful for the battery, and you know you'll have a fully charged battery, should you need to grab it and go.
 
hafr said:
I have no idea, never even thought about worrying over battery time in sleep mode since I never go a day without having access to my charger... Also, if you have it at home and it's going to be on stand by to stream content to the ATV3, why not just let it be plugged in to the charger? It's not harmful for the battery, and you know you'll have a fully charged battery, should you need to grab it and go.
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Yes, it will be charging during the day when I am working, I was just wondering for outside of working hours, when I want to stream to the ATV and will have it running from battery only.
 
scottpat78 said:
Yes, it will be charging during the day when I am working, I was just wondering for outside of working hours, when I want to stream to the ATV and will have it running from battery only.
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Considering you could easily watch two-three movies on a full charge, you should be able to do more than that when streaming, since it's less demanding.
 
hafr said:
Considering you could easily watch two-three movies on a full charge, you should be able to do more than that when streaming, since it's less demanding.
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That sounds like more than enough for me. It's the occasional movie plus access to 1000's of family pictures that aren't on Photostream really. Music & TV shows are in the cloud now.

Do you have to enable anything on the MBP to allow ATV access whilst it is asleep to wake up - WOL etc?

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it.
 
scottpat78 said:
That sounds like more than enough for me. It's the occasional movie plus access to 1000's of family pictures that aren't on Photostream really. Music & TV shows are in the cloud now.

Do you have to enable anything on the MBP to allow ATV access whilst it is asleep to wake up - WOL etc?

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it.
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I can't remember if it's enabled or not as default, but it's something like "wake on network" in the energy saving preferences.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
I can't believe there have been 23 responses and no one has mentioned the obvious. Laptops. I can't say with certainty if that's what the OP is referring to, but I think it might be. Yeah if I had an iMac/Pro/Mac Mini then I'd never turn it off ever. BUT my only computer is a Macbook and I do NOT want to keep it open and plugged in at all times because that supposedly reduces battery life. I always close my macbook when not using it. It would be pretty inconvenient for me to need to go open my macbook, then launch iTunes anytime I wanted to use my Apple TV... just saying...
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I have a Macbook, Rev 6,1, whit eunibody. I have had it on for the past 8 months all day everyday, and my battery use is stable. Just make sure to calibrate it once in a while and you'll be fine. I've had my Macbook 2 year 4 months now, think my battery is still at 93% after 300 something cycles.
 
GGJstudios said:
The built-in batteries in the newer Mac unibody notebooks come pre-calibrated and do not require regular calibration like the removable batteries.
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It seems like every single post you make immediately has a -1. Either someone has a serious grudge against you or you are self loathing.

iphone1105 said:
Well there ya go, GGJ always on top of this! In other words, dont worry about your laptop battery(to the original guy I quoted)
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Well technically on my White late 2007 MacBook I still do! :p

But my concern wasn't really even about calibration, but more about hampering the actual life of the battery. Even Apple states it is best to always be charging or discharging (i.e. never stable and plugged in while at 100% thus NOT using the battery) to keep the electrons moving. That is supposed to improve battery life. I'm sure there is some truth to it, but based on all the discussion I've seen it would appear that this is a very minimal effect. To be safe I still think it would be best to unplug it and get a good use out of the battery periodically (maybe onec or twice a month). But I mean honestly if you don't move your laptop from your desk at least once a month you really need to start questioning why you have a laptop at all...
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
It seems like every single post you make immediately has a -1. Either someone has a serious grudge against you or you are self loathing.
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I never pay attention to those votes. They're completely useless, since there's no rhyme or reason to the voting process. And no, it's not good to run on AC power all the time. Batteries do need to be exercised to stay healthy, despite what a few may claim.
 
Alrescha said:
We interpret it differently. I don't think keeping it plugged in 24/7 is bad at all; what is bad is not using it once in a while, and Apple confirms that by saying that you should discharge and charge the battery at least once a month. In other words, it's not the 'being plugged in' that is the problem, it's the 'not using it at all'.

To reiterate, I've had a 2007 Macbook plugged in since I bought it new; it's currently on it's original battery with hours of usability, and I don't bother to discharge and charge it every month. And I'm not the only one.

A.
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Just for comparison - I've a '07 Macbook Pro and it also had the bulging battery (recalled), I had to replace the battery again about 18 months later by which time I'd barely get 10 minutes of usage after plugging it out; and the 3rd battery was in nearly the same state by the time I bought a '11 Macbook Pro (seems far better). I used it mostly as a desktop replacement, only running off battery when sleeping while I went between home and the office.
 
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