It's a CELEBRATION!!!

[Jshwon]

It has began. I have placed my order for my first Mac which will be a refurb mini 2.0 C2D. I am super excited to get it and play away. Seems like forever I've been reading these forums and others now the day has come. And this is just the begining of the switch. Hopefully a new iMac in the new year too and one of the Macbooks to follow (still trying to convince the wife on that one). Anyway this is how I plan to use the mini primarily:

HTPC running leapord (Why put it in the office I want everyone to get a taste of the superbadness)
Elgato HD HomeRun for ATSC/QAM tuning
EyeTV software
LaCie external hd (taking suggestions on stackable external hd's)

Need to start to compile a list of apps that will be useful. This is what I have so far:
Adium
VLC
Handbrake
Toast 8
Quick Silver (perhaps)
Superduper/Carbon Copy Cloner (as option to Time Machine)

Can anyone suggest any other good 3rd party apps? Thanks for all your posts as the have helped me along the way.

 

[photomel]

Congrats!!! I just pulled the trigger too.....finally!! My husband is a nay sayer but I bought it anyway.

20" iMac 2.4

 

[Finlandboy]

i suggest:

app zapper- it removes apps and most of the hidden files associated with them
stuffit expander- it expands a lot of different file types quickly
dockables- i use this a lot, it basically puts an app in you dock and when you click it, it preforms a task (shutdown, restart, empty trash) its very handy

hope this helps

 

[Slip]

i suggest:

app zapper- it removes apps and most of the hidden files associated with them
stuffit expander- it expands a lot of different file types quickly
dockables- i use this a lot, it basically puts an app in you dock and when you click it, it preforms a task (shutdown, restart, empty trash) its very handy

hope this helps

AppTrap is an alternative to AppZapper if you don't feel like paying for the license, works like a champ here
Congratulations on the Mac, will make a good Christmas

 

[kermit4161]

It has began. I have placed my order for my first Mac which will be a refurb mini 2.0 C2D....

CONGRATS!! I think you're going to be real happy

Sounds like you've got all the apps cornered. In fact, there are some on your list I don't have... I need to do some googling.

One suggestion if you don't already know... I've been hooking my sound with just an RCA splitter off of the headphones jack. Well, I recently learned that you can hook up an Opitcal TOS cable from either sound-out jack into an Optical-in port on your surround system (if it has one). Supposed to be a much better quality connection. I've got a cable on order right now (will be here next week). They have them at the Apple store, or you can get one directly from the manufacturer on their web site... it is quicker from them (XTrememac.com I think... they have the name listed at the Apple store).

Have fun with your new Mini. I'm in love with mine!

 

[GSMiller]

AppTrap is an alternative to AppZapper if you don't feel like paying for the license, works like a champ here
Congratulations on the Mac, will make a good Christmas

I second AppTrap. You can't beat free

 

[CanadaRAM]

Sing it with us, everybody -- CEL - E - BRATE good times - WHoo WHoo! (It's a celebration)!
There's a Mini going in right here
Apple goodness, to last throughout the year
So bring your Leopard, and your iTunes too
We're gonna celebrate and fsck -fy with you
Cel - e - brate good times Whoo Whoo!

 

[Slip]

Sing it with us, everybody -- CEL - E - BRATE good times - WHoo WHoo! (It's a celebration)!
There's a Mini going in right here
Apple goodness, to last throughout the year
So bring your Leopard, and your iTunes too
We're gonna celebrate and fsck -fy with you
Cel - e - brate good times Whoo Whoo!

Hahaha, I actually lol'd at that
Too much time on your hands mate

 

[dazed]

congrats.

Im a recent convert and love my 2ghz mac mini. I'd recommend 2 external HD's, one for time machine and one for all your media. The internal HD is not the biggest so you dont want to cram it up with junk.

I got 2 500gb WD My Books from Costco and they have been great and quiet (they sit on my desk next to the monitor).

My next purchase will be more ram

 

[Nukemkb]

Congratulations! I've been wanting a 2 gig Mac Mini very much.

 

[splashtech]

Sing it with us, everybody -- CEL - E - BRATE good times - WHoo WHoo! (It's a celebration)!
There's a Mini going in right here
Apple goodness, to last throughout the year
So bring your Leopard, and your iTunes too
We're gonna celebrate and fsck -fy with you
Cel - e - brate good times Whoo Whoo!

Oh, to see this on youtube...

 

[Nukemkb]

Lol!

 

[Jshwon]

i suggest:

app zapper- it removes apps and most of the hidden files associated with them
stuffit expander- it expands a lot of different file types quickly
dockables- i use this a lot, it basically puts an app in you dock and when you click it, it preforms a task (shutdown, restart, empty trash) its very handy

hope this helps

Thanks! Dockables sounds interesting, dockable tasks. I'll look out for it.

AppTrap is an alternative to AppZapper

If its free its for me I'll check that out.

One suggestion if you don't already know... I've been hooking my sound with just an RCA splitter off of the headphones jack. Well, I recently learned that you can hook up an Opitcal TOS cable from either sound-out jack into an Optical-in port on your surround system (if it has one). Supposed to be a much better quality connection. I've got a cable on order right now (will be here next week). They have them at the Apple store, or you can get one directly from the manufacturer on their web site... it is quicker from them (XTrememac.com I think... they have the name listed at the Apple store).

Thanks for this information. I was actually going to ask about that. So I can get a 3.5mm jack to optical out cable to use as for audio? I was going to pick up a 3.5mm jack to rca for my audio.

Sing it with us, everybody -- CEL - E - BRATE good times - WHoo WHoo! (It's a celebration)!
There's a Mini going in right here
Apple goodness, to last throughout the year
So bring your Leopard, and your iTunes too
We're gonna celebrate and fsck -fy with you
Cel - e - brate good times Whoo Whoo!

Thats just comedy!

congrats.

Im a recent convert and love my 2ghz mac mini. I'd recommend 2 external HD's, one for time machine and one for all your media. The internal HD is not the biggest so you dont want to cram it up with junk.

I got 2 500gb WD My Books from Costco and they have been great and quiet (they sit on my desk next to the monitor).

My next purchase will be more ram

Thats the plan for me. Need HD's. but I'd like one to be stackable with the mini to keep it clean looking. How are the LaCie's?

 

[divedude]

Sing it with us, everybody -- CEL - E - BRATE good times - WHoo WHoo! (It's a celebration)!
There's a Mini going in right here
Apple goodness, to last throughout the year
So bring your Leopard, and your iTunes too
We're gonna celebrate and fsck -fy with you
Cel - e - brate good times Whoo Whoo!

Maybe the PC Guy and the MAC Guy can get together and sing this as a follow up to their Christmas hit

 

[vansouza]

It has began. I have placed my order for my first Mac which will be a refurb mini 2.0 C2D. I am super excited to get it and play away. Seems like forever I've been reading these forums and others now the day has come. And this is just the begining of the switch. Hopefully a new iMac in the new year too and one of the Macbooks to follow (still trying to convince the wife on that one). Anyway this is how I plan to use the mini primarily:

HTPC running leapord (Why put it in the office I want everyone to get a taste of the superbadness)
Elgato HD HomeRun for ATSC/QAM tuning
EyeTV software
LaCie external hd (taking suggestions on stackable external hd's)

Need to start to compile a list of apps that will be useful. This is what I have so far:
Adium
VLC
Handbrake
Toast 8
Quick Silver (perhaps)
Superduper/Carbon Copy Cloner (as option to Time Machine)

Can anyone suggest any other good 3rd party apps? Thanks for all your posts as the have helped me along the way.

Welcome and try this link http://www.opensourcemac.org/

 

[Jshwon]

Welcome and try this link http://www.opensourcemac.org/

Nice link. Oh I guess I should add a sig now

 

[Cave Man]

Thanks for this information. I was actually going to ask about that. So I can get a 3.5mm jack to optical out cable to use as for audio? I was going to pick up a 3.5mm jack to rca for my audio.

Does your receiver have an optical input? If not, then there's really no need for a Toslink cable. If it does, that's the way to go because you can get Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound to it using DVD Player app or VLC (which is buggy and can kill your audio in such a way that only a reboot can rescue it).

 

[Jshwon]

Does your receiver have an optical input? If not, then there's really no need for a Toslink cable. If it does, that's the way to go because you can get Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound to it using DVD Player app or VLC (which is buggy and can kill your audio in such a way that only a reboot can rescue it).

No I dont have a receiver/surround sound set up yet. So its a non issue right now. But will the 3.5mm to rca be the only other option? Also how do you like your Hybrid and the EyeTV software? Is it good enough for primary TV/Movie watching?

 

[discomandavis]

mac the ripper
one of the best free apps ever

 

[ivan1234]

congrats!

 

[Cave Man]

No I dont have a receiver/surround sound set up yet. So its a non issue right now. But will the 3.5mm to rca be the only other option?

Umm, I think so. 1/8" plug is what works. Let's see:

3.5mm = 0.137795276"
1/8" = 0.125"

I don't know - perhaps someone else can comment?

Either way, once you get it sorted out, you can get mono, stereo, Dolby Pro Logic I (4-channel) and DPLII (5-channel) surround sound using that cable.

Also how do you like your Hybrid and the EyeTV software? Is it good enough for primary TV/Movie watching?

I love the thing. We have it connected to a roof-top antenna for reception of digital TV signals about 40 to 50 miles away. Great DVR and automatically exports to iTunes for playback in Apple TV (or for your iPod).

 

[swiftaw]

Dont forget:

Perian
Flip4Mac

 

[bluedoggiant]

good buy

good buy for a mac switcher, but from those apps, looks like your better off with an imac, but in my opinion, and i repeat my opinion, nobody take this personally, i think the imac is a better investment and has power that will last longer, plus an imac uses better ram, uses core 2 duo too, but clocked up faster (plus the pro oriented 2.8 core 2 duo extreme a.k.a. core 2 extreme), but for a first mac, that will do fine, but you may need an upgrade. if that was in the price range of $200-$500, that would have made a good "testing" computer to start out in to the world of big cats, but for normal use, multitasking, burning dvd's and stuff, the imac has a better optical drive, the mac pro has two drives so that you can insert the cd you want to rip in one, and the blank in the other, but i dont think you will want to spend $3000 on a system that can do so much more and use it just for that, but otherwise, have fun with your mac, you wont regret it, macs are cool, and trust me, im actually more fascinated by big cats on my desk rather than staring out my windows.

EDIT: i agree with swiftaw, very important plug in for quicktime to watch .wmv, have fun with your lil mini critter!!!

 

[Jshwon]

I love the thing. We have it connected to a roof-top antenna for reception of digital TV signals about 40 to 50 miles away. Great DVR and automatically exports to iTunes for playback in Apple TV (or for your iPod).

So when watching TV/DVD/HD full screen on the desktop is it the same as just watching regular TV? I just want to make sure that when I'm watching TV (full screen w/o seeing the desktop) you cant tell your on a computer desktop.

 

[Jshwon]

good buy for a mac switcher, but from those apps, looks like your better off with an imac, but in my opinion, and i repeat my opinion, nobody take this personally, i think the imac is a better investment and has power that will last longer, plus an imac uses better ram, uses core 2 duo too, but clocked up faster (plus the pro oriented 2.8 core 2 duo extreme a.k.a. core 2 extreme), but for a first mac, that will do fine, but you may need an upgrade. if that was in the price range of $200-$500, that would have made a good "testing" computer to start out in to the world of big cats, but for normal use, multitasking, burning dvd's and stuff, the imac has a better optical drive, the mac pro has two drives so that you can insert the cd you want to rip in one, and the blank in the other, but i dont think you will want to spend $3000 on a system that can do so much more and use it just for that, but otherwise, have fun with your mac, you wont regret it, macs are cool, and trust me, im actually more fascinated by big cats on my desk rather than staring out my windows.

EDIT: i agree with swiftaw, very important plug in for quicktime to watch .wmv, have fun with your lil mini critter!!!

Dont know if you noticed but the primary use for this purchase was to have a Mac HTPC. So I dont think a iMac would have been appropriate for what I wanted to use it for. Also I said that a iMac is in the plans after the new year for my office so its already on my radar . But yeah I cant wait for it to get here. Still has a 1yr warranty right?