Mac mini and iMac question.

[C8XY]

Hi,
I have an iMac upstairs which has my iTunes library on, me and my girlfriend both use it for our iPhones, (different playlists) what I would like to do is buy a mac mini to use downstairs in the lounge as a media center connected to the hi def tv, my question is, can I link the two macs via wireless then stream the music? Would this work with different playlists? Could I use the media function downstairs but stream from upstairs basically?
could I also use the mini as a back up source via time machine?
And not so important at the minute but can the mini be used for apple tv?

Thanks, look forward to your comments and suggestions!

 

[nando2323]

Hi,
I have an iMac upstairs which has my iTunes library on, me and my girlfriend both use it for our iPhones, (different playlists) what I would like to do is buy a mac mini to use downstairs in the lounge as a media center connected to the hi def tv, my question is, can I link the two macs via wireless then stream the music? Would this work with different playlists? Could I use the media function downstairs but stream from upstairs basically?
could I also use the mini as a back up source via time machine?
And not so important at the minute but can the mini be used for apple tv?

Thanks, look forward to your comments and suggestions!

To answer your questions,

1. Yes you can access your library from the mini, just share the library on the imac and use front row on the mini to access it, including your playlists.

2. You cannot use the mini as a Time Machine, you can manually backup your stuff to it if you want but not using Time Machine.

3. You could use the Mini as an ATV but I don't recommend this because it's a hack and not all the functionality works, also it's only the 1.0 version of the ATV software that works to my knowledge, and you have to have Tiger not leopard installed.

 

[C8XY]

Thank you, the apple tv isn't a problem and I don't mind manually backing up so the fact I can use front row is great, the mac mini buying guide on this site recommends not purchasing one yet, is there an updated version coming?

 

[nando2323]

Thank you, the apple tv isn't a problem and I don't mind manually backing up so the fact I can use front row is great, the mac mini buying guide on this site recommends not purchasing one yet, is there an updated version coming?

Your guess on when a new mini is coming is just as good as about anyone else's in here.