mac mini htpc q/a

[dajaga]

hey
i bought my first macbook a couple weeks ago and i dont think im going back to pc`s. so i was lookin at the mac mini for a htpc. i have a 5.1 sound system and sharp 42 inch 1080p tv. ok here are a few q/a.

1. i would like to be able to play bluray. i know there is no support for it yet but with more ram and a external bluray drive would this be able to play them.

2.can i upconvert regular dvds to 1080p, and can i play 1080p movies in h264 format.

3.this machine has wireless support and optical right. and can i use any wireless mouse and keyboard or does it have to be made for apple.

thanks for your help

 

[iPhil]

Question #1 answer: Right now Bluray is for only backup storage by using Toast 9 software by Roxio..




Question #3 answer: Mac will use any brand of bluetooth based wireless keyboard/mouse combo or different companies brands on bluetooth input pieces (keyboard/mouse)....

 

[dajaga]

Question #1 answer: Right now Bluray is for only backup storage by using Toast 9 software by Roxio..




Question #3 answer: Mac will use any brand of bluetooth based wireless keyboard/mouse combo or different companies brands on bluetooth input pieces (keyboard/mouse)....

i know bluray support isnt available, but for future support will this machine be more then enough to play bluray movies with max ram

 

[rw3]

The GMA950 from Intel really isn't enough graphics power to run the 1080p BluRay up to what it should be.

 

[Yvan256]

The GMA950 from Intel really isn't enough graphics power to run the 1080p BluRay up to what it should be.

So, the question simply becomes "is a Core 2 Duo enough to play back Blu-Ray movies?".

 

[dajaga]

ok so is there gonna be a upgrade of the mac mini in the next month or so or should i get a pc. which i dont really want, i just want to be future proof so i dont have to upgrade in a long time. i like the fact that the mini is so small and quiet. and that it has wireless and blue tooth.

 

[brand]

ok so is there gonna be a upgrade of the mac mini in the next month or so

No one here knows.

i just want to be future proof

There's not such thing.

 

[Dmac77]

Hi,

No one can answer your question about when the Mini will be updated, but we're pushing a year (may have even passed a year, to lazy to check the buyer's guide) since the mini has been updated. Many here on the forum including myself think that Apple is going to kill the mini, I personally think that Apple may introduce a mini tower at MWSF, but no one knows if that will happen besides SJ. As much as I hate to recommend PC's to people, I would say go and get one of the Sony VAIO TP models. They aren't bad looking, but the only downside is that they come with Vista, they even have a tv tuner in them. I honestly don't think that Apple will be adopting BluRay, because Apple is trying to get people to buy there movies/tv shows off of iTunes.

Don

 

[Cave Man]

The GMA950 from Intel really isn't enough graphics power to run the 1080p BluRay up to what it should be.

This simply isn't true. The GMA950 is quite capable of handling 1080 video at 24fps. All the decoding is handled by the cpu and so long as you have a decent one (and both Minis do) and the right software (which is only XMBC at the moment), a Mini could do Blu-Ray just fine.

 

[ViViDboarder]

Hi,

No one can answer your question about when the Mini will be updated, but we're pushing a year (may have even passed a year, to lazy to check the buyer's guide) since the mini has been updated. Many here on the forum including myself think that Apple is going to kill the mini, I personally think that Apple may introduce a mini tower at MWSF, but no one knows if that will happen besides SJ. As much as I hate to recommend PC's to people, I would say go and get one of the Sony VAIO TP models. They aren't bad looking, but the only downside is that they come with Vista, they even have a tv tuner in them. I honestly don't think that Apple will be adopting BluRay, because Apple is trying to get people to buy there movies/tv shows off of iTunes.

Don

I hope they don't ditch the mac mini. They are so perfect for projects It seems that everyone buys a mac mini for a purpose... not necesarily as their main computer. Mac Mini - For my car, Mac Mini - For my TV, Mac Mini - For my bathroom, Mac Mini - For my Bobsled... I think you get it.

Whatever happens, it'll make the old ones go down in price so I can afford one.

 

[richardhunt]

My Macmini has enough power to run blu-ray, the issue is HDCP.

 

[Dmac77]

I hope they don't ditch the mac mini. They are so perfect for projects It seems that everyone buys a mac mini for a purpose... not necesarily as their main computer. Mac Mini - For my car, Mac Mini - For my TV, Mac Mini - For my bathroom, Mac Mini - For my Bobsled... I think you get it.

Whatever happens, it'll make the old ones go down in price so I can afford one.

I understand what your saying, but the Mini is an underpowered, overpriced, forgotten, and neglected computer. Apple would be wise to keep it, and introduce an upgradeable minitower. The mini makes a great media center PC, except for the fact that it doesn't have blu-ray, and pretty much every PC manufacture offers blu-ray as an option on at least one of their computers. Apple most likely will axe the mini if they introduce an upgradeable minitower, because their plan for a media center computer, is Apple TV, which hopefully have a blu-ray player in its next iteration, and if it does, I'll order one before SJ finishes saying blu-ray disc.

Don

 

[ADent]

Apple will introduce a mini-tower when pigs fly.

Look at the history of Apple and look for such a product.
- IIsi - One slot available, with a $50-$100 adapter
- 7200. Totally crippled compared to a 7500
- Centris line - no FPU, slower CPUs. The rumor was the 20 and 25MHZ chips were all really 32MHz chips (and thus easy to overclock), but Apple wanted the slower chips.
- Cube- $1200+ for one slot and limited expansion, cooling, etc didn't make a great expansion machine

Even on the MacBooks (and iBooks) they never included a PCMCIA/PC CARD/CARD BUS on the cheaper machines.

Apple will not introduce a low end, upgradeable machine unless they can make sure they will not dent MacPro sales. They tried to sell minis with Core Solos for gosh sakes!


BTW they will have to do something since the current CPU is EOLd and going out of production. If Apple is going to come out with new computer lineup this fall, I can see the mini fading away for a few months until they get around to updating it.

 

[kaiwai]

Apple will introduce a mini-tower when pigs fly.

Look at the history of Apple and look for such a product.
- IIsi - One slot available, with a $50-$100 adapter
- 7200. Totally crippled compared to a 7500
- Centris line - no FPU, slower CPUs. The rumor was the 20 and 25MHZ chips were all really 32MHz chips (and thus easy to overclock), but Apple wanted the slower chips.
- Cube- $1200+ for one slot and limited expansion, cooling, etc didn't make a great expansion machine

Even on the MacBooks (and iBooks) they never included a PCMCIA/PC CARD/CARD BUS on the cheaper machines.

Apple will not introduce a low end, upgradeable machine unless they can make sure they will not dent MacPro sales. They tried to sell minis with Core Solos for gosh sakes!


BTW they will have to do something since the current CPU is EOLd and going out of production. If Apple is going to come out with new computer lineup this fall, I can see the mini fading away for a few months until they get around to updating it.

Something like this could do the trick:

 

[TraceyS/FL]

I hope they don't ditch the mac mini. They are so perfect for projects It seems that everyone buys a mac mini for a purpose... not necesarily as their main computer. Mac Mini - For my car, Mac Mini - For my TV, Mac Mini - For my bathroom, Mac Mini - For my Bobsled... I think you get it.

Whatever happens, it'll make the old ones go down in price so I can afford one.

ROFL, i resemble that remark. Never considered buying a mini until i had a need for a "cheap" way to record TV for the next 9 months! LOL!! It will get used after that, but for right now, it records school!