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Mac-Mini Or Apple TV 3?

loon3y

loon3y

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 21, 2011
1,235
126
for a while i've been wanting to get a new smart samsung 3D HDTV (hugest possible size) and slap a mac mini on the back.


my dad boguth an apple tv 3 recently, i mean who would get that? id not see too many features and it looks dead. doesnt seem very useful (planning to jail break his to see whats what)

but i rather much have a mac mini, stream what ever i want, play some classic games, go on FB, etc etc. just sees mac mini is just a way better choice. and plus u can run windows on it via boot camp or parallel desktop/vmware
 
If you want a computer than the Mac mini is the way to go. The apple tv is a streaming device, so it won't do as much. Also, it's about $600 less
 
You seem like you already expressed your desire for a Mini and showed dislike of the ATV then what exactly is the question?

Anyway, you mentioned your dad buying stuff so I'll assume you're not the only user of this large TV. If that's the case then the AppleTV's biggest benefit would be its simplicity for the rest of the family. If anyone owns iOS devices they can stream to it. It can also stream from the house iTunes library and it has a few Internet streaming options. So if you feel "stuck" with it, and since a Mini costs 6x more for your dad, then at least give it a shot with an open mind.
 
I use both attached to my TV. They are very different pieces of tech. But yeah, the mini hooked up to your new TV will be sweet- do it :)
 
T5BRICK said:
It looks dead? What does that even mean?

Anyway, there isn't a jailbreak for the aTV3 yet.
Click to expand...



yea i know, going to wait and see how it is with the the jailbreak and see if the device is worth it.




its dead as in there isn't much selections, i mean NBA pass or any sports pass i can just get it on cable, and its much faster than streaming. i mean i go on there and its just like, what so special about this? i have everything basically apple tv on my cable tv except for my netflix and youtube, and a couple others.


besides that netflix? youtube? what is going to make me wanna watch it on apple tv rather than my ps3 or desktop/labtop


i tried out youtube yesterday, and it was very tedious to search for a video, I'm sure u can connect a keyboard to it but still.


im gonna play around with it today again, didnt really play with it yesterday
 
loon3y said:
im gonna play around with it today again, didnt really play with it yesterday
Click to expand...

I'm looking at all the gear you have in your signature. The killer feature that the atv3 has that the mini doesn't is Airplay. Go get Real Racing or something and play that over Airplay using your iPad. Play Angry Birds while mirroring your iPad and you'll delight everyone in the room with your swine killing skills.

Also, you can use your iPhone/iPad as a remote keyboard for the aTV. Much easier to search Youtube with a keyboard than using the 4-way button.

EDIT - oh, when Mountain Lion comes out, you'll be able to mirror your MBP to the TV using the aTV3. If you have a mini, then you need to make sure you have whatever it is that you want on the mini ... I hate keeping two computers in sync.
 
I have an Apple TV in the bedroom, where my demands are few (and I'll generally be asleep after the first few minutes)

I used to have a monitor + TV on my desk in the living room, attached to a Windows 7 machine. I bought another ATV but quickly realized it didn't have nearly enough flexibility and returned it in favour of a Mac Mini. It's now my main desktop machine, with the Windows 7 used for downloading and recording. It's attached to a large screen TV, for when I want to watch on the sofa, but I normally RDP into it from my mini.
 
ftaok said:
I'm looking at all the gear you have in your signature. The killer feature that the atv3 has that the mini doesn't is Airplay. Go get Real Racing or something and play that over Airplay using your iPad. Play Angry Birds while mirroring your iPad and you'll delight everyone in the room with your swine killing skills.

Also, you can use your iPhone/iPad as a remote keyboard for the aTV. Much easier to search Youtube with a keyboard than using the 4-way button.

EDIT - oh, when Mountain Lion comes out, you'll be able to mirror your MBP to the TV using the aTV3. If you have a mini, then you need to make sure you have whatever it is that you want on the mini ... I hate keeping two computers in sync.
Click to expand...



how do i use my iPhone or iPad as a remote keyboard?
 
loon3y said:
how do i use my iPhone or iPad as a remote keyboard?
Click to expand...

There are a lot of 3rd party remote apps that do more, but the free one from apple called Remote lets you type in text whenever Apple TV asks for input.

Just hold on to the Apple TV Remote though - if you make changes to your network setup you'll need it to reconnect.
 
loon3y said:
i have everything basically apple tv on my cable tv except for my netflix and youtube, and a couple others.

besides that netflix? youtube? what is going to make me wanna watch it on apple tv rather than my ps3 or desktop/labtop.
Click to expand...

See, thats the thing. For the last 3 years, I haven't paid a cable bill. I pay my ISP and I pay for Netflix. I'm probably not the average person, but I successfully "cut the cable." I've been pretty happy with it.

Yeah, netflix and youtube are available on other devices, but have you noticed how noisy and annoying your PS3 fan is? Again, I'm probably not the normal consumer, but this bugs me. I also prefer the interface on my aTV.

But anyway, if you've got the money, the MacMini can make a great HTPC.
 
T5BRICK said:
See, thats the thing. For the last 3 years, I haven't paid a cable bill. I pay my ISP and I pay for Netflix. I'm probably not the average person, but I successfully "cut the cable." I've been pretty happy with it.

Yeah, netflix and youtube are available on other devices, but have you noticed how noisy and annoying your PS3 fan is? Again, I'm probably not the normal consumer, but this bugs me. I also prefer the interface on my aTV.

But anyway, if you've got the money, the MacMini can make a great HTPC.
Click to expand...



ic ic, but how do you up and about without HBO? Showtime? etc, etc.


food network, history channel, discovery, animal, military, FX, Spike, all ESPN channels, NBATV, all Fox Sports West Channels, cartoons for the kids, movie on demand channels, MTV(they don't play music anymore) E VH1 For chicks, BET, TBS, etc etc.

especially sports i need more sports live, and not streaming i do not want to have the danger of missing close clutch moments in games.


the average consumer, and the average consumer base for apple TV (prob around the age of 17 - 40) I'm sure they have favorite shows which would make them think before canceling cable TV and to appleTV for all their TV needs, or not at all, because it cannot give you what u want.

i was never a big fan of netflix, i mean yes its cheap and it comes in good quality, but i rather spend 10 mins looking for a good HD link and just stream for free online. or just watch it onDemand in my cable box, which is faster than streaming on netflix.



i mean i want to use apple TV, but from the beginning when i first saw the interface (never was keen on the whole thing before i even saw it in action, thought it wouldn't come up but i didnt fully judge it till my dad actually played around with it)


i mean you have to pay for everything, NBA, NHL, couple other stuff. i mean yea you buy cable too, but u get so much more, i don't feel like subscribing to one of those things when i already have cable.

but I'm wonder what the jailbreak brings to the apple TV


and the airplay looks dope, I'm going to try that out.


but as a TV alternative appleTV IMO does not cut it, it can be complimentary to to the cable, but not a complete alternative choice.

but then again i hardly watch TV at all anymore, only for watching sports and highlights and ps3, certain TV shows which would be tedious to find or u cannot watch online (military, discovery, food network, etc etc) or watching a movie when friends or family is over (by myself i much rather stream a movie i haven't watched yet).


when i move out i want to get mac mini for my TV but I'm wondering if i should get apple TV with or intend of the mac mini.
 
What is with all of the AppleTV hate? I love my 2nd gen AppleTV. For what it is, it does a damn good job. It is a small, simple streaming device that lets you stream your iTunes content from iOS/OS X devices to your TV. Nice and quiet (no fan) and super easy to use.

Also, I think it's important to note that Mountain Lion will add the ability to airplay your entire desktop to the AppleTV giving you the use of whatever other apps you may use for video.
 
loon3y said:
when i move out i want to get mac mini for my TV but I'm wondering if i should get apple TV with or intend of the mac mini.
Click to expand...
I had a Mac Mini set up with Plex to get all sorts of channels in addition to Hulu and Netflix on my TV. But in the end I use my AppleTV more. While tweaked out Mac Mini is pretty powerful, the AppleTV meant to be a TV interface. Plus, theres no reason to hate a $99 product that offers so much to anyone who already lives in the Apple ecosystem.

If anything, just fire up your iPhone 4S or iPad 3, double click on home, slide left to the Airplay Button, select AppleTV and turn on mirroring. The fact that its so easy to mirror your phone/tablet to your TV is enough of a reason to keep the thing.
 
FlatlinerG said:
What is with all of the AppleTV hate? I love my 2nd gen AppleTV. For what it is, it does a damn good job. It is a small, simple streaming device that lets you stream your iTunes content from iOS/OS X devices to your TV. Nice and quiet (no fan) and super easy to use.

Also, I think it's important to note that Mountain Lion will add the ability to airplay your entire desktop to the AppleTV giving you the use of whatever other apps you may use for video.
Click to expand...

im not trying to hate, I'm just trying to see the pros and cons for which to get or get both. i mean besides the mac mini and the appleTV

I'm going to have an mac book, and a pc desktop nethertheless i just want a device purely for my TV.

im gonna play with it either tonite or this weekend (since I'm a youngsta so my weekend consists of binge drinking so prob won't really mess with it till saturday afternoon or sunday afternoon)
 
loon3y said:
im not trying to hate, I'm just trying to see the pros and cons for which to get or get both. i mean besides the mac mini and the appleTV

I'm going to have an mac book, and a pc desktop nethertheless i just want a device purely for my TV.

im gonna play with it either tonite or this weekend (since I'm a youngsta so my weekend consists of binge drinking so prob won't really mess with it till saturday afternoon or sunday afternoon)
Click to expand...


If you already have a MacBook then I would definitely get the AppleTV. Well, as long as your Mac can support Mountain Lion when it comes out. Airplay mirroring OS X is going to be fantastic.
 
The main benefits of AppleTV vs the mini is ease of use and Airplay. We have both in our system and the AppleTV gets more use. I still like having the mini in the system, though. It is nice for pulling up network programs, Slingbox, Plex, etc.. Also, if I want to play an audio file that was ripped in 16/44.1 or 24/96, it can play them in their native format. The ATV2 converts everything to 16/48.

The Mini can be controlled with iOS devices, too. Rowmote, Mighty Mouse, etc.. apps on iOS can act as a keyboard and mouse. Also, you have Logmein or Splashtop Remote if you want to see the mini on your iPad.

Airfoil Speakers will allow you to use Airplay via audio (only). In other words, you run Airfoil Speakers on your mini and the iPhone will see the device in Airplay.
 
loon3y said:
im not trying to hate, I'm just trying to see the pros and cons for which to get or get both. i mean besides the mac mini and the appleTV

I'm going to have an mac book, and a pc desktop nethertheless i just want a device purely for my TV.

im gonna play with it either tonite or this weekend (since I'm a youngsta so my weekend consists of binge drinking so prob won't really mess with it till saturday afternoon or sunday afternoon)
Click to expand...

I am a cable cutter as well, all of the show i see from those networks you mentioned are available either online for streaming or on itunes.

as far as sports goes, I don't really watch that much of it, but the streaming options is good enough for me, and for those real good games I'll go to a local bar and socialized
 
the coolest thing about the apple TV was when i was playing N.O.V.A. 2 my iPad became a controller, and it was dope, felt like playing a real console game.



yea i guess the air play is really easy to have your computer or mobile device to show up on your TV screen, rather than plugging it in with an HDMI or something.

and the iTunes i guess is an alternative to Time Warner Or DirectTV's onDemand and Netflix (netflix doesnt really have the new releases to my knowledge)




and i guess to watch NBA highlights on the TV rather than on the computer screen. i guess ill use the NBA built in App if i get NBA League Pass, but than lol it shows up on my cable box too so we'll see
 
I currently have a atv1 with 160 GB harddisc.

Running XBMC on it, which brings airplay to the atv1 as well.

Everything is moreless perfect (exept of the buggy iTUnes integration)

I also planning on getting a Mini to replace the atv 1 because all iOS powered appletvs are pretty much passive devices.

My appletv does quite a number of things, including
Transmission, airplay, storage of 4TB movies/Music
I have serval air speakers all served by XBMC on the appletv.
Also incomming calls are beeing displayed on my tv, or instant messages if im not in the office.
The atv1 with xbmc does pretty much anything livingromm-based.

I can remote control everything web based or via iOS devices as well which is really comfortable.

But the atv1 limitation on processing power and memory makes it sometimes a laggy experience, specially if playing hd movies.

i still shaking around between a mac mini or something else.
But so far i have not found anything can do the job as well.

Does anyone have experiences with xbmc on a iOS driven appletv ?

Also transmission on the atv is very compfortable thing since the atv is always on, but other devices maybe not.

Same for rentals downloads, the atv does everything, i just press play (moreless)
 
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