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Most efficient HT set up

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selonimes

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 8, 2011
13
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I was taking a look around to see perhaps how I could set up my first Home Theater with either a Mac Mini or Apple TV set up.

I found these two articles interesting.
http://www.htguys.com/mac-mini-video-server

http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/mini_2010_upgrade/turnkey.html

I feel like I am getting into this late but better late than never I guess.

Additionally I have a PS3, but I am not sure how I can tie that into the mix.


Anyone have any other resources to setting up a nice home theater? I realize the forum has information, but I have yet to see it grouped together and or something that will provide a list of this is a good way to do things.
 
One big determining factor - where is your media stored? On a NAS or on your current computer? If you don't have a NAS, you'll have to put the data someplace where the ATV2 could access it, so that involves leaving your computer on all the time.

If you choose to go the Mini route, take a look at Plex. Great Front-Row alternative that plays many more media formats. Downfall is that Plex won't play iTunes DRM media, but you can revert to FrontRow when one of those comes up.

My setup is a Synology NAS loaded with several terabytes of TV Shows and Movies. I also have a Mini hooked up to my HTDV that is scripted to autostart Plex according to Logitech remote commands. The Mini is on all of the time; it's an encoding blackbox during its offhours. I control the mouse and keyboard of the mini with the Conductor app, and use Screens to do VNC when I'm not in front of the TV.
 
Right now I have it on an internal HDD on my PC.

I am looking to switch everything over, and find the easiest most efficient set up, while using some sort of MAC product. Right now my PC desktop has a lot of bells and whistles but is completely unreliable.

So something like the OWC setup seems very appealing, yet it is all rather new to me and I am not sure the best to way to begin.

I should add that besides the PS3 the house is set up with Uverse. My PC is currently in the office, as is the uverse server. The PS3 and the Uverse DVR along with the LCD are in the living room. Ideally I would like to be able to have content in those two rooms plus one more for the babies room.
 
selonimes said:
I was taking a look around to see perhaps how I could set up my first Home Theater with either a Mac Mini or Apple TV set up.

I found these two articles interesting.
http://www.htguys.com/mac-mini-video-server

http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/mini_2010_upgrade/turnkey.html

I feel like I am getting into this late but better late than never I guess.

Additionally I have a PS3, but I am not sure how I can tie that into the mix.


Anyone have any other resources to setting up a nice home theater? I realize the forum has information, but I have yet to see it grouped together and or something that will provide a list of this is a good way to do things.
Click to expand...

I would say a combo of ps3 and apple tv 1 would be your best bet. I have this setup.. Ps3 you can use for blue rays, netflix, hulu+ and some movie purchases thru Playstation store and apple tv1 you can use for purchasing music from itunes and tv show and movie rentals. Plus you load up your favorite music and use it as a ipod with your setup. It's pretty simple for you and your family.

The mac mini route is more expensive and not that user friendly.
 
Any other suggestions as places to check for MacMini or ATV home theater set ups?
 
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