I, like many of you, was waiting for this Mini refresh to finally get an amazing HTPC setup going. There were two main features I was holding my breath for … HDMI, and what really got me ready to buy was the rumor that we would possibly be able to swap out the superdrive (pretty much useless) for a second internal (hopefully 3.5”) HD.
What I want from an HTPC:
A small footprint that has an internal 3.5” SATA, which ideally could be slaved to a computer, and can be easily moved from room to room.
The Mac Mini refresh doesn’t reach my goal, but I’m not going to complain about how Apple is ripping us off with the costs for this and lack of core HTPC features, but I do have a question about the Mini’s worth based on exclusive use as a HTCP.
Portability Cons:
With this Mini refresh, it would need an external HD, which hurts its ease of portability, and it would require multiple video adapters, and at least one sound cord. Basically, when you hook this up, it’s staying in one spot, moving it wouldn’t be as easy other devices. If you had a Mac Mini with a secondary 3.5” SATA internal drive in place of the superdrive with HDMI output, you could move that thing around with ease, similar to a Popcorn Hour or QNAP NMP1000 with an internal drive.
Cost Cons:
The base model is $500, then an external would be required, plus more RAM. You’d be paying at least $300-$500 more than a WD HD TV or a Popcorn Hour, which are no where near as powerful, but very functional when your only use is a HTPC.
Mini Pros:
Still the sleekest looking device on the block. Has more power than most other possible HTPCs, and runs full OSX which offers great flexibility, so you install most Mac programs (assuming they don't have massive hardware requirements) including Plex Media Center, which looks to be the best front end media center program out there.
Conclusion:
If I’m running most files off an external anyway, the WD HD TV makes sense, and has HDMI out. The Popcorn Hour allows an internal 3.5” SATA hard drive, and has HDMI out. Neither of these devices offer the flexibility or power of a Mini though.
Do you think the added cost and power of the Mac Mini is worth it even with it’s difficult portability and complicated adapters over a WD HD TV, Popcorn Hour, or the new QNAP NMP1000 that was on Engadget today?
Thanks.
What I want from an HTPC:
A small footprint that has an internal 3.5” SATA, which ideally could be slaved to a computer, and can be easily moved from room to room.
The Mac Mini refresh doesn’t reach my goal, but I’m not going to complain about how Apple is ripping us off with the costs for this and lack of core HTPC features, but I do have a question about the Mini’s worth based on exclusive use as a HTCP.
Portability Cons:
With this Mini refresh, it would need an external HD, which hurts its ease of portability, and it would require multiple video adapters, and at least one sound cord. Basically, when you hook this up, it’s staying in one spot, moving it wouldn’t be as easy other devices. If you had a Mac Mini with a secondary 3.5” SATA internal drive in place of the superdrive with HDMI output, you could move that thing around with ease, similar to a Popcorn Hour or QNAP NMP1000 with an internal drive.
Cost Cons:
The base model is $500, then an external would be required, plus more RAM. You’d be paying at least $300-$500 more than a WD HD TV or a Popcorn Hour, which are no where near as powerful, but very functional when your only use is a HTPC.
Mini Pros:
Still the sleekest looking device on the block. Has more power than most other possible HTPCs, and runs full OSX which offers great flexibility, so you install most Mac programs (assuming they don't have massive hardware requirements) including Plex Media Center, which looks to be the best front end media center program out there.
Conclusion:
If I’m running most files off an external anyway, the WD HD TV makes sense, and has HDMI out. The Popcorn Hour allows an internal 3.5” SATA hard drive, and has HDMI out. Neither of these devices offer the flexibility or power of a Mini though.
Do you think the added cost and power of the Mac Mini is worth it even with it’s difficult portability and complicated adapters over a WD HD TV, Popcorn Hour, or the new QNAP NMP1000 that was on Engadget today?
Thanks.
