Sooo ready for a Mac Mini... which one though?

[srexy]

I've got an Apple TV which I love but I'm just so tempted to lay out the extra $$ for a Mini and bequeath the aTV to my kids.

Is it worth ponying up the extra for the most recent generation or try to take advantage of any bargains that might be out there for the last gen?

I'll probably end up using it for my ripping/dl'ing requirements and also will want to add an external drive for storage so that I can unload my aging greybox PC that's currently doing media storage honours.

What do you all think? - Pony up for newest or save the $$ for a new HDD enclosure + drives?

 

[Bye Bye Baby]

Go for the newest one if you can. The graphics will definitely help if you want any HD content.

FYI- the ATV and the mac mini compliment each other, they don't cancel each other out.

I use the mini as a media server attached to one TV and as a media server for the ATV.

 

[zedsdead]

I say new one because it has a much better graphics card and the firewire 800 port.

 

[rgarjr]

Go for the newest one if you can. The graphics will definitely help if you want any HD content.

FYI- the ATV and the mac mini compliment each other, they don't cancel each other out.

I use the mini as a media server attached to one TV and as a media server for the ATV.

Are you running that mini 24/7 or is it on most of the day?

 

[pacmania1982]

My Mac mini (1.83GHz Core 2 Duo model) runs 24/7 connected to my 1.5TB drive and its fine. Its only ever down when I do a software update that forces a restart

pac

 

[Advance The Man]

I recently bought a refurb 2.8 iMac for $1199. If you don't have a monitor, keyboard, etc - the price isn't so bad. It's a nice computer for media. I have kept my Apple TV and use this in conjunction. Actually have a 2nd ATV that is 'fed' from this iMac. I have canceled cable and use only ATV and Hulu for the TV's. It's nice not watching commercials or the news. Not that you couldn't watch the news via podcasts on ATV (i.e. CNN, etc).

 

[TraceyS/FL]

My Mac mini (1.83GHz Core 2 Duo model) runs 24/7 connected to my 1.5TB drive and its fine. Its only ever down when I do a software update that forces a restart

pac

Same here, mine has been used to record via EyeTV since August, about 600 DVDs worth of content (recorded at 940mb/h setting). I've had no issues with it at all - it's just keeps going and going. (thankfully though, that recording marathon is about over, now to get caught up on the other 200 DVDs i have to burn of the content).

I've also been running my MBP recording, but only at about 1/2 the content level. But it's been on 24/7 since late August too.

 

[srexy]

I recently bought a refurb 2.8 iMac for $1199. If you don't have a monitor, keyboard, etc - the price isn't so bad. It's a nice computer for media. I have kept my Apple TV and use this in conjunction. Actually have a 2nd ATV that is 'fed' from this iMac. I have canceled cable and use only ATV and Hulu for the TV's. It's nice not watching commercials or the news. Not that you couldn't watch the news via podcasts on ATV (i.e. CNN, etc).

I've already got an iMac for the kid's playroom - it's hooked up to a 37" lcd. My aTV is in the living room serving adult needs on a nice plasma. If money were no object I'd purchase an LCD replacement for the old as the hills 19" RCA crt that's in our bedroom and retire the aTV there. The Mini would be attached to the plasma instead.

Having said all this - my plasma is 3 yrs old and is only capable of 720p I wonder if I should future proof with the newer Mini or just get one that will suffice on 720p. I don't anticipate getting a new plasma panel for at least 5 years!

 

[mohanman]

I've already got an iMac for the kid's playroom - it's hooked up to a 37" lcd. My aTV is in the living room serving adult needs on a nice plasma. If money were no object I'd purchase an LCD replacement for the old as the hills 19" RCA crt that's in our bedroom and retire the aTV there. The Mini would be attached to the plasma instead.

Having said all this - my plasma is 3 yrs old and is only capable of 720p I wonder if I should future proof with the newer Mini or just get one that will suffice on 720p. I don't anticipate getting a new plasma panel for at least 5 years!

I guess there is some literature out there that the companies that made plasma underestimated their lifespan. I was always told the thing would die in 30 years, but some companies are claiming that they can last longer than us. I have a sony 32" plasma for about 6-7 years now, not a single problem, and a Panasonic 42" plasma for about 4 years, not a single problem.

I like plasmas, better blacks and motion, too bad they are being pushed away towards LCDS.. I hate that motion artifact

Mo

 

[srexy]

I guess there is some literature out there that the companies that made plasma underestimated their lifespan. I was always told the thing would die in 30 years, but some companies are claiming that they can last longer than us. I have a sony 32" plasma for about 6-7 years now, not a single problem, and a Panasonic 42" plasma for about 4 years, not a single problem.

I like plasmas, better blacks and motion, too bad they are being pushed away towards LCDS.. I hate that motion artifact

Mo

I love my Panny 50" - don't see any reason to upgrade when it's as good as it is.

 

[motownflip]

I've been debating this same issue. I think the point is to atleast stick to the Intel Mini's. I'm leaning new model, but really want to pay the price of a 1.83. Know what I mean?

 

[haze]

I love my Panny 50" - don't see any reason to upgrade when it's as good as it is.

My neck hurts just looking at your setup.

 

[srexy]

My neck hurts just looking at your setup.

The screen is tilted down and the sweet-spot is about 11' away from it so the neck angle is negligible. The original homeowners had a crt on one of the bookshelves but as far as I was concerned - if this was to be our main viewing area we had to go big and there was only one spot that would work

 

[srexy]

WOOHOO - just scored a refurb 2.0ghz Intel (lastest gen) for $499!!!

Plex here we come.