Why a Mac Mini instead of a PC HTPC?

[tbayrgs]

I really want a mini for my HTPC, when I buy one. The problem is I can justify it over a PS3.

$299 gets you streaming from any machine (format maybe a bit of a an issue but that easily solved) and bluray. Not to mention you can play a bunch of games on it.

Hard to beat that for $299

In that case I have a slightly used PS3 that was replaced by a mini (maybe a dozen blu-rays, a couple of hours of gaming, and a few minutes of very poor quality streaming) that I'll sell you for less than that.

Seriously though, while having blu-ray is nice, I prefer gaming on Xbox 360 and just wasn't happy with the PS3 as a media player, especially since I already have my DVD library encoded Apple universal for use on TV and iPhone/iPod Touch. Since I needed a separate computer for my young kids to use, the value I get using a mac mini is that much better--at least that's how I justified it to my wife.

 

[Cave Man]

Toslink optical doesn't have enough bandwidth. The 7.1 discrete digital standards require HDMI.

From wikipedia...

Well, there you go. That is news to me.

 

[Dapness]

In that case I have a slightly used PS3 that was replaced by a mini (maybe a dozen blu-rays, a couple of hours of gaming, and a few minutes of very poor quality streaming) that I'll sell you for less than that.

Seriously though, while having blu-ray is nice, I prefer gaming on Xbox 360 and just wasn't happy with the PS3 as a media player, especially since I already have my DVD library encoded Apple universal for use on TV and iPhone/iPod Touch. Since I needed a separate computer for my young kids to use, the value I get using a mac mini is that much better--at least that's how I justified it to my wife.

I also gave the PS3 a try ... for 3 days. But it was back to the Apple TV. I guess I can sacrifice watching 1080p M2TS files. The PS3's GUI is pretty and all but the interface "sucks ass" as my wife put it. I'd get a Mac Mini but I think I'll wait to see what happens with an Apple TV update (not holding breath).

Oh yeah, out of curiosity does anyone know what the cheapest model Mini would be capable of running flawless 1080p with Plex??

 

[Dapness]

I really want a mini for my HTPC, when I buy one. The problem is I can justify it over a PS3.

$299 gets you streaming from any machine (format maybe a bit of a an issue but that easily solved) and bluray. Not to mention you can play a bunch of games on it.

Hard to beat that for $299

Streaming from any machine?? Tried it wirelessly using PS3 Media Server. What a joke that was. I couldn't watch a low bit rate TV Show without studder.

I got mine for $270 from Dell and called to get an RMA for it. The rep offered me $60 to keep it. So, I have a brand new PS3 slim for $210. If anyone wants it I'll let it go for $240

 

[cisco697]

I had been researching this for a year now. Last May I sold my apple tv and a few months ago I finally cut cable bought a mini. Hooked it up to my HD home run and Eyetv. It works flawlessly! I love it my wife can record shows and we have about 500 movies in h.264 that we watch in plex.

It doesn't get any better than that! With windows you have to screw around for hours sometimes days to get anything to work right. I setup eyetv and I have never had to mess with it. I also get 5.1!

 

[diamond.g]

Does plex or EyeTv support cable cards? I think that is my initial hangup, to watch certain channels I need a cable card. So far it appears that only Windows offers cablecard support and that is disappointing.

 

[brendu]

I am an avid mac supporter and have been for my whole life, growing up with a mac plus... I swear by them. With that said. My HTPC is just that a PC. I wanted to build something myself as a project so hackintosh was a possibility but with all the PC hardware available for HTPC's it was just easier to go with win7 (vista sucked). The main reasons I wont sell it now and get a mini are:

-Blu Ray
-100% Upgrade Capable for ALL components.
-Multiple Internal HDD's
-built in TV tuners
-LCD on the front of the case for media information.

There are countless things I can say about the benefits of a Mac Mini, and trust me without the nice surround sound im using, i would find my PC media center to be WAY too loud, but i can easily drown out the noise of the fans. So in the end the biggest upside for me is the years and years and years of upgrade potential I have with this machine, where I would have to get one Mini after the other to keep up to date, which really is less cost effective.

 

[hitekalex]

There are countless things I can say about the benefits of a Mac Mini, and trust me without the nice surround sound im using, i would find my PC media center to be WAY too loud, but i can easily hear drown out the fans.

The way to go with PC-based media center is to keep it in the back room or in the garage, away from the view. And only use thin extenders in the living room, bedroom, etc.

This way you get the noisy beast out of sight, and still have all the benefits of Windows Media Center (multi-tuner CableCard support, live DVR, etc) extended to every room.

 

[eidimon]

Despite being a Mac user I looked at a bunch of small form factor machines. In the end I went with the Mac Mini for one primary reason - Plex - it's just the best media center app by far. I had some concerns about ability to play 1080P but they were totally unfounded.

Well, i am too thinking of buying a mac mini to use mainly as a media center.
And one of my main concerns is whether there will be any issues with 1080p playback.
It's not the cheapest thing you can buy.
If there is even the slightest problem with the 1080p videos, i think it's automatically ruled out...