Mac Mini vs. Apple TV

[mrspeakers]

OK, here's a power-user thought. A Mac Mini with Front Row (bundled) includes ALL functions of Apple TV, except it has DVI/Optical instead of HDMI.

The cool thing of course is it's a full Mac. So it can playback the Apple HD video downloads, and can also serve as a backup PC on my network, or be used for gaming.

I just picked a new unit up on eBay for $390, with an 80G drive, and the ability to attach external storage (e.g. my 750GB library of lossless music files). Plus I can run a visualizer, and don't need to have my laptop running upstairs in the office in order to stream content.

So; $329 for a mac mini with no expansion and reduced feature set, or $390 for a full-featured Mac?

Hmmm....

[BillFrugge]

Already beat you to it...

You can find a DVI to HDMI cable if you need one. My television had a DVI input already.

Wi-Fi can be a bit slow, so you may want to connect using the ethernet port or move the file via portable drive.

[mrspeakers]

Yah, I know about the DVI-HDMI cable. I'm hoping that works on the Mac, it did NOT work with my cable box. Something in the handshake to the Integra.

I'll have the audio drive local to the Mac, and then it's always available, and I can stream from THAT to my laptop.

[redfirebird2008]

You won't be able to download iTunes rentals in high def over iTunes on a Mac Mini. You can only do it through the AppleTV. iTunes rentals outside of the AppleTV are 640x480. In other words, they are less than DVD quality and that is what you'll be using unless you manage to hack the Mac Mini by somehow adding the AppleTV's software package to it.

[mrspeakers]

Ouch, that sucks. I just confirmed that. An Apple person told me, incorrectly, that HD would be downloadable. Doh!

Well, I needed a mini for my daughter anyhow, and that was a screaming deal. No HD=showstopper, I think.

[redfirebird2008]

Originally Posted by mrspeakers

Ouch, that sucks. I just confirmed that. An Apple person told me, incorrectly, that HD would be downloadable. Doh!

Well, I needed a mini for my daughter anyhow, and that was a screaming deal. No HD=showstopper, I think.

Indeed, it sucks. I wish it was available for everyone, not just AppleTV users. But that is probably exactly why it's exclusive. They're trying to get people to buy the AppleTV rather than using a regular computer hooked up to a HDTV. Some of the users might be Mac owners, but some of them might be PC owners as well so they are trying to force the PC owners at the very least to buy an Apple product.

[MrE]

Originally Posted by redfirebird2008

Indeed, it sucks. I wish it was available for everyone, not just AppleTV users. But that is probably exactly why it's exclusive. They're trying to get people to buy the AppleTV rather than using a regular computer hooked up to a HDTV. Some of the users might be Mac owners, but some of them might be PC owners as well so they are trying to force the PC owners at the very least to buy an Apple product.

That explains why I haven't seen any movies available in HD on iTunes.

[mrspeakers]

I suspect you are right, though by all accounts the margin on Apple TV is very small. It's odd logic though, as people can listen to iTunes audio on PCs as well without having an iPod. So if that's the analogy, this is kind of going back to the old iTunes on Windows issue.

Trying to force Apple TV to become an iPod when there's no technical reason for it to exist if you have a PC seems like people will catch on, and hopefully it will really impact their HD sales.

[redfirebird2008]

Originally Posted by mrspeakers

I suspect you are right, though by all accounts the margin on Apple TV is very small. It's odd logic though, as people can listen to iTunes audio on PCs as well without having an iPod. So if that's the analogy, this is kind of going back to the old iTunes on Windows issue.

Trying to force Apple TV to become an iPod when there's no technical reason for it to exist if you have a PC seems like people will catch on, and hopefully it will really impact their HD sales.

Considering it's only available to AppleTV owners, I don't think they're the types to boycott high def downloads, especially early adopters of the AppleTV. Those people are probably psyched about it because the product has been pretty useless for them up until now. I think eventually they will upgrade iTunes movies and rentals to DVD quality, and eventually they will also offer high def versions I hope.

[mrspeakers]

Well, I know the guy who runs the Quicktime group. Maybe it's time for a friendly and encouraging email extolling the virtues of enabling a more open-playback schema.

[redfirebird2008]

Originally Posted by mrspeakers

Well, I know the guy who runs the Quicktime group. Maybe it's time for a friendly and encouraging email extolling the virtues of enabling a more open-playback schema.

haha, sounds like a plan to me. Go for it man!

[mrspeakers]

OK, I have to say, I am SERIOUSLY underwhelmed with my first experience downloading a rental movie from iTunes. I had it downloading for about two hours over a CDMA card.

It was 1G, so it should have been able to pull it in FOUR hours. So I gave up on that rental before my flight. Then when I went home where I have fast access, the file didn't resume. Only now did I find away to "Check for Purchases" to resume incomplete downloads. Two hours to go, as I'm on the road again. And that's through the hotel broadband. I'm sure my fellow-guests are loving me dragging the network to it's knees.

My verdict, not quite ready for prime time, especially for travel.

[hidefimports]

Only AppleTV will have HD downloads because of HDCP. None of the Mac computers support HDCP.

[mrspeakers]

Ah, well that torpedoes my interest in Apple TV. Another victory for a licensing schema that drives paying customers away. When the service doesn't meet the numbers, maybe they'll come up with an approach that uses fairplay like the protected music.