A Recipe for a HTPC Mac Mini

[Filip Norrgard]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/519/mac_mini_obsessive' target='_blank'>http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/519/mac_mini_obsessive</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I can’t get the Mac Mini out of my head and some quick browsing today has led me to all but pre-order it immediately. All elements that might seem to be missing from the ideal HTPC configuration can easily be solved with the help of third part products."</i><br /><br />Jonathan Greene of eHomeUpgrade has put together a fine list of what you should consider to get along with the Mac Mini to turn it into a Home Theatre PC with surround sound, digital TV and PVR capabilities, among other things. I'm sure that we'll see more people following his example and producing some sort of a home media center out of their Mac Minis once Apple starts shipping them. :cool:<br /><br />Though this list made me hungry for Mac Mini, the thing stopping me is the price and the fact that my TV isn't suitable for showing computer screens. :(

[klinux]

I mentioned this elsewhere in the Mini thread as well.

People are seem to very interested in a PVR/HTPC system. I will posit a possible arrangement for what that may entail for those who are not familiar with Mac or OS X.
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Video/Audio output to television/receiver = Roku
Why? Provides that 10 ft user interface, plenty of output connectors, access to content on PC or Mac, remote.

CPU = Mac Mini
Why? Content acquisition through optical drive and serving content from HD or antenna. Small, quiet, and attractive enclosure.

Storage = Firewire HD of your choice, preferably two-bay
Why? More storage for content, OS X has built-in RAID that is extremely easy if one should need it, faster real-world transfer rate than USB2.

TV = El Gato or El Gato/ATI
Why? Get TV.