I broke down and picked up a new Mac Mini last weekend. I have been tempted to build myself a full fledged Media Center computer again but haven't wanted to make the investment. I also wasn't sure if I would be able to setup the computer with my LCD TV to work right. In the past I have had issues with HDMI adapters and any computer fitting to the screen on my 40" LCD. Even with Mac OS 10.6 set to 1080i (yes there is even an option for that now) the picture didn't fit the entire screen.
With those questions I still went out and picked up a Mini. In the end I needed to connect my Drobo's to an actual computer vs using them as network attached storage. The editing I was doing was taking too long over the network (802.11n to my desktop). The new Mini is plugged into the Drobo's and my TV directly via VGA. The picture is good, but not HD. I still think the issue is with my TV and not any computer since this is about the 5th or 6th computer I have tried plugged into the TV with the same issue. Using VGA the picture works so I am keeping it setup like that. I am able to access the computer using VNC when I want to work on it, or I have a wireless mouse and keyboard plugged into it as well.
Even though the Mini is plugged into the TV i am serving up its content via iTunes so I can stream it to my Apple TV. At least the ATV works with HD so that is why I am doing that. The plus side of having the Mini plugged into the TV and not just use it headless as a server is that I can watch Hulu streaming full screen on my TV now. I can use the remote on my Mac and it is just like using a DVR. I found that very useful since I gave up on hacking the ATV with Boxee long ago.
Other plus to this new configuration is that I can watch DVD's on the Mini. I don't have a DVD player and using the Xbox 360 for DVD's is ok but it is loud. I love the Droo's, but the speed still isn't what i expect, but it is better than when I was accessing them over the wireless LAN so I am so far very happy with this configuration.
Nice setup. A PS3 is missing from that setup. It works well as a full fledged media center. I noticed your Onkyo receiver, how's your speaker setup? 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1 channels?
Posted by: James | November 10, 2009 at 08:47
Hello,
Can you explain why you need both the Mac mini and the Apple TV ?
Is it only to solve your HD video problem ?
Thanks,
Gaston
Posted by: Gaston | November 11, 2009 at 06:45
Gaston, if I didn't already have the Apple TV I probibly wouldn't need it. I just like the picture on it vs the Mini since I am using VGA to connect up the mini. When I upgrade my TV I hope to plug the Mini directly into it via HDMI. Then I could get rid of the ATV.
I do also like the UI on the ATV better.
Posted by: Scott | November 23, 2009 at 17:11