02-20-2007, 03:15 PM
[quote Will Collier]This was the bottom line for me:
That lack of capability basically limits you to homemade or iTunes video on your server--no thanks. I have a Mini in my entertainment stack now, and I don't regret the extra cost one bit. No problem at all hooking it up to the TV--but then again, my TV has a VGA input, simplifying things a great deal.
Will,
How do you handle Digital Audio with your Mac mini? My JVC Receiver has both Toslink optical and Digital Coax inputs, and can decode Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS streams. If a Mini could output to those formats (even with a reliable adapter), and could push the 1920 x 1080p via the DVI output, I'd be thrilled. (I have a 42" 1080p LCD as my living room "diplay")
I'd just hate to have to tweak it each time I wanted to play a DVD.
Another thing that was pointed out, was that there are likely to be some new FrontRow features in OS X 10.5 when that comes out. Not sure if those will make it in to Rev A. versions of the AppleTV.
The otehr thing I haven't seen specs on, is how much "legs" the builtin GPU of the AppleTV has versus the Shared memory GPU of the Intel Mac mini (or even the ATI 9200 of the G4 Mac Minis).
Since the Mac mini runs a full version of OS X, other video formats are supported such as DivX, Xvid, and VIDEO_TS. What is that capability worth to you? The Apple TV does not have this ability at all.
That lack of capability basically limits you to homemade or iTunes video on your server--no thanks. I have a Mini in my entertainment stack now, and I don't regret the extra cost one bit. No problem at all hooking it up to the TV--but then again, my TV has a VGA input, simplifying things a great deal.
Will,
How do you handle Digital Audio with your Mac mini? My JVC Receiver has both Toslink optical and Digital Coax inputs, and can decode Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS streams. If a Mini could output to those formats (even with a reliable adapter), and could push the 1920 x 1080p via the DVI output, I'd be thrilled. (I have a 42" 1080p LCD as my living room "diplay")
I'd just hate to have to tweak it each time I wanted to play a DVD.
Another thing that was pointed out, was that there are likely to be some new FrontRow features in OS X 10.5 when that comes out. Not sure if those will make it in to Rev A. versions of the AppleTV.
The otehr thing I haven't seen specs on, is how much "legs" the builtin GPU of the AppleTV has versus the Shared memory GPU of the Intel Mac mini (or even the ATI 9200 of the G4 Mac Minis).