Mac Mini vs. AppleTV compared for features/flexibility?

[MEG]

[quote Jem]Maybe I'm missing something, but the shape of the "audio out" on the Mac Mini looks different than the typical Toslink cable that goes out of my DVD player and into my JVC receiver... different than the one on the AppleTV. Did you get some kind of adapter, or a Toslink cable with a specially shaped end? Thanks!
The Mac Mini uses a "mini toslink" cable. You can buy an adapter or a cable with a mini toslink on one end: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1556&style=&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

Regarding dolby digital 5.1 streams through Quicktime (e.g. Videos in FrontRow), there is some tweaking needed. See this article: http://www.thismuchiknow.co.uk/?p=24

Using DVD Player you can get the dolby digital 5.1 passed through by setting the option in the DVD player preferences to change to digital audio out.

[Jem]

A little more digging found this article which covers the optical audio issue in some detail...

http://www.maccompanion.com/archives/Nov...utPort.htm

Looks like what is needed is one of these...

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1558&style=&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

Or an adpter that does the same for a normal male/male toslink. Though I'd guess that a single cable is better than one with an adapter added to it.

EDIT: Will and MEG's posts above came in right before this one. Apologies for duplicate info...

[Will Collier]

Regarding dolby digital 5.1 streams through Quicktime (e.g. Videos in FrontRow), there is some tweaking needed.

That's right. I'd forgotten about tweaking on the Mac end.

[MEG]

Do I dare guess how close the mini's are located to our systems by the cable lengths we three selected?

[Will Collier]

Heh. Mine's about 3 feet away, but I already had a cable to begin with...

[Jem]

[quote MEG]Do I dare guess how close the mini's are located to our systems by the cable lengths we three selected?
Heh, heh. Actually I probably could get by with a 3' cable... 6' for sure. Not sure why I linked to the 12' one... probably just the first one I saw that had both correct ends

I have to say though, that the article MEG linked to about 5.1 audio through the optical out is somewhat disconcerting. It bugs me that you can get 5.1 digital audio out of a $50 DVD player, but you can't do the same with a $600 computer without resorting to jumping through a series of hoops. For that reason alone the "licensing" issue seems a bit feeble. I hope the 5.1 CODEC is added to quicktime with the release of 10.5.

Or perhaps it will be sold WITH an AppleTV accessory which is essentially the aforementioned $50 DVD player?

Guess I should plan on "waiting and seeing" for now. Grrr....

[sscutchen]

[quote Jem]
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")
With the exception of the Westinghouse monitor, I have yet to see a 1080p LCD TV that will take 1080p input over DVI/HMDI from a computer. Folks are forced to use the VGA input on the TV.

As for good news, the VGA inoputs seem to be able to disply a full screen view of the MINI output and it looks great. It is just analog and not digital.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

The Core Duo mini will play highly compressed 1080p at 24fps, but it is inadequate uncompressed video at 30fps.

[Jem]

Sscutchen,

The Westinghouse 42" LCD monitor is what I have. It work fine with my iBook G3 900 Mhz via VGA. Haven't tried it with a mini and DVI since I don't have one yet...

Have yet to drag my back up PMac G4 which has DVI (ATI 9600) downstairs to plug it in and try, but I assume it will work via the DVI or VGA at full resolution.

The Westy has SIX HD inputs... (2) DVI, (1) HDMI, (2) Component and (1) VGA... plus of course the S-Video and RCA Video analog inputs. Am very happy with it so far