I want to create a digital hub but would like to test it out with my old powerbook first. This is all new to me.

Has anyone used a PowerBook G3 "Pismo" model to run FrontRow as an entertainment hub with their TV.

Will it play Video_TS files without any slowing/problems?

Thanks for all the advice.

My Mac Mini G4 running Leopard can play video_ts folders through the dvd app, but not through front row. When played via front row, I encounter too much slow down. So I doubt the G3 will provide acceptable performance through front row.

If your Pismo is still a G3 I think you're out of luck. I've read of a few G4-modded Pismo owners who successfully installed Leopard, but when it came to trying to open Apple dvd player and Front Row it was that 8MB ATI Rage graphics card which held them back. Check at someplace like lowendmac first, it's probably not worth even attempting. (I never owned a Pismo, but I remember being pretty impressed back in the day that the G3 600MHz iBook could play back dvds.)

I have Leopard on several older G4 Macs, all still officially supported, and Front Row works just fine on my MDD FW800 Power Macs w/ 64MB of VRAM--of course you have to use a keyboard for Front Row commands, but that's easy. Front Row even ran fairly well on my old 12" Powerbook--for a week not too long ago I dropped the PB into my regular home theater setup, closed lid connected to a 46" HDTV over VGA, when what is usually there--a Macbook--had to go into the shop. That laptop--just an 867MHz G4 with 32MB VRAM, handled iTunes music and dvd-quality stuff just fine. Front Row was even tolerable, controlled across the room from the couch with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Granted, I missed the Apple remote. And to retain the 5.1 digital audio part of the "digital hub" I had to connect an M-Audio interface.

Granted, all this seems new to you, but so much has changed with the Mac in the living room as digital hub, I'm afraid you risk not giving yourself an adequate chance to evaluate it if you don't use a more modern Mac.

I currently use a MacBookPro 17". But that is my home/work/mobile mac so I need a permanent solution for the house and wife.

The Apple remote is key for ease of use and helping with the non-tech wife.

I am going to borrow a Mactel Mini and use a chain of external drives to hold all the Video_TS files and then after we decide that we are not ever going to watch the extras again I'll compress it with Handbrake to a single movie file for use with the TV, iPod and iPhone.

Sound right?

After testing all that, then I think I'll be happy...... and forget the Pismo.

thanks for the help.