Ok, my iMac just bit the dust. I had been using this computer for both work and as a server for my two appletv's. I've changed jobs and now don't really need a desktop computer at home. So I need something that can hold my music (about 60 gigs of MP3s) and send it out to my appletv's. I don't need it to hold much if any video. What would be the simplest and most cost effective way to get the job done? Would a mac mini and an external HD get the job done? Should I move to a PC based set-up? Thanks for any help!

Based on what you're describing I think a mini with an external drive would be fine. You can recycle the keyboard/mouse you have and use an old display (or get a really cheap one) if you need to actually do something on the unit.

I have a mini hooked to my HT. It came with an 80 gig hd, and filled up rather quickly. So, I hit the local mom and pop computer store and picked up an 3.5" OEM 1tb HD and an external USB2 enclosure. My cost was $82 out the door.

I loaded a fresh copy of OSX onto the new drive off of the mini cd/dvd drive, and then transferred everything, less the operating system to the new drive. Went into sys pref and chose the new drive as the start up drive. Works like a champ now. And I did not notice any difference in speed, which I found hard to believe.

The old 80gb drive is still in the mini doing nothing, which it seems to enjoy.

Should I move to a PC based set-up?

Well, you already had a PC based set-up since in its simplest setup the aTVs require iTunes to be running on a PC somewhere, as yours was on the iMac. So I'm not sure what you mean by this...

I have a few other questions for you, too:

1) what kind of home network do you have set up, i.e. how were your Mac and aTVs communicating with each other?

2) If you lost your iMac, did you also lose your iTunes library with it, which means you'll have to re-rip? 60GB of music isn't that much--but I'm curious why you're still listening to mp3s. Which bit rate of mp3 do you use and have you tried AAC or Apple lossless and found you couldn't hear any difference?

3) you also say video isn't that important, is that because you handle video/movies with different equipment? Do you have no plans, ever, of asking the Mac/OS X/aTV part of your network to handle more video?

4) If you did pick up a Mini or Macbook, and connected it directly to one of your HDTVs in place of an aTV, would you have a use for one in a different location, like another bedroom?

Well, you already had a PC based set-up since in its simplest setup the aTVs require iTunes to be running on a PC somewhere, as yours was on the iMac. So I'm not sure what you mean by this...

I mean a Windows based solution...



1) what kind of home network do you have set up, i.e. how were your Mac and aTVs communicating with each other?

I have a Time Machine as my router connected to a cable modem. All devices connect wirelessly with the router.

2) If you lost your iMac, did you also lose your iTunes library with it, which means you'll have to re-rip? 60GB of music isn't that much--but I'm curious why you're still listening to mp3s. Which bit rate of mp3 do you use and have you tried AAC or Apple lossless and found you couldn't hear any difference?

My wife was the one who was dealing with the Apple store, but from what I've understood the graphics board and or motherboard are fried, the HD is fine. I'm picking up the machine tomorrow. All the music is backed up on the time machine. Well I have about 85% of my music backed up to FLAC (from which the MP3s are created) but I've gotten lazy the past few months and just ripped to MP3. I'm sticking with MP3 because I've got an EMPEG player in my car and it is most happy with MP3. I'm mostly using 192 VBR.

3) you also say video isn't that important, is that because you handle video/movies with different equipment? Do you have no plans, ever, of asking the Mac/OS X/aTV part of your network to handle more video?

Most of the movie watching in the house is done via a Netflix DVD/Bluray on a PS3. As much as I'd like to rip my (50 - 60) DVD collection honestly I'll probably never get around to doing it.

4) If you did pick up a Mini or Macbook, and connected it directly to one of your HDTVs in place of an aTV, would you have a use for one in a different location, like another bedroom?

Well right now we have two TVs and two AppleTVs. If I got the mini I don't think I'd connect it to any thing other than an old monitor I have laying around. It's sole use would be to host iTunes, my music, and provide a place to rip new CDs. Is there a better way to work this out? I'm happy with the Apple TV as it has proven the most acceptable way for the family to have access to all of our music. If it were just for me I'd probably experiment more with a linux box or something...

I'm happy with the Apple TV as it has proven the most acceptable way for the family to have access to all of our music.

agreed, while some focus on what it doesn't have or doesn't do, I think it's better to appreciate what the aTV does do very well. At $199 for a refurb, it's quite the bargain...

Is there a better way to work this out?

well, given what you said, I think you can pretty much replace your iMac with just about any other Mac that's 5 years old or newer. Just make sure it can run Leopard. So if you wanted to spend less and/or go used, you certainly don't need a brand new Mac mini, which have been, relatively speaking, very poor values for some time. Since your demands are very very light--even G4 Powerbooks with 5400rpm stock drives can send different iTunes streams to two aTVs simultaneously over wireless g. So you don't need to spend much to get right back up and running, and yes, certainly any newer Mac could easily handle how you intend to use it. A mini would run quietly and cool 24/7.

If I got the mini I don't think I'd connect it to any thing other than an old monitor I have laying around. It's sole use would be to host iTunes, my music, and provide a place to rip new CDs

Understood. You should be fine no matter what you do, you just need an instance of iTunes to be up and running, somewhere, for your aTVs. If you have kids, perhaps consider how they might use the replacement, if your old monitor is clunky, perhaps consider the aesthetics, but really, your choice is wide open.