Ok, now that it is no longer a rumor (they are up on Amazon $599/$799) lets discuss.

Is a 2.0 GHz C2D sufficient to run EyeTV deinterlacing in "progressive scan" mode? Still hoping for a higher clock rate as BTO. Otherwise, with the FW800 & NVIDIA graphics they have hit the sweet spot.

Still no HDMI!? Not even as BTO? :(

This is the only spec I see that gives me any concern on buying the cheap one and upgrading myself ($200 for 1G of RAM and HD space ?!?!?!)

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 128MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM
vs
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM

how is this handled (and can it be end-user "adjusted")? (on a PC I think it would just be a BIOS setting?)

EDIT: store has the new Mini's, but the main apple page still has the old specs.
EDIT2: in the linux world, 256M is considered the threshold for VDPAU.. (GPU-acceleration of many many video formats).. not sure if this will make its way to the Apple side, but the results are staggeringly impressive.

Still no HDMI!? Not even as BTO? :(

They have DVI and display port. Not sure why it needs HDMI.

Still no HDMI!? Not even as BTO? :(
Display Port is in every way superior to HDMI. Sure, it would be nice if they shipped it with a Display Port to HDMI dongle. It would also be *very* nice if they sent digital audio via Display Port (without abandoning the optical TOSlink)

Still no HDMI!? Not even as BTO? :(

Mini-displayport will accomplish the same.. once the adapter from monoprice finally ships.

I've played with a Dell laptop with a displayport and it was simply a matter of inserting a $13 adapter in the DP and connecting the HDMI cable to that.

For a laptop that is only a mild annoyance.. for a desktop (as the Mini is), its an install-once-and-forget item IMO.

Display Port is in every way superior to HDMI. Sure, it would be nice if they shipped it with a Display Port to HDMI dongle. It would also be *very* nice if they sent digital audio via Display Port (without abandoning the optical TOSlink)

a) are you saying they don't? (I don't think so, but wanted to be clear)
b) yes if Apple finally supported DUAL audio output that would be nice.

Press release is up:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/03/03consumer.html

The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $599 (US), includes:

2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
1GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T);
five USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port; and
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog.
The new 2.0 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $799 (US), includes:

2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable up to 4GB;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BASE-T);
five USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port; and
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog.
Build-to-order options and accessories for the Mac mini include: a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 80GB, 250GB or 320GB 5400 hard drives. Additional options include: LED Cinema Display, Apple Keyboard, Apple Keyboard with numeric keypad, Apple Wireless Keyboard and Wireless Mighty Mouse; AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule; Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, the AppleCare Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of iWork ’09, Logic Express 8, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 2.

That's the whole point. Audio. I realize Apple doesn't care if I stick it in my A/V cabinet but it would have been very nice. I've been looking at receivers anyway so I guess I'll need a DP to hdmi dongle and an Optical cable and then set up a few macros for the remote and then................pita. :rolleyes: Would an hdmi as a bto have been so hard?

I will be getting one those new iMacs though to replace my old iMac G5. Those are very nice even though they held off on the quad core chip.

That's the whole point. Audio. I realize Apple doesn't care if I stick it in my A/V cabinet but it would have been very nice. I've been looking at receivers anyway so I guess I'll need a DP to hdmi dongle and an Optical cable and then set up a few macros for the remote and then................pita. :rolleyes: Would an hdmi as a bto have been so hard?

You'll have to excuse me as I have been (wrongly,my mistake) imagining this blended ATV/Mini device. Now I am so disappointed..sniff, sniff.:(
But wait! Aren't we due for a new ATV? Yes.:D Hope arises again.

Again, is it spec'd somewhere that audio is NOT carried over mDP? On my friends Dell laptop, audio was there.. it was a one-adapter-plus-one(HDMI)-cable connection.

EDIT: oh duh... mDP "for video ouput"... CRAP.

OK, now that we know the final specs, let me re-phrase the question:
Is a 2.26 GHz C2D sufficient to run EyeTV deinterlacing in "progressive scan" mode? How about if you are driving a higher than 1080P 30" Apple Cinema Display.

Speaking of which, we get almost everything, but STILL NO NEW 30" Apple Cinema Displays.

Would an hdmi as a bto have been so hard?

Yes, yes it would. That and it's totally unnecessary on a "low end" computer.

OK, store.apple.com is up. The maxed BTO (2.26 CPU & 4GB RAM) is $1049.

OK, now that we know the final specs, let me re-phrase the question:
Is a 2.26 GHz C2D sufficient to run EyeTV deinterlacing in "progressive scan" mode? How about if you are driving a higher than 1080P 30" Apple Cinema Display.

What's the part # on the C2D?

For the $150 can you go get yourself something (much) faster at newegg and do the upgrade yourself? (I did it several times on my previous Mini)

Yes, yes it would. That and it's totally unnecessary on a "low end" computer.

I knew it was a real outside possibility. How many would they sell to guys like me who want to put one in the A/V chain anyway? Probably not many. Oh well, at least they didn't kill it and the video card is pretty nice. It's all good, they're still fun to play with.:D

Oh well... it wasn't even worth that wait for us HTPC guys.

Is a 2.0 GHz C2D sufficient to run EyeTV deinterlacing in "progressive scan" mode?

Ted, I'm going to give you a tentative yes on this point, since we can't know for sure, but since my 2.0 C2D "Santa Rosa" Macbook with 4GB RAM, the X3100 and the WD 320GB Scorpio Black inside CAN do EyeTV's progressive--and this mini will have even faster bus and RAM plus much better graphics. The key, I think, is just getting away from the GMA 950.

Oh well... it wasn't even worth that wait for us HTPC guys

You're kidding, right? This mini is everything we Mac HTPC guys could want for the price...just buy the base model and put your own RAM and hard drive inside.

...just buy the base model and put your own RAM and hard drive inside.

I just ordered the base model but upgraded the processor. I will add more RAM but I don't know about the hard drive. I am planning on getting a NAS so I just may leave the stock drive in there.

Oh well... it wasn't even worth that wait for us HTPC guys.

Isn't the big gain for HTPC use the new 9400m video? The Intel 950 graphics in the previous Gen mini was a serious bottle neck to playing 1080p video, right?

I suppose HD audio is the biggest issue facing the new Mini. But really, it was never very likely that apple was going to include the ability to bitstream HD audio because of no blue ray. But there will should be some way, with an adapter of sorts I would speculate, to get at least 5.1 audio out of the new mini.

Isn't the big gain for HTPC use the new 9400m video?

yes, I think so...look, the complaints all along about the mini have been that Apple never really gave us a mini that was comparable to a Macbook--it was always a year or two behind or crippled in some artificial way. Not being able to fully address 4GB RAM, "g" wireless, the GMA 950, a crap Matshita combo drive, you name it. Finally, they've thrown us HTPC folks a nice bone--for the same $599 price you get:

1) the 9400M, with a 256MB option,
2) a superdrive (though whether it's a decent Pioneer or a crapshita, I guess we'll find out soon enough)
3) BOTH the mini-display port and mini-DVI (plus they throw the $19 mini-DVI to DVI adaptor in, which is very un-Apple-like) which just might mean real support for two displays,
4) "n" wireless finally
5) full 4GB RAM support plus
6) it gains FW800 rather than having firewire removed.

Really, there's nothing to complain about here--you still want to use your old HDTVs, just go mini-DVI out, you want to avoid mini-displayport for a while, go right ahead.

And built-in optical out has been just fine for us. After all, just how forward-thinking do you want Apple's $599 bait and switch upsell machine to be?

Any thoughts on how the mini would handle two displays? I'd like to rackmount it, with a monitor attached to one of the video outputs and run the other video output to my pre-amp. The monitor in the rack would be devoted to adding and organizing media and the output to the pre-amp would be for Plex / DVD Player.

Will the outputs be mirrored only? Or true dual display? Able to handle different resolutions?

Thanks.

Any thoughts on how the mini would handle two displays? I'd like to rackmount it, with a monitor attached to one of the video outputs and run the other video output to my pre-amp. The monitor in the rack would be devoted to adding and organizing media and the output to the pre-amp would be for Plex / DVD Player.

Will the outputs be mirrored only? Or true dual display? Able to handle different resolutions?

Thanks.

straight from the specs# Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on a DVI or VGA display; up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on a dual-link DVI display using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)

I'll be curious to see the cooling inside this beast.... folks in the PC-building crowd have had a heck of a time with the 9300/9400 based mobos.

Unless there is software to drive the video acceleration hardware, the 9400M is a wash for video performance. IMHO. Also, as I read the specs, 256MB is not an option, it's an artifact of the 2G base memory of the $799 unit. And 256MB is a minimum, not maximum. It probably kicks for 3D, however.

...
3) BOTH the mini-display port and mini-DVI (plus they throw the $19 mini-DVI to DVI adaptor in, which is very un-Apple-like) which just might mean real support for two displays,
....
And built-in optical out has been just fine for us. After all, just how forward-thinking do you want Apple's $599 bait and switch upsell machine to be?
There is no maybe about it: at Apple.com they specifically say that it works with dual displays. And from what I can tell the Display Port (but not the mini DVI) will drive a 30" ACD or other "dual link DVI" type display. You could hook up one 30" ACD AND one 1080P HDTV to the new MacMini. Pretty impressive.

As far as the audio, of course 5.1 works just fine via optical out. BD based "HD" audio? I think the lack of a Blu-ray drive or BD playback support in Mac OS X are far bigger obstacles. (And, IMO, screw "HD" audio -- it is nothing by a marketing gimmick to convince you to accept ever more draconian DRM instead of just putting LPCM audio (or full bit-rate DTS) which can be sent out over optical. I know all of you have golden ears, but I sure won't be able to hear the difference).

I don't have golden ears, but I can tell the difference between uncompressed audio and 1.5mb/s audio. aside from the two extra channels of course :)

I've been waiting a long time for this update. Is it perfect? No. Can I build a "better" one for less? Probably. Could I build one that is this small, runs as cool and looks as good in my cabinet? No way...

I guess I'll take one for the team and upgrade now. Does anyone have a preference on what program to use to stream DVDs? I have a file server in a different room with over 1.5TBs of free space. I'm not worried about storage in the mini, just want to use it to stream stuff. I was planning on using XBMC.

So, how do I get video and audio from this new mac mini to two separate displays?

I want to put the mac mini in a cabinet below my main room TV. There it will be hooked up to an LCD tv on the wall and a surround receiver in the cabinet.

I'd like to also have the mini hooked up to a TV in a nearby bedroom. No surround or anything in there, just want to hook up the mini audio/video directly to the back of the TV.

any suggestions for optimal setup?

So, how do I get video and audio from this new mac mini to two separate displays?

I want to put the mac mini in a cabinet below my main room TV. There it will be hooked up to an LCD tv on the wall and a surround receiver in the cabinet.

I'd like to also have the mini hooked up to a TV in a nearby bedroom. No surround or anything in there, just want to hook up the mini audio/video directly to the back of the TV.

any suggestions for optimal setup?

Video is obvious -- just run connections from the Mini to each display. Audio -- optical to your receiver and hook up an AirPort express to TV for audio (with Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil software to get non-iTunes based audio in there). Second option -- run audio out from the receiver to the second TV.

I don't have golden ears, but I can tell the difference between uncompressed audio and 1.5mb/s audio. aside from the two extra channels of course :)
...
I guess I'll take one for the team and upgrade now.
I'd hardly call it taking one for the team -- I'd have ordered a new Mini already if the Display Port based 30" ACD was released.

LPCM *is* uncompressed audio, there are DVDs with LPCM, and it can be sent via optical. But it is my fault for bringing up audio -- audiophile debates are the way to ruined friendships and oblivion.

I don't see what all the excitement is about. Until Snow Leopard implements a way to take advantage of the GPU for full 1080p hardware acceleration, that 9400M is going to be sitting there doing nothing.

I think people are under the impression that the GPU is always doing something with the video. That's unfortunate, as it makes people excited over things like this.

Whats even more unfortunate is that Plex (my HTPC frontend of choice) doesn't seem to have hardware acceleration in its roadmap....


To sum it up, they could put a full on GTX295 GPU in a Mac Mini (theoretically), and it would not matter at all for full 1080p playback UNTIL there is software in place to take advantage of said GPU and offload video decoding duties to it.

Just answered my own question.. alas no VDPAU for OS X

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=124957

cryin shame.. it does wonders for mplayer and xbmc under linux.

I don't see what all the excitement is about. Until Snow Leopard implements a way to take advantage of the GPU for full 1080p hardware acceleration, that 9400M is going to be sitting there doing nothing....
It's not like Snow Leopard is some mythical creature that may never arrive -- it will be here in a few months. Meanwhile if you don't see the difference between the old built in Intel graphics and a GPU capable of driving dual-link DVI and two displays simultaneously, you should look again. That alone is incredibly exciting to me. Also, just because your front end of choice doesn't take advantage of the GPU, it doesn't mean that other software (like iTunes/Quicktime) won't.

I've been waiting for a mini with dual display capabilities for a long time. Now that it has arrived I want to be sure that it will satisfy my needs.

Here's what I'm proposing. The Mini will physically be located in the bedroom connected to a 720p TV via mini-DVI. I'd be using the optical output for audio. FrontRow, eyeTV, DVD playback and Netflix watch now would be the primary content viewed from this location. I was planning to control everything using remote buddy since I don't want a keyboard in the bedroom.

I'd run a 15' HDMI cable downstairs to a 22" monitor in the family room using a mini-display port to HDMI adapter (monoprice). That display would be used for everyday PC stuff (photos, email, web browsing). If I ever needed to listen to audio in that room I'd use an airport connected to some PC speakers.

The catch is that I want to be able to surf the web in the living room and watch TV upstairs simultaneously. Would it work to have one person typing in a browser downstairs and a 2nd person using the remote to control eyeTV? I assume that other people are already doing something similar with an iMac.

The 2.26 should breeze through 1080p BR rips on Plex.

This is EXACTLY what I was waiting for.

Now to see if they have any at the local Apple Store!!

If I get one today, I'll check back on performance.

Ugh.

They said they didn't have any new Mini's, and had 'no clue' when they'll be getting them in. :(

Unless there is software to drive the video acceleration hardware, the 9400M is a wash for video performance

A wash with what, Dick, a mini with the GMA 950 or a Macbook with the X3100?

It's not like Snow Leopard is some mythical creature that may never arrive -- it will be here in a few months. Meanwhile if you don't see the difference between the old built in Intel graphics and a GPU capable of driving dual-link DVI and two displays simultaneously, you should look again. That alone is incredibly exciting to me.

This is well said, it should be exciting to all of us.

Until Snow Leopard implements a way to take advantage of the GPU for full 1080p hardware acceleration, that 9400M is going to be sitting there doing nothing.

I think people are under the impression that the GPU is always doing something with the video. That's unfortunate, as it makes people excited over things like this.

No, what makes people excited over "things like this" is that we finally have a small form factor Mac at a VERY affordable price that can actually play back the high bit rate QAM and ATSC that we've legally recording for 5+ years.

There seems to be a certain crowd, the one gushing over Plex, downloading illegal files and worried about 1080p blu-ray rips, that never quite sees Mac home theater the way we EyeTV users do. Maybe it stems from the fact that the Plex developers couldn't have given a rat's ass about it.

Then there's a second crowd, that before we even start talking about what Snow Leopard may or may not enhance, who should be happy as clams with this new mini, even if it performs at the 128MB 9400M level. That's because right here, right now, it meets real world Mac home theater concerns. No mini was able to handle high bit rate 1080i recordings without skipping a frame here or there, no mini could run EyeTV at its best deinterlace setting, it even choked if a better CPU was swapped inside--because the GMA 950 held them back. You had to step up to 1-2 year-old Macbooks for that and prices for these rarely dipped below $849.

That a $599 mini is positioned to take advantage of acceleration coming our way with Snow Leopard just makes this a better value and an even smarter purchase--it can do the job now and it's hundreds less than the next affordable alternative, the white Macbook with the 9400M. That it also gains FW800 and a mini-displayport, unlike the white Macbook, is almost too good to be true. When was the last time the bastard stepchild mini was a better value than a Macbook? I know the typical Window user doesn't care about firewire, but we loyal Mac users certainly do. Can't you just see the threads now--RAID 0 over FW800 rocks!

By the way, I think it remains to be seen what the gotchas are, if any, running dual display, despite what language is in the specs. We'll have to wait for some folks to actually try it with different combinations.

I'll be curious to see the cooling inside this beast.... folks in the PC-building crowd have had a heck of a time with the 9300/9400 based mobos.

This a good point, too, especially for anyone thinking of swapping a 7200rpm drive inside as well.

I'll give you that, I couldn't care less about EyeTV. I stopped paying a TV from a cable company last year and will never go back. With internet services they way they are, it only becomes more and more useless to pay for the same thing twice.

Just because some of us want to be able to play back BD rips doesn't mean we downloaded them illegally.. Way to jump to conclusions.

There seems to be a certain crowd, the one gushing over Plex, downloading illegal files and worried about 1080p blu-ray rips.


Good point. That is the segment I was hoping the new Mini would cater to.

Also, Rickeo enlightened me about Mac not having software to use the GPU acceleration on a Mac, so apparently that is not the case.

I was hoping the new Mini would be a popcorn hour - esque MKV streaming monster with a much more elegant interface (Plex) . Then the icing on the cake was the Mini is a full blown Mac to be used for web surfing after all the HTPC video stuff.

Ugh.

They said they didn't have any new Mini's, and had 'no clue' when they'll be getting them in. :(
I think that the 2.26 model will only be available as BTO, so don't bother with your local store, got to store.apple.com and order it online.

I was hoping the new Mini would be a popcorn hour - esque MKV streaming monster with a much more elegant interface (Plex) . Then the icing on the cake was the Mini is a full blown Mac to be used for web surfing after all the HTPC video stuff.

Exactly the machine I was hoping for... sigh.

I don't see what all the excitement is about. Until Snow Leopard implements a way to take advantage of the GPU for full 1080p hardware acceleration, that 9400M is going to be sitting there doing nothing.

I think people are under the impression that the GPU is always doing something with the video. That's unfortunate, as it makes people excited over things like this.

Whats even more unfortunate is that Plex (my HTPC frontend of choice) doesn't seem to have hardware acceleration in its roadmap....


To sum it up, they could put a full on GTX295 GPU in a Mac Mini (theoretically), and it would not matter at all for full 1080p playback UNTIL there is software in place to take advantage of said GPU and offload video decoding duties to it.Good points. But is there a concrete plan for the next version of OS X to take advantage of VDPAU or something similar? Without that, I don't really see any difference between my 2.0 GHz C2D mini (upgraded from a 3-year-old 1.66 CD) and the "new" mini. Mythfrontend currently handles all of my 1080i recorded content just fine. Wait - one difference: I don't need an extra dongle for my DVI cable.

I do hope Apple eventually does provide support for offloading the video to the GPU. There are frontends that are planning to take advantage of it (e.g. MythTV in the next release). Has anyone heard if eyeTV plans to make use of VDPAU?

Just because some of us want to be able to play back BD rips doesn't mean we downloaded them illegally.. Way to jump to conclusions.

That wasn't my real point, sorry, I've downloaded plenty of P2P stuff from the UK and Korea so I'm no saint. It's just that if blu-ray has become your main focus already, you're also using Windows software for HT tasks and you're already ahead of where many (most?) exclusively OS X Mac users are--and you've probably not been the type to invest in EyeTV hardware or something like the Hauppauge HD PVR.

Anyway, I apologize for the generalization, but it's based and being in this forum for 5 years or so and reading plenty of others. I wasn't jumping to any conclusion in your particular case, but it's not too much of a reach to state the .mkv, P2P video codec mixed bag segment is probably the largest Plex contingent. Up until the PyeTV plugin for Front Row was released last year pleas from Plex users to incorporate EyeTV fell on the deafest of ears. And, for many of us here, the internet and network streaming services aren't close to the level of even broadcast quality, what we can record right now over ATSC, QAM, firewire, component, et al.

This mini should serve us really, really well.

Also, Rickeo enlightened me about Mac not having software to use the GPU acceleration on a Mac, so apparently that is not the case


but, but, but, this brings you back to what Ted was talking about with potential Snow Leopard enhancements, and many suspect you're gonna have to have at minimum the 9400M and a mini-DP to play ball. Which means this mini will continue to serve us, and the blu-ray rip crowd, fairly well down the road.

Good points. But is there a concrete plan for the next version of OS X to take advantage of VDPAU or something similar? Without that, I don't really see any difference between my 2.0 GHz C2D mini (upgraded from a 3-year-old 1.66 CD) and the "new" mini. Mythfrontend currently handles all of my 1080i recorded content just fine. Wait - one difference: I don't need an extra dongle for my DVI cable.

I do hope Apple eventually does provide support for offloading the video to the GPU. There are frontends that are planning to take advantage of it (e.g. MythTV in the next release). Has anyone heard if eyeTV plans to make use of VDPAU?

The thread I posted from nvnews suggests that it won't be VDPAU.. it will just be "similar".. which is a real shame since VDPAU exists NOW for linux. If it was just in the Mac driver as well (even if un-used by the OS), mplayer, vlc, etc could make use of it.. and for HTPC use, Adobe Flash desperately needs to make use of it for full-screen hi-def playback from sites like Hulu.

With VDPAU you can stop worrying about your processor.. heck an Atom will do the trick (and the ION platform may make the Mini cry like a small child). On my linux box, full-screen mplayer drops to less than 5% of cpu.

As someone might have already pointed out, the VRAM on the 9400M is at minimum using 128MB on the 1GB system, it will "scale" to use more if needed. It really sounds to me like the $600 system is a seriously good value. For around $65 you can a 4GB memory kit and larger, faster drives can also be had for a lot less than the BTO option. This really isn't news for people used to shopping/pricing Apple products. The faster processor really isn't much faster, 260Mhz? It'll be interesting to see if it is soldered on or in a socket.

I think the FSB and DDR3 upgrades are just as big of upgrades as the GPU. This mini should have 0 issues running EyeTV's progressive option, which I'd really love to have! I'm hoping to put my order in by the end of the week.

Ugh.

They said they didn't have any new Mini's, and had 'no clue' when they'll be getting them in. :(

I ordered mine about an hour after the announcement with 2.26, 320. Email said it would be here in 3-5 days, which usually means 2 days. I had to order a fw800-400 adapter for my eyetv500. Planning to hook up an additional firewire device, the firedtv s2 for FTA satellite recording.

I'm relatively new to the home theater community so I apologize if this question has been answered before.

I'm thinking of picking up a new mac mini to use as a media center. I currently have apple TV, PS3 for Bluray, and DirecTV (don't have a choice between this and cable because of my condo bldg).

I'm wondering if I will be able to rig it up (possibly using EyeTV or something similar) to my DirecTV to use as a DVR, and also use it the way I've been using my apple TV to watch itunes shows/movies etc on my plasma TV (Samsung 58").

I'm wondering if I will be able to rig it up (possibly using EyeTV or something similar) to my DirecTV to use as a DVR, and also use it the way I've been using my apple TV to watch itunes shows/movies etc on my plasma TV (Samsung 58").

There's nothing about these new mini models that will help you incorporate that DirecTV into a Mac/OS X ecosystem better than you're already able to. You can use the Hauppauge device over component, with either EyeTV or Steve Toth's app called HDPVRCapture, and move your recordings onto your Mac, but you could also transcode them for the aTV and continue to use that for playback. Look to those threads, they'll fill you in...

why is the on/off button on the back?
As a media center arrangement, how can you even get to it?

why is the on/off button on the back?
As a media center arrangement, how can you even get to it?

Just like including Mini-DisplayPort instead of HDMI, Apple isn't intending this as a HTPC type device. They want you to buy the amazingly crippled and over priced AppleTV for that.

why is the on/off button on the back?
As a media center arrangement, how can you even get to it?

Start it up then always put it to sleep. A remote can both put it to sleep again as well as wake it.

Start it up then always put it to sleep. A remote can both put it to sleep again as well as wake it.

My mini doesn't wake up from sleep unless I have a wired mouse connected and flick that... no amount of pushing buttons on the Apple remote or my Harmony 880 set for Apple will wake my mini, nor will pressing keys on a wireless keyboard.

Finally!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, Apple. I'm surprised Imlucid hasn't commented on how it works in real life. ;) Snow Leopard can't come fast enough. Only thing left to find out is if the processor can be easily upgraded over the next few years.

My mini doesn't wake up from sleep unless I have a wired mouse connected and flick that... no amount of pushing buttons on the Apple remote or my Harmony 880 set for Apple will wake my mini, nor will pressing keys on a wireless keyboard.

Really? My cat just looks at it wrong and it wakes from sleep. Seriously my bt keyboard and mouse always wake from sleep...

Only thing left to find out is if the processor can be easily upgraded over the next few years.After Apple hath given us so much, dare we wish for a socketed cpu? ;-)

First one to provide a break down video wins a prize.

This guy says it is not socketed. So no changing it out.


http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=661197

Seriously my bt keyboard and mouse always wake from sleep...

Ditto

This guy says it is not socketed. So no changing it out.Would rather that it was, obviously. Have been waiting too long for an upgraded video model to hold off. Will probably buy one model per revision for time being to replace current minis in use here. Really could use some sort of refined iTunes server for Drobo or TimeCapsule that can autoupdate the library, but this will do for now for front end use in the theater. :D

This guy says it is not socketed. So no changing it out.


http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=661197


This is most unfortunate. Looks like I will be upgrading my 2 existing Minis
to 2.33 C2Ds and skipping these. The socket makes all the difference.

I was going to use the new Mini for my next HTPC build. The soldered
CPU effectively kills the idea. I will be looking at an Asus EEE B204 Box instead.

Seriously disappointed ...

This is most unfortunate.

You do realise that: a. this is a rumour site and b. as of yesterday, units hadn't shipped yet.

b. as of yesterday, units hadn't shipped yet.

The new Mini is avaliable in some Apple stores in the US.

Unboxing and disassembly photos below, but I can't see the processor.

http://www.macminicolo.net/macmini2009.html

The new Mini is avaliable in some Apple stores in the US.

Unboxing and disassembly photos below, but I can't see the processor.

http://www.macminicolo.net/macmini2009.html

I saw that. But take a look at this (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=81&threadid=2282516&FTVAR_STKEYWORDFRM=&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear) article. What he writes makes more sense.

It might make more sense, Further, but the thread you linked to doesn't tell us anything about whether either of the CPUs are socketed and would be upgradable--the guy who started the thread over at anandtech didn't have a new mini in his hands and was merely speculating out loud...we should know for sure soon enough.

You do realise that: a. this is a rumour site

We disagree about this, but I wouldn't get hung up labeling particular sites--they have a discussion forum no different from ours, someone anonymous claims to have purchased a mini yesterday and posted about it once he took it apart--any claim made there would have no more or less weight, inherently, than something similar made here by any of us.

Even if the CPUs can't be upgraded, this is still a kick-ass machine for the HT, especially since it's been confirmed that the 9400M of the low end $599 2.0 model can use 256MB for VRAM when its RAM is bumped up to 2GB. It's the best value that Apple has offered in a long, long time--adding on another $50+ for 4GB RAM and $50+ for a 7200rpm drive. There's really little reason to bump up to the faster CPU unless it turns out to be the only one upgradable.

It's nice for once that Apple's least expensive Mac just might satisfy the switcher crowd as well as the geek HT crowd.

I agree with you that this Mini should be powerful enough for most, if not all, htpc applications.

Internet forums, in my experience, are very, very rarely a source of reliable information. Even this forum - how many times did we have a "the Mini is dead" discussion?

Until someone posts a picture, I consider the question still open.

I agree with you that this Mini should be powerful enough for most, if not all, htpc applications.

Internet forums, in my experience, are very, very rarely a source of reliable information. Even this forum - how many times did we have a "the Mini is dead" discussion?

Until someone posts a picture, I consider the question still open.

True, but I never agreed with the "Mini is dead" talk. Thus is if I say something it must be true :) -- but seriously there are obviously plenty of posters on this forum that we trust as they have provided true and helpful info time and again. I find Macrumors to be very reliable in terms of their page 1 posts -- if Arn doubts something he will say so up front. Meanwhile Macrumors accurately predicted this Mini model. On the other hand, the vast majority of commenters posting there I don't know and have no idea as to their reliability.

That said, surely we can wait 24 hours for confirmation -- I'm sure that plenty of reliable sources will tell us one way or another. In my case -- I'm happy not to have to replace CPU chips myself*, so when the time comes I'll get the 2.26 GHz model and enjoy life!

*Back at the dawn of the computer age I was the designated CPU/memory/disk upgrade wizard for the IBM PCs, XTs and ATs at my first programming job as I was by far the most meticulous and reliable person there. Seems like it was in a different lifetime. My goal these days for home is problem free operation and no tweaking -- I still have more than enough computer software/hardware mysteries at work -- when I get home I want it to Just Work. That's why I'm an Apple guy (and fortunately these days I am using a Mac as my main programming tool at work as well).

Ted, for the record, I really appreciated how you began this thread. As I've said, I would imagine swapping the CPU would only apply to a very small number of users, however, there's no reason we can't get an accurate answer to that question. Yes, it may take a little longer, but isn't that better than making a bad decision in haste?

So summarize for me the drawbacks of going with the Mini 2k9. From my perspective it looks like the system will play 1080p content, so I don't see what the big deal is if its not offloaded onto the GPU in Leopard. It either plays 1080p HD or it doesn't. It does so wheres the issue? Lack of HDMI sucks but can be overcome easily. DVR capabilities can be added on. What am I missing?

So summarize for me the drawbacks of going with the Mini 2k9. From my perspective it looks like the system will play 1080p content, so I don't see what the big deal is if its not offloaded onto the GPU in Leopard. It either plays 1080p HD or it doesn't. It does so wheres the issue? Lack of HDMI sucks but can be overcome easily. DVR capabilities can be added on. What am I missing?

Nothing.

This happens after EVERY new or upgraded Mac announcement. People whine and complain that it doesn't have what THEY think it should. It's missing this, it's missing that, it's priced too high, etc., etc.

I think the new Mac Mini should have been based on the NVidia Ion, had HDMI out, a 1 TB HD, and been priced at $399. :rolleyes:

Oh well, as you said, it will still play 1080p content as it is and that's all that matters for a HTPC.

So summarize for me the drawbacks of going with the Mini 2k9...What am I missing?

Nothing, just like mrjingleusa said. Apple has really done right by us home theater types, because if this mini wasn't so enticing and affordable, in 2009 we'd have to shell out for the $999 white Macbook to keep something decent in the home theater.

Some of us had grown tired of low-end Macs with the GMA 950 and already knew from first hand experience that Macbooks just slightly bumped up to 800MHz FSB, 4GB RAM and the X3100 straddled the performance dividing line in the HT--close, but with no margin of error. It's not like we wanted to use a laptop in the HT it's just that Apple had allowed the "effectively dead" mini form factor to languish for far too long. For the Macbook privilege we still had to spend between $749-849, though. That's all changed.

This $599 mini surpasses even the $999 white Macbook w/ the 9400M and faster 1066 MHz front side bus--which just might be the best performance to value laptop Apple has ever offered--because, unlike that MB, it adds mini-DisplayPort, uses faster DDR3 RAM and (incredibly) gains FW800. That you still get to use mini-DVI and dual display actually is supported is very surprising for Apple. And when was the last time Apple didn't cripple its most low end model somehow--saddling it with a combo drive or perhaps artificially limiting VRAM to 128 instead of 256--just because it could?

We compromised with the G4 mini, we compromised with the Intel mini, we compromised with the GMA 950 Macbooks.

Buy this $599 Mac, upgrade to 4GB of RAM yourself, and revel in the fact that for the first time ever you won't have to compromise in the HT by spending as little as possible.

Drawbacks, which should be mentioned but not dwelled upon at all:

1) CPU is soldered and can't be upgraded;
2) Apple hasn't enabled the mini-DisplayPort to support audio yet;
3) Upgrading the hard drive and RAM hasn't been made any more user-friendly--I still marvel at how easy that was in my Macbooks after living with iBooks, minis and Powerbooks for the past decade.

(4) No HD audio output, i.e. no multi-channel FLAC -> LPCM to your receiver.

Good point, but the mini doesn't have any less capability in that area than the much more expensive iMac, MBP and MB models. If you want a format or something higher-rez than iTunes, CoreAudio and OS X allows, your only shot on any Mac would be going out through a firewire or USB DAC anyway. I guess where I'm going with that is, since no Mac running OS X can play back a commercial blu-ray disc, you can't really cite that as a drawback of choosing a mini...I realize that just contradicts my comment about the miniDP...oh well

[/QUOTE] this $599 Mac, upgrade to 4GB of RAM yourself, and revel in the fact that for the first time ever you won't have to compromise in the HT by spending as little as possible.

Drawbacks, which should be mentioned but not dwelled upon at all:

1) CPU is soldered and can't be upgraded;
2) Apple hasn't enabled the mini-DisplayPort to support audio yet;
3) Upgrading the hard drive and RAM hasn't been made any more user-friendly--I still marvel at how easy that was in my Macbooks after living with iBooks, minis and Powerbooks for the past decade.[/QUOTE]

I picked up the $599 Mac Mini last night. I wanted to be up and running right away but wanted the 4GB RAM upgrade. Fry's wasn't sure they had the correct memory and I did not want to wait for an order from NewEgg. The Apple Store in Oakbrook, IL upgraded the ram to 4GB in 20 minutes and it cost $125 (although it says $150 on the website). To me, $125 was well worth it for me not to have to do the upgrade.

For extra storage space, I already have the networked Buffalo Linkstation Duo, and the Mini recognized it and I was playing audio files in minutes. I also downloaded Plex which looks great, but I am still learning my way around.

To me, $125 was well worth it for me not to have to do the upgrade.

You're right, especially if you hadn't opened a mini before and weren't also planning to swap in a better drive. The best 4GB RAM deal yesterday was $55.99 at newegg but you had to wait for it to be delivered and it probably would have taken you 1.5-2 hours to put it in yourself that first time. Time is money, as they say...

I picked up a new Mini last night at a local Apple store. I haven't had a chance to do much with it yet, just basically plug it in.

As with recent laptops, the new Mini does not come with an IR remote. I think it's $30 extra for new users who don't have one.

My previous Mini was the low-end model, and this one has some nice bumps from that.. faster CPU, 50% more CPU Cache Memory, faster RAM. So, I'm expecting better MPEG2 decoding performance with MythTV.

The Nvidia GPU is also a nice theoretical improvement. But, taking advantage of that for HTPC usage is not really available today. Hopefully with 'Snow Leopard' they will make better use of the GPU (and hopefully that will also be available to third party apps).

I plan on upgrading to 4GB of RAM. I may also add a Linux partition, to try out VDPAU in MythTV.

This $599 mini surpasses even the $999 white Macbook w/ the 9400M and faster 1066 MHz front side bus

its not clear to me.. gaming aside (this is HTPC forum) what do we have that actually uses the spiffy new GPU to any benefit (at this point)?

1) CPU is soldered and can't be upgraded;

Is that confirmed anywhere yet? As someone that upgraded my original Mini processor twice, that is a bummer, tho not necc a deal-breaker.

EDIT: link to the sad picture of the soldered CPU: http://forums.mactalk.com.au/12/68195-mac-mini-2009-a.html

Some benchmarks on the new Mini: http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2009/03/imac-and-mac-mini-benchmarks-early-2009/

I picked up the $599 Mac Mini last night ... The Apple Store in Oakbrook, IL upgraded the ram to 4GB in 20 minutes and it cost $125 (although it says $150 on the website). To me, $125 was well worth it for me not to have to do the upgrade.

Sundog1 - I'm looking to order the $599 with bto 2.26/4GB ... after the Oakbrook Apple Store upgraded your memory to 4GB does the 9400m use 256MB shared memory? I've seen people upgrading their own mac mini's with these results ... just wondering if Apple does the upgrade - do they limit shared video memory to 128MB?

If anyone else also has info on this it would be greatly appreciated.

Sundog1 - I'm looking to order the $599 with bto 2.26/4GB ... after the Oakbrook Apple Store upgraded your memory to 4GB does the 9400m use 256MB shared memory? I've seen people upgrading their own mac mini's with these results ... just wondering if Apple does the upgrade - do they limit shared video memory to 128MB?

If anyone else also has info on this it would be greatly appreciated.


It doesn't matter who does the RAM upgrade after-market or if Apple does it as a BTO. With 1 GB RAM you get 128 MB video memory minimum and with 2 GB or more you get 256 MB video memory minimum.

It doesn't matter who does the RAM upgrade after-market or if Apple does it as a BTO. With 1 GB RAM you get 128 MB video memory minimum and with 2 GB or more you get 256 MB video memory minimum.

How does the 1GB come populated.. 2x512MB (which would be throw-away) or 1x1GB (to which you would just add a 2nd)... or could be that Apple reserves the right to populate with whatever they have more of in the part bins the day the machine is built...

How does the 1GB come populated

I think the tech specs online note 1 x 1GB.

CPU is soldered and can't be upgraded;
Is that confirmed anywhere yet?

There was a followup tweet from the macminicolo.net guy who took apart the new mini and this photo of the new CPU from a different guy who took his apart here:

http://forums.mactalk.com.au/12/68195-mac-mini-2009-a.html

I haven't had a chance to look around much today, but I bet the ifixit guys are getting pretty close with their dissection by now...

its not clear to me.. gaming aside (this is HTPC forum) what do we have that actually uses the spiffy new GPU to any benefit

While not taking advantage of the spiffy new GPU per se, any EyeTV user previously saddled with a MB or mini with the GMA 950 would really benefit.

No stock mini, perhaps not even yours after 2 swaps (I suspect) can handle 1080i ATSC and QAM at EyeTV's best deinterlace setting without dropping frames. Even if you max'd the mini RAM to 3ish and put a 7200rpm drive inside a mini, the GMA 950 still held you back. As soon as you stepped up to something with the just-slightly-better X3100, EyeTV would be fine. Of course, it wasn't the X3100 in isolation, since it came along with real 4GB support and a faster FSB than on any mini, too.

You get around this with Myth, if I recall...those of us who like EyeTV and Front Row weren't as lucky. So, the new base model mini with the 1066 FSB and 2GB of DDR3 RAM, allocating 256MB to video, should handle EyeTV like butter...for much less than what we were paying for X3100 Macs...and still leave you positioned to benefit down the line.

How does the 1GB come populated.. 2x512MB (which would be throw-away) or 1x1GB (to which you would just add a 2nd)... or could be that Apple reserves the right to populate with whatever they have more of in the part bins the day the machine is built...

If past experience is any guide, 1 GB will come from Apple as 2 x 512 MB and 2 GB will come as 2 x 1 GB. I don't think I have ever heard of Apple selling a Mac with an empty RAM slot (except maybe Mac Pros - no personal experience with those)

I don't think I have ever heard of Apple selling a Mac with an empty RAM slot

Put one in your cart, it'll say 1 x 1 GB...though these days, even a 1GB seems like a throwaway...

It depends on the memory type on how the slots are filled. If it's interleaved memory, then Apple does matching pairs. Most if not all of the Intel Macs in the last few years had interleaved memory. The latest hardware does not, so you're not seeing matched pairs once again.

1GB of RAM comes as 1x1GB as stated by Apple.

I ordered the base model with 2.26ghz CPU last night and picked up 4GB of RAM and a 320GB 7200RPM drive. I figure if I'm gonna crack it open, I might as well upgrade everything I can. I plan on dual booting it with Vista in case I ever want to turn it into a front end on a MCE/MediaPortal front end/back end system.

Sundog1 - I'm looking to order the $599 with bto 2.26/4GB ... after the Oakbrook Apple Store upgraded your memory to 4GB does the 9400m use 256MB shared memory? I've seen people upgrading their own mac mini's with these results ... just wondering if Apple does the upgrade - do they limit shared video memory to 128MB?

If anyone else also has info on this it would be greatly appreciated.
How can I tell? I am new to Mac.

Drawbacks, which should be mentioned but not dwelled upon at all:

2) Apple hasn't enabled the mini-DisplayPort to support audio yet;

Really? Isn't that a big drawback? Is this the case with Macbooks also? Doesn't make sense to me in as much as the new Cinema Displays have speakers. I had just been assuming that this was going to be easy to connect to HDTV. How does one get digital audio out to HDTV that doesn't have optical input?

Isn't that a big drawback?

Well, in an ideal world, sure, the "one magic cable does all with no drawbacks" would already be here, firmly established and embraced by all the competing device manufacturers and content providers for all media. And none of them would be thinking ahead, you know, skating to where the puck will be. Sadly, that's not the case and as you may know, Apple has a certain way of approaching things.

Is this the case with Macbooks also?

Yes, the inexpensive mini isn't any less limited in this regard, since other much more expensive Macs have no better mini-DP functionality: when they connect to the Cinema displays audio goes over USB.

How does one get digital audio out to HDTV that doesn't have optical input?

Most of us send optical audio from multiple devices to an AVR...so it can manage whatever audio, be it two channel or DD 5.1/DTS, that the Mac passes through, and control our real speakers and sub...only rarely do I listen to one of our HDTVs through its built-in speakers. You wouldn't want to listen to iTunes through your TV speakers, would you?

It's only relatively recently that AVR manufacturers got with the HDMI switching and upscaling bandwagon as a way to sell new devices to consumers. Many here probably still have an HDTV without an HDMI port somewhere around the house...

How can I tell?

Sundog1: Apple >About this Mac > More Info > Hardware > Graphics

Well, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the base model upgraded to 2.26 GHz and 250 GB HD. I'm going to upgrade the RAM myself with the 4 GB kit from Crucial.

HDMI to TV using Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter and optical to my receiver.

I'm going to connect a 1 TB external USB HD for media storage and stream my iTunes library from my iMac.

I'm probably going to use Plex as a front-end. Is that the best solution at this point?

I have an AppleTV in my HT now but will probably move that to the family room.

Sadly, that's not the case and as you may know, Apple has a certain way of approaching things.

I do indeed know of the funny things that Apple does. I, my wife, and daughters have owned at least a dozen Macs since 1987

Yes, the inexpensive mini isn't any less limited in this regard, since other much more expensive Macs have no better mini-DP functionality: when they connect to the Cinema displays audio goes over USB.

Amazing, and not in a good way.

Most of us send optical audio from multiple devices to an AVR...so it can manage whatever audio, be it two channel or DD 5.1/DTS, that the Mac passes through, and control our real speakers and sub...only rarely do I listen to one of our HDTVs through its built-in speakers. You wouldn't want to listen to iTunes through your TV speakers, would you?

No, I wouldn't listen to iTunes through TV speakers, but I often watch TV without turning the AVR on. I had thought I would get audio to the TV with mini DP with optical to my AVR. I guess I'll have to get used to a different way. I don't imagine that there's much hope that the current minis would be able get audio through that port in the future. What do you think? And I guess there's no reason to wait for the MiniDP to HDMI cable from Monoprice.

Regarding the RAM configuration, system profiler shows:

Bank 0: 1GB DDR3 1067MHz
Bank 1: Empty


That's not what I expected.. the previous Minis always had matched pairs. The claim was that the Intel integrated GPU performed better with matched pairs (I think I even saw some benchmarks to support that). The NVidia GPU must not be so sensitive to that.

I guess that gives me some options for upgrading. But, I'll probably end up going with 2x2GB any way. Not that I'll ever need it for HTPC usage, but while I'm opening it up I might as well go all the way.

Sundog1 - I'm looking to order the $599 with bto 2.26/4GB ... after the Oakbrook Apple Store upgraded your memory to 4GB does the 9400m use 256MB shared memory? I've seen people upgrading their own mac mini's with these results ... just wondering if Apple does the upgrade - do they limit shared video memory to 128MB?

If anyone else also has info on this it would be greatly appreciated.

Here you go, after upgrade specs:

NVIDIA GeForce 9400:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400
Type: Display
Bus: PCI
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0861
Revision ID: 0x00b1
ROM Revision: 3362
Displays:
SyncMaster:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected

Thanks chefklc

Well, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the base model upgraded to 2.26 GHz and 250 GB HD. I'm going to upgrade the RAM myself with the 4 GB kit from Crucial.


Just a side note: Newegg sells Crucial RAM for a little less than going to Crucial direct. I don't know what the difference is but I usually buy Crucial from there.

For those looking to upgrade the Mini HD (you'll need to measure the height to be sure)

320GB 7200rpm for ~$50 after rebate: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=487750&t=1226369

Just a side note: Newegg sells Crucial RAM for a little less than going to Crucial direct. I don't know what the difference is but I usually buy Crucial from there.

Thanks.

However, I did order it from Newegg. What I meant to say was that I ordered the 4 GB Crucial kit from Newegg. :D

not sure if anyone saw this but ifixit has a guide to installing a A1283 Terabyte Drive
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Mac-mini-A1283-Terabyte-Drive/660/1

they are also selling a kit for $250
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Mac-mini-1-TB-Upgrade-Kit/IF107-070

My wife an i are buying the low end model next week to turn into a HTPC... I cant wait to ditch cable

not sure if anyone saw this but ifixit has a guide to installing a A1283 Terabyte Drive
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Mac-mini-A1283-Terabyte-Drive/660/1

they are also selling a kit for $250
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Mac-mini-1-TB-Upgrade-Kit/IF107-070

My wife an i are buying the low end model next week to turn into a HTPC... I cant wait to ditch cable

That's really slick. However, I'd just have to pull one of them out again if/when Apple accepts/incorporates/gets Blu-ray ;)

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/

I ordered mine about an hour after the announcement with 2.26, 320. Email said it would be here in 3-5 days, which usually means 2 days. I had to order a fw800-400 adapter for my eyetv500. Planning to hook up an additional firewire device, the firedtv s2 for FTA satellite recording.
you paid $200 for 1GB of RAM and 200GB of hard drive space? :eek:

you paid $200 for 1GB of RAM and 200GB of hard drive space? :eek:

and the 2.26 GHz upgrade, which is not available on the lower priced model.
I need all the processor power and memory I can get since I will be running two firewire powered hd receivers and a usb powered analog receiver with recording capabiity, as well as the possibility of a component video recording usb device. I probably need a Mac Pro, but that wouldn't pass the wife test.

With the education pricing it is quite a bit lower. I normally buy a stripped model and add my own memory and drive, but this is an exception.

It is in Anchorage en route to PA, due Tuesday.

and the 2.26 GHz upgrade, which is not available on the lower priced model.
I need all the processor power and memory I can get since I will be running two firewire powered hd receivers and a usb powered analog receiver with recording capabiity, as well as the possibility of a component video recording usb device. I probably need a Mac Pro, but that wouldn't pass the wife test.


I always like to have more CPU.. But, the reasons you mention should actually not require much CPU at all. I used to have an old 400MHz G4 Cube, which I used for recording and streaming two HD tuners. It was going it via network, but the amount of data transferred is the same. A 20Mbps HD stream is a trickle of data. Assuming the SD tuner is doing the encoding in hardware (if it's USB, it probably is) that also won't be much effort.

More recently, I had a 1.66GHz Core Duo Mini, which I used to record dual HD streams via HDHomeRun while also doing HD playback, all on the same box (MythTV backend and frontend hosted on the Mini).

The HD decoding will be the CPU hog, along with other things like transcoding the video to other formats/resolutions or commercial detection. Doing Internet video encoded in H.264 can also be very CPU intensive.

Hopefully in Snow Leopard, the GPU will be better utilized and CPU will be less taxed on decoding for most things. But, there will always be plenty of call for fast CPU in an HTPC machine. Things like unaccelerated internet video formats, post-processing, transcoding, etc will benefit from that extra horsepower.

Can someone show me what cable you need to get optical audio to your receiver? Im assuming it goes from 1/8" audio to rca optical? i looked on monoprice but didnt see it.

BTW: The 2.26MHZ cpu is available on the lower end unit, thats the unit i ordered.

Can someone show me what cable you need to get optical audio to your receiver? Im assuming it goes from 1/8" audio to rca optical? i looked on monoprice but didnt see it.

BTW: The 2.26MHZ cpu is available on the lower end unit, thats the unit i ordered.

You can either buy a cable with these attached/included, or simply order the adapter.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042301&p_id=2671&seq=1&format=2

Can someone show me what cable you need to get optical audio to your receiver? Im assuming it goes from 1/8" audio to rca optical? i looked on monoprice but didnt see it.

BTW: The 2.26MHZ cpu is available on the lower end unit, thats the unit i ordered.

You can either buy a cable with these attached/included, or simply order the adapter.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042301&p_id=2671&seq=1&format=2

This is the cable I use. It works well:

Toslink to Mini M/M OD:5.0mm, Molded Type (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1556&seq=1&format=2)

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

Mini-displayport will accomplish the same.. once the adapter from monoprice finally ships.

I've played with a Dell laptop with a displayport and it was simply a matter of inserting a $13 adapter in the DP and connecting the HDMI cable to that.

For a laptop that is only a mild annoyance.. for a desktop (as the Mini is), its an install-once-and-forget item IMO.

Two questions:

1. What adapter are you refering to on monoprice?

2. If I use the mini displayport to hdmi will i get audio through that as well?
I'm not concered with 5.1 audio since my blu-ray and xbox are the connected to my surround sound... i dont really need my tv to be.

Thanks

Two questions:

1. What adapter are you refering to on monoprice?

2. If I use the mini displayport to hdmi will i get audio through that as well?
I'm not concered with 5.1 audio since my blu-ray and xbox are the connected to my surround sound... i dont really need my tv to be.

Thanks

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2

It will not do audio b/c Apple is not sending audio out MDP :(

(For computers that do send audio over DP, I know that the non-mini adapter does work (my friend's Dell laptop has DP with audio).)

Well, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the base model upgraded to 2.26 GHz and 250 GB HD. I'm going to upgrade the RAM myself with the 4 GB kit from Crucial.

HDMI to TV using Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter and optical to my receiver.

I'm going to connect a 1 TB external USB HD for media storage and stream my iTunes library from my iMac.

I'm probably going to use Plex as a front-end. Is that the best solution at this point?

I have an AppleTV in my HT now but will probably move that to the family room.

Posting now from my new Mac Mini attached (HDMI) to my Sharp 46" LCD (1080p). Set-up couldn't have been easier. Ordered a mini-DVI to HDMI adapter, plugged that in to the mini-DVI port on the Mini and attached an HDMI cable to that. Booted up the Mini and it immediately was displaying as 1080p on my display. Sitting about 7-8 feet away, the screen and text is more than readable to me.

I'm still waiting for my Toslink adapter so I can connect the sound through optical to my receiver.

Also awaiting my 4 GB RAM kit from Newegg.

Other than that, this is going to work FANTASTIC as my HTPC. I'm using a Logitech DiNovo EDGE for input right now and it works a treat.

DLing Plex right now...

I'm using the last gen Mini as my HTPC and it also works nicely; though the upgraded options are a little tempting with the new one. I typically use it for movies (ripped and DVD) but since getting a BD player, not for DVDs anymore. More of an iTunes interface than anything - allowing me access to some 20k songs stored on my main Mac downstairs.

Plugged right into the TV via a DVI->HDMI cable it works awesome up to 1080p (I usually scaled it down a little so make things more readable from across the room). Sadly, when I put the Onkyo 876 in the loop, only the boot screen displays now. I've done some research and it looks like I have two options... Run direct to the TV again (not my first choice, I want to keep the cable count down) or try the Gefen DVI Detective. Does this sound about right?

I just moved my HTPC setup from an old core duo 1.6 mini to one of the new BTO 2.26 GHz minis. My source is HD 720P captured with EyeTV and a Hauppauge HDPVR and I output to a 52" LCD + 5.1 home theater. Video was watchable on the 1.6 GHz, but fast action like basketball was jumpy due to frame skipping. The new mini has plenty of horsepower, and the experience is much, much better.

I'm using the last gen Mini as my HTPC and it also works nicely; though the upgraded options are a little tempting with the new one. I typically use it for movies (ripped and DVD) but since getting a BD player, not for DVDs anymore. More of an iTunes interface than anything - allowing me access to some 20k songs stored on my main Mac downstairs.

Plugged right into the TV via a DVI->HDMI cable it works awesome up to 1080p (I usually scaled it down a little so make things more readable from across the room). Sadly, when I put the Onkyo 876 in the loop, only the boot screen displays now. I've done some research and it looks like I have two options... Run direct to the TV again (not my first choice, I want to keep the cable count down) or try the Gefen DVI Detective. Does this sound about right?

I assume you have tried putting the 876 in "Through" mode?

It works very well. miniDVI -> HDMI, had to set the samsung lcd tv picture to "just scan" and the mac to 1920x1080@24hz with overscan enabled to get rid of all borders. samsung info button verifies that this is 1080p. Perfect fit, no resolution tools required.

* I believe I followed someone's tip to enable the display's icon in the task bar, the drop down shows 1920x1080@24hz and two instances of 1920x1080@60hz (these give 1080i)

using logitech mediaboard pro (ps3) works flawlessly --- mapped capslock as command key, I don't yell that much.

Ordered a mini-DVI to HDMI adapter,

Where did you find that? The only one I'm aware of is the Monoprice adapter, and that isn't due to be released until March 15th.

Where did you find that? The only one I'm aware of is the Monoprice adapter, and that isn't due to be released until March 15th.

You are thinking of the mini-displayPort to HDMI adapter which is due March 15th. Monoprice has had the mini-dvi to HDMI for a while.

I assume you have tried putting the 876 in "Through" mode?

Yeah, tried that (was on by default IIRC) and even tried "Game mode." I'll have to play with it more, but something changed by adding the Onkyo in the loop. I'll have to debug further by using the Macbook Pro, where I can mirror the display and try different resolutions. The boot screen, which is pretty low-res worked; but not the two resolutions I usually run the Mini at (including 1080p). So this is more of a curiosity thing than really nailing down the issue.

It's not an issue of the Mini going to sleep or the signal disappearing, though it seems handshake-related/EDID I'm guessing.

I just wanted to bounce this issue off the group before I chase rainbows (and waste money) on the Gefen DVI Detective...

Where did you find that? The only one I'm aware of is the Monoprice adapter, and that isn't due to be released until March 15th.

What chrobins said. I'm using mini-DVI to HDMI, not mini-Display Port to HDMI.

I don't know what advantage the mini-Display Port to HDMI is supposed to have over the mini-DVI to HDMI since Apple has not enabled sound output through the mini-Display Port. Thus, not worth waiting for that adapter IMHO.

On another note, although still waiting for my 4 GB RAM upgrade and digital audio adapter to arrive, I did get Plex installed and running and all of my .mp4 and .avi files play flawlessly. I'm going to rip a DVD to video TS folder tonight and see how that playback is but I expect it to also work fine (I'll time the ripping process for those interested - will use MTR). Not sure if it's worth it to try and DL a High-Def .mvk file to try as I have a PS3 for Blu-ray playback.

If anyone is on the fence and wants me test anything specific let me know. my specs are: 2.26 GHz, 1 GB RAM (soon to be 4 GB), 250 GB HD (from Apple), connected to 46" 1080p LCD through mini-DVI/HDMI, and soon to be connected to Yamaha V-1700 optical audio. Running Plex as a front-end and streaming iTunes library from iMac in another location.

If anyone is on the fence and wants me test anything specific let me know. my specs are: 2.26 GHz, 1 GB RAM (soon to be 4 GB), 250 GB HD (from Apple), connected to 46" 1080p LCD through mini-DVI/HDMI, and soon to be connected to Yamaha V-1700 optical audio. Running Plex as a front-end and streaming iTunes library from iMac in another location.

Hulu HD... See this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1126465

Try different quality settings in the Flash window (on click in the playing window)

If anyone is on the fence and wants me test anything specific let me know. my specs are: 2.26 GHz, 1 GB RAM (soon to be 4 GB), 250 GB HD (from Apple), connected to 46" 1080p LCD through mini-DVI/HDMI, and soon to be connected to Yamaha V-1700 optical audio. Running Plex as a front-end and streaming iTunes library from iMac in another location.

I wish you had the displayPort adapter so that you could try something out for me :) I'm wondering if it's possible to run flex on one display and a browser on the other. I'd control plex with the remote and the browser with the keyboard\mouse.

^ Don't know if this helps, but you can have two displays hooked up, via each port (that is, it's not one or the other).

Hulu HD... See this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1126465

Try different quality settings in the Flash window (on click in the playing window)

Will do. I'll check this out when I get home and report the results.

BTW, for this test I should note that my internet connection will be via Airport Wireless-N to an N-router connected via ethernet to an Actiontech Verizon FIOS router (20 MB down).

^ Don't know if this helps, but you can have two displays hooked up, via each port (that is, it's not one or the other).

My understanding is the FrontRow essentially takes up both displays and consumes the I/O so you can't do anything else on the 2nd display. I wasn't sure if Plex was similar or if I would be able use it as a HTPC and a multi-use machine simultaneously. I'm coming from the Windows/Linux HTPC world, so I'm a bit green when it comes to Macs and Plex\EyeTv ,etc.

^ Ahh, okay - gotcha.

I'm no expert, but Hulu HD seems to play just fine on the 2.26 GHz Mini. I didn't see any noticeable tearing or artifacts in full screen.

Full disk extraction of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (7.09 GB) took 34 minutes using Mac the Ripper.

My understanding is the FrontRow essentially takes up both displays and consumes the I/O so you can't do anything else on the 2nd display. I wasn't sure if Plex was similar or if I would be able use it as a HTPC and a multi-use machine simultaneously. I'm coming from the Windows/Linux HTPC world, so I'm a bit green when it comes to Macs and Plex\EyeTv ,etc.

i'm actually curious about the same thing. i want to get a mini to use as a general purpose computer while double-timing as a htpc, hooked up to my tv and my 20" computer monitor. i'm curious if plex (or boxee) and the full screen eyetv interface completely take over both monitors, or if they can only be run on the second monitor, allowing other stuff to be done on the computer display (and for what it's worth, i'm also curious about any interference between keyboard/mouse activity and remote control activity when both are happening simultaneously).

i'm actually curious about the same thing. i want to get a mini to use as a general purpose computer while double-timing as a htpc, hooked up to my tv and my 20" computer monitor. i'm curious if plex (or boxee) and the full screen eyetv interface completely take over both monitors, or if they can only be run on the second monitor, allowing other stuff to be done on the computer display (and for what it's worth, i'm also curious about any interference between keyboard/mouse activity and remote control activity when both are happening simultaneously).

I'm currently using an iMac connected to another display and plex will run on the second display and I can do anything on the main display. I don't have eyetv so I can't test that. Let me know if anyone has any other questions about plex on separate displays.

Just a question for all you lucky new mac mini owners out there. I'm just curious what the advantage is of upgrading to the 2.26 GHz vs. a 2 GHz model for an HTPC application as a media extender with Plex.

Is there any 1080P content out there that a 2 GHz model with Plex can't play?

Just a question for all you lucky new mac mini owners out there. I'm just curious what the advantage is of upgrading to the 2.26 GHz vs. a 2 GHz model for an HTPC application as a media extender with Plex.

Is there any 1080P content out there that a 2 GHz model with Plex can't play?

Me too. I don't want to overbuy, but then again I want a very good viewing experience. Also, is there an advantage to getting more than 2GB of memory for HTPC?

Re: the discussion of Hulu HD: my 2005 Power Mac G5 2.3 dual can't handle it at all. My wife's Macbook 1.83 is choppy but is watchable, so I'm really hopeful the new Mini will do the job.

I'm currently using an iMac connected to another display and plex will run on the second display and I can do anything on the main display. I don't have eyetv so I can't test that. Let me know if anyone has any other questions about plex on separate displays.

Can you use the remote on the plex display while someone else is typing on the first display?

Me too. I don't want to overbuy, but then again I want a very good viewing experience. Also, is there an advantage to getting more than 2GB of memory for HTPC?

Re: the discussion of Hulu HD: my 2005 Power Mac G5 2.3 dual can't handle it at all. My wife's Macbook 1.83 is choppy but is watchable, so I'm really hopeful the new Mini will do the job.

See my post above. The new Mini (2.26 GHz) seems to handle Hulu HD just fine.

I'm no expert, but Hulu HD seems to play just fine on the 2.26 GHz Mini. I didn't see any noticeable tearing or artifacts in full screen.

Full screen?

If you are truly bored, can you try with Safari and Firefox? (not sure it should matter, but saw something that made me wonder)

The opening of Ep 1 of the Seeker is as tough as a test as I can find.

Full screen?

If you are truly bored, can you try with Safari and Firefox? (not sure it should matter, but saw something that made me wonder)

The opening of Ep 1 of the Seeker is as tough as a test as I can find.

Yes, full screen. I opened Ep 1 of the Seeker HD in Safari, and clicked the full screen button. It played just fine. I didn't see any noticeable tearing, pixelation, or artifacts. This was on a 46" 1080p LCD connected to the Mini through HDMI.

I can try it in Firefox tonight. Just for kicks, can you post the link to the Seeker episode you are referring to so I am sure I am using the exact one you are talking about?

Yes, full screen. I opened Ep 1 of the Seeker HD in Safari, and clicked the full screen button. It played just fine. I didn't see any noticeable tearing, pixelation, or artifacts. This was on a 46" 1080p LCD connected to the Mini through HDMI.

I can try it in Firefox tonight. Just for kicks, can you post the link to the Seeker episode you are referring to so I am sure I am using the exact one you are talking about?

http://www.hulu.com/hd/48731

thanks!

i'm actually curious about the same thing. i want to get a mini to use as a general purpose computer while double-timing as a htpc, hooked up to my tv and my 20" computer monitor. i'm curious if plex (or boxee) and the full screen eyetv interface completely take over both monitors, or if they can only be run on the second monitor, allowing other stuff to be done on the computer display (and for what it's worth, i'm also curious about any interference between keyboard/mouse activity and remote control activity when both are happening simultaneously).


I'm also thinking of going this route but my desk is at one end of the room and the theater at the other. Anybody know how long of a HDMI and Toslink cable I can use and still get decent signal?

Thanks!

Brad

I'm also thinking of going this route but my desk is at one end of the room and the theater at the other. Anybody know how long of a HDMI and Toslink cable I can use and still get decent signal?

Thanks!

Brad

The answer depends on a lot of variables including cable quality, the resolution you will be using, and robustness of the HDMI circuity in the source and display components. You should be able to run a toslink cable up to 50' without too much trouble. HDMI is a different story. Anything longer than 30' is getting touchy when it comes to HDMI. I'm using a 35' cable from my video processor to my projector. I had to audition several cables before I found one that didn't have sparklies. The HDMI output on my video processor is pathetic. A direct connection from the TivoHD to the projector worked fine with all of the cables that I tried (best monoprice cable and 2 different Blue Jeans cables). I haven't ordered my mini yet so I can't comment on how good the dvi or displayPort output is. If you are going to try more than 30' make sure you can return the cable if necessary.

Thanks! I'm guessing that it could 35' but I have not actually measured it yet.

Just came across this tidbit of information from this Macworld review (http://www.macworld.com/article/139336/2009/03/mac_mini_2009.html?lsrc=rss_main):

"Also gone is the previous model’s DVI video port, replaced by two video ports: a mini-DVI port (identical to the one found on older iMacs and Mac laptops) that uses an included adapter to connect to standard DVI displays, and a Mini DisplayPort connector like those found on the current MacBooks. The latter port works directly with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays such as Apple’s current 24-inch LED Cinema Display (); it also works with DVI displays via Apple’s $29 Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter. Both video outputs include High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), allowing you to output HDCP-protected content to other HDCP-enabled devices."

I'm currently using an iMac connected to another display and plex will run on the second display and I can do anything on the main display. I don't have eyetv so I can't test that. Let me know if anyone has any other questions about plex on separate displays.


I just picked up a 2.8ghz iMac on refurb, and am wondering two things:

(1) Can you blank out the iMac display while using Plex or FrontRow on the HDTV?

(2) Can you truly run 1080p on the HDTV? I am wondering if I am actually better off getting the Mac Mini, because if I can't turn off the main display on the iMac, the graphics card will be forced to drive two displays.

Thanks!

Going to be getting a new base mini to stream my movies, music, etc. to my home theater. I'm going to be running Plex as the front end. What the best way to hook it up to my A/V receiver. Through the mini DP? Will that carry audio also or do I need to run that separately. My DVDs are just standard, no HD or Blu Ray rips. Will this mini be able to display them on an HD 47" Panny?

If mini DP is the way to got will I be able to pick up a Mini DP to HDMI adapter at the Apple Store?

Thanks for the help.

Going to be getting a new base mini to stream my movies, music, etc. to my home theater. I'm going to be running Plex as the front end. What the best way to hook it up to my A/V receiver. Through the mini DP? Will that carry audio also or do I need to run that separately. My DVDs are just standard, no HD or Blu Ray rips. Will this mini be able to display them on an HD 47" Panny?

If mini DP is the way to got will I be able to pick up a Mini DP to HDMI adapter at the Apple Store?

Thanks for the help.

I hooked mine up by getting a mini-DVI to HDMI adapter and connecting that to my LCD through HDMI. Sound goes to receiver via optical. You need an adapter (mini-plug to optical connecter). I don't think sound can be output from the DVI or DP.

I don't think the mini-DP to HDMI adapter is available yet.

Yes, the Mini will be able to display your DVD on your Panny just fine.

I replaced my older Mini with a new model (2.26ghz, 4gb RAM), I have it connected via the mini-DV port with a DVI-HDMI cable connected to my receiver (Onkyo 805) , before on the old Mini it pushed 1080p video (1920x1200), but the new machine is only going up to 1680x1050, any ideas?

Glad I came and read this thread... I was really excited for this, but then I read the thread and it appears the unit has no method to play back my lossesless FLACs (within my MKVs of HD DVD rips). Pity :(

You could perhaps convert your mkv's to another format, there should be a way to do that without loss in quality, but I'm no expert.

Hello All,

Speaking of FLAC. My MKV's have FLAC audio. Are there any external devices (USB/Firewire) that have 5.1/7.1 analog output? I need this to connect to my receivers 7.1 input.

This is the only thing that is stopping me from making my purchase! :(

Thanks

I replaced my older Mini with a new model (2.26ghz, 4gb RAM), I have it connected via the mini-DV port with a DVI-HDMI cable connected to my receiver (Onkyo 805) , before on the old Mini it pushed 1080p video (1920x1200), but the new machine is only going up to 1680x1050, any ideas?


Try these:

Turn on your TV before the Mac.

Click on "Detect Displays" in the display preferences pane in System Preferences.

Lots of good info so far, thanks!

Here is my plan, let me know what you think about it. I am not a mac guy, but this seems like the best solution for me!

Base model, upgrading RAM to 2 or 4GB myself(any reason for 4?)

Using almost exclusively as a HTPC, will be streaming videos from my NAS with FrontRow and DVDpedia (that will work, right?)

Watching Hulu content and recorded content from my Tivo from the NAS

Streaming music from my NAS

Connected to my receiver via optical, connected to my TV via HDMI (not sure if I will use the MDP or MiniDVI), using a Harmony One to control FrontRow (possible?) How about using my ipod touch for controls?

Thanks for the feedback!

Lots of good info so far, thanks!

Here is my plan, let me know what you think about it. I am not a mac guy, but this seems like the best solution for me!

Base model, upgrading RAM to 2 or 4GB myself(any reason for 4?)

Using almost exclusively as a HTPC, will be streaming videos from my NAS with FrontRow and DVDpedia (that will work, right?)

Watching Hulu content and recorded content from my Tivo from the NAS

Streaming music from my NAS

Connected to my receiver via optical, connected to my TV via HDMI (not sure if I will use the MDP or MiniDVI), using a Harmony One to control FrontRow (possible?) How about using my ipod touch for controls?

Thanks for the feedback!

I highly recommend using Plex as your front end to stream from your NAS. The Harmony One works perfectly with it. Plus, Plex has a plug-in for Hulu and many other online video sources.

Added bonus: if you set Plex to load at login, even if Plex is closed when you put your Mini to sleep, when you wake from sleep, Plex opens automatically and you are good to go.

Your proposed connections should work fine - that's exactly how I have my Mini connected.

I haven't tried using my iPhone to control but I don't see why that wouldn't work with Front Row or even Plex.

I highly recommend using Plex as your front end to stream from your NAS. The Harmony One works perfectly with it. Plus, Plex has a plug-in for Hulu and many other online video sources.

Added bonus: if you set Plex to load at login, even if Plex is closed when you put your Mini to sleep, when you wake from sleep, Plex opens automatically and you are good to go.


jingle - do you know if Plex stores meta-data found (artwork, etc.) with the .m4v movie file or does it create a relationship with some internal file?

ken

Lots of good info so far, thanks!

Here is my plan, let me know what you think about it. I am not a mac guy, but this seems like the best solution for me!

Base model, upgrading RAM to 2 or 4GB myself(any reason for 4?)

Using almost exclusively as a HTPC, will be streaming videos from my NAS with FrontRow and DVDpedia (that will work, right?)

Watching Hulu content and recorded content from my Tivo from the NAS

Streaming music from my NAS

Connected to my receiver via optical, connected to my TV via HDMI (not sure if I will use the MDP or MiniDVI), using a Harmony One to control FrontRow (possible?) How about using my ipod touch for controls?

Thanks for the feedback!

wow this sounds almost exactly like the setup I plan on using.

Any suggestions for the external storage device? My plan is to rip almost all of my current dvds to my storage device and then get rid of the dvds.

I almost have my wife convinced on the new mini... I just need to find a decent blue tooth wireless keyboard/mouse to use

We also have a Harmony One controller as well so I'm glad to hear I can use i with Plex

wow this sounds almost exactly like the setup I plan on using.

Any suggestions for the external storage device? My plan is to rip almost all of my current dvds to my storage device and then get rid of the dvds.

I almost have my wife convinced on the new mini... I just need to find a decent blue tooth wireless keyboard/mouse to use

We also have a Harmony One controller as well so I'm glad to hear I can use i with Plex

Cool! I use an HP MediaVault with 2 1TB drives mirrored in RAID, both as my backup device and for streaming. I currently use the PS3 to stream, but the GUI is not appealing, and I cannot stream .tivo files. With the mac mini, I will be able to play the files back (I hope) without converting them.

jingle - do you know if Plex stores meta-data found (artwork, etc.) with the .m4v movie file or does it create a relationship with some internal file?

ken

Plex an connect to IMDB to find movie information, artwork, etc. You don't need meta-data in your .m4v files because Plex retrieves the information online for you.

What I have done is set up a 2 TB WD hardrive connected to the Mini via FW 800. There are currently 3 folders on this drive: iTunes Library, iPhoto library, and "Movies".

I directed Plex to the iTunes Library folder for Music, the iPhoto library folder for photos, and the Movies folder for movies. Plex retrieves movie data for each movie using the filename. If it finds more than one possible choice, it lets you lick which one you want. Once you have added the movie to your Plex library, you can browse the movies by filename, coverflow, etc. Highlighting a movie shows you the summary, actors, directors, artwork (including fan-art), etc. I never had to enter any of this information manually in the form of meta-data.

wow this sounds almost exactly like the setup I plan on using.

Any suggestions for the external storage device? My plan is to rip almost all of my current dvds to my storage device and then get rid of the dvds.

I almost have my wife convinced on the new mini... I just need to find a decent blue tooth wireless keyboard/mouse to use

We also have a Harmony One controller as well so I'm glad to hear I can use i with Plex

For Bluetooth keyboard/mouse I recommend the Logitech DiNovo Edge. They have a "Mac" edition (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-920-000924-Rechargeable-Bluetooth-Keyboard/dp/B001E2NID4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237648528&sr=8-1) but I got the normal Windows one (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-diNovo-Edge-Keyboard-Black/dp/B000J43HJ8/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237648528&sr=8-4) and it works great. Having "mouse" built-in to the keyboard is perfect for working from a couch. :D

so, how are those new mac mini's running? I hope to order one soon...

I have the 2.26ghz with 4gb RAM and a 80gb SSD drive (external FireWire media storage) and it works very well. I use it for Boxee and EyeTV in my home theater.

I have the 2.26ghz with 4gb RAM and a 80gb SSD drive (external FireWire media storage) and it works very well. I use it for Boxee and EyeTV in my home theater.


sounds great to me...

i'm assuming it should be able to handle some light video editing through iMovie 09 as well? I've got a old old iMac powerpc and it doesnt support my new HD camcorder... converting HD video to .mov is a pain in the ass to do for your home movies

so, how are those new mac mini's running? I hope to order one soon...

Like a dream - I couldn't be happier with my Mini as my HTPC. I can't say I have encountered a single problem so far. In fact, I've been treated with a few nice surprises.

For one, I found out that if my Mini is asleep, powering on my system with my Harmony remote actually wakes my Mini from sleep and starts up Plex. :D

Has anyone tried replacing the internal HD with a SSD? That would save heat and noise, correct?

Has anyone tried replacing the internal HD with a SSD? That would save heat and noise, correct?

I haven't but I can tell you that the stock drives are plenty quiet and don't produce a lot of heat.

Like a dream - I couldn't be happier with my Mini as my HTPC. I can't say I have encountered a single problem so far. In fact, I've been treated with a few nice surprises.

For one, I found out that if my Mini is asleep, powering on my system with my Harmony remote actually wakes my Mini from sleep and starts up Plex. :D

Great news! i am waiting for my tax return, but this will be my next purchase. From looking around, I will be using Plex as well, it seems like a great solution.

Any other must have programs? I will use Toast so I can play back .tivo files from my NAS and am looking for all other cool stuff I can do on my mac mini (i am a pc user).

For one, I found out that if my Mini is asleep, powering on my system with my Harmony remote actually wakes my Mini from sleep and starts up Plex. :DIf you include the mini "device" in an "activity" in the harmony software, you can have the mini automatically sleep when you hit the power off button as well...

i'm assuming it should be able to handle some light video editing through iMovie 09 as well? I've got a old old iMac powerpc and it doesnt support my new HD camcorder... converting HD video to .mov is a pain in the ass to do for your home moviesI edit my home videos in iMovie 09 on a 1.6GHz Celeron, so I'm sure the new mini should have no problem!

If you include the mini "device" in an "activity" in the harmony software, you can have the mini automatically sleep when you hit the power off button as well...

Anything special I need to do in the Harmony software or will that happen as long as the Mini is a device in my activity?

Anything special I need to do in the Harmony software or will that happen as long as the Mini is a device in my activity?I added the sleep command as a "Leave Action" for the HTPC activity I had set up.

Has anyone tested ripped BD .m2ts files via Plex on the new mac mini?

I'm frustrated as hell with the Popcorn Hour A110, and I'm itching to pull the trigger on a new mini if unaltered BD rips can be played without issue.

Ok the wife has convinced me to get this new i Mac mini....

I want to know if it can do the following:
-Can I send full 1080i/1080P/720P movies content to my Pioneer 60" Kuro Plasma, which will also act as my display.
- Will I be able to do a "dot by dot" in a 1080p or 1080i movie?
- Will I be able to send 5.1 DD or DTS to my Integra Receiver.
- Will I be able to watch a movie in the Mac mini on my 60" Kuro (living room) and have my wife work on her photo shop in the kitchen on another computer monitor at the same time.

Thanks

Paul

Ok the wife has convinced me to get this new i Mac mini....

I want to know if it can do the following:
-Can I send full 1080i/1080P/720P movies content to my Pioneer 60" Kuro Plasma, which will also act as my display.
- Will I be able to do a "dot by dot" in a 1080p or 1080i movie?
- Will I be able to send 5.1 DD or DTS to my Integra Receiver.
- Will I be able to watch a movie in the Mac mini on my 60" Kuro (living room) and have my wife work on her photo shop in the kitchen on another computer monitor at the same time.

Thanks

Paul

1) 1080i/1080p/720p to 60" Kuro --- YES

2) Dot by Dot 1080p or 1080i --- YES

3) Send 5.1 DD --- YES, not sure about DTS

4) Use two monitors simultaneously --- I'm not sure about this.

For Bluetooth keyboard/mouse I recommend the Logitech DiNovo Edge. They have a "Mac" edition (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-920-000924-Rechargeable-Bluetooth-Keyboard/dp/B001E2NID4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237648528&sr=8-1) but I got the normal Windows one (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-diNovo-Edge-Keyboard-Black/dp/B000J43HJ8/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237648528&sr=8-4) and it works great. Having "mouse" built-in to the keyboard is perfect for working from a couch. :D

Was looking at this thread and saw your post. Glad I did, just ordered the mac edition from amazon for a really good deal. Thanks. :D

After doing some testing today on my new mini (2.26/4gb) using my unaltered .m2ts rips, I've noticed that I get quite a bit of dropped frames/audio dropouts from most AVC MP4 encoded movies. Older Mpeg 2 and VC1 encodes play flawlessly however...it appears I don't have a choice but to do some re-encoding. I'll keep my original .m2ts files just in case Snow Leopard improves performance later this year.

After doing some testing today on my new mini (2.26/4gb) using my unaltered .m2ts rips, I've noticed that I get quite a bit of dropped frames/audio dropouts from most AVC MP4 encoded movies. Older Mpeg 2 and VC1 encodes play flawlessly however...it appears I don't have a choice but to do some re-encoding. I'll keep my original .m2ts files just in case Snow Leopard improves performance later this year.

What app are you using? it's amazing how many forums ive read where one person says, nope drops frames, and the next guy (who has a lesser model) swears it will play flawlessly! I wish apple had an easy return policy :|

What app are you using? it's amazing how many forums ive read where one person says, nope drops frames, and the next guy (who has a lesser model) swears it will play flawlessly! I wish apple had an easy return policy :|

I've had time to play around with my mini, so here is an update on compatibility. Most of my Blu-ray rips (.m2ts) play fine now. Originally I was not muxing the files using TSmuxer, I've now realized that for the best possible playback on the mini, you need to strip all unnecessary data from the .m2ts file, such as foreign language tracks and subtitles. Also, plex has performance issues with handling the new HD audio formats, so I also needed to convert Dolby TrueHD to ac3, and DTS-HD MA to DTS.

So far, the movies that I've needed to re-encode are: Iron Man, Indy 4, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The Hunt For Red October, The Fifth Element (Remastered), and Transformers.

I've also read the the current version of plex has studdering issues on 1080p content, so hopefully newer versions will address issues such as HD audio.

Also, plex has performance issues with handling the new HD audio formats, so I also needed to convert Dolby TrueHD to ac3, and DTS-HD MA to DTS.


It's not just a plex issue with HD Audio formats.

The mini itself cannot output HD audio at the moment since it cannot output audio over HDMI and therefore the best you can get is core audio over toslink. There has been lots of discussion about this and maybe it will change in the future, but at the moment you will not get the benefit of the HD audio on burned bluray discs on he mini (or any Apple computer).

I've been pleasantly surprised with the performance of my new Mini. I bought a stock 2Ghz/1GB/120GB unit (going to upgrade the RAM, just haven't gotten to it yet). I've been able to stream unaltered m2ts Blu-ray rips from several movies that I have with no problems at all (National Treasure, Invincible, IRobot, I Am Legend, Casino Royale, etc). The surpirsing thing is that I am doing this wirelessly. I have an unRAID server connected via wired gigabit to an Airport Extreme Base Station set to N only and using the stock wireless N card in the Mini. The Mini is only separated from the AEBS by 30ft and two walls, but I was surprised to be able to do this as I have heard you couldn't watch a Blu-ray over a wireless network without major stuttering.

I suspect I will have more trouble with both the wifi and the processing abilities of my Mini when I get my hands on some of the movies known to be difficult to playback on the Mini. I have Iron Man at home on Blu-ray but I currently don't have a Blu-ray drive to get it ripped and stored on my server.

I am using Plex btw. And I am thrilled with the results: slick interface, tremendous customization, wide variety of formats supported, great organization and of my TV shows and movies with pictures and descriptions. I've done HTPC on the PC side for several years on different systems, and nothing has compared the aesthetics of this software and hardware setup. Not even close! I plan to eventually add an EyeTV to my Mini via my iMac, and if you could incorporate live TV into Plex with Tivo functionality it would be perfect for my needs.

Edit - The only thing I hope is that Snow Leopard takes advantage of the NVIDIA graphics like it is supposed to so I don't have to strip anything off of my Blu-ray rips to play them properly. That is when the slickness and convience goes away in my opinion. Popping a disc in and ripping it to your server and deleting everything but the main feature is not much work, but encoding for hours for every movie you add to the server is a pain. It takes time and ties uo your computer.

Edit - The only thing I hope is that Snow Leopard takes advantage of the NVIDIA graphics like it is supposed to so I don't have to strip anything off of my Blu-ray rips to play them properly. That is when the slickness and convience goes away in my opinion. Popping a disc in and ripping it to your server and deleting everything but the main feature is not much work, but encoding for hours for every movie you add to the server is a pain. It takes time and ties uo your computer.

Thankfully most BD rips don't need to be re-encoded. Stripping unnecessary data such as foreign language tracks and subtitles reduces the file size and is something I recommend people do to conserve hard drive space. Right now I'm keeping two copies of every movie: a backup version with HD audio, and a version with ac3/dts only. Hopefully Snow Leopard will allow me to ditch the ac3 versions...

For me, the one thing that could really push Plex over the edge is if someone created a SlingPlayer plug-in with HD resolution support via Slingbox Pro HD. That would be amazing.

Thankfully most BD rips don't need to be re-encoded. Stripping unnecessary data such as foreign language tracks and subtitles reduces the file size and is something I recommend people do to conserve hard drive space. Right now I'm keeping two copies of every movie: a backup version with HD audio, and a version with ac3/dts only. Hopefully Snow Leopard will allow me to ditch the ac3 versions...

What do you use to do this? TSmuxer?

For me, the one thing that could really push Plex over the edge is if someone created a SlingPlayer plug-in with HD resolution support via Slingbox Pro HD. That would be amazing.

Yeah, that would basically seal the deal. I would be happy with any kind of live TV solution.

Bit of a noob question, as I am new to macs. So let me explain (blabber aimlessly) for a bit.

I have an iPhone, I have iTunes on a networked HD. I want to be able to use my iPhone to control my iTunes from anywhere in the house, which is possible with the Remote App.

Now, I need a new computer as my laptop is very old. I was thinking of getting the mac mini, and hooking it up to my tv.

Now, what I want to do is still have my iTunes on the network, be able to control it through my iPhone, and have my iTunes available throughout my house. My tv is in the basement, where the Mini will be attached too with my bose system. I also want to hook up speakers upstairs and have that play my iTunes library, controlled by my iPhone.

Ok i think i have confused myself as well. Basically, I need a new computer, want to control iTunes with my iPhone upstairs and downstairs (not different songs in both, just diff areas), and have it all work pretty easily and seamlessly.

What is my best option?

What do you use to do this? TSmuxer?

Yes.

Hi LewisD I am about to get a new MacMini as a HTPC. I will be using Plex also! I already have a few Movies and TV series ripped into a external HD in DVD quiality! I am contemplating to use Blu Ray material with the Mini!! Can you do me a Walkthrough of the software and hardware needed to Use BD media in a Mini with Plex? Does I need to use a PC or Bootcamp to rip the BD content? Hope you can help me to set this new Media Center!! Thanks!!


Thankfully most BD rips don't need to be re-encoded. Stripping unnecessary data such as foreign language tracks and subtitles reduces the file size and is something I recommend people do to conserve hard drive space. Right now I'm keeping two copies of every movie: a backup version with HD audio, and a version with ac3/dts only. Hopefully Snow Leopard will allow me to ditch the ac3 versions...

For me, the one thing that could really push Plex over the edge is if someone created a SlingPlayer plug-in with HD resolution support via Slingbox Pro HD. That would be amazing.

My tv is in the basement, where the Mini will be attached too with my bose system. I also want to hook up speakers upstairs and have that play my iTunes library, controlled by my iPhone.

I need a new computer, want to control iTunes with my iPhone upstairs and downstairs (not different songs in both, just diff areas), and have it all work pretty easily and seamlessly.

djalap--what you want can easily be accomplished by an iPhone or iPod touch with Apple's free remote application, with ANY Mac downstairs running iTunes, in your case, it could be the new mini, and then upstairs you go with an Airport Express or an aTV--both devices show up as "remote speaker" options within iTunes and the remote application. So with your iPhone you could tell iTunes to play your music in one, or both, locations, in sync.

Many of us have done exactly what you're describing and it's very straightforward and seamless. iTunes has had the capability to stream the same song or playlist to multiple locations for years, then they added that capability to the aTV besides the Express, and then added the Remote application...it's all quite nice.

Finally got my 09 macmini and got it all setup lastnight with my minidisplayport to HDMI from monoprice, installed 4 gb of RAM, hooked up my logitch bluetooth keyboard, PLEX, and my external drive with all my movies etc.

This is easily one of the best purchases I've made in a long while.

I cant wait till I get all of my little kinks worked out and have my Harmony One remote all programed so my wife can easily use it.

It really is one great little machine

Me too. I don't want to overbuy, but then again I want a very good viewing experience. Also, is there an advantage to getting more than 2GB of memory for HTPC?

Re: the discussion of Hulu HD: my 2005 Power Mac G5 2.3 dual can't handle it at all. My wife's Macbook 1.83 is choppy but is watchable, so I'm really hopeful the new Mini will do the job.

I would not worry about overbuying. I have the 2.26 with 4gig ram and i ripped Indiana jones blu ray and tried playing the mt2s and had alot of tearing and chopiness. I can handle 95% of the 1080p stuff i throw at it and all the 720p stuff but there are the occassional files that just dont play well. Always Always Always buy as much as you can reasonably afford. It wont go to waste.

I would not worry about overbuying. I have the 2.26 with 4gig ram and i ripped Indiana jones blu ray and tried playing the mt2s and had alot of tearing and chopiness. I can handle 95% of the 1080p stuff i throw at it and all the 720p stuff but there are the occassional files that just dont play well. Always Always Always buy as much as you can reasonably afford. It wont go to waste.
I too went the 2.26 with 4GB of RAM route, but I'm not totally happy with it. I am mainly using it to record from EyeTV Hybrid, and too much of the 1080i programming is less than satisfactory.

Hi LewisD I am about to get a new MacMini as a HTPC. I will be using Plex also! I already have a few Movies and TV series ripped into a external HD in DVD quiality! I am contemplating to use Blu Ray material with the Mini!! Can you do me a Walkthrough of the software and hardware needed to Use BD media in a Mini with Plex? Does I need to use a PC or Bootcamp to rip the BD content? Hope you can help me to set this new Media Center!! Thanks!!

This is the guide that I use:

http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php?showtopic=2337

I would not worry about overbuying. I have the 2.26 with 4gig ram and i ripped Indiana jones blu ray and tried playing the mt2s and had alot of tearing and chopiness.

IJ4 is encoded with a variable frame rate, which is the likely source of your problem. Both my GMA950 Mini and my quad-core hackintosh had problems with it. The solution for me was to drop it down to 24fps with tsmuxer.

IJ4The solution for me was to drop it down to 24fps with tsmuxer.

How did you then correct the lip sync issue?

For Bluetooth keyboard/mouse I recommend the Logitech DiNovo Edge. They have a "Mac" edition (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-920-000924-Rechargeable-Bluetooth-Keyboard/dp/B001E2NID4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237648528&sr=8-1) but I got the normal Windows one (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-diNovo-Edge-Keyboard-Black/dp/B000J43HJ8/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237648528&sr=8-4) and it works great. Having "mouse" built-in to the keyboard is perfect for working from a couch. :D

Adesso is coming out with a BT version of their popular 2.4GHz mini touchpad keyboard. IMHO the only way to browse in comfort on thecouch is to replicate a laptop as close as possible.

Ted -- I just came across your post regarding using Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil to get Mac Mini audio to both a receiver (optical) and a second tv (Airport Express). Great tip! Before I pick up an Airport Express, any experience with the the 'syncing' quality of the audio? Will the video and audio be in sync when using the Airfoil software or is the delay too noticeable? I'd love it if there was just a way to have two audio outs from the Mac Mini (one optical and one analog).

Ted -- ... I'd love it if there was just a way to have two audio outs from the Mac Mini (one optical and one analog).

Me, too. Is there anything that does this besides a $200 DAC?

Me, too. Is there anything that does this besides a $200 DAC?

Wouldn't something like this (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=180-964) work?

Wouldn't something like this (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=180-964) work?

How does splitting one optical into 2 pieces create(one optical and one analog) ?

EDIT: many receivers only accept digital inputs to Zone 1.. you need analog for Zone 2

How does splitting one optical into 2 pieces create ?

EDIT: many receivers only accept digital inputs to Zone 1.. you need analog for Zone 2

I didn't know that. But, once you've split the optical, you could get a D-A converter for just one part. Perhaps something like this (http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Audio-Analog-Converter/dp/B0013LWK3A).

EDIT: many receivers only accept digital inputs to Zone 1.. you need analog for Zone 2

zim2dive -- This is my other reason for wanting one analog and one digital output from the Mac Mini. :) I have speakers in the backyard (http://lunch.com/t/fsw) for Zone 2 on my receiver which would work great with the Mac and Pandora. But I don't want to give up the Dolby Digital/DTS when watching movies in the main room.

I have speakers in the backyard for Zone 2 on my receiver...But I don't want to give up the Dolby Digital/DTS when watching movies in the main room.

Then a good solution is the previously mentioned Airport Express: put it on your home network wirelessly or hard-wired, it'll show up as a remote speaker, you could play music simultaneously in both locations but you could also just play it outside, all controlled with an iPhone or touch. Down the road, should your equipment and needs change, the Express will likely still be valuable somewhere, unlike some of the other gadgets mentioned.

Ted -- I just came across your post regarding using Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil to get Mac Mini audio to both a receiver (optical) and a second tv (Airport Express). Great tip! Before I pick up an Airport Express, any experience with the the 'syncing' quality of the audio? Will the video and audio be in sync when using the Airfoil software or is the delay too noticeable? I'd love it if there was just a way to have two audio outs from the Mac Mini (one optical and one analog).
As much as I would like to claim credit, I don't have Airfoil and thus can't speak to how well (or not) it synchs. I do use two Airport Expresses, one wired, one wireless with optical out for iTunes, but have a direct optical from the Mac to my living room AVR for video.

Thanks for the info. I've got a new one on the way to replace my "Core Solo" mini, so I'm sure I'll be able to answer most of my own questions soon enough. But I'm particularly interested in the extra performance for handling HD content, and I'm sure I'll find some way to finagle dual monitor out to both the main receiver and the bedroom tv (most likely mirrored).

Besides Plex/Boxee (and now Airfoil), any other "must have" apps that I may have missed for HTPC consideration?