So I've spent the last couple of months researching the Mac Mini to use as my HTPC and I'm ready to jump in, but I've got this nagging feeling that an Apple TV might meet all my needs for a lot less money.

So here's my deal, I live overseas and move a lot for my job (in Japan now, moving to Germany soon). I don't have access to most of the awesome stuff everyone gets in the States (no Hulu, no EyeTV, etc). I'm thinking about using a VPN to get around some of these issues, but that will really depend on what kind of internet speed I get in my new home.

What I really need from my HTPC is the ability to watch all these TV shows I have on my HD through my HT, instead of my computer. I also want to archive the 1000+ DVDs I've got onto an external HD so I don't have to have mountains of discs sitting around. I already have a standalone blu-ray player.

I live in a PC house so I don't have the option of doing any of the screen sharing stuff to control a mini; I'd need either a wireless keyboard/mouse or something else. I have most of my content hanging off an external HD attached to my laptop, but I haven't started ripping my DVD collection yet.

So what do you think, will an Apple TV do it for me? Do I need a Mini? Keep in mind that if I go with the Mini I'd need something to control it and probably another external HD so when all is said and done I'd probably be looking at 1K for the mini option vs. 229 for the Apple TV. I know you can hack the ATV to allow an external HD to hang off that so I'd probably need to cough up another couple hundred for another 2TB drive.

Thanks in advance!

Keep in mind that if I go with the Mini I'd need something to control it

I live in a PC house so I don't have the option of doing any of the screen sharing stuff to control a mini

Yes you do, you can screen share from any device that can run VNC, which most certainly includes your Windows laptop. Plenty of nice remote apps for the iPhone/touch as well, so you really wouldn't need a BT keyboard or mouse.

What I really need from my HTPC is the ability to watch all these TV shows I have on my HD through my HT, instead of my computer. I also want to archive the 1000+ DVDs I've got onto an external HD so I don't have to have mountains of discs sitting around.

You're faced with the age-old Mac HT question--pay more up front for power, convenience and flexibility right out of the box--or pay less, comply with the requirements of the "Apple walled garden," work within the limitations of the device and the iTunes ecosystem and/or mess around with hacking your aTV. Since you haven't ripped your dvds yet, this is a good time to make a decision, and it's a decision I recommend you make once: rip and retain as VIDEO_TS with a mini, or go through the much longer process of ripping and then transcoding with Handbrake into an aTV-acceptable file for iTunes. Also, with a mini you will have a MUCH easier time playing back a kitchen sink of containers and codecs than with an aTV, but that's where hacking comes into play.

when all is said and done I'd probably be looking at 1K for the mini option

I think you're vastly over-estimating this dollar amount. $500-600 is more accurate, especially with a refurb. And you'll need external storage no matter what.

Do I need a Mini?

You'll have to decide this for yourself. Me, personally, I find it easier, with more time to enjoy more content, by having a Mac at every HDTV in the house.

Since you haven't ripped your dvds yet, this is a good time to make a decision, and it's a decision I recommend you make once: rip and retain as VIDEO_TS with a mini, or go through the much longer process of ripping

You'll have to decide this for yourself. Me, personally, I find it easier, with more time to enjoy more content, by having a Mac at every HDTV in the house.

Interesting, I never thought of having all my dvds as Video_TS on the Mini. That for sure will save a lot of time. I have 300 dvds and I am dreading to go through them all ripping and transcoding. I think right there is a deal breaker for AppleTV.

My only concern regarding the Mini is the amount of time someone who is not tech savvy (wife) would take to learn on how to operate the HTPC using Plex or XMBC.
AppleTV seems much simpler to use and the interface more straightforward.

I am waiting a bit longer to see if Apple will update the hardware for AppleTV. I hope they do. Mini even though is powerful is a bit overkill and $$$ for my needs. I just want something simple to navigate and have all my media stored locally without the need to have my Mac on at all times.

I never thought of having all my dvds as Video_TS on the Mini. That for sure will save a lot of time. I have 300 dvds and I am dreading to go through them all ripping and transcoding. I think right there is a deal breaker for AppleTV

Oh, yeah, many of us here decided to keep VIDEO_TS because 1) it's better quality and it qualifies as a real backup--no matter how good Handbrake is getting at transcoding, and frankly it's already quite good, effectively transparent, you're still converting from one already compressed format to another one, and you lose the dvd Menu structure. I'd rather keep a perfect digital backup in case I ever want to burn a copy back to disc; 2) hard drive storage is relatively inexpensive, so the incentive to reduce file size from the original has become increasingly less relevant; 3) my Macs have much better things to do than transcode all night at 190% CPU, and you rightly imagine how long that would take with a large dvd collection 4) even Front Row can handle VIDEO_TS, which means with a few clicks of the Apple remote you can access the menu, subtitles, director's commentary, special features, etc.

As far as this being a dealbreaker with aTV, again, weigh the pros and cons and I think that's gotta be a personal decision.

AppleTV seems much simpler to use and the interface more straightforward.

I just want something simple to navigate and have all my media stored locally without the need to have my Mac on at all times

Right, there are some real advantages to an aTV, especially how easy it is to hook it up to a TV, but then you have to put everything, including your video, "into" iTunes and/or hack it. Me, I love iTunes, use it everyday, but I don't value it enough to let any of my video near it.

My only concern regarding the Mini is the amount of time someone who is not tech savvy (wife) would take to learn on how to operate the HTPC using Plex or XMBC

I suspect as long as you handle the backend, the loading of files, making sure your content is found, that the right network volumes are mounted, etc, using the front end itself won't matter. And while it's easy for some to take potshots at Front Row, it still works quite well.

chefklc,

Thanks for the tips!
I will wait a bit, if by February/March Apple still ignoring AppleTV, I might look into a refurbish Mini and just jump in.

One question, how does the Mini handle Blu-ray rips? Does Plex work good with that? I am thinking in getting a BR-Drive and install on my MacPro to rip my BR collection.
Take care

Thanks for the comments so far. I'm glad some of my errors were corrected (like I can use a Windows laptop to screen share/control a mini). This sounds like the perfect use for my wife's netbook.

I am wondering, should I decide to go aTV, is it totally out of the question to rip my DVDs as video_TS files? I know natively the aTV can't handle it but if its running Boxee or xmbc shouldn't that work?