Greetings,

I've been thinking about getting a intel mini to use as a media center. Couple of questions:

1. I've ripped some of my DVD's to my HP Media Vault NAS. Would the mini be able to map a drive, and play the ripped DVD's from the NAS box?

2. I've got a Dell bluetooth keyboard that goes with my Dell laptop. Is it likely to work with the mini? If not, then...

3. Is there a bluetooth keyboard with a built in trackball that I could buy?

And finally,

4. Will my harmony remote work with the mini?

Thanks for any input.

David

1. I've ripped some of my DVD's to my HP Media Vault NAS. Would the mini be able to map a drive, and play the ripped DVD's from the NAS box?

That shouldn't be a problem. You can certainly mount the NAS drive using the SMB mounting built-in to Macs, and I'm pretty sure there's a way to auto mount it.

2. I've got a Dell bluetooth keyboard that goes with my Dell laptop. Is it likely to work with the mini? If not, then...

It will most likely work just fine.

3. Is there a bluetooth keyboard with a built in trackball that I could buy?

Apple has a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, but it's two pieces. I believe the current Logitech diNovo will work, and I'm hoping the new one they released at CES (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/172/4181&&cl=us,en) will work as well.

4. Will my harmony remote work with the mini?

That depends. If you have a learning remote, you can have it learn the commands from the Apple remote (that's what I did with my MX-500). If you have one that connects to the Logitech database to download codes, I bet you'll find the Apple remote in the database somewhere.