Hi Rod Not that I pertain to be an expert on it all, but I did set up Ronni's MacMini and TV, and have done the same for many clients.
Basically, the MacMini becomes the sort of "do everything" system. With the eyeTV range which runs off USB you can then bring in your TV signal. Depending on the eyeTV you choose you can get Analog and Digital signals, and some even allow analogue from other devices (eg VCR or older style movie cameras). With eyeTV you can watch live TV, do "Time Shifting" which pauses live TV until you come back and carry on from where you left of, or you can set it up to record TV (and even have it repeat recording). These recordings are saved to Hard Drive, where you can then watch them later and very easily edit (with the eyeTV software) and burn it to disk (DVD) with Toast. Or delete it once you don't need it. They are very small and excellent units (and many on the list can contest to). The great thing with the MacMini is it's small, low power and very convenient. Once you consider it also has wireless, then you've got full access to the internet (For a tv guide or some quick browing). With iTunes streaming/sharing you've got access to File Sharing out of iTunes, so you can access all your music as well and listen to it via TV/Stereo (depending on how you have it all setup). Also with other programs like VLC, Real Player, iView (ABC etc) and other streaming internet sites you then get access to a lot more content (which you may have or own already), as well all so much other info that is out there. (YouTube etc). Run out of room or want to store more?? No problem. Plug in a Firewire Hard Drive and you've got access to a whole more storage at fairly reasonable pricing. Of course the MacMini also has a DVD, so you can also watch your DVD's as well. So all in one you've then got your TV, DVD player, Internet Access, Music "Access/storage". Oh, and I forgot iPhoto has picture sharing as well....so you can then access all your computers is the house and share photos as well. All displayed on your nice big LCD or Plasma TV. (Or 3D TV??) :o) I can't say I've ever tried to play games on them,..but hey, if you're that way inclined you can do that as well I'm sure. (Sim3 on TV????) :) Hopefully that gives you an idea of how the set up works. Of course, as it's "just a standard computer", you can use it do all that and anything else you'd normally do as well. All it requires (especially with these new ones), is the MacMini and an HDMI cable (if your TV has HDMI). Add on a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse (and Apple remote if you want) and you can sit on the couch and still use all the features. Blow up the resolution and have large icons. Set the Dock to only the major applications you want to use (and large dock size). Set up a couple of others things for ease of use,...and you're in business. It's actually a great little entertainment unit. As mentioned I've set quite a few of these up for many clients. I just sourced the hardware for them, and had it set up in very quickly. A quick demo of all the features and away you go. I have one client that has the MacMini set up with a small LCD screen (about 24" I think) and it sits on a "wheelie table". They can just wheel it from room to room for ever want to use it. It's then their "Spare" entertainment centre. People stay over,..wheel it to the "spare room" and the quests have their own TV, DVD player and internet access to use. :o) Quite cool really. I had the same set up here until recently. (Only cause I needed to offload the MacMini for another project). But with the new MacMini, I'll be ordering a new one soon(ish) and set it up again. They work really well. Hope that info helps a little and isn't too confusing. (I have a bad habit of just writing the emails and not doubling checking it as working through more by the time I've finished one email) :o) (Edit: Perhaps I should do another WAMUG demo at some stage on the eyeTV units if enough people were interested???.) Kind Regards Daniel On 15/6/10 5:32 PM, "Rod Blitvich" <rb...@iinet.net.au> wrote: > Hey Ronni > Please are you able to tell us about your EyeTV / entertainment system? > I don;t know much about EyeTV and mac-based entertainment systems and I have > had a nagging feeling for some time that I am missing out on something! > Would love to hear more from you (and the learned throng). > Thanks & cheers > Blitto > > > On 15/06/2010, at 5:16 PM, Ronda Brown wrote: > >> >> YES! >> I thought the new i7 MacBook Pro's like mine, would have come out with a HDMI >> Port. >> I have the Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter that is for the new MBPs. >> >> I have a MacMini running my EyeTV / entertainment system. >> The MacMini has been used solely for this purpose for all its life. >> >> Cheers, >> Ronni >> >> On 15/06/2010, at 4:59 PM, Susan Hastings wrote: >> >>> >>> HDMI port!! >>> >>> For those of us who us a Mini with the EyeTV. >>> >>> On 15/06/2010, at 4:22 PM, Mark Secker wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Yep just noticed that... Wow that's super Sexy >>>> >>>> >>>> On 15/06/10 4:17 PM, "rkor...@iinet.net.au" <rkor...@iinet.net.au> wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> New Mac Mini >>>>> >>>>> On Tue Jun 15 15:24 , Daniel Kerr <wa...@macwizardry.com.au> sent: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I could be wrong here,..or I'm remembering it incorrectly. >>>>>> But I think all the Applestores (online) are controlled from the US, it's >>>>>> just localised for local pricing. >>>>>> So when they take it down, they do them at the same time, and perhaps >>>>>> implement the same code across all of them. >>>>>> >>>>>> So although, we can't "pre-order" it here just yet, the code will be >>>>>> there >>>>>> for them to "flick on" when we can. >>>>>> >>>>>> I could be way off of course though,.... :o) >>>>>> >>>>>> Kind Regards >>>>>> Daniel >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my iPad >>>>>> >>>>>> --- >>>>>> Daniel Kerr >>>>>> MacWizardry >>>>>> >>>>>> Phone: 0414 795 960 >>>>>> Email: >>>>>> Web: http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> **For everything Macintosh** >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 15/6/10 3:17 PM, "Ronda Brown" ro...@mac.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 15/06/2010, at 3:11 PM, Susan Hastings wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> So, why would it be down here? We are not one of the countries that >>>>>>>> will be >>>>>>>> able to pre order the iPhone 4. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hmmm, something going on Susan Š "We'll be back soon" ;-) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>> Ronni >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 17" MacBook Pro Intel Core i7 >>>>>>> 2.66GHz / 4GB / 1067 MHz DDR3 / 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200rpm >>>>>>> >>>>>>> OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard >>>>>>> Windows 7 Ultimate (under sufferance) >>>>>>> >> >> >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >> > > > Rod Blitvich - Amy & Sam's Dad > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > 0409 681 256 > rb...@iinet.net.au > http://web.me.com/blitto > > I haven't lost my mind...... > .......it's backed up on disk somewhere! > > > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> > --- Daniel Kerr MacWizardry Phone: 0414 795 960 Email: <daniel @ macwizardry . com . au> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> **For everything Macintosh** -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au>
