Peter,
My 4yo Macmini, running EyeTV and Toast, has an internal burner that
burns up to double-layer DVDs. Can't do Blueray, but the current
Macminis can't either.
My old Macmini has 4 USB ports. I use one for the keyboard/mouse, and
one for the EyeTV stick.
A slightly expensive, but very useful extra to an EyeTV, Mac, Toast
setup is a screen colour calibrator. Makes colours much more vibrant
on my system, which uses a 24" Samsung monitor as the screen. Should
give even better results on a HDMI-driven TV screen because TVs
screen makers tend not to worry too much about rendering colours very
accurately. Just compare the pictures on the various screens running
the same p[program in your local TV retailer.
Has anyone mentioned that you can use your TV-Mac for other computing
work while watching TV (with screen clutter) or when not watching TV.
Would never dream of using AppleTV instead.
On 11/08/2010, at 7:17 , Crisp, Peter wrote:
Hi Daniel, this use of the Macmini sounds fantastic and very
versatile.
I am some time in the near future to set up my home entertainment
units
and have a simple Panasonic HD recorder currently (with twin digital
tuners on board) so it is fine for my current 'couch potato' needs.
But
to incorporate itunes, iphoto, internet capability, avi file (and
other
file types) DVD playback and perhaps others by piggybacking a macmini
into the mix, sounds like something that will give me access to
some of
my media which is slightly inaccessible currently and some further
functionality that I have never experienced on the home TV platform.
Below you note about burning off to DVD using Toast. Does the macmini
have a burner on board or is it an external attachment?
How many USB ports does the macmini have? Can it accommodate the eyetv
dongle as well as an external drive/burner attached if that is what's
required? Can it function with a hub if I need multiple USB ports?
I had anticipated up till now an Apple TV would give me what I want
(with the atv hack of course and maybe an attached external drive for
mega capacity) but maybe the Macmini approach will give me all this
and
more than the Apple TV will give for around the same or even a little
more $$'s.
Your comments appreciated.
Regards
Peter.
Regards,
Ray Forma
Tel & Fax +61 (0)8 9335 6568
Mob +61 (0) 428 596938
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