Comments on: Mac Mini Media Center http://www.infusionblog.com/technology/mac-mini-media-center/ Email Marketing, CRM and Small Business Tips Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tycham85http://www.infusionblog.com/technology/mac-mini-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-4377 tycham85 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:46:17 +0000 http://infusionblog.com/company-info/mac-mini-media-center/#comment-4377 No offense Marc, but your obsession with the mini has led you down a dead end road. I, too, was building a MCPC and desperately wanted the mini to do the task, but after reading your post, I am so glad I went the other route and just built a PC. It sounds like you're quite tech savvy (replacing RAM in the Mini), so it just doesn't make sense why you went to all the hassle and work-arounds with the mini. Silverstone offers really great-looking cases, and inside you can put whatever motherboard you want that can hold 8GB of RAM rather than 4 (and run 64-bit). You can fit 6 HDDs easily, rather than daisy-chaining a bunch of external ones together. And lastly, you can get a really great PVR system with PCI interface to do your TV recording. Plus, on a side note, I hooked up a simple Logitech controller and can play old video game ROMs. My other computers are Macs for good reason (they are so much better for daily computing), but unfortunately the PC is the only option if you want a media center. Sometimes it's fun to solve the puzzle of how to make the Mini a viable media center computer, but when you have to make so many concessions (c'mon, bootcamp for Vista MC?) you have to take a step back and do the right thing. With all your extra HDDs, you could put them in your MCPC and treat it as your home's server and stream content over your Airport Extreme Base Station. No offense Marc, but your obsession with the mini has led you down a dead end road. I, too, was building a MCPC and desperately wanted the mini to do the task, but after reading your post, I am so glad I went the other route and just built a PC. It sounds like you’re quite tech savvy (replacing RAM in the Mini), so it just doesn’t make sense why you went to all the hassle and work-arounds with the mini. Silverstone offers really great-looking cases, and inside you can put whatever motherboard you want that can hold 8GB of RAM rather than 4 (and run 64-bit). You can fit 6 HDDs easily, rather than daisy-chaining a bunch of external ones together. And lastly, you can get a really great PVR system with PCI interface to do your TV recording. Plus, on a side note, I hooked up a simple Logitech controller and can play old video game ROMs. My other computers are Macs for good reason (they are so much better for daily computing), but unfortunately the PC is the only option if you want a media center. Sometimes it’s fun to solve the puzzle of how to make the Mini a viable media center computer, but when you have to make so many concessions (c’mon, bootcamp for Vista MC?) you have to take a step back and do the right thing. With all your extra HDDs, you could put them in your MCPC and treat it as your home’s server and stream content over your Airport Extreme Base Station.

]]> By: Marc Chesleyhttp://www.infusionblog.com/technology/mac-mini-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1769 Marc Chesley Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:22:31 +0000 http://infusionblog.com/company-info/mac-mini-media-center/#comment-1769 Ken, look on your Samsung remote toward the bottom of the keypad on the right side for a little button labeled "psize". Press this button and you will be taken to the settings to adjust the picture size and location.Hope this helps and thanks for stopping by. Ken, look on your Samsung remote toward the bottom of the keypad on the right side for a little button labeled “psize”. Press this button and you will be taken to the settings to adjust the picture size and location.

Hope this helps and thanks for stopping by.

]]> By: Ken Crandallhttp://www.infusionblog.com/technology/mac-mini-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1722 Ken Crandall Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:41:11 +0000 http://infusionblog.com/company-info/mac-mini-media-center/#comment-1722 I'm working on hooking my Mac Mini to my Sammy 61" DLP as well. Just wondering where you found the settings to adjust the picture size? Been looking everywhere for those to eliminate the black bars and to shift the pic. I’m working on hooking my Mac Mini to my Sammy 61″ DLP as well. Just wondering where you found the settings to adjust the picture size? Been looking everywhere for those to eliminate the black bars and to shift the pic.

]]> By: Marc Chesleyhttp://www.infusionblog.com/technology/mac-mini-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1425 Marc Chesley Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:25:41 +0000 http://infusionblog.com/company-info/mac-mini-media-center/#comment-1425 Frank, thanks for the post. I used generic 2GB SODIMM memory sticks. I can't remember the exact brand, but it was just regular memory (not Apple's gold plated RAM) ;-).To open the case you need a putty knife – the kind you get at the hardware store. The thinner the better. Actually get 2 and it will be much easier. The Mac Mini case is actually pretty tough, so without going crazy on it you should be able to crack it open fairly easily with a couple putty knifes.I hope this answers your questions and please let me know how it works out! Frank, thanks for the post. I used generic 2GB SODIMM memory sticks. I can’t remember the exact brand, but it was just regular memory (not Apple’s gold plated RAM) ;-) .

To open the case you need a putty knife – the kind you get at the hardware store. The thinner the better. Actually get 2 and it will be much easier. The Mac Mini case is actually pretty tough, so without going crazy on it you should be able to crack it open fairly easily with a couple putty knifes.

I hope this answers your questions and please let me know how it works out!

]]> By: Frankhttp://www.infusionblog.com/technology/mac-mini-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1321 Frank Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:56:03 +0000 http://infusionblog.com/company-info/mac-mini-media-center/#comment-1321 Marc -Thank you so much for your post. I also want to stream all media from one source but have held off due to the lack of a good integrated solution. There is a HUGE opportunity for this and I cannot figure out why no company has really worked to fill this need with a reasonably priced easy to use "appliance" approach.My question to you is quite mundane. I purchased a new 2.0 Ghz Mac Mini last week and want to upgrade my RAM. I am new to the Mac and now realize upgrading RAM is not the simple and cheap process I used for Windows-based desktops and notebooks. My local Mac repair shop confirms that the Mini will recognize 4GB of RAM and they will upgrade my Mini for $300.00 - such a deal!! I love the Mini but continue to be really annoyed with Apple for the closed nature of their systems and high prices in general for "Apple compatible" upgrades. But I digress.My question: I cannot find any "Apple" 2GB sticks or RAM. Did you use plain vanilla 2GB sticks for notebooks - I see plenty of these, many of which sell for only $60 or so a stick. If so, do you remember the specific brand and specs of the memory you installed? Lastly, I see you installed the memory yourself. While I have watched some videos that show how to open the Mini's case, I am a little leery of doing it. Was it easy to open? How fragile is the case?Any information you can help with would be greatly appreciated!!Frank Marc –

Thank you so much for your post. I also want to stream all media from one source but have held off due to the lack of a good integrated solution. There is a HUGE opportunity for this and I cannot figure out why no company has really worked to fill this need with a reasonably priced easy to use “appliance” approach.

My question to you is quite mundane. I purchased a new 2.0 Ghz Mac Mini last week and want to upgrade my RAM. I am new to the Mac and now realize upgrading RAM is not the simple and cheap process I used for Windows-based desktops and notebooks. My local Mac repair shop confirms that the Mini will recognize 4GB of RAM and they will upgrade my Mini for $300.00 – such a deal!! I love the Mini but continue to be really annoyed with Apple for the closed nature of their systems and high prices in general for “Apple compatible” upgrades. But I digress.

My question: I cannot find any “Apple” 2GB sticks or RAM. Did you use plain vanilla 2GB sticks for notebooks – I see plenty of these, many of which sell for only $60 or so a stick. If so, do you remember the specific brand and specs of the memory you installed? Lastly, I see you installed the memory yourself. While I have watched some videos that show how to open the Mini’s case, I am a little leery of doing it. Was it easy to open? How fragile is the case?

Any information you can help with would be greatly appreciated!!

Frank

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