Mini PC/Mac Mini for TV shows and Films? - GoFuckYourself.com

Si · 10-04-2011, 11:51 AM

I'm getting annoyed having to hook up my laptop to the tv to watch certain things.

This has a region free dvd player so I use it quite often for foreign stuff, and also watch some tv shows through it here and there. So I am thinking of getting a mini pc or mac mini to setup as a purely entertainment system that can be put straigh into the TV.

Anyone else have a setup like this? I noticed most of the mini pcs have about 300-500gb hard drive so I was thinking of one of them and 2-3tb USB HDD connected to it for more space.

Want to hear what you have and your reviews please

Karupted Charles · 10-04-2011, 12:39 PM

I have a mac mini attached to my tv. 500 gig internal and a 2 gig external. It shares the video to my apple tv upstairs via itunes so I get the benefit on 2 tv's with only 1 computer. It also pushes to my ipads and iphones

candyflip · 10-04-2011, 01:14 PM

I have a little Dell Zino HD that seems to have been made for this. It needed a RAM boost and I got the upgraded video card. For under $400 it plays 1080p video with and streams HD web content with no problems.

If I was to buy a new one, it would probably be a Mac Mini.

blazin · 10-04-2011, 02:02 PM

I have a general purpose machine with Ubuntu installed. I use this as a media server using serviio and air video server. My Samsung LED TV, Xbox 360 and Ipad can all connect to this over my wifi network and stream movies directly. I also have a headless web based bittorrent client installed on this. (using tranmission). This allows me to download torrent files directly and they are instantly available on all my devices..

As well as that it serves as my source repository (subversion), fileshare, and apple time machine backup. Oh..... it also acts as VM host for all my dev images

porn500 · 10-04-2011, 02:09 PM

Mac Mini with Plex is heaven!!

anexsia · 10-04-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazin

I have a general purpose machine with Ubuntu installed. I use this as a media server using serviio and air video server. My Samsung LED TV, Xbox 360 and Ipad can all connect to this over my wifi network and stream movies directly. I also have a headless web based bittorrent client installed on this. (using tranmission). This allows me to download torrent files directly and they are instantly available on all my devices..

As well as that it serves as my source repository (subversion), fileshare, and apple time machine backup. Oh..... it also acts as VM host for all my dev images

This. You can be a small micro case and have a good htpc media player at half the cost of a mac mini.

MrBottomTooth · 10-04-2011, 02:12 PM

Have a PC hooked up to every TV in the house via HDMI. I just put an ssd drive and a decent video card in each box now and have one central server that I store all my videos and music on. Everything connected by cat 6. Was having issues with wireless streaming.

Bird · 10-04-2011, 03:52 PM

I have two options....

One is the apple TV (Airplay is great from my iPhone and other pc's with itunes)

Two is my mini PC with XBMC and Boxee installed (Also have the remote control apps for my iphone)

If you jailbreak the Apple TV you can install XBMC on it.

camgirlshide · 10-04-2011, 07:23 PM

I have been looking at this as well but keep going back to the playstation 3.
It seems like the cheapest platform to do this

Si · 10-07-2011, 07:45 AM

Shit I forgot about this thread.

Thanks for your comments everyone, Mac Mini does look like a good option. I was looking at the small acers for the main unit. Will have to compare everything I guess.

Will check the dell site and see what they have going on aswell.

10-04-2011, 11:51 AM	#1
Si Such Fun! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 13,900	Mini PC/Mac Mini for TV shows and Films? I'm getting annoyed having to hook up my laptop to the tv to watch certain things. This has a region free dvd player so I use it quite often for foreign stuff, and also watch some tv shows through it here and there. So I am thinking of getting a mini pc or mac mini to setup as a purely entertainment system that can be put straigh into the TV. Anyone else have a setup like this? I noticed most of the mini pcs have about 300-500gb hard drive so I was thinking of one of them and 2-3tb USB HDD connected to it for more space. Want to hear what you have and your reviews please

10-04-2011, 12:39 PM	#2
Karupted Charles Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: MI Posts: 1,662	I have a mac mini attached to my tv. 500 gig internal and a 2 gig external. It shares the video to my apple tv upstairs via itunes so I get the benefit on 2 tv's with only 1 computer. It also pushes to my ipads and iphones __________________ TPF 2010 "They are eating our sausages!"

10-04-2011, 01:14 PM	#3
candyflip Carpe Visio Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New York Posts: 43,061	I have a little Dell Zino HD that seems to have been made for this. It needed a RAM boost and I got the upgraded video card. For under $400 it plays 1080p video with and streams HD web content with no problems. If I was to buy a new one, it would probably be a Mac Mini. __________________ Spend you some brain. Email Me

10-04-2011, 02:02 PM	#4
blazin Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,781	I have a general purpose machine with Ubuntu installed. I use this as a media server using serviio and air video server. My Samsung LED TV, Xbox 360 and Ipad can all connect to this over my wifi network and stream movies directly. I also have a headless web based bittorrent client installed on this. (using tranmission). This allows me to download torrent files directly and they are instantly available on all my devices.. As well as that it serves as my source repository (subversion), fileshare, and apple time machine backup. Oh..... it also acts as VM host for all my dev images __________________ I don't endorse a god damn thing......

10-04-2011, 02:09 PM	#5
porn500 Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 94	Mac Mini with Plex is heaven!! __________________ Jacob Program Manager PORN500.COM - Adult Centro

10-04-2011, 02:12 PM	#7
MrBottomTooth Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,795	Have a PC hooked up to every TV in the house via HDMI. I just put an ssd drive and a decent video card in each box now and have one central server that I store all my videos and music on. Everything connected by cat 6. Was having issues with wireless streaming. Last edited by MrBottomTooth; 10-04-2011 at 02:14 PM..

10-04-2011, 03:52 PM	#8
Bird Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Stockton Posts: 4,365	I have two options.... One is the apple TV (Airplay is great from my iPhone and other pc's with itunes) Two is my mini PC with XBMC and Boxee installed (Also have the remote control apps for my iphone) If you jailbreak the Apple TV you can install XBMC on it. __________________ ICQ:268731675

10-04-2011, 07:23 PM	#9
camgirlshide Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,558	I have been looking at this as well but keep going back to the playstation 3. It seems like the cheapest platform to do this __________________ Useful adult webmaster links - Alphabetical list of solo models with webcam Stats on my best converting affiliate programs - camgirlshide webmaster blog complete list of affiliate programs I use.

10-07-2011, 07:45 AM	#10
Si Such Fun! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 13,900	Shit I forgot about this thread. Thanks for your comments everyone, Mac Mini does look like a good option. I was looking at the small acers for the main unit. Will have to compare everything I guess. Will check the dell site and see what they have going on aswell.