I think I have found the perfect Mac Mini HTPC, so let’s have a look at more in detail about my thoughts on the Mac Mini as a Media Center PC.
We all have slightly different needs on what activities we do with our media center setup. For me, I want to view online videos, downloaded content from the excellent TVKaista online PVR and my own home videos stored on my external network hard drive. I am not particularly interested in recording from TV.
Mac Mini looks quite similar product to the ATV from appearance, but inside it is very different. From desing point of view Mac Mini is an ideal selection to the living room with it’s simple and sleek design. So to my mind the key question is does Mac Mini has enough under the hood to meet all the needs of a media center user. After using Mac Mini 2009 (Intel) version for 4 months, I think it has what is needed to be the focal point of your digital living room.
Unique Value Proposition
Obviously, the key selling point for Mac Mini is that it is pretty enough to be approved by most of wives or girlfriends. This is the first criteria to take into account when choosing a computer into the living room. The second point is that is it easy enough to use for the whole family. No matter what you try to set up into the living room, if it is not easy to use for all the family members, it does not get the prime spot in their minds.
Fast Enough
According to my experience, Intel Mac Mini is fast enough for my daily usage and has a large hard drive (but not large enough so you still need an external network harddrive). It also has a bluetooth, Airport and built in remote and receiver. I think built in Airport functionality is very interesting as you can turn your Mac Mini as a wireless router without a need to buy an additional wireless router. This Airport functionality is only suitable for simple setups and if you have more devices such as network harddrive, then a separate router is worthwhile.
Remote included
The Apple remote works very well and has very good feeling with applications such as FrontRow. There are also several media center software such as Plex which you can operate with Apple remote. However, I prefer using my Mac Mini with a Logitech MX Air mouse, which I have featured in an earlier article.
Value for Money
Mac Mini can be quite costly to many people’s budgets, but you get a fully capable and powerful computer compared for example to the limited Apple TV. Mac Mini is really a HDTV media center in disguise. Compared to my old laptop I was using as a media center pc, Mac Mini has brough better design, more performance and usability. Stay tuned for an update from software point of view after I have tested my new Snow Leopard Mac OS for some time.