Mini v Media Centre in battle of the DVR!

[BFG]

Thought one or two of you might be interested in keeping an eye on this; c|nets look at how the mac mini faces up in a punch up against the media centre... kinda odd considering the mini is not sold as a media centre, but hey in round one is seems to manage all-right.

Mini v Media Centre:battle of the DVR Round One

Will be interesting to see how it shapes up as they look at the other aspects of what your media hub thingy majiggy needs to do... hopfully they'll have a look at audio, networking and content streams

[BTs_Mysterio]

The Mini isn't a media center until it gets a tuner. Personally I don't see why you yanks all want the HD/etc tuners... maybe it's different in the US/etc. In Canada the cable co. gives you a box that works with their stuff. If it isn't one of the supported boxes it doesn't work. Obviously there's something different in the US.

[BFG]

No idea myst, over here its going to be different again i guess.

Kinda bugs me though the article, as somebody pointed out:

There's a few horrible flaws to this piece. The first is media center is an OS, a mac-mini is a piece of hardware + an OS. There is no reason why someone with some technical knowledge could not build a pc as quiet as a mac-mini and put media center on it.

Its a bit daft... OSX dosn't have a specific 'Media centre' version, yet it looks like people compare the two as if it does and was marketed as such. not to mention the weird mix up between hardware and software!

[Ethion]

No idea myst, over here its going to be different again i guess.

Kinda bugs me though the article, as somebody pointed out:

There's a few horrible flaws to this piece. The first is media center is an OS, a mac-mini is a piece of hardware + an OS. There is no reason why someone with some technical knowledge could not build a pc as quiet as a mac-mini and put media center on it.

Its a bit daft... OSX dosn't have a specific 'Media centre' version, yet it looks like people compare the two as if it does and was marketed as such. not to mention the weird mix up between hardware and software!

Even though, you could easily customize it to work with a regular remote.

[BTs_Mysterio]

Why? So you can? I don't see any current software that needs anything besides the Apple remote right now.

[Ethion]

Why? So you can? I don't see any current software that needs anything besides the Apple remote right now.

It's just a you can thing. But theres apps so you can use other remotes, like the ATI one and so on.

The wonder of scripters.

[BTs_Mysterio]

It does also have bluetooth. why not just get a cheap keyboard and mouse instead?

[Ethion]

It does also have bluetooth. why not just get a cheap keyboard and mouse instead?

so you rather clunk away with a keyboard and a mouse in your living room than a remote?

[BTs_Mysterio]

You prefer a remote with 153 small buttons and a toggle to a proper keyboard and mouse that would let you browse the internet and, hell, type?

[Ethion]

Why would you want to do that if you want to use the computer as a media center?

If I want to browse the internet, I would use my real computer.

[BFG]

Handbags back in the holsters boys, blimey!

The macmini isn't trying to sell itself as a Media Centre - and the 'media centre pc's' are far far from the ideal set up that most of us would like or even consider to have in our living rooms. Personally i think the issue of the remote is pretty minimal - what do you use a remote for? - to change tracks/channels, to adjust volume, to stop and start ... can u do all that with the mac remote? yes.  If you wanted to set up a record schedule would you prefer a 300 button remote or a keyboard and mouse... im tellin you now i wouldn't even look at the remote.

We're mixing up use and product and everything else... You've both got valid points but i get the sense there is a bit of miscommunication between having a 'media centre' and having a media centric pc in your living room... not to mention what it is you actually want and need from an additional piece of kit.

[BTs_Mysterio]

Why would you take away the advantage [keyboard and mouse] of having a OS below FrontRow is the only question I have for Ethion.

[Ethion]

Why would you take away the advantage [keyboard and mouse] of having a OS below FrontRow is the only question I have for Ethion.

I'm not really saying that a remote is better than a keyboard and a mouse. But theres alot of things you could do with only a remote. If you're infact only going to use it as a media center.