Recently there have been many articles explaining the merits of using a Mac Mini for a home media center over the Apple TV. Our own Wayne Dixon debated the same issue in an article just a few months ago.
Last week I made my first video purchase from the iTunes store. I bought Doctor Who Series 1, if you are wondering. I owned a Mac Mini and thought it would make a great choice for my new media center. I read many articles talking about all the great features I could have with the Mac Mini over the Apple TV. Quickly I was sold on the idea that with the Mac Mini I could replace my DVR and even watch DIVX encoded movies. It seemed like a no-brainer. I ran down to the Apple store to get the three cables I would need to hook up my new media center powerhouse. While I was there I thought it was only fair to actually look at the Apple TV. Not many people look at the positives of it over the Mini.
The first difference I noticed was ease of setup. The Apple TV has an HDMI output so I only needed one cable to plug it into the back of my TV. The second advantage over the Mini is the ability to rent movies from the iTunes store. I like many other people rent movies but forget to return the to the store until late fees have piled up. And even better the iTunes store doesn’t close early like my local video store. I could decide to rent a movie at three in the morning without even getting dressed.
Those were all great but not enough to convince me to buy the Apple TV. The deciding factor was much simpler than that. The feature that made me buy the Apple TV was how easy it is to use. It is another excellent Apple design that is functional but easy to use. The Apple TV was easy enough my grandmother could use it. If you remember this is what made the iPod corner the market on MP3 players. On the other hand if I chose the Mac Mini I would need to set it up every time someone in my house wanted to watch a movie. Clearly the correct choice for me was the Apple TV. I have owned the Apple TV for about a week now and I simply think it is one of the greatest Apple purchases I have ever made.
Am I telling you to ditch your Mac Mini and run out and buy an Apple TV? No, not at all. I simply think if you are about to purchase one of these solutions for a home media center that you consider who is going to be using the technology. When you look at the issue from the point of view of your end users sometimes you find the most powerful solution is not the best. It wasn’t in my case
Do you think I made the right choice, or should I have stuck with the Mac Mini?
August 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I bought the Apple TeeVee a few months ago (Wife: “We don't need any more gadgets!”), and while I haven't used it a lot, when I do use it I'm pretty impressed with it's features and functions. I've never regretted selling my Mini on eBay.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I think the Apple TV is the way to go since the Take Two update. It probably wasn't worth it prior, when it was more expensive for less of a feature set. Apple has set a bit of a new trend for themselves with the iPhone and the Apple TV, they have upped firmware features on the existing model instead of making customers go out and buy a new model (like they have always done with the iPods), and I expect there will be further improvements to the Apple TV.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I rented a movie on my iMac last weekend. I don't know why you can't on your Mac Mini
August 29th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I have an TV and love it. I got it shortly after they made the TV 2.0 announcement. It was one of the best decisions I have made other than my Iphone. I may still get a Mac Mini though and run both on my HDTV. I will then have the Ultimate Media Center! Bwahaha
August 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
“The second advantage over the Mini is the ability to rent movies from the iTunes store.”
You can rent movies on the Mac Mini also, just not HD movies I think
August 29th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
You can certainly rent movies on a MacMini. I also can't figure out why it is that you need to “Setup” the macmini every time someone wants to use it.
My setup is pretty simple. MacMini, ElGato EyeTV, NetFlix 4 per week and a TV.
With this setup, I get 4 movies at a time from Netflix, which I can return anytime I want – just as the electronic version in iTunes, but don't have to watch it within ANY amount of time once I start to watch the movie.
I get a remote just like the AppleTV, with practically the exact same menu as in AppleTV, but at the same time, have FAST search via iTunes, which the AppleTV can't do.
I have live TV with EyeTV, unlimited space via expandable HardDrives, I can watch any movie simply by downloading the required decoder.
I have internet to search any topic that I need to research. So I can pause a liveTV show and look up any info on any particulars on that show.
The list goes on and on.
It's worked incredibly well for me and the only reason I would purchase an AppleTV is for a room where I what someone to have entertainment, but don't want them going on the internet. So for kids and just fine at it's price. It would definitely not be cost effective to put a MacMini in all the rooms, but it's still a though :-)
August 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
The ATV is perfect for those that just want a simple, reliable way to watch videos/podcasts and view pictures on their TV. Not to mention content you can't get anywhere else such as the various University Classroom podcasts.
I've read many articles in Macworld where Christopher Breen goes over every detail on how to make the mini work as an ATV plus DVR, etc…
No thanks. The ATV is ready to go with a single HDMI cable.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Don't know where Christopher Breen gets his info, but you simply connect your SVGA to DVI adapter to your TV and your Optical to your stereo, and that's it. Everything else goes thru the MacMini.
Do you get your audio thru your TV? If so, then yes, go with an ATV since you have a very simple setup, but if you have a “Multi-Media” setup with a stereo, etc., then using the mini is the way to go, as you run EVERYTHING thru your mini, and save yourself from having to constantly switch between inputs on your TV.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Since I have a Mac Mini I do use it to organize my media. It works great for converting movies for the apple TV. I only load things onto my AppleTV that I know I am going to want to watch right away. But movies that I don't watch often sit on my mini external hard drive. I can still watch them on the TV because the AppleTV just pulls the movie over my wireless network when it is needed.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I never tried to rent them from within iTunes I was only trying to use the Front Row menu to do my browsing like you can on the Apple TV.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Entirely from gut-feeling and no hard facts, I'd say a Mini setup within the home theatre would be more versatile, especially if equipped with El Gato or such TV input. If you include DVDPlayer in the Startup folder so it's always hovering in the background, it would grab any DVD as soon as it's inserted and start playing.
No doubt the Apple TV would be simpler to start with, but I know which way I'd go.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
It's such a case by case scenario, that I don't think there is one that would be better suited than the other. For me, I'd probably use a mini in my main media area, then appletv's on all the subsequent TVs around the house.
But, that's in my “idealized” world! Right now, I have neither. lol
August 29th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
You honestly hit the nail on the head. The Mac mini solution is more versatile, but the Apple TV is simpler. and you have to consider the best option for you. For my household the Apple TV was the best choice.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I am currently looking to buy either a MacMini or an AppleTV. I started looking at an AppleTV I have at work but I do not have a MacMini to compare it to. The only possible drawback I could come up with is I am not sure what Audio Output options I have from the MacMini. Does the MacMini have an Optical Audio output or something that would allow for 5.1 audio out of the computer?
As far as I can tell the MacMini can rent movies, (iTunes has the ability) I have more expandability options in regard to external storage, I can playback from Disc, I can use VLC to play any file.