Beo-Mac

Re: Apple TV vs. Mac Mini

RobN — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:35:58 GMT

Like quite a few of the replies above, I have both a Mac-mini and Apple TV.

I would say the Mac-mini wins everytime. Running LinkPlayer through a DACmagic converter to the BeoPort it's a great source of music on the B&O network and full computer too. I also put all my movies on an external hard drive and then through Wifi stream them form the Mac-mini to the AppleTV. Works beautifully.

Best regards,

Rob

Re: Apple TV vs. Mac Mini

Flappo The Grate — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:42:11 GMT

imo the macmini is arguably apple's best value mac

really superb little computer , dual core now and really fly's w/ snow leopard !

Re: Apple TV vs. Mac Mini

cooldude — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:13:55 GMT

I use both mac mini and apple tv's.

The mac mini is the more powerfull and flexible system and (with the beoport) works well together with B&O.
It's a full fledged computer that (in my case) runs plex and itunes in combination with linkplayer and beoport connected to my main B&O .

Never liked the apple tv's 'itunes locked' system that needs to be hacked to make it somewhat useful. Also mind the dated interface and limited hard drive space.

I use the 40GB apple TV's solely as secondary (link room?) players to stream content stored on my NAS to my tv's.

Re: Apple TV vs. Mac Mini

XavierItzmann — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:41:32 GMT

- Don't own a TV and therefore own no AppleTV.

+ Control BeoPort via MacMini+LinkPlayer.

The MacMini sits in my studio but is hardly ever touched; it sleeps most of the time but is awakened and starts playing whenever one hits N.MUSIC or N.RADIO in a MasterLink room. Control with Beo4 is very extensive but if one feels like searching for and finding very specific music, I just pull an old iPhone which now sits permanently as as if it were an iPod Touch and control the MacMini via Remote.app.

Re: Apple TV vs. Mac Mini

dilznik — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:13:24 GMT

I have both and prefer the Mini. You can just do more with it. With BM-Link or Linkplayer and Beoport you can set it up to work with your B&O equipment and be controlled by your B&O remote. With ATV you need a B&O TV I think. I use Plex to play ripped DVDs on my Mini and iTunes from it for the music. I can use Frontrow with the actual iTMS purchased TV shows and whatnot. With the Mini I can keep hooking up as many hard drives as I want. If I'm watching a movie and suddenly want to look at IMDB of info I can do that on the Mini as well.

Back to using Plex and ripped DVDs, I can rip them right on the Mini and add them into Plex all in one shot. Also, everything is locally there, all the music, all the movies... I don't have to get on a computer and stream something over to the ATV.

The only thing I ever use the ATV for anymore is slideshows (I keep all my photos in Aperture on a separate Mac so it's easier than sending them to the Mini) and renting movies from Apple. The Mini is just a far superior device and you can do far more with it. Which makes sense since it's a full blown computer. I have the bluetooth keyboard and mouse for it that I leave somewhere handy if I need them. Usually just the mouse is necessary because you can control everything remotely with the iPhone or Beo4 anyway.

Edit: If you're interested, here's my setup: http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/5971/bosetup.jpg

Apple TV vs. Mac Mini

Marc — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:51:10 GMT

I am currently using Apple TV for integrating digital music and video into the B&O system.

I have read that some users here use an apple mac mini. I wonder what advantages an apple mac mini has compared to the Apple TV.