Apple Mac mini gives one in the eye to Win MCE

[Bob Crabtree]

Yesterday's launch of Apple's Intel-powered Mac mini brings to market a truly tiny media-centre computer that makes many PCs based on Windows Media Center Edition look exactly what they are - too big, too noisy, too expensive and too badly thought out.

However, the Mac mini isn't the outright MCE-killer it might have been.

The most obvious problem is that the mini lacks a TV tuner and with it the personal video recorder functionality that makes MCE PCs so appealing. Apple may well argue that there is a number of third-party Mac-compatible USB TV tuners available but that's not the point - and does mean extra expense. The mini is also compromised to an extent by having to share main system RAM with the graphics processor - a less-than-state-of-the-art Intel GMA950.

Check out this HEXUS.headline, then share you thoughts on the minis' feature-sets and how these tiddlers look to compare with MCE PCs you've used.

[nichomach]

So...basically, everything you need from a media centre PC except the ability to work as a media centre PC. No tuner, no PVR functionality, crap graphics which you can't upgrade. MCE PCs are too big and too noisy? Not the ones I've built, and I have the pick of tuner/PVR cards for them. MCE PCs have at least as good connectivity options as this box, and are supplied with a good front end also controlled by a remote. MCE PCs, although they can be built around integrated graphics (and indeed I've done this - but around Radeon Xpress 200 graphics, which spank the Intel version) can also be built around relatively high-performing and silent add-in solutions. Basically, the only thing this has going for it is that it's smaller than most MCE PCs. Describing this as "one in the eye" for XP MCE is ludicrously overstating its merits and ignoring its glaring shortfalls; basically the sort of headline that you'd HAVE to be an Apple fanboy...sorry...afficionado to write.

[autopilot]

^ What he said.

[unrealrocks]

I think they are a great idea - and why do you need graphics acceleration to view movies and DVDs anyways.

For £45 you can get a TV tuner which will make it just as good as any other MCE PC - and for £400 they are a bargin. I have just ordered one, heh.

[autopilot]

Actually i agree with the GFX card not needing much power, it's not a gaming system. But how well would an add-in/external tuner integrate with Frontrow, or whatever its called? If it was seemless it would be a great device.

[maks]

I guess this can be used for bedrooms where adding an external TV card would provide a decent picture. Dont think this may reside in a living room/home cinema where HD would be required.

[patyan]

I guess this can be used for bedrooms where adding an external TV card would provide a decent picture. Dont think this may reside in a living room/home cinema where HD would be required.

I think the physical design cool - Could be a living room device - It comes with a Core duo as well.....but a bit more expensive

[father smurf]

are they releasing a matching tv tuner?

[darrensen]

If anyone has actually got any common sense then they would pick a Media Centre machine over this Mini.

IMO it's a complete waste of money.

Performance is awful ( Slow drive speeds )
Room to upgrade??? Well there isn't any
Expensive to fix
Limited functionality
Limited Hard Drive Space

This mac would be fine if you just wanted to watch tv thorugh an external TV adaptor. Really you may as well buy a Macbook pro and then get the USB TV adaptor! But when it comes to doing the big boys stuff that Media Centre can do the your stuffed because Front Row doesn't really do an awful lot.

Apple make some really good kit, but when it comes to Media Centre......just give up, Microsoft are miles ahead. Vista Media Centre is going to be out of this world, this OS has the capibilities of controlling your whole house!

The fact that you need to buy external devices such as USB TV Tuner, Extra Storage, Extra Cables (HDMI) and then the fact that you cant add any cards like HDMI, 5.1/7.1 sound cards, S-Video ports, Phono cards,Hi-Def inputs......i could keep going.

Once you add all that up it's again cheaper to buy one of Scan's Media Systems that are more powerful or a Beblu system that looks nice.

Microsoft have got the backing from big firms like MTV, SKY, Hollywood etc...... you can imagine what will happen when it comes to rental of movies, music and live digital tv.

[DR]

The graphics card will work fine as a Media Centre enviroment infact, it will be pretty good - I have one in a board here and it will decode 1080p stuff without issue

[darrensen]

For now the Internal GPU is fine.

You cant change/upgrade it. Therefore making as futureproof as a DX4 33mhz!

[DR]

If anyone has actually got any common sense then they would pick a Media Centre machine over this Mini.

IMO it's a complete waste of money.

Performance is awful ( Slow drive speeds )
Room to upgrade??? Well there isn't any
Expensive to fix
Limited functionality
Limited Hard Drive Space

This mac would be fine if you just wanted to watch tv thorugh an external TV adaptor. Really you may as well buy a Macbook pro and then get the USB TV adaptor! But when it comes to doing the big boys stuff that Media Centre can do the your stuffed because Front Row doesn't really do an awful lot.

Apple make some really good kit, but when it comes to Media Centre......just give up, Microsoft are miles ahead. Vista Media Centre is going to be out of this world, this OS has the capibilities of controlling your whole house!

The fact that you need to buy external devices such as USB TV Tuner, Extra Storage, Extra Cables (HDMI) and then the fact that you cant add any cards like HDMI, 5.1/7.1 sound cards, S-Video ports, Phono cards,Hi-Def inputs......i could keep going.

Once you add all that up it's again cheaper to buy one of Scan's Media Systems that are more powerful or a Beblu system that looks nice.

Microsoft have got the backing from big firms like MTV, SKY, Hollywood etc...... you can imagine what will happen when it comes to rental of movies, music and live digital tv.

Okay lets address these then.

1. Performance awful? Erm, this is not designed to be a high end gaming rig – and will do the simple functions fine which is what market segments its aimed at.
2. Can you upgrade all notebooks? Can you upgrade all Macs? No
3. Well – that’s what warranty is for
4. Limited – in what sense?
5. Limited disk space – sure that’s something which I wouldn’t love.

Apple are not touting this as a total Media Centre - far from it – they are offering a small, quiet, box which works.

MCE is going to be ahead but this isn’t got a Media Centre fight.

[nichomach]

1. Perhaps. I'd rather have an MCE rig that's good to handle media AND good to game on.
2. No, you certainly can't, but you CAN upgrade MCE PCs which puts them ahead; it's better to be able to upgrade a machine than not.
3. Ah yes....Applecare, a byword in value for money...
4. In the sense that the article at least pitches it as an MCE killer, and it lacks basic functionality for that role.
5. Well, we agree on something.

Maybe Apple aren't touting this as a Media Centre-killer, but the article certainly is, and it is very, very short on the essential prerequisites for that job.

[DR]

1. Media Centre focus is not all about gaming - yes some people will want to.
2. Yes - So why change it for this? Eseentially this is a notebook in a box
3. This is a TURN key solution - not neccessarily aimed at us?
4. Apple aim this at the market to work with other systems not be a be all and end all - remember why would they want a TV tuner in it , speaking of which do any Macs have TV tuners?
5.

[muddyfox470]

What is the power required by these compared to the powerpc ones?

As the old ones only used something like 30W max. Would be interesting to see how power hungry these latest processors are...

Cheers

Ian

[TheAnimus]

acording to a quick google the duo still only takes 16w of power.