Thinking about an Apple TV

[CNK]

Hi All...

I am a very happy owner of a new Mac Mini running along side an Iomega Mini Max connected to my 42" LCD being used as an HTPC. I would love to hear some input with regards to switching over to an Apple TV. My primary objective with purchasing the Mini was (is) creating a digital library of all of my CD's and photos....eventually ripping my DVD library as well but I haven't quite figured that one out yet (another forum post at some point!). After having this HTPC setup for a couple of weeks, getting used to the new interface I am rethinking a few things! We (wife and i) don't really use it for surfing the web all that much but having iTunes, Front Row and a few of the other iLife app's are great in the living room. So here is what I'd like to do......input please!.....move the mini, external hd, cable modem into an adjacent room (which I'm setting up as an office/music workstation) and using it as a media server. Could I then just use an Apple TV to receive content wirelessly from the mini? I simply want to be able to view, browse and listen to my iTunes which is on the mini from the living room...also view our large photo album from the big LCD in that room as well. I would only want to listen to the mini servers music content...not download the whole library to the apple tv like an iPod! I've read many mini vs atv posts here but I'm still a bit confused!

thanks all
Chris

[miniconvert]

IF you're not using the wifi in the mini for accessing the internet AND you are near by you could configure the wifi as an access point (create network). You should be able to get away with using wireless in this fashion for your aTV.

For ripping DVDs checkout MacTheRipper.
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Intel Mac Mini, 1.83 C2D 2.5GB, 80GB, Combo Drive
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iPod Touch (1st Gen)

[CNK]

I would like the mini to be used for the internet....can I still use the atv in the living room via airport? As for MTR.....I have not been able to download it from the website! Is it no longer available?

[miniconvert]

How do you connect your mini to the net?

http://www.mactheripper.org/
_________________
Intel Mac Mini, 1.83 C2D 2.5GB, 80GB, Combo Drive
Graphite G3 iMac DV SE, 400Mhz, 512MB, 30GB
iPod Touch (1st Gen)

[hackersmovie]

If you move your Mini and modem to the adjacent room, be sure to set up internet sharing from your Mini. That way, your ATV (should you get one) will be able to access the internet and any other machines (say a friend brings their machine over and it has wireless as well) that are on the network.

I recently added an ATV and it was the best thing I could have done. Waaay easier to use (for the wife and kids) plus, you'll be able to get rentals, buy movies,music, TV shows from iTunes. Stream content from up to 5 other machines, including pictures.

I'd certainly recommend it.
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[CNK]

Hackersmovie:

when you say stream.....does this mean simply "view" via atv's frontrow? I'm not sure I would want to send all of my music and photo content to the atv's hard drive. I love being able to view content through frontrow with my current setup. My take is that having the mini in the living room is possibly a bit of an overkill for our needs....or should I say mainly my wifes!....I think (hope) the atv would be a great compromise/solution..which brings me to my next question....any thoughts on the atvflash product? by the looks of it it can unlock the atv's USB port and could add an internet browser....this would be incredible and would seal the deal for me with purchasing the atv instead of another mini.

I have tried the mactheripper site....not having any luck with it at the moment.

thanks for all the help!

(next problem to solve would be how to incoporate eyetv's products into my system!)

Chris

[hackersmovie]

[CNK]

the flash seems like the way to go! I have an apple bluetooth keyboard designated for the mini....will this work for the atv as well? Also....with regards to an external hard drive.....can the atv access content wirelessly? If much of my content is set up on a 500gig minmax in another room will the atv be able to "see" it. Example: Lets say I'm working on the mini in some application....my wife wants to watch a movie I have on the minimax external hard drive that is next to the mini in my workspace.....can she access a movie (using the mini's airport extreme) on the atv so she can watch it in the living room? At some point after I purchase the atv and get more familiar with it I will probably just get an external hard drive designated for the atv in the living room!

[usarcher]

I love my Apple TV

With your issue downloading MTR, the new version is pay to play. You can try the old version which is free and I haven't had any issues with it yet. You could probably find the a newer build of MTR for free by doing some googling Don't forget to download Handbrake as well.

The nice thing about the Apple TV unlike all of Apple's other products, ac3 is passed through. No fiddling around it just works. I don't know why Apple doesn't just add it for everything else that uses Quicktime.

[g5g5]

[usarcher]

[CNK]

no iPhone but I'm hoping the apple wireless keyboard will work! I'll search around for MTR....perhaps g5g5 I may just see if you ever find the one that is laying around there somewhere!

I'm pretty sure this is going to be a great purchase.....thanks again for all of the input...!

c

[usarcher]

[CNK]

disappointing that the keyboard won't work....and I'm certainly not a fan of clutter. So.....hope this doesn't sound silly....if one were to have the atvflash installed on the apple tv...would it be possible to run the remote buddy app so I could use the apple remote with a bit more functionality?...or even a different remote like the harmony?

On another note........I have handbrake now....but I still am having problems finding MTR...a solid point in the right direction would be awesome.

thanks!
Chris

[usarcher]