Vista is so bad I just converted to a mini for HTPC

[apple13]

Hi all I'm an avid mac user but I have had a windows HTPC for quite some time. I upgraded 4 months ago to a quad core pc w vista, hd tuner, blah blah. Needless to say, Vista was so horrible (blue screen, shut downs, lock ups) that I just sold it all and got a mini. I dont have an HD tuner anymore but I never used it anyway, and I lost my blu ray player, and I now have to move files around on all of my drives so they can be formatted for a mac (they are all NTFS boo) I have a macbook that I use daily and I am currently working my way around plex to get a feel for it. My question/comment is: should I upgrade my ram right away on the mini? I bought the 2ghz mini w no upgrades from apple and I'm going to run it to my 40" Samsung LCD. I have over 1.5TB of movies and music on 4 different drives, all kinds of formats. I am also going to use the optical out to my Onkyo receiver. Any comments or suggestions on setting up the audio portion of plex to work well with DTS and DD. Thanks in advance. I cant wait to get my mini so I can actually have a working HTPC again.
Signed, The total Mac convert.

[curt]

First off, welcome aboard. I would most definitely max out your RAM as soon as possible. It does make a difference with video playback and Front Row. Plus, they are practically giving away 1GB sticks these days. As for setting up Plex with a DTS or DD receiver. Go Configure The System -> System -> Audio Hardware from the menu. Then change the audio output from analog to digital. That's really about it.


_________________
1.42GHz Mac mini
1.66GHz Intel Mac mini
2.0GHz 2009 Mac mini with 4GB and 500GB drive
27" Viewsonic N2750w
50" Sony KDS-50A2000
EyeTV 250 Plus
1.5GHz PowerBook
My Setup

[tales]

Welcome!
Yes you should upgrade your RAM. Dont buy it from Apple. Wait the 3 months when your phone support runs out then buy AppleCare on eBay or there is an online store that has good prices.

I used this RAM, its fine along with others. (price can go up in 3 months)
http://cgi.ebay.com/2GB-OPTIVAL-RAM-MEMORY-APPLE-MAC-MINI-MACBOOK-PRO-IMAC_W0QQitemZ180294304876QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180294304876&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

AppleCare $77 shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/Applecare-Warranty-Mac-Mini-MacMini-MA514LL-A-FreeShip_W0QQitemZ230292082179QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230292082179&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
_________________
PowerMac 8500
G4 Mac cube
1.83 2GB ram mini core duo/500GB Lacie mini (HTPC)
2.16 20" 2GB ram iMac core 2 duo 300GB
3.06 27" 4GB ram iMac core 2 duo 1TB/LaCie d2 1T

[curt]

[apple13]

Thanks, yeah I got 4gb samsung from ebay. I am pretty tech savvy so its not a problem. I do have one more question though: Is there a reason I should use plex if I am already going to have the Perian plugin for front row. Plex is not as intuitive and seems a bit convoluted for me. Keep in mind that my wife has to use this too and even though she has been using mac forever, I dont want a million phone calls asking "how the hell do I use this thing". Thanks
_________________
Samsung 4061F
Onkyo SR605
Mirage Uni-Theater
2 Mirage Nano Prestige surrounds and sub
Xantech IR system
And now a Mac Mini 2ghz and 1.5TB of storage. YEY!

....H.264 is the Ferrari of video formats....

[tales]

You need a putty knife to open a mini so you can install the RAM.
There are videos, if you search that shows how to do this. If your uncomfortable doing this you can go to your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider.

They charge between $20-$30 dollars here in NYC. They will check the RAM before installing it, and if something brakes they will fix it no charge.

I dont use Perian or Plex. I find Front Row V2 works fine for me JMO. It plays Video_TS folders so the movie isn't compressed.
I save the Video_TS folders on my external HD and create an alias folder
and drag it into Movies in the mini. This doesn't use any of the minis HD space & you see it in Front Row.

To make it user friendly for my wife, i use a Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control.
All she has to do is press one button "Mac mini" on the remote, it will shut of anything i dont need & wake the mini from sleep, turn on or change the TV to the correct input, turn on the AV receiver to the correct input & the volume button controls the minis audio through the AV receiver. I also added the TVs inputs on the screen, so if im ripping a movie, i can watch TV, DVDs and switch the input to check the progress of the rip, then press input again to go back to what i was watching.

You can use the 880 to navigate Front Row just like the Apple remote.

If i press a different activity like "watch my TV" It will put the mini back to sleep, shut off the AV receiver, change the TV to the correct input & turn on the Satellite set top box. ( i dont use the AV receiver with regular TV, but you could set the remote to do so)

If your Xantech IR system can do this & control the mini you should be fine. Does it control the mini?
_________________
PowerMac 8500
G4 Mac cube
1.83 2GB ram mini core duo/500GB Lacie mini (HTPC)
2.16 20" 2GB ram iMac core 2 duo 300GB
3.06 27" 4GB ram iMac core 2 duo 1TB/LaCie d2 1T

[apple13]

I'll check out that version of front row. I have a ton of movies and music, some video TS, some H264. some xvid. My concern is being able to play them all and so far Perian is working. Yes the IR system will control the mini. I tested it with my macbook and it is great. The harmony software had it right in there (as usual). I too have a harmony 880 and my wife thinks it's great. I have 3 harmony remotes in my house. I build theater systems for people and cant stress enough to them just how much better they make a system. You's be amazed a the people out there that drop thousands on a tv and speakers and an IR system and then give me grief over me telling them to buy a harmony instead of trying to use the cheesy universal that came with one of their components. (sorry to vent here) BTW I got outbid on the kingson memory but newegg has corsair VSA4GSDSKIT667C4 4gig kit for 84.99w a 40.00 mail in. I'm gonna get that instead. I have a 2gb corsair kit in my macbook and it works like a charm. No offense to anybody but I am a big believer in name brand ram. I have had too many experiences with el cheapo ram being the culprit of a number of problems. Plus I dont want to take the mini apart again unless I have to. I will post a pic of my system if people want to see it, but don't think differently when you see my wire mess. I've been changing things so often that its a mess right now. I added directv in addition to cable and switched my inputs around so it's not pretty at the moment.

here are links to pics of my setup
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/ardvark16/tv.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/ardvark16/components.jpg
_________________
Samsung 4061F
Onkyo SR605
Mirage Uni-Theater
2 Mirage Nano Prestige surrounds and sub
Xantech IR system
And now a Mac Mini 2ghz and 1.5TB of storage. YEY!

....H.264 is the Ferrari of video formats....

[tales]

"No offense to anybody but I am a big believer in name brand ram"
We dont get offended, its your money!
Buy whatever makes you comfortable!

Im a Mac user for over 13 years. I tried a lot of RAM.

That RAM has been proven, And Mac RAM direct. I do have them tested before installing. I used them in my Cube, 3 minis & a iMac between them. The RAM is GREAT
Kingston in my 8500 all worked fine.

Apple uses: Hynix, Micron, sometimes Samsung & others.
This is just as good as Samsung I use this in my iMac & my current mini. $40 more for samsung.
IMO, There is no difference except the price.
They sell both. $40 you can use for the wireless aluminum keyboard.
http://macramdirect.com/mini.html

3GB if fine 4GB opens 128
http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/729.html

Try Crucial, Many members buy RAM from them.
http://www.crucial.com/index.aspx?gclid=ck6a5cwdpjycfqqrfqodkdlr6g&ef_id=1705:3:s_85029092a130602ebc6b33f332f9a122_482416583:2loy19b6b2yaaf@bowmaaaaz:20081013124331

All of the memory i posted has been used here with no problems.

I build TV sets. I have made a number of monitor trees for FOX & ABC news. They dont use Harmony remotes

Post Picks when you get it up & running.
Good Luck!

BTW, Front Row V2 is Included with Leopard.
_________________
PowerMac 8500
G4 Mac cube
1.83 2GB ram mini core duo/500GB Lacie mini (HTPC)
2.16 20" 2GB ram iMac core 2 duo 300GB
3.06 27" 4GB ram iMac core 2 duo 1TB/LaCie d2 1T

[apple13]

Thanks for the info. My experience w bad ram has mostly been w pc. the cheap stuff from newegg and zip zoom. My wife did have a problem w her ibook 14" when we tried crucial and pny. Im not sure why, but we wound up going w samsung and it has been fine for 4+ years. I am going w the Corsair because it's only 44 bucks for 4 gigs the fact that it's corsair is a bonus. As far as the harmony remote thing, I am only referring to residential apps not commercial. My uncle sells high end video equipment for those apps, you can check him out at inviso.com, I have seen the stuff that his company sets up but it's over my head. It would be funny if they used a harmony though, imagine that, a little 880 with a cute wallpaper controlling a studio. Anyway, thanks for the info, I like to hear from people that have a lot of experience w memory and other components. I have learned many lessons through others that saved me time and money. Except for my WD mybook. I jumped at that without researching it. BIG mistake. 500gb that shows up when it wants to. Thanks for the advice again.
_________________
Samsung 4061F
Onkyo SR605
Mirage Uni-Theater
2 Mirage Nano Prestige surrounds and sub
Xantech IR system
And now a Mac Mini 2ghz and 1.5TB of storage. YEY!

....H.264 is the Ferrari of video formats....

[Sirolway]

Your initial post could have been made by me - had a big Vista PC with loads of grief recording TV, bluescreens & all sorts.

Moved to the mini & life is sweet!
I'm getting close to 1TB on video, but I think I will start deleting stuff rather than adding disks ... unless hard disks keep getting a lot bigger fast enough to keep up (I doubt it!)

I recently got a 2nd NAS, so I now have a 1TB mirrored Icy Box with video & a 750GB mirrored ZyXEL with everything else.

Of the 2, the Icy Box has been more stable, more quiet, & physically smaller. So it gets my vote

[1gkek]

Hmmm... food for thought.

I decided months ago that the first HTPC was going to be a mini once I saw front row on my new iMac (first mac, btw). It did everything I wanted. Add a tuner and EyeTV and I figured I'd be set.

But then I started having second thoughts. The mini hardware is getting pretty stale. BluRay playback on some of the Vista boxes looked tempting. Vista media center is generally getting good reviews and there are some good prices on small Dell & HP offerings.

Decisions, decisions. Thanks. for the post.

[apple13]

"BluRay playback on some of the Vista boxes looked tempting. Vista media center is generally getting good reviews and there are some good prices on small Dell & HP offerings"
I can tell you that media center is pretty much useless. I don't know what reviews you saw but it can't play back blu ray unless you use a hack but the hack is so buggy I wound up just using powerdvd. Keep in mind that I had a quad core w 4gigs of ram and I gave it all up for a mini. I can tell you with 100% certainty that Vista is pure garbage. You are better of getting XP MCE instead if you can find it. But again I had that and media center is just not that great. Nothing is integrated in media center. I can only assume that the people that reviewed it and said it was good were somehow paid off. I followed the reviews and all I can say is that I was horribly disappointed. If you have flac files MC wont play them. H264=no dice. Xvid=nope. I dont see the point of media center when the only way to get it to work is to make registry hacks and install a ton of plugins that quite frankly work like crap. You can do what you want but I strongly suggest that you get an external blu ray player. I had dreams of a killer system but it was marred by buggy performance, total bluescreens, and poor framerates. Believe it or not my macbook performs better on my 40" tv than my quad core pc did. My macbook has the so-called anemic Intel GMA video and it gets really good framerates in 720p. As for 1080p, don't believe the hype. Unless you have a 50" or larger screen you won't notice any difference. People that claim to see a "better picture with more detail" are suffering from a placebo effect. 1080p is great if you put your nose to the screen but for most people it is a marketing ploy, just another buzz word to get people to buy new things. I fell into the trap and I can say that my 46" Sharp and my 40" Samsung both look great, but their 1080p feature is really pointless. I have a blu ray player that my sister just got me and I see no difference between the 1080p version of underworld and the 720p H264 file on my drive. I'm not trying to preach but I hate to see someone make the same mistake I did. Good luck with whatever you choose.
_________________
Samsung 4061F
Onkyo SR605
Mirage Uni-Theater
2 Mirage Nano Prestige surrounds and sub
Xantech IR system
And now a Mac Mini 2ghz and 1.5TB of storage. YEY!

....H.264 is the Ferrari of video formats....

[1gkek]

Thanks for the feedback. The voice of experience is always appreciated.

I'll be outputting to a 58" plasma (Samsung PN58A550). I'm pumped to get everything set up. Right now, I'm repairing the wall above the fireplace getting ready to mount the TV.

Cheers.