Forums: S-Video and Audio-in?

[admin]

Forums: S-Video and Audio-in?
Saturday February 25, 2006

It appears that AOpen and Shuttle are trying to steal a little bit of Apple's thunder before they have a chance to unveil the new Mac mini. Both companies have provided the press a sneak peak at their new small-form-factor PCs that will be unveiled at CeBIT 2006 next month. AOpen's new MiniPC will feature a proprietary motherboard design that houses a Pentium M socket, Intel 945GT core logic, DDR2-SODIMM memory banks, and mini-PCI expansion slot. The AOpen MiniPC also includes a built-in S-Video port and audio-in.

Shuttle's new XPC X100 will run Windows XP Media Center Edition. A typical XPC X100 will include a 1.83GHz Core Duo T2400 processor, 512MB of dual-channel DDR 2 SDRAM, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 video card, 250GB Serial ATA II hard drive, HD Audio, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g connectivity, four-in-one memory card reader, four USB 2.0 ports, one six-pin FireWire connector, and more. The XPC X100 will also include a built-in S-Video port and audio-in like the AOpen MiniPC.

This got us thinking about the chances of Apple adding a built-in S-Video port and audio-in to the new Mac mini. We think there is a strong possibility that Apple will add an audio-in jack to the new Mac mini. We are not as sure about the built-in S-Video port, since Apple already offers the $19 DVI to Video Adapter.

So tell us what you think. Do you think Apple will add built-in S-Video and audio-in to the next Mac mini?



http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/444.html

[picaman]

Apple historically has abandoned today's (or yesterday's) technology standards for tomorrow's at the drop of a hat. The latest example is the ExpressCard/34 slot on the new MacBook Pro, which is such a new standard that there are precious few cards for it shipping.

I can't see S-Video coming with any new Mac. HDMI? Maybe.



Jamie

[Yvan256]

But keep in mind that 99% of the potential users (if the new Mac mini is to be used in the living room) will only have component inputs or S-Video, at best. I don't mind paying 20$CAN for a USB keyboard for my Mac mini, but at least it does supports VGA and DVI.

I'd mind quite a lot if I had to pay for a new TV simply to have an HDMI input...

As far as those AOpen and Shuttle boxes are concerned... The one from AOpen looks like a toy, and the one from Shuttle looks like a ripoff of the Nintendo Revolution!

[Weee]

[Scotty]

Remember that one of the greatest advantages to the Mini is its low cost. What will the cost of these new PC toys be? And, at any rate, they use an inferior operating system, to boot.

I have a windows XP machine, which is a fine back-up; but it is a country mile away from the MacMini in terms of operating stability, ease-of-use, and quality.

You can put a Mercedes body on a Hyundai; but it's still a Hyundai.

Scotty

[macinabox]

I don't think apple will change what ports the mini has at all, it seems to me that the "mini" is just what it's name implies "minimalist" besides I kind of like the idea of not having to pay extra for something I probably won't use.

If I want s-video there's the adapter, if I want sound input there's usb options. I would like to see BT sound input options for the mini.
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Mac Mini G4 1.5GHz / 1GB / 80GB
Newertech ministack v2 (250GB seagate)
Linux AMD 64 2.64GHz / 2GB / 250GB

[imfullofit]

I agree that it would be less than to run XP on one of these but something like SUSE linux would be quite nice. It is more difficult to get multimedia apps working in linux but for someone like me who has just ordered one of these for use as a DVD player, Itunes, Iphoto and Backup device the idea of installing a DVD player that will handle more regions as well as a larger and faster hard drive is appealing. I also ordered the video out device and appreciate the lower overall cost. I wonder how the video cards compare and also would like to see a head to head comparison on features and price including the apps needed to legally run a HTPC.

[xmen65]

[SOCOMRAIDER]

On the other hand it would be nice to have a few extra USB 2.0 ports. Also make the headphone/line-out jack a headphone/mini optical jack. And include the small adapter for making the mini optical jack into a full size optical.

The one thing I wish, was that they made their remote differently. IR, it should have been RF or something different.
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[devo]

[picaman]

[devo]

[new_mac_guy]

It's usless to speculate. "Wish list" fits in, however.
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Tom in New Mexico