My hardware includes the mini with 1.83GHz CPU & 2GB RAM along with Apple’s BT keyboard & mouse, 1.5TB of external HD, 32″ Toshiba HD TV w/PC conn, a 2.1 PC spkr system, a Logitech Harmony remote and a PLA (Power Line Adapter) network feed from my “computer room” FiOS router. The PLA is about 30% faster than 802.11g wireless and doesn’t experience the slow down when I operate my MW oven.

My initial media center software was Front Row and MediaCentral. I am now switch hitting btwn Plex and Boxee. Boxee has many more APPS than Plex, BUT Plex has better features for managing HD media, especially SCRAPING and STACKING. Both have their shortcomings, but are under active development. IMO, it’s a horse race to see which one will become the better media center on the Mac. I access Hulu and Netflix with both. I do have a paid subscription to Netflix which costs me a total of $9.50 per month including tax. So, my monthly TV costs are $9.50.

Boxee has played every video file format I’ve thrown at it including 1080p with maybe a few minor hiccups. Plex has done almost as well, but I encountered a couple .TS files it wouldn’t play. Plex will play .TS files, but there are a couple I have that it will not play. I haven’t tried to figure out why.

I’ve acquired a playlist that I use with VLC. The playlist has links to CNN, NASA, and other domestic USA TV as well as Russian, Italian, German, English, Swedish, Arab, French, Spanish, South American, China, Thailand, and Vietnamese TV to name a few. In general, the video quality is poor due to the low resolution.

I’ve used HandBrake to rip my DVD’s to HD.

So, ended up installing Vista Media Center with CoreAVC and I can testify of a powerhorse HTPC (virtually silent).

Got the best of both worlds!

See my response on the other post: http://rogersmj.com/2009/01/11/living-in-harmony-with-plex/comment-page-1

(I’m sorry if you get this twice but I guess I posted it in the wrong page on the first time.)

I would like to thank you for all the tips you have posted, them were very useful for me to take decisions about which way to go. So far I have got a brand new Mac Mini (2.26GHz, 4GB, 120HD) in addition to my Onkyo receiver and my Samsung 42” plasma TV (I’ll be buying an external drive shortly). I have all connections working fine (mini-DVI to HDMI for video and Optical for sound), I’m trying to use Plex (after first read about it here) so 2 days ago I bought a Harmony One remote control but I’m struggling to make it work. If you don’t mind I have few questions about it.

1) How did you add the Mini as device? I used “Media PC”, “Apple”, “Mac Mini”. Is this even necessary when you are adding Plex as device? I’m kinda confused here.

2) Does your remote turn on/off the Mini? I was reading about it and I guess the only option is to leave it on and just put it to sleep/wake when you start/stop an activity, is that true?

3) I couldn’t get the remote to start Plex when I pick the activity. What should I do to archive this?

I would appreciate if you could explain in details how you did the setup and how your system is working (i.e. Mac Mini is always on and just go to sleep, remote starts Plex, etc.)

I’m sorry about all these questions but I’m very anxious to have everything working to be able to just enjoy it.

Thanks!!

I have not integrated the TiVo and Plex, because (way back when I first tried it) I too found converting from the TiVo to be a giant pain. Instead, I just auto-download the episodes I want to archive permanently from someone who already did the conversion…typically via custom search feeds from tvrss.net

I don’t know where you heard that the Apple TV is necessary “in addition to” the Mac Mini, but that’s crap. It’s not like you could use them together anyway. Depending on your TV, it can be a bit more of a hassle to get the resolution/display perfect with the Mini, but it can be done. I just had to monkey around in my TV settings a little bit.

I have just downloaded Plex on my iMac and am in the process of figuring it out. I was interested in hearing that you also have Tivo. Have you integrated Plex and Tivo in any way? I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the time and effort in converting tivo recordings so I am seriously considering mac home theatre setup as a Tivo replacement.
I have also heard that apple tv is necessary in addition to the mac mini to ensure the screen resolution / aspect ratio’s etc work properly on a lcd tv. You have obviosly managed to set the correct screen settings directly on the mini?

I do not use the Mini as my DVD player (I use my Xbox 360 for that), so I’m not sure about the upconversion. From what I’ve heard, though, I think it does that.

I do get 5.1 out of the audio port on the Mini. A lot of my high-def .mkv video files have 5.1 audio, and it’s great.

I don’t have any experience with iTunes HD files, so I can’t answer that.

Just a couple questions:
Are you using the Mac as your DVD player? Does it provide 480P like a standalone player?

Are you getting 5.1 channel audio out of the digital out port?

I’ve heard that iTunes HD movies will not play on non apple external monitors via the new mini DV port equipped macs, but will work on previous generation macs with the standard DVI ports. Any observations there?

Thanks!

I’ve considered the Apple TV, Popcorn hour A-110, Lacie La Cinema and Mini. The Popcorn hour is very tempting but, surprisingly, doesn’t include Gigabit ethernet. Given Apple just updated the mini and TB drives are down to $100 it’s a good time to take the plunge. Twice as expensive as the Apple TV, yes –and worth every cent in time and compatibility issues saved. Great blog, thank you again.

I had the Apple TV briefly but you’re right, it was a royal pain in the butt. The hacks were tenuous and something was always breaking.