Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Video, Mac mini
Intel Mac minis great little HD machines
That's what Ben Drawbaugh over at HD Beat says, and he should know since he eats, lives, and breaths in HD (I think in much lower resolutions myself). Head on over to HD Beat to get the nitty gritty details, but it seems that support for HD resolutions is now built into OS X (before it requires some extra software) and that's pretty sweet.
Does this mean we'll see higher res stuff from the iTunes Music Store? I certainly hope so.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
fra said 3:35PM on 2-28-2006
I've very happy went with the standard audio in jack, having to go out and buy a 20 mic for USB is a pain in the arse. Also happy to see four USB2.0 ports.
Nice job apple.
For a change I'm not crying over the 'next big thing I wont have' cause... the next big thing uses a green LED light...
eww.
Reply
arkowi said 3:36PM on 2-28-2006
Well, since I have posted about HDTV in all the other Mac Mini posts today I might was well stick my nose in this one.
This is what I was waiting for from a Mac Mini - HDTV playback power. I will wait for some reports to see if I can get by with the cheaper version however.
Reply
Ed said 4:32PM on 2-28-2006
#2 -- For what it's worth, (and it's not a direct comparison, since I'm using Windows) my Sony Core Duo 1.83 GHz laptop uses about 50-60% of the 2 cores to decode and play 1080p quicktime videos. I'd say the 1.5 core solo may not be enough, but maybe quicktime for OS X is more optimized than for windows... I've already ordered a 1.66 Core Duo mini for my HDTV :)
Reply
JD said 4:49PM on 2-28-2006
I was waiting on this box to add to my HD system -- my fairly modest goals for the Intel mini was:
MythTV frontend -- CHECK
Web browsing -- CHECK
Frontrow/iTunes frontend -- CHECK
Box for bigscreen WoW, UT2004, etc. -- NOT!!
So while the GMA950 video chip might excel at HD -- the total lack of usable 3D performance (see: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0%2C1558%2C1821803%2C00.asp) has me completely turned off to this box. I'll probably wait for the Intel "Powermacs" and then switch my current G4 mini into the role.
What a disappointment.... -JD
Reply
ooda said 6:06PM on 2-28-2006
I will be buying the new Mac Mini, not just because of the speed, but the remote is a huge factor. Currently I've got the (now old) Mac Mini in my bedroom, and a Pioneer home theatre system I got for Christmas hooked up to it. I was waiting for the Firewave (I think that's what it's called) to come out, but it's probably best to hook up the home theatre system to a tv, and just have the new Mac Mini/iPod Hi-Fi combo in my room. Seems like something good for the bedroom, and the digital out is a nice plus.
Though I do have to say that I am feeling underwhelmed after this special event.
Reply
Patrick Mast said 5:53AM on 3-01-2006
Is there a Universal Binary for the MythTV frontend? if so, THIS is my machine! ;-))
Reply
Marc said 10:44AM on 3-01-2006
I like the typo in the pic above that shows "000 Ethernet." That's pretty fast!
Reply
BobMac said 1:56PM on 3-01-2006
According to Apple's own system requirements, the Mac Mini doesn't have the juice to power HD:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/guide/hd/recommendations.html
Reply