[mythtv-users] Re:Front end choice: Mac Mini versus VIA EPIA. Mac OSX remote control?

[Todd Ignasiak]

I have a Mac Mini, and I think it's great.   The form factor is
unbeatable, and I don't think I could make a Mini-ITX box for near the
same price.   I use mine for all the Apple Apps (iTunes, iMovie, iDVD,
etc.) and general Unix functions.   But, not for MythTV.

I use MythTV for HD material, which makes the Mini a no-go.   The
1.42GHz CPU in mine is not fast enough to decode/display HDTV
material.    The mini's ATI Radeon video hardware does have support
for MPEG2 acceleration, unfortunately Apple has chosen not to open an
API into this functionality.   So, HD is out of reach for the Mini.

On 8/31/05, Adam Felson <adamf123us at yahoo.com> wrote:
> From: Fred Squires <fsquires at gmail.com> wrote:
> >Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Front end choice: Mac Mini versus VIA
> >       EPIA. Mac OS    X remote control?
> >On 8/31/05, Andrew Morley <Andrew at teabreak.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> >> While most people have the idea that Macs are expensive, it seems
> to
> >> me that a Mac mini actually costs less than an EPIA system with a
> >> comparably nice looking case. However I'm not so confident that I
> >> can turn a Mac mini into a completely remote-controllable system.
> >> With no serial ports, I can't see how I can use it with LIRC.
> >There
> >> are USB-based remote control receivers for Mac use, but they come
> >> with remote controls with only very few buttons and I don't expect
> >> they can be used with any other remote.
> >>
> 
> >I don't know about the other usb receivers for the Mac, but you can
> >use other remotes with the keyspan.
> 
> lirc 0.7.2 now has support for the streamzap usb remote under
> linux-2.6 and it works like a champ.   I dunno if the lirc_streamzap
> usb driver will run on a non-intel platform.
> 
> As far as the EPIA is concerned, a bigger problem than a motherboard
> fan is having a case fan.  I bought a case that uses a fan and it
> could be heard two rooms away and was louder than a fridge.  I toned
> it down with a 60 ohm resistor and now it is much more reasonable,
> but I have to be carefull that the fan vents are unobstructed or the
> system will overheat.   The shuttle-pc is a far superior solution to
> itx/epia.  Quieter and uses modern cpus and desktop drives.
> 
> 
> Please reply to a.f.7 at pobox.com
> 
> 
> 
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