A Mac Windows Media Center Alternative?

Matt

Matt

Matt

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
5,661
Location
Ledbury
My Vista machine is driving me crazy :( I really do think Media Center is a thing BUT i can't put up with the less than perfect reliability any longer. This machine is only ever used plugged into a TV via remote. I never use the desktop, and i never use a keyboard. This is what i need it to do:
- TV (recording and watching)
- Videos (eg. xvid/divx)
- Music
- Downloading
The machine needs to be capable of being on 24/7, and be 100% reliable. However, the main issue is software and ease of use for the TV aspect and it has to be perfect with a remote and used on a TV. Is there anything that i can get from the Mac side of things that is up to this or should i carry on with my PC?

Thanks!
 
As above, a Mac Mini should do the job. The Mini also has a very low power consumption which is good for being left on 24/7.

The only thing you might lack on a Mini is hard disk space, but an external drive would sort that out. For TV I recommend a dongle from the eyeTV range. I had one and it works great for watching/recording Freeview TV as long as you have an external aerial.
 
I use eyeTV with a Miiglia Mini dongle on my iMac which is pretty good. It records no problem with one click or schedules.

I can play any type of video file (probably) in FrontRow with a few codec packs installed (Perian being the main one).

Music - iTunes - integrates with FrontRow.

Downloading - Download Queue. I've recently started using this and it does everything I need. Now I can queue up downloads and leave my Mac on overnight. Once the downloads are complete Download Queue puts my Mac to sleep.

Torrents - Transmission.

And check this out:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/productivity_tools/mirapersonalcontrolforyourappleremote.html

Then you can use the little Apple remote to do everything from your armchair.

Hope this helps.
 
Matt said:
Can i use a proper remote and not the stupid Apple one as it's a complete pain to use!
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Do you actually want a Mac? First you don't think a Mac Mini will do the job (it will!) then you don't like the remote... I think you are scared of leaving Windows. :p

and be 100% reliable. However, the main issue is software and ease of use for the TV aspect
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This is why you should get a Mini. 100% reliable - yes. Software ease of use - Yes, Built in remote - yes. Designed for TV - yes. Hell the new FrontRow in 10.5 is loads better.

With EyeTV for recording you are set and couldn't get a better multi purpose system if you tried. A million miles better than Windows.
 
LordSplodge said:
Hair. Split.
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it isn't really. the main point of this thread is that the OP needs something that will be 100% reliable. One of the things I find most annoying about Mac users (or *nix OS users in general) is that they seem to be under the illusion that their operating system is 100% stable, 100% of the time, and it just isn't. I was making sure that the OP was aware that a Mac isn't totally stable, that's all.
 
Sic said:
it isn't really. the main point of this thread is that the OP needs something that will be 100% reliable. One of the things I find most annoying about Mac users (or *nix OS users in general) is that they seem to be under the illusion that their operating system is 100% stable, 100% of the time, and it just isn't. I was making sure that the OP was aware that a Mac isn't totally stable, that's all.
Click to expand...

I do own a MacBook and it's been virtually perfect for 18months or so... my Vista box is just unreliable :( The thing is Vista Media Center is VERY good, if only it was reliable!

My biggest concern is the TV aspect of this as i've never tried an EyeTV setup. It also needs to work well from a remote and be really easy to use :)
 
Matt said:
My biggest concern is the TV aspect of this as i've never tried an EyeTV setup. It also needs to work well from a remote and be really easy to use :)
Click to expand...

Do this:

1. Check out the new Frontrow in Leopard. It is better than the Tiger one and can stream content from another iTunes library.

2. Visit http://www.elgato.com/ and look at the EyeTV

3. Visit an Apple Store and try all this stuff out in person before you buy!

Hope that helps... ;)
 
Sic said:
it isn't really...I was making sure that the OP was aware that a Mac isn't totally stable, that's all.
Click to expand...

It is splitting hairs to be fair! The OP meant he wants a computer that is as reliable as possible and can be left to do the job without any maintenance and tinkering!

It is very difficult under daily use (unless you have doggy hardware or apps that dick about with the OS) to crash OS X, so for the OP a Mac is under most conditions as close to 100% reliable as you can get.

There is a reason that Un*x and OS X users crow about the reliability of the core OS. :p

Oh bugger I am splitting hairs now. Tell you what lets just agree to disagree! :D
 
Its more reliable than Vista anyway. And probably a shade more reliable than XP in that environment.

Dont get me wrong I'm no fanboy - Ive seen the spinning beachball of death more times than I care to mention - but I'd trust a Mac (or Linux box) to stay online longer than a Windows Box.
 
Lets not get into this discussion please. I have a Mac, and i know it's more reliable than my Windows machine.

My questions are more about the TV side of things :) Do you know whether any of the Apple stores have EyeTV setup?
 
theheyes said:
Its more reliable than Vista anyway. And probably a shade more reliable than XP in that environment.

Dont get me wrong I'm no fanboy - Ive seen the spinning beachball of death more times than I care to mention - but I'd trust a Mac (or Linux box) to stay online longer than a Windows Box.
Click to expand...

XP is a shade less reliable? :D
 
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