What to do with my old mac mini?

Big-Mac-Please

Big-Mac-Please

Big-Mac-Please

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Helloooo all :D

I have a classic 1.25ghz mac mini from launch day that got me hocked on macs but these days it sits there doing nothing all day as I use my macbook for everything.

I don't really want to sell it but I don't know what to use it for? Is there anything I can put on it to have a play with?

I saw on heere before people were showing off a version of linux that had a fancy 3d moving desktop that could spin around and so on. Could this sort of thing be done?

Any suggestions are welcome, the mini's spec is:

1.25ghz G4
512mb
40gb

Thanx in advance!

BigMac :D
 
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You could use it to play with Linux on, or stick it in your car for a project? Otherwise it's small enough to stick almost anywhere. Put a DVB-T stick in it and use it as a PVR machine in the living room perhaps. I suppose that spec would struggle with HD video, so it may not be any use as an HTPC but it's worth a look into I'd have thought.
 
Big-Mac-Please said:
I saw on heere before people were showing off a version of linux that had a fancy 3d moving desktop that could spin around and so on. Could this sort of thing be done?
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It certainly could. You should look into Beryl and Compiz.

If you don't really need another desktop system have you considered making it into a media center?
 
Will_3rd said:
stick a bigger hdd in it and use it as a file/media server
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Meh, it's not really ideal for that though. Its CPU, GPU, and RAM are way overkill for that task yet its HDD is seriously lacking. If you really wanted to do this I'd suggest a multi-disk enclosure that can communicate with the Mini over Firewire.
 
I've got a similarish spec Mini which is redundant thanks to my Macbook. I'm going to use it as a media PC - just need to get around to buying a video adapter. I don't think I'll bother with a fancy interface like Frontrow - Finder and iTunes will do fine for me.

I'm also considering getting a TubeStick and using it as a video recorder.
 
Hellooo all and thanx for all the replys :D

I am downloading Knoppix a live DVD, do you think thats a good place to start to try Beryl?

I had it as media centre before but it can't play any HD stuff so thats a bit of a let down :(

As a complete noob when it comes to linux if I installed a distro (correct word?) would it come with all the required drivers for me mini?

Thanx again for the suggestions :D

If anyone else has anymore let me know!
 
my mate uses his as a wireless bridge/router/vpn-endpoint. the wireless antenna is pretty decent, gets better reception than any cheapo wireless router ive seen.
 
Wouldn't think Knoppix would be the best exponent for Beryl. Hate to sound like a broken record, but Ubuntu probably your best bet for it. You'll have to do the install of any OS in order to then set Beryl up, as it requires 3D acceleration which isn't provided by a LiveCD...
 
matja said:
my mate uses his as a wireless bridge/router/vpn-endpoint. the wireless antenna is pretty decent, gets better reception than any cheapo wireless router ive seen.
Click to expand...

You can get a Buffalo WHR-54gs and flash it with DD-WRT for £35... seems a shame to waste a Mac Mini on that!
 
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