2013-02-19, 11:57
Hi,
I'm basically an Apple hater but I own an iphone (my company's choice) and decided to buy a 2012 mac mini for my htpc build.
Just to test its performances and silence, I took the least powerful config (i5 and 4Go ram) thinking that I could afford a more evolved version when this one becomes useless.
I started to play with Mac OS a bit and XBMC there but for some reason it kept on freezing so i decided to switch to Windows 8.
The whole process took about one hour with boot camp and was fully automatic thanks to Apple's tools but it all went to hell after I decided to change my drive letters.
Mac OS is now unbootable and I had to restore a fresh version of the newly installed windows and install the mac drivers without the boot camp assistant which obviously isn't that smart after all.
Anyway, those first newbie mistakes done, I went with my regular softwares and XBMC.
I'm connecting to my NAS to fetch my holiday movies and play them in XBMC and I have to say that it all worked like a charm after migrating my config from my previous htpc. Just had to reconfigure the audio part as the mac mini can handle LPCM and dolby AAC capable receiver.
I have been using it for a couple of days now and not only does it look stunning but it is also absolutely silent. Haven't heard the fan once and under charge the whole system runs at about 55 degrees (celsius).
All in all I couldn't be happier of my shopping as it is the first time that I manage to get such a good looking, silent and performant htpc (with windows that is) for such a little price.
The only problem I have is the IR receiver. I couldn't manage to get it to work with my MCE remote. Right now I'm using my old mce receiver but would like to get rid of it as it is a small extra box and cable. Anyone has any input on that?
Anyway, for 600$ i couldn't dream of a better machine and I am now beginning to think about another one for my bedroom.
Hope this gives an insight to those who, like wondered for a while if it was worth considering it or not.
I'm basically an Apple hater but I own an iphone (my company's choice) and decided to buy a 2012 mac mini for my htpc build.
Just to test its performances and silence, I took the least powerful config (i5 and 4Go ram) thinking that I could afford a more evolved version when this one becomes useless.
I started to play with Mac OS a bit and XBMC there but for some reason it kept on freezing so i decided to switch to Windows 8.
The whole process took about one hour with boot camp and was fully automatic thanks to Apple's tools but it all went to hell after I decided to change my drive letters.
Mac OS is now unbootable and I had to restore a fresh version of the newly installed windows and install the mac drivers without the boot camp assistant which obviously isn't that smart after all.
Anyway, those first newbie mistakes done, I went with my regular softwares and XBMC.
I'm connecting to my NAS to fetch my holiday movies and play them in XBMC and I have to say that it all worked like a charm after migrating my config from my previous htpc. Just had to reconfigure the audio part as the mac mini can handle LPCM and dolby AAC capable receiver.
I have been using it for a couple of days now and not only does it look stunning but it is also absolutely silent. Haven't heard the fan once and under charge the whole system runs at about 55 degrees (celsius).
All in all I couldn't be happier of my shopping as it is the first time that I manage to get such a good looking, silent and performant htpc (with windows that is) for such a little price.
The only problem I have is the IR receiver. I couldn't manage to get it to work with my MCE remote. Right now I'm using my old mce receiver but would like to get rid of it as it is a small extra box and cable. Anyone has any input on that?
Anyway, for 600$ i couldn't dream of a better machine and I am now beginning to think about another one for my bedroom.
Hope this gives an insight to those who, like wondered for a while if it was worth considering it or not.