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Intel Mac Mini

Apple has just introduced the new Mac Mini Solo and Duo (dual core processors). Interestly, the new Mac Minis sport digital optical audio inputs and outputs. No longer are Mac Mini owners limited to using USB transfer devices to getting digital audio output. Read some of the details here:

http://www.apple.com/macmini/whatsinside.html

Obviously, Steven Jobs has picked up on the idea of using the Mac Mini as a media hub. The new Mac Mini even sports a matching remote control for navigating media tracks and controlling volume.

I am so glad I have waited on buying a new PC for my next digital transport. Coupled with a FireWire drive or Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, I am now ready to take the plunge into a hard drive transport.
rhing

Showing 2 responses by restock

restock
831 posts
 
Too bad they are using the combined digital/analog minijack, which restricts
the use of interconnects to Monster cable and the use of DACs with optical
inputs. On the positive side it sports an optical digital input as well!

Other than that the Mini has been on my list as a media server for a while.
Add a quiet harddrive with fanless, heatsink enclosure and one should have a
nice media center. The remote sounds like a great feature as well.

Apple is certainly taking things in the right direction.
restock
831 posts
 
Gary, very good suggestion. The VdH sounds like a very good option.

As hard drives are bcoming more and more affordable, this will be the most interesting path to go. Interestingly there are nice compact hard drives available for the Mac mini, that are exactly the same size and stackable and most importantly use a heatsink instead of a fan for very quiet operation. I saw one such 300GB drive for CDN$300 last week - very tempting. Add the Mini for $600 and we have a great digital transport for less than $1k.

Rene
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