Time to retire the Mac Mini running Bootcamp? Dell Inspiron Zino HD

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Time to retire the Mac Mini running Bootcamp? Dell Inspiron Zino HD

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#273204 15-Nov-2009 13:15

Do you have any rough estimates when the Zino HD will get here?

macuser

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#273205 15-Nov-2009 13:19

freitasm: I was planning to put on Trade Me when the Dell Zino HD gets into New Zealand.

Oh okay

freitasm

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#273206 15-Nov-2009 13:22

macuser:
freitasm: I was planning to put on Trade Me when the Dell Zino HD gets into New Zealand.

Oh okay

Hmmm. A Mac Mini can go on Trade Me for as much as $500. Do you think I was just going to give it away?

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#273215 15-Nov-2009 13:47

freitasm:
macuser:
freitasm: I was planning to put on Trade Me when the Dell Zino HD gets into New Zealand.

Oh okay

Hmmm. A Mac Mini can go on Trade Me for as much as $500. Do you think I was just going to give it away?

I am hopeful

eXDee

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#273219 15-Nov-2009 14:05

Personally, even though its cheap and pretty good value i wouldn't be using any of the entry level ones for a HTPC, needs to be customized with a dual core processor and graphics better than the HD3200 that are included.

I just went through the customization and it came out at $599USD with these specs, just personally what i'd want in a mediacentre i built. Dual core cpu - hate single core, and even 1.8ghz dual i think is too slow. Windows 7 - so you can watch tv etc.500gb drive - minimum i'd want for storing recordings. Blu ray drive - watch blu-ray of course! HD4330 - the HD3200 sometimes still has issues as far as i know. Unfortunately i couldnt chose a 5.1 sound card.
It doesn't seem so cheap once you give it some decent specs, but of course, this is just my opinion.

SYSTEM COLOR
Piano Black

PROCESSOR
AMD Dual Core Athlon™ Neo X2 6850e (1MB L2, 1.8GHz)

OPERATING SYSTEM
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English

MONITOR
No Monitor

MEMORY
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2 DIMM

HARD DRIVE
500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE
Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)

VIDEO CARD
ATI Radeon HD 4330 512 MB

SOUND
Integrated 2.1 High Definition Audio

freitasm

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#273221 15-Nov-2009 14:09

You have to look at the whole package... Would you be able to easily get a PC in a small form factor such as this or the Mac Mini (including motherboard, video, etc)?

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#276063 25-Nov-2009 08:56

Now available. $799 and $899 base configurations, a bit more than I thought they would be.

Goes to $1,011 if you want a dual core 1.8. more if you want a bit of colour on the case.

Very nice but I think I might do a build your own and see what price it would come out at.

itey

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Ultimate Geek
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#276071 25-Nov-2009 09:07

$229US = $315NZ.

Not quite sure how $315 jumps up to $799.

what a load of sh*t.

michaelt

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#276087 25-Nov-2009 09:49

Thanks to a $1 + tax grabaseat fare, I'm going to be in the US from the 17th of Dec to the 1st of Jan.

If anyone knows someone with a physical address in San Francisco that this could be delivered to, I'd be happy to bring it back. Myself, I'm seriously considering buying an Acer 1810TZ for $550US.

timestyles

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#276113 25-Nov-2009 10:38

I'm a total newbie when it comes to HTPC's, suppose I were to get one of these, what tuner card should I get? Reading these forums makes me think that HTPC's are hit and miss some of the time.

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#276231 25-Nov-2009 16:09

timestyles: I'm a total newbie when it comes to HTPC's, suppose I were to get one of these, what tuner card should I get? Reading these forums makes me think that HTPC's are hit and miss some of the time.

I've used a Hauppauge HVR900 with my Mac Mini and lately a HDHomeRun - this is perfect for a networked home... I can watch Freeview on my laptop, media center, whatever PC in the house with network access.

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#276232 25-Nov-2009 16:10

Went ahead and bought a Zino HD - ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330, AMD Athlon X2. Total price was $932.

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chiefie

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#276269 25-Nov-2009 18:10

How much are you going to sell your Mac Mini?

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#276270 25-Nov-2009 18:11

I have one interested person. Will decide next week. It will be about $500.

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#276384 26-Nov-2009 07:21

freitasm: Went ahead and bought a Zino HD - ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330, AMD Athlon X2. Total price was $932.

My post seems to have gone missing but really keen to hear how this goes. I've been following Java Jack's blog and forum posts and he is about to test the discrete 4330 but keen to hear how it goes from your perspective with local requirements.

I've just set up an HTPC for myself but I think this would be a great all in one for my bro who is just setting up a new home entertainment system now.

It's always depressing comparing NZ to US prices but in isolation that seems like a good price, especially if starting from scratch.

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