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

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  #276529 26-Nov-2009 14:31
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I have now listed my Mac Mini here on Geekzone first...




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freitasm

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  #282203 14-Dec-2009 11:13
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My Dell Zino HD just arrived - with a week delay...

First boot was completed in a matter of a couple of minutes, including selecting country, username and password. Then a quick Windows Update, and removed lots of apps (Dell Dock, Dell Remote Access, GoToAssist, McAfee, Windows Live). Updated Adobe Flash 9 to Adobe Flash 10 and then installed the HDHomeRun drivers.

Started Windows Media Center and after a quick scan it is now playing Freeview|HD with no problems at all.

Windows Experience Index on this model is 4.1 - a good step up from the Mac Mini 2.0 and certainly good enough for Freeview|HD seeing that the decoding is on the GPU now. Also got it with 4GB RAM.

Next to plug the Microsoft MCE Remote and Keyboard, install the Microsoft webcam and Skype.

Pretty happy so far, except for the delivery time of three weeks.




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  #283141 16-Dec-2009 17:00
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Nice. Can you please post the entire specs of your Zino HD. Which components you opted for?




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freitasm

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  #283147 16-Dec-2009 17:11
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  #283153 16-Dec-2009 17:27
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Cool. Good to hear that dual core 1.5GHz can run Freeview HD flawlessly. Very tempting machine to buy for the price and form factor.




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freitasm

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#283157 16-Dec-2009 17:37
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The first boot was really quick. I removed anything I don't need on a MCE: Flash Player, Adobe Reader, McAfee, Dell Dock, Dell Backup, Windows Live. Installed the HDHomeRun, Microsoft LifeCam drivers, iTunes (because we download lots of movies since there isn't anything else like that on MCE), and Skype for video calls. That's all I have on that box now. Really good results.




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  #283169 16-Dec-2009 18:19
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How's the video card performing with 720P and 1080i? Have you played any 1080p content?

I'm very tempted to get one of these for the bedroom.

freitasm

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  #283170 16-Dec-2009 18:20
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No problems at all - I was worried that it is an ATI card and if the drivers were old I would get the green screen, but had no problem at all.




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  #283222 16-Dec-2009 20:35
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I am new to HTPC world. This Dell Zino HD looks very tempting as my first HTPC box. When you are using it with HDHomeRun for Freeview HD what is the source for your EPG?

Does Windows 7 MCE have a 15 sec, 30 sec, 1 min one button/command skip forward capability when playing back recorded Freeview HD programs, ie, can you conveniently skip thru commercials?

freitasm

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  #283267 16-Dec-2009 22:18
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The EPG is the one supplied by Freeview over the air - just the current program and next though, since Windows 7 MCE doesn't support the MHEG5 standard (yet). There are other ways of gettig the full week though.

You have a button to skip 30 seconds back and forward on a MCE Remote (sold separately).




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  #283280 16-Dec-2009 23:08
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Thank you.

 
 
 
 

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  #283760 18-Dec-2009 13:49
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One last question MF before I buy this as well.

Does the unit gets hot if running 24/7? I leave my PC running 24/7 but it has good ventilation and stock fans on the case. Because this is such a small unit and not much room for ventilation , is it safe to run this 24/7? What's the longest period you have run this for?

2 Reasons I am going to buy this is

a. Very low power drawn compared to Big Size Desktop PC's.
b. Small Unit and easy to move around.




Do whatever you want to do man.

  

freitasm

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  #283762 18-Dec-2009 13:52
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It's been running for the last four days (no sleep or hibernate on my power settings) and it's quite cool to touch...




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  #283777 18-Dec-2009 14:16
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Thanks :-)

Sold!




Do whatever you want to do man.

  

borgia
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  #284147 20-Dec-2009 10:07
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Why did you go for 64bit? Do you play mkv's etc? I am debating the 32bit/64 bit choice currently.

Cheers

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