Windows alternative to Mac Mini

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lummie

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#706672 26-Oct-2012 09:03

Just in case anyone else is looking for a mac mini windows alternative, you are probably looking for a Lenovo Tiny

http://shopap.lenovo.com/nz/en/products/desktops/thinkcentre/m-series/tiny/index.html

gehenna

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#706693 26-Oct-2012 09:17

Possibly would be if it wasn't so damn ugly.

jonherries

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#706742 26-Oct-2012 10:52

When I tried to customise it to close to the new low end mac mini Lenovo wanted $1034 for it compared to $949 for the mac mini...

Jon

lyonrouge

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#706990 26-Oct-2012 15:26

Does it have in build IR, I could determine from the site? the Asus EEbox looked promising, but it doesn't have IR.

mattwnz

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#706999 26-Oct-2012 15:39

gehenna: Possibly would be if it wasn't so damn ugly.

+1, Leveno know how to make butt ugly stuff.

lyonrouge

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#707001 26-Oct-2012 15:41

EEE box does have an IR version, and at $680 with an optical drive is quite a competative offering.

http://www.asus.com/Eee/EeeBox_PC/EeeBox_PC_EB1501P/

iTunes and AirServer run on Mac and Windows, and with Win 7 Premium you get Media Centre, whereas on the Mac Mini the closest I've gotten is XBMC, but that has issues with IR codes not always being intercepted and being passed through to the OS.

ubergeeknz

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#707003 26-Oct-2012 15:45

Why not install Windows on a Mac Mini?

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lyonrouge

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#707036 26-Oct-2012 16:46

ubergeeknz: Why not install Windows on a Mac Mini?

Tried that, but the IR drivers are locked to Apple codes and unasable in Media Centre. Combine that with the additonal license cost on top of the Mac mini, it's not a pretty picture.

however, if I use windows I do get the benefit of remote access over RDP (compared with the VNC failure, which I paid even more good money for, where RDP is included in Win 7 Premium).

Peppery

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#710705 1-Nov-2012 21:59

lyonrouge:
Dunnersfella: Why not use HDMI and USB out?
I run an HDMI out of my MacMini and a USB into a standalone USB DAC.
Normally you would not be able to do this, but there's a pretty darned easy work around.

Under Mac OS go into 'Utilities' and then 'Audio MIDI Setup'.
Then create 'Multi-Output Device' and choose what you want to... Actually, thinking about this, you should mean you could simultaneously use both HDMI and the 3.5mm Headphone port.

Or are you looking to use this when running Windows on your Mac Mini?

The Mac OS would not allow me to select HDMI when the 3.5mm is connected. I've been unwilling to throw more money at it to try and get a selectable output solution.

The work around I was trying to use was overiding the output in XBMC to send output to HDMI, which works "most" of the time, but unpredictably the system siezes control of the IR and performs unexpected underlying operations, sending audio out on the deaful output (3.5mm analogue).

I never wanted Windows on the Mac, it was just one of the work arounds I have tried.

The setup is a dual zone amp, digital 5.1 in the lounge and analogue stereo to speakers mounted outside over the deck. As you can imagine, the audio output suddenly switching to the outside at full volume at 10pm does not please the neighbours.

I'm trying to use the Mac in a way it was not designed, and being Apple, resistance is futile.

When you create an aggregate audio device, Core Audio will show it as a single device and then when you pump the audio through that device, it will go out to all of your speakers.

This is great as I use some OS X music editing apps that only support a single device output where I need multiple channels, so I bridge them together with a $3 USB audio adapter. (being a hobby, I don't really want to shell out hundreds for a dedicated device)

lyonrouge

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#711386 3-Nov-2012 14:29

Now that I have implemented the AirPort Express, the MacMini has been relegated to a renderer-only role. I've installed iTunes on the content server (delivering content via iTunes and DLNA), so only use the Mini when I want to watch NFL and other internet content, or send iOS content to the TV (AirServer).

nakedmolerat

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#711398 3-Nov-2012 15:18

What about Chrome Box?

lyonrouge

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#711462 3-Nov-2012 17:59

nakedmolerat: What about Chrome Box?

Possibly, but you may have to root or load a custom distro to get some form of media player, probably XBMC, then some more hacks to get an IR receiver and WiFi adapter installed, i.e. Linux driver hell, but eventually you could get this to compete with a Mac mini.

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