Mac Mini vs. Media Center

An anonymous reader writes "C|Net is pitting the new Intel Core Duo Mac Mini against Microsoft Media Center. The first round of the fight concludes: 'The Mac Mini automatically recognised the LCD TV we're using, and the third-party tuner was similarly straightforward to set up. Compared to the hours we've spent coaxing similar results out of a Microsoft Media Center system, the Mini is definitely ahead so far.'"

Comments

So true...

[GweeDo]

"Nothing to see here, please move along".

Why in the world are they trying to compare a full blown PVR/Media Center (Windows Media Center) to a computer with a remote (Mac Mini)? Don't get me wrong, the Mini is a cool device and it it had PVR abilities I would happily buy one, but it doesn't. For the most part these are very different devices.

Re:So true...

[Golias]

Why in the world are they trying to compare a full blown PVR/Media Center (Windows Media Center) to a computer with a remote (Mac Mini)?

Because with a simple Firewire break-out box, that's exactly what a lot of people are using their minis for. Next question.

Re:So true...

[tpgp]

Hmmmn, I agree with you that this is a non-story, but:

Why in the world are they trying to compare a full blown PVR/Media Center (Windows Media Center) to a computer with a remote (Mac Mini)?

should read:

Why in the world are they trying to compare a software suite (Windows Media Center) to a computer with a remote (Mac Mini)?

The article makes its bias clear with:

Unlike our experiences with most Windows PCs, you won't have to turn up the volume to mask the sound of the small jet plane taking off inside.

They're not comparing, they're reviewing the mac-mini and writing about memories of media centre PCs.

I think to most people (including MS) it's pretty clear that Apple is going to create a better media experience. However, the three way battle for the lounge room is not being fought on a single front. The real competitors for the Mac Mini are the Xbox 360 & PS3, not Media Centre.

Relativity

[SeeMyNuts!]

Windows is for people who value their time and Linux isn't.

Okay, we know that isn't quite right.

Mac OS is for people who value their time and Windows isn't.

That is more honest.

I've spent about as much time fighting with Windows as I have with Linux, Solaris, *BSD, etc. The difference is that Microsoft's marketing is so brilliant that most people simply don't realize it. For every annoyance in GNOME, for example, there is one in Windows (e.g., registry corruption!). In this article's case, it was getting devices to work well. Other times it has been device conflicts. Yet other times it is applications stepping on each other. And so forth.

This is one reason companies like Apple, Sun, and IBM still have viable business models, because they reduce complexity where it counts for many people.

Re:Looks like an advertisement wrritten by by Appl

[CaymanIslandCarpedie]

Disclaimer: I use MS Media Center with my old XBox and new XBox360 working as extenders to other TVs

Have to agree with parent, I built my own media center using spare parts. Once the OS was installed I think it took me about 5 minutes plug-in the cables from my satellite and to walk through the wizard and everything was working perfectly. I was hoping to see a nice detailed comparison, but this was pretty bad ;-) They barely even mentioned the media center ;-) The whole artice was about the mini (remote, ipod, will they get all kinds of AWSOME content now that Jobs is on Disney's board, etc) ;-) Here is every reference to the MSMCE in the "review":

Microsoft has been desperate to claim the living-room as its trophy wife, but a series of attempts to nail the Media Center concept have largely failed.

We've decided to pit Microsoft's Media Center offerings against Apple's new Intel Core Duo Mac Mini.

However, compared to the hair-pulling ceremonies we've held getting Window Media Center PCs to display anything at all on a TV, the Mac has delivered a nasty right-hook to Microsoft's fighter.

Microsoft Media Center can't export video in an iPod format.

Ding DING! We've reached the end of round one, and the Microsoft Media Center is already panting in the corner of the ring.

Compared to the hours we've spent coaxing similar results out of a Microsoft Media Center system, the Mini is definitely ahead so far.

I'd really have been interested in seeing the pros of the Mini, but this horrible puff piece just made me lose my interest.

Front Row w/ Bonjour

[4doorGL]

For multiple-Mac owners like myself, the best features of the new Mini are being overlooked every time.

Yeah, it's faster. Cool.
Yeah, it's the same size. More Cool
Front Row w/Bonjour? Native HD output? Awesome!!

Being able to access the media on my non-Mac Mini systems (15" PB G4 and soon 20" iMac) is great news to me. Especially now that Apple is offering a "subscription" to the Daily Show and Colbert Report, which I'm sure will spread to other shows soon. Now I can download them to one of my systems in the office and watch them in the front room on my HDTV. Neat.

The way to win is not to play

[SuperKendall]

The UMPC competition is like a cliff diving competition that takes place over a dry lake. The way to win the compeition is not to enter. Microsoft failed that first test...

Instead Apple sill just sit back and sell iBooks, since if the device is big enough to need a bag you might as well just have a laptop. The tablet PC tought us all this lesson pretty well (as the tablet form has been doing for years) but only Apple seems to learn.

The mini itself has no competition in that it's a computer that can work without seeming like a computer. You could for example set it up to auto-boot, auto-login and run FrontRow and then just use the remote. Obviosuly for some adminsitration tasks you'll need to se a mouse and keyboard but those can all be done remotiley via VNC and the built in desktop sharing. So you could put a mini in the living room and never hook a keyboard up to it.