ericdfields's Profile

I'm inexperienced with anything related to Windows Media Center, so I can't give you an honest comparison.

A Linux media center solution might do it, but requires a fair amount of computer knowhow to set up. Approach if you're experienced or willing to experiment.

All post-Apple Remote Macs have a feature called 'front row' which is a great 'just what you need' media center solution. Attach an external — like one of the snazzy form fitting ones out there — and you've got as much space as you need.

If you've got a tv with DVI, then you can just hook it all up thataway. Otherwise, you'll have to get some sort of adapter.

Sound is an issue. You'll only have the measly Audio Out jack on the mini, so anything other than stereo is a no.

Ripping DVDs to the hard drive is easily doable too with a little app called Handbrake.

I think all 'all in one' media center solutions are a little messy right now. Between the HD format wars, the difficulty of ripping movies easily, and the fact our types of media are rapidly changing all the time, I can't say that now is the best time to set one of these up. How capable do you think any system is going to be in 10 years? 5 years, even...?