Comments on: Mac Mini 2.0GHz Review and Media Center setup Guide

By: jasonmyres | adventures in unix-land

jasonmyres | adventures in unix-land — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:44:35 +0000

[...] there were entire sites dedicated to them. Then, people began using them in obvious places like media centers, and less obvious ones, like car stereos. They have also been used in hi-density server [...]

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:50:20 +0000

Hi there very interesting article although I must admit I didn’t follow some parts of it as I have next to no experience with this kind of hook-up. I want to do it though and want to use a TV that makes installation as simple as possible. Are there any things I should be looking for in a TV specifically or are they mostly the same..?

Thank you very much!

Luke

By: christian

christian — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:04:53 +0000

Jona,

Good question. Unfortunately when you unplug your cable from the second monitor and into the JVC TV the Mac Mini detects a new monitor, and changes the resolution to a default not supported by the JVC (don’t ask why). Also the reason your Mac Book Pro works is because it has a different graphics card than the Mac Mini and doesn’t appear to suffer from the same effects as the Intel 950 Integrated graphics card in the Mini. You need to force the mini to see the JVC TV under the resolution and Hz. Use your Macbook Pro to VNC to the Mac Mini whilst its connected to the JVC. Force the settings and the mini will remember those settings and display on your JVC even after booting the mini. Remember you may not get the startup apple logo, but it should display the login page.

Hope this helps,

Christian.

By: Jona

Jona — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:41:06 +0000

Very nice write up. I have a one question. I am trying to get my mac mini set up on a JVC just like yours but I always get a black screen when using the 1280×768 resolution @ 60Hz
that worked for you.

CONNECTION TYPE: DVI to VGA adapter

I have a second monitor and configure the monitor with the recommending settings of 1280×768 @ 60 Hz for the JVC TV. After these settings are configured on my first monitor, I then move VGA cable from the monitor and connect it up to the JVC TV. When the connection is made to the TV, I still get a blank screen.

I also have a Mac Book Pro and I am able to detect and display to the JVC TV. The MAC Book Pro finds the JVC TV and select the 1280×768 resolution @ 60Hz.

If the MAC Book Pro is able to display an image @ the resolution stated above, why would the mac mini not work the same way after I selected the same resolution and refresh rate?

Thanks for any advice,

Jona
jingandjona@mac.com

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:31:18 +0000

Thats for the info. I had some similar issue with display settings. It was a pain to get it back. Instead of using single user mode, safe mode worked for me but my monitor support other resolutions.

As far as fixing the dir issues, I would think you could have used the shell and BSD commands to fix the issue instead of dipping into Parallels but its nice to have Vista when you want it.

By: christian

christian — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:01:13 +0000

Miguel, i can’t say for sure, but i would be more confident with your Samsung HDTV, as its more modern than my JVC. The only way to know for sure is to try. If you do decide to go for it, and you run into any problems let me know, i can try to help.

By: Miguel

Miguel — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:42:29 +0000

Hi!

I have a HDTV (samsung)LA32S81B) with DVI connector and i wana buy the mini-mac with wire less keyboard and mouse.. as well..will this put in a better position regarding the 100% display, i realy don’t wanna to hussle in order to get the 100% display.

I read your reviews on your website…

Thanks

South africa

By: christian

christian — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:44:39 +0000

As you can see, from the review so far, be prepared for a little tinkering to get the Mac Mini to display 100% on your HDTV. If you haven’t got the HDTV then i suggest getting one with DVI connector. As for the Freeview, i’m tempted to go for the EyeTV 250, i think i will setup BBC iPlayer instead.

By: Ash

Ash — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:35:04 +0000

I’m waiting with interest to see how you get on with this, as I am having the same Mac mini/Apple TV quandry. I’m buying a new flat and the plan is for a large 1080p in the lounge, and an iMac in the study. I guess all content will be stored on the iMac - but do I stream via Apple TV, or use a Mac-mini with Front Row. Using a mini means email / surfing, I can attach an iSight camera and video conference from the lounge (how cool?), and I think Front Row can stream ripped DVDs (_TS files) from another Mac, so they won’t need to be converted. Apple TV wins on price, of course… maybe one of those for the bedroom.

I’m also trying to figure out how to add Freeview into the mix (via Elgato eyeTV). Any thoughts on that?