Going from a Hackintosh to a Mac Pro, some tips needed.

[leowyatt]

Regarding apple tv and format support I think I posted a thread about a usb stick you can use to get mkv support on it but cba to search for the thread

[LeperousDust]

Yeah apple TV, they've got looooads of potential in the hacking department, from the bits i've read about them

Or as mentioned get a mac mini cause they do even more and can be set up it seems to work like apple tv as well

[Feek]

The 16Gb idea was literally just because I can. I've allocated a sum to this project and with a big saving on the box, more memory was the first thing I thought of but I now think the Apple TV is the better idea and I'd already planned on the USB thing that Leo mentioned!

Currently in Membury services on my way to pick up the computer. BTOpenzone for the win

[Mark]

Greetings from just down the road from there then.

[LeperousDust]

If you can afford it, i'd still say go for a mini feek, more ram, non underclocker processor, better graphics, a dvd drive. Ok its slightly bigger and doesnt have a real TV connection (HDMI out) just the usual, and runs a slightly modified front (which you can put on the mini yourself its just not so much get up and go). But you get more for your money with the mini, could even use eyeTV (is it?) and use it as a PVR too!

Very quick google reveals this!

[Daz]

There's a lot to be said for dedicated appliances though. We dont use PC's in place of Hi-Fi's, PVR's, games consoles etc for a reason - it's an easier life.

[LeperousDust]

True but you can just set a startup script which just launches the front row application. So you never need to even touch the OS, which is essentially what apple TV is. Except this way you get use of better hardware a DVD drive and the option of a real OS under the hood if need be. Basically if you're willing to hack an appleTV to make it do what you want, why not just use a mac mini to begin with? It does cost probably £150 more, but you do get a fair amount of extra hardware and expandable space to boot...

[Feek]

I appreciate all the thoughts about a Mini or the Apple TV but I've gone with the Apple TV. I've also got the Mac Pro home and am in the process of getting it all set up as I want it.

Now that I've got this beast in my hands, I'm happy to say what I paid for it - I didn't want to do that before in case I was tempting fate that I might not actually get it!

It's just over six months old, a 2008 model Mac Pro and I paid £1,000 for it. An absolute bargain! It means that the cash I'd got collected for this box can get used for other stuff, such as a nice chunk of memory and the Apple TV.

To say I'm chuffed with the deal is an understatement

[LeperousDust]

Yeah either way you have got yourself a great deal sir, and saved me hassle too . I do quite like the idea of an AppleTV, i need some kind of media extender for our living room now i've got my server set up and running how i want it (finallly!). But i can't imagine me running (actually i dont have the connection - old tv) an appleTV just yet

[Mark]

I had an extended play with an Apple TV in an Apple store last year and have to say it was rather slick. I got a Mac Mini to play about on and in all honesty haven't really made the most of it. Mostly it gets used as an iTunes/Podcasting box, so for me an Apple TV would have done. I already have a PC doing that role though (and it's currently doing stuff no Apple TV could do, and stuff I never thought of doing with it before).