Mac Mini PVR: The Voyage begins.

[SuperG]

Purchased today: One Mac Mini with S-Video adapter.

Installing XP on it as we speak, GBPVR to follow with H! Win-TV PVR USB2.

More to follow in coming days.

[g808]

Lucky bastard. Which mini did you get? Specs? I'd love to get one to use as a client. All the reports that I've read say the mini's onboard video can handle HD just fine.

[SuperG]

1.66 DuoCore, 512/80GB. I went Base because it's expensive enough to get into. I'll upgrade the RAM in necessary later and all video will get exported to a USB Drive after recording.

XP is Installed and so is GBPVR. Tomorrow(Today) I'll be installing the capture device.

DEAD SILENT unless it's ripping a CD......then you may want to secure the fine china cause this thing is crazy loud.

[SuperG]

Further non-update.

Work calls so the Mini awaits my further tinkering. While I never thought I was, I want to make clear that I'm not blazing any trails here. I found the following interesting reading along the way:

A truely Mac based PVR
Mac based ripping software for converting DVD's to movies on your Mac

[g808]

Yeah, especially after Apple came out with their Boot Camp a lot more folks from the HTPC world are giving the Mini a try, which is great since now we get more info about the onboard video performance.

[SuperG]

The rumor is they are going to change the chipset so the onboard video isn't using shared memory or improving how its handled.....something anyhow....lol

Linkage

[g808]

Interesting...thanks for the link.

[SuperG]

Apparently their are plenty of options for a mediacenter on Mac.....

http://www.pure-mac.com/mediacenter.html#mmedia

[g808]

Yeah, but none are really good. At least not good enough for the 10ft interface. FrontRow and CenterStage seem to have nice 10ft interfaces, but seem incomplete.

[rebelde]

hi there any updates in the installation of gbpvr in the mac mini as me myself plan to built one as well to thinker with and maybe later turn it into a media server with a mvp will be interesting,also post pics once is runing,keep up the good work.

[SuperG]

I've been swamped and the mini has collected a week and a halfs worth of dust on it. I'll post more when I can get back to it, but for now it sits at XP loaded on it and GPPVR running. No Capture card plugged in and no TV output tested.

I'll be honest with you though and say beyond bragging rights there is little to no point in this project unless you already own one of these or are just a diehard Machead. You can scale the project however you like, but I got the duo core with apple care (3 year warranty) and the adapter and I'm already at 1K. Now upgrade the memory at a min. of 150 and add an external drive and this project is rapidly approaching $1500 without a tuner. You can buy a LOT of PC for that and go with very nice parts to boot. (not to mention I have to run XP on this thing ANYHOW to get GBPVR going so what real advantage do I have?)

At least I get to learn Mac stuff now, but beyond that I'd say save your money for now. I reserve the right to change my mind when apple releases the next cool gadget. 

[g808]

Or can go stock and use it as a client. Still a pretty expensive client, but a very nice and quiet one.