DAZZD88 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) Why does the Mac Mini not have HDMI? Surely the fact that nearly everyone these days has access to a high-def television would make Apple think that putting a HDMI port on a Mac Mini was a good idea. I mean the Mac Mini is an excellent little machine and for pure grunt it beats all nettops hands down and also has a DVD-writer. So would it not make and excellent home media centre pc? I would almost definitely buy one for my bedroom because having a DVD-writer makes it a lot more flexible than a normal nettop. This would get around the whole needing to buy my own display too seeing as I'd be using my HD TV. APPLE ARE YOU LISTENING?? I WANT HDMI ON A MAC MINI!! Edited January 13, 2010 by DAZZD88
SC-UK Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I think it's simply a case of trying to push you into an Apple TV.
pooley Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I can't see why the Mac mini can't have HDMI and Bluray, It would make life very nice and neat
DAZZD88 Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 I think it's simply a case of trying to push you into an Apple TV. Wouldn't that break the TV though? Bah-dum-csh!! But seriously, it's a bit pointless as most graphics cards released these days have HDMI ports on. I can't see why the Mac mini can't have HDMI and Bluray, It would make life very nice and neat Seconded.
SC-UK Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Oh I completely agree that it's silly. However, as I said earlier, they're trying to make you buy an Apple TV as well (which I have, and have to say are very good at what they do). Why not simply run it over DVI to your TV instead?
DAZZD88 Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 Why not simply run it over DVI to your TV instead? Fair point, I just never use DVI. Suppose you right as essentially the picture quality is the same right?
SC-UK Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 As far as I am aware yes it is. In fact you can get DVI to HDMI cables to connect from the DVI port on your Mac Mini to the HDMI on your TV. Obviously DVI doesn't carry an audio signal, but you can also get DVI + Audio to HDMI. These plug into the DVI and Audio ports of your Mac Mini and then into the HDMI on your TV. Hope that makes a little bit of sense?
HodgeHi Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Yep. It is.I used to run my mac-mini over DVI to HDMI. The mac-mini also has a digital optical out as well (i think) which allows connection straight into a surround sound system.
dayzd Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I can't wait for apple to support bluray. Then finally my macmini media system (hooked up to the tv, natch) will be complete! I've no idea why Jobs described it as a 'bag of hurt' or whatever last year... Licencing maybe? Surely not hardware - even my 1.83 C2D / GMA950 based machine can deliver 1080p h264!
DAZZD88 Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 As far as I am aware yes it is. In fact you can get DVI to HDMI cables to connect from the DVI port on your Mac Mini to the HDMI on your TV. Obviously DVI doesn't carry an audio signal, but you can also get DVI + Audio to HDMI. These plug into the DVI and Audio ports of your Mac Mini and then into the HDMI on your TV. Hope that makes a little bit of sense? Perfectly. Yep. It is.I used to run my mac-mini over DVI to HDMI. So this setup ticked your boxes and floated your boat etc...? Obviously a Mac Mini is fairly pricey so I don't want to rush into buying one in case it doesn't do X, Y or Z very well.
SC-UK Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 So this setup ticked your boxes and floated your boat etc...? Obviously a Mac Mini is fairly pricey so I don't want to rush into buying one in case it doesn't do X, Y or Z very well. Even if you already have Free-view capability, I would seriously recommend getting one of the dual tuner EyeTV USB devices from Elgato for your Mac Mini. It integrates everything together so well, and can auto export TV to iPod etc. Also, all of the encoding is done on the actual hardware USB device (in some of the models), so won't interrupt you watching a film or so on. 1
HodgeHi Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Yeah. It worked fine. I didn't connect the audio to a surround sound centre though as i don't have one...yet. From Apple's site: Audio Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack) Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack) Built-in speaker I have the intel core 2 duo mac mini with intel gma 950 graphics and output 1080p to a 40" samsung series 6. I run iTunes and use my iphone with the remote app to play content. Worked really well. Just need to tweak to prefs to start movies full-screen automatically and you don't really need a mouse/keyboard. And i agree with the EyeTV. I just wanted something i could connect my virgin TV to though 1
SC-UK Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I just wanted something i could connect my virgin TV to though Getting off the point a little now, but (I live way outside cable area), I assume Virgin TV is a set-top-box type device similar to Sky etc? If so you can get USB somethings to allow you to connect composite/scart/HDMi etc into your Mac Mini. 2
HodgeHi Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I did want a full digital connection but this will have to do. Oh, and i also run OS X server 10.6 on my mac mini as well as a media centre. So it has many jobs and does them in almost silence. Never hear peep from it. It's like having a well-behaved child that just gets on with it And my servers been up over a year now, very solid too. 1
Robbocop Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I think in the end we're all hoping that Apple will release a replacement for apple TV which would basically be a fully fledged Mac Mini, but with HDMI and even possibly a component break out. The above posts say it all. The Mini is quiet, capable and well behaved. As a media server combined with a browser/emalier it makes a great home computer with an HDTV attached. Have no fear about using DVI-D to HDMI cables, by the way. They work fine. If anyone out there wants to get either optical out from an older Mac that doesn't have it, or perhaps (my case) optical and analogue audio at the same time, I can recommend the cheap little M-Audio Transit usb interface. Dead simple. 1
nicklec Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) Mac mini can't do 7.1/HD audio (only possible over HDMI) - I personally went for an ION nettop for a HTPC because I can use my receiver to switch input easier and also hardware x264 de-compression has to be more efficient than a core2 humming away. (It was certainly cheaper to start with, you can get the nettop with no OS for £150 inc vat; im using XBMC live(linux)) Getting off the point a little now, but (I live way outside cable area), I assume Virgin TV is a set-top-box type device similar to Sky etc? If so you can get USB somethings to allow you to connect composite/scart/HDMi etc into your Mac Mini. I'm still waiting for my Virgin TV install (bloody snow) but I believe their set-top box does audio over HDMI whereas the Sky HD+ box does not Edited January 13, 2010 by nicklec
jamesfed Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I'm a PC and if I want a HTPC then I have 100s to choose from (including ones with HDMI/Blu Ray/Intergrated TV Tuners).
Tunster Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 For anyone who has any of the Unibody 2009 Mac products and want HDMI/Surround Sound in a HDMI cable? Kanex iAdapt 51 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI w/ 5.1 Channel Digital Audio The converter about works a treat! It places the digital surround and HD picture (which the mini displayport will support) into a HDMI break out box so you can plug it into any HDMI device. It only supports 5.1 only, but I think that's good enough. Heroes in HD from my MacBook + my 32" HD TV = Sorted. 1
sidewinder Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 Apple have already increased the price of the mini a lot since it was introduced, for that reason I wouldnt want blu-ray and HDMI purely because they would charge a premium for it An off shoot of the brand to replace the Apple TV would be good though
sidewinder Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 In fact the new minis have a mini displayport rather than DVI which can connect straight to HDMI with the right adapter (still no sound though)
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