Media PC/Server Suggestions

[sleddriver]

Been thinking about this lately. I'm curious what others are using. Mac/Win doesn't matter. Wired vs wireless perhaps. Have read up on roku, looks interesting.

My brother recently asked me about this. Wants to load all his DVD's, CD's, old movies to a HD and be able to access it wirelessly throughout his house. He has 2 Mac laptops & one HP laptop. Sounds like a wireless media server to me.

A neighbor recently gave me a 17" imac G5 that doesn't work. Pulled it apart: bad MB caps. I'm in the process of replacing them. When done, I thought of using this machine to experiment on in the Mac environment.

I don't have cable or sat. TV is OTA antenna. I rent DVD's at the local library to watch. So I'm not a 'power user' by any means. However, I am curious what others are doing, how they're set up, HW & SW they use, I could help my brother with his and learn something to boot.

Thanks!

Decided to post in this forum, but it's also pertinent to consumer electronics forum.

 

[dparm]

AppleTV if you are on a budget, Mac Mini if you have a bit more to spend.

Or you can DIY with an ITX-style motherboard in an HTPC case, but those always look stupid.

 

[greenaccord02]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Or you can DIY with an ITX-style motherboard in an HTPC case, but those always look stupid.


No, they don't. There are plenty of perfectly decent cases for that form factor for a fair price, and some that look very professional, but are quite expensive.

 

[sleddriver]

Might work for my brother as he's already tied in with Apple stuff, iphone, itunes, etc.

I remember MS made a media-center ed. OS at one time. I'll have to verify that.

Yea, HTPC is a good way to ID what I'm interested in. Thanks.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Microsoft's Windows Home Server 2011 on some low end AMD-based build-your-own low voltage unit. I'm thinking about trying this out myself.

More Info: http://www.pcworld.com/article/228598/windows_home_server_2011_what_it_is_and_how_to_use_it.html

or a Mac Mini if you want to spend more on it.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: dparm
AppleTV if you are on a budget, Mac Mini if you have a bit more to spend.

Or you can DIY with an ITX-style motherboard in an HTPC case, but those always look stupid.


I don't think AppleTV can do HD. 1st gen can do SD if you hack it with OSX but 2nd gen is just an A4 with insufficient HP and almost impossible to hack.

I'd say build your own or buy something with enough power (decent GPA with at least dual core).