Comments on: FrankenMac as a HTPC?

By: freakqnc

freakqnc — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:43:39 +0000

I really wonder how long will take Apple to enter the HTPC realm… Minis were never intended to be one, nor was the AppleTV (which is basically and older sibling of a Roku-like or a younger one of Cable/Sat STB for On-Demand/PPV).

Sure one can sort-of turn a mini into something that may yield the resemblance of an HTPC, but there are inherent limitations to it which I will not analyze here (suffice to say lack of HDMI, Bluray bitstream support, Surround sound, expandability and so on). And the AppleTV it’s even worse with its underpowered and insufficient specs is definitely a no go unless you just want to play some stuff off iTunes Store… but why would you with NetFlix? ;P

There may be deals being sealed behind the scene among the key players (which we mere mortals know nothing about), but if such deals are not in the making, I’d suggest those smart businessman that’s what they should be doing, so hopefully Mr. Jobs and Mr. Hastings are reading this! ;P

PS: a word about clones… were tried in the past, were a major failures for too many reason to condense here and I wouldn’t get a clone even if they were being given out for free… wasting your time to make them work like the “real thing” and trying to find workarounds to unsupported features or unexpected incompatibilities it’ll be way more expensive and frustrating than just getting an original mac, more so today than in the past when hardware was way different.

By: wenmiester

wenmiester — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:23:40 +0000

another tip towards the mini… if you’re looking to stream netflix watch instantly with your HTPC, you’ll need an authentic mac and not a hackintosh… currently, due to silverlight/DRM issues, netflix’s streaming service won’t work on hackintoshes. i’m assuming this is also the case for psystar.

By: TSPhoenix

TSPhoenix — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:34:32 +0000

In all seriousness the only reason you’d buy a Mac clone would be the money (or some kind of crusade against vendor lock-in). If you cared about any of the other things you’d be ponying up the cash at Apple’s doorstep.

By: M. Brinkhoff

M. Brinkhoff — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:46:35 +0000

If you would prefer to buy a clone I encourage you to do so. This article was intended to address the clone versus Mini issue in the home theater environment.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:47:26 +0000

1. It’s small.
Don’t care.

2. It’s not ugly.
Not a big deal; besides, I think the Psystar box is kind of attractive.

3. It’s quiet.
I’d be looking to replace my Power Mac G4, which isn’t exactly quiet either.

4. It’s not really cheaper.
The Psystar blows the socks of a mini in all the posted performance comparisons. And it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than a Mac Pro. Software Update is still unresolved – Psystar is already offering updates directly from their site.

5. It’s a Mac
The crux of the matter. If Apple offered a mid-range, expandable, upgradeable, desktop then I wouldn’t consider a Psystar either But they don’t offer such a product and they have consistently refused to for years. So my Apple loyalty (and I’ve bought Macs consistently since my first Mac Plus in 1986) is not what it used to be.

By: Peter Bessey

Peter Bessey — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:01:30 +0000

Why would you want to compare the Psystar Tower to a MacMini?

It has nothing in common with that very limited Apple product.

Anyway the Mini is almost totally un-upgradeable and has no choice of video/graphic card

A Tower box is better compared to the Apple Pro towers if anything. Surely that is the attraction of them – potential power, potential spec choice and scope for upgradeability.

The Psystar and any home built FrankenMac, has the ability to be modified to suit the user’s particular needs. The Mac Tower is so very limited.

If Psystar can improve the updating issues, which they appear to be doing, and tweak the fan noise issue, which should be possible with relative ease, then this is going to make the units more appealing still as an alternative to an Apple build.