LiveSearch

Powered by vanilla & lovin' it!

    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    i am considering a purchase of a 37" lcd tv and a computron capable of (and dedicated towards) the playback of HD content.

    in the not so distant future, i will also be considering the acquisition of a freesat™ pvr device of some sort which would fit seamlessly into this setup.

    i was originally thinking samsung for the tv and a mac mini, but i'm open to suggestions, for reals!

    ty
    • CommentAuthorBiff
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    The TV is irrelevant.

    Macmini is optimal for this kind of thing. The AppleTV is nice and does 5.1, but then you still have to maintain a repository elsewhere for ease of maintenance.

    If you're going on the cheap, you can always use the DVI output (to hdmi) and run audio leads from your iMac to the television, assuming it's not an epically far distance from each other.
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    the imac is an epically far distance away from the proposed tv site :D

    cheers biffmon. i had been considering building a small form pc on the cheap, but i'd then have to furnish it with illegal software, etc.

    i guess it will be used for some other things too, like innernets surfing and maybe some mundane household type stuff.

    i am open to tv suggestions though, but realise that models in the UK may differ in price compared to the old us of a items.
    • CommentAuthorBiff
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    If you do a wireless keyboard, avoid the bluetooth ones- range and battery life seem to suck. The logitech USB dongle + wireless keyboard combo works great.

    So does ARD/Screensharing, but that's less user friendly for the missus.
    • CommentAuthorBiff
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    Oh, and don't forget, the speaker out on the macmini is either standard 2 channel audio or optical audio out (a funky TOSlink cable)
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    ah right yeah, i hadn't really thought about audio from it, doh.

    i have a denon amp and a couple of floorstanders that i was going to use, just not sure how. i think i was just going to wire that up to the tv, but i guess that may not be ideal.
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    (i worked out that i've owned and used my current 28" crt behemoth for over ten years now).
    • CommentAuthorjesse
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2009
     
    use an xbox360. it's wonderful.
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2009
     
    you know, that was another option i had considered briefly. how about that then?
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2009
     
    by "how about that then?", i mean "are there any specific apps for integrating with a mac based workflow, web browser etc?"

    of course, the missus can't really use it for work then though.
    •  
      CommentAuthorGffMaC
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2009
     
    Get a WDTV for your media on your tv and get your misses a cheap laptop :happy:
    I find it best to keep my misses away from anything techy that I care about
  1.  
    interesting thread. I was thinking of doing something like this with a mac mini. We have a 32" LG in the master bedroom wall.

    Good point about the range Biff, never thought about that. I wanted bluetooth as i'll probably install it at the other side of the wall inside the airing cupboard with all the other cables and stuff out of sight but never thought that the range might not be good enough to control it (4 meters or so plus wall). I'll look into the logitech one. Would be good if it had a trackpad or something, I don't fancy having to fiddle about with a mouse.

    Also hadnt thought about the sound. any recommendations of surround sound systems that play nicely with the mac mini?
  2.  
    this one looks like could do the job, but it doesn't say anything about compatibility with mac... http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=gb,en
    •  
      CommentAuthorflak
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2009
     
    The WDTV is decent, though a Mac Mini is much nicer. Copying everything to an external HD is a hassle, but being able to stream via the network is a huge strength for the Mini.
    • CommentAuthorjesse
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2009
     
    i tried connect360 and rivet. Rivet wins, no web browsing though a far as i know.

    I thought about a mac mini or an appleTV, but i can play games on an xbox and it's cheap! (by the by, I bought it just to play games, never to watch movies, but it's virtues as a media center won me over. Olivia quite pleased with that aspect as of it as well)

    I would like to bust it open though, there's a 40 gig hard drive in there being wasted. What's the point when you can't put anything on it? ugh.

    I hope soon to purchase one of those newish 40 inch Samsung LED backlit LCDs. That shall make viewing a pleasure.
    •  
      CommentAuthorsquapple
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    Hehe, I bought one of those Samsung LED tvs a few weeks ago and its totally fucking awesome. And I got a free matching blueray player and a free 5 yr warranty!!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    how much did that run you, squap?

    also, re: wdtv - sounds great, but is only a media player. i'd much prefer an xbox so that i can play games or a mac mini so i could do all kinds of whizzy computery stuff, too.
    •  
      CommentAuthorsquapple
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    £2k, chris. From John Lewis.

    I priced it in Comet for £2k plus £250 for the Blueray player, plus £350 for the 5yr warranty!

    I probably wont even use the blueray. I have an xbox also.

    But check this, the TV is DivX and DivX HD compatible. Simply pop your pen drive in the side and voila! No need for a media player!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    hmmn, ok. i'm not looking to spend £2k on a telly hehe.
    •  
      CommentAuthorflak
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    Problem is, nobody uses DivX for HD - only standard definition rips. And even then, I've seen more Xvid in the past few years (though if it can play DivX, it can probably play Xvid).
    •  
      CommentAuthorsquapple
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    I never use DivHD. Its Xvid compatible as well along with pretty much everything else as well. Only problem is, my broadband is too damn slow download anything better than standard def!
    •  
      CommentAuthorsquapple
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    Excuse the poor iphone pics.
    1
    2
    3

    The recession has been good to me to be honest. (Bought a new car as well this week!)
    •  
      CommentAuthorflak
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    Wait, didn't you just buy a Mac Pro, too?

    Man, can I come live with you? :D

    (nimmot's basement is getting crowded, anyway)
    •  
      CommentAuthormeska
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    Check Squap in laidback mode for the photo :D
    •  
      CommentAuthormeska
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    btw, what's the device in the middle of the shelf?
    •  
      CommentAuthorblueshead
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
     
    flak said...Wait, didn't you just buy a Mac Pro, too?

    Man, can I come live with you? :D

    (nimmot's basement is getting crowded, anyway)


    WTF? I told you to clean the hair and loose bone parts out of nimmots basement! Do you really want me to send you back to work as an IHOP busboy from Midnight to 8 Am?
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2009
     
    right then, no tv suggestions at all? (other than a £2k tv which i'm not about to buy :D).
  3.  
    these ones have the freesat built in
    •  
      CommentAuthorflak
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2009
     
    We've got two Samsung TVs. The other ones at Best Buy seemed pretty crappy, IMHO (especially the Westinghouse, which was the cheapest).

    Been pretty happy with Samsung. Apparently, Samsung also makes Sony's TVs.
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2009
     
    the built in freesat sounds ok, but i was kinda planning on getting one with freeview built in, and a freesat receiver with some form of pvr. maybe i'm thinking backwards here, though.

    samsung are at the top of my list atm, too, flak. good prices at the lower end of the scale, i think.
    •  
      CommentAuthorGffMaC
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2009
     
    I got this a few months ago and Im very happy with it samsung tv great for hd movies and the xbox360
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2009
     
    cor blimey, that's a little more than i was thinking of splashing on a telly, too :D looks nice, though, for sure!
    •  
      CommentAuthorflak
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2009 edited
     
    You could just use RSS feeds and a torrent client on that Mini, and watch stuff on the TV. Cancel your cable/satellite. :D
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 15th 2009
     
    i don't have any subscription. the tv i currently watch is all the free stuff on satellite (as we have a dish and sky box already).
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 15th 2009
     
    so freesatHD would be a good bet as it's all the same stuff (more or less), plus a couple of HD chanels, too. for free. and like i said, we already have the dish.
    •  
      CommentAuthorsquapple
    • CommentTimeJul 22nd 2009
     
    meska said...btw, what's the device in the middle of the shelf?


    SkyHD box, center speaker, home theatre receiver ;)

    I wondered who would spot that reflection!!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeJul 22nd 2009
     
    should have taken it in tha nude, eh? ;)
    •  
      CommentAuthorsquapple
    • CommentTimeJul 22nd 2009
     
    I thought about it but i had a feeling only blokes would pic up on it. Not my cup-o-tea!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeSep 15th 2009
     
    ich habe ein großes Samsung-Fernsehen jetzt, innit.
    Samsung LE37B550A5 37-inch Widescreen Full HD 1080p Crystal LCD TV with Freeview
    •  
      CommentAuthormeska
    • CommentTimeSep 15th 2009
     
    •  
      CommentAuthorchris
    • CommentTimeSep 15th 2009
     
    yeah, that's what reminded me to post here.

    my hand got forced in that my 10+ year old crt stopped working recently.
    •  
      CommentAuthormeska
    • CommentTimeSep 15th 2009
     
    I am most definitely considering this, but i'd have to whip out that 160gb and stick in a 500gb or 1tb.