MacNoob

I really want to set up my new game room entertainment center with a Mac Mini, but the value just isn’t there.  I want the iTunes integration, the slick Front Row interface and above all, OS X, but the Mini’s hardware falls way short of other PC offerings.  In fact, its hard to even consider the Mac Mini when designing a media center.  With its relatively tiny hard drive, low memory and lack of Blu-ray and HDMI support, the Mini is only viable if you’re a completely apologetic, Jobs-worshiping fanboy.  Cupertino would have me buy an AppleTV, but that ain’t gonna happen either!  Neither box is anywhere near cost-effective, especially when compared to offerings from Dell.

I’m not asking for a lot.  I need a sub-$1000 internet connected media hub that can stream media from my other computers, download content from the internet and play DVD and Blu-ray disks, all while connected to my HDMI-switching AV receiver.  It would also be nice if the machine looked like it belonged on the shelf of my entertainment center.  On the PC side there are literally dozens of machines that fit the bill, but woefully, Apple makes it difficult to justify using anything in their lineup.  If I were absolutely picky about the capabilities I just listed, a Mac is almost out of the question unless I want to drop three Gs on a Mac Pro .  If not, then I’m left trying make a Mini work.  In either case, I’ll have to find another Blu-ray solution.

Lets say I can’t possibly stand using Windows and decide on the Mac Mini.  Here’s what I would need to make it do almost what I want and how much it would cost:

• Mac Mini (2.0 Core 2 Duo, 2 GB, 160 GB HDD, Wireless KB + Mouse): $1053
• Add a DVI to HDMI adapter: $30
• Add an External HDD:  $100
• Add a 3.5 mm stereo to RCA adapter: $10
• Add a Blu-Ray player: $200 (maybe optimistic)

• Total for a Mac Mini Setup: $1393

With just a little shopping I was able to find a Dell Studio Hybrid machine with better specs for just over half of that price.  The Dell looks like this:

• 2.1 Ghz Core 2 Duo
• 4 GB Ram
• HDMI out
• 320 GB HDD
• Blu-ray ROM + CD/DVD burner
• Optical audio out
• Vista Home Premium (Windows Media Center incl.)

• Total for a Dell Studio Hybrid:  $749

As I mentioned, I really want OS X, but not at a $644 premium.  On top of that, choosing the Mac would mean giving up Dolby Digital sound also.  Arguably, the real comparison should be made between Windows Media Center and Front Row, since that is what will be running 95% of the time.  I might even wind up using XBMC.  It is a really slick open source Media Center package and available for either platform (and Linux).

So, decisions, decisions…

I guess I’ll go with the Dell!  Duh!  You think?

The really bewildering part about all this is the number of lemming-like Apple cultists who would still rather use the Mini, even at twice the price!  Call me a crazy conspiracy theorist, but Jobs must be broadcasting some sort of mind control from Cupertino that a certain portion of the populous is susceptible to.   How else can you explain Apple EVER selling a Mini given this huge price discrepancy?  Maybe I’m naive, but I just don’t get it.  I’ve been using OS X for a year now and I really like it, but not enough to pay almost double for it.  In this particular instance, “I’m a PC”.

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