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Keith and The Girl is a free comedy talk show and podcast
Check out the recent shows
Click here to get Keith and The Girl free on iTunes.
Click here to get the podcast RSS feed. Click here to watch all the videos on our YouTube channel. |
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#1 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 2,237
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mac people: iMac as entertainment server?
I am thinking about getting a desktop PC for home that will be used primarily as an entertainment machine.
The iMac has a mini-DVI output port according to the site. Has anyone used one of these with a decent television display with good results? Also, what kind of extension can be used with that mini DVI port? Apple doesnt list a long mini-dvi cable. Is it just a 1/8in headphone-type connection? Would a well shielded 1/8 headphone extension cable work, in combination with the mini-dvi to DVi adapter apple sells? I have a ceiling mounted 480p cinema projector that does a great job but is about 20-25ft from where I would have the computer setup. I like the higher resolution television shows in the itunes store and would love to set up a way to pipe them to my projector. Also, Apple lists a USB terrestrial-HDTV tuner for $250. Anyone used this? Does it work well? Does the MAc machine work well as a DVR with it? I considered the mac mini because I could just ceiling-mount it beside the projector, but I like the idea of having a more powerful machine with a built in display. The hard drives in the minis are pretty small for collecting TV show downloads. Also, if you know anything about them, how do they compare with Windows Media Center PCs? |
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#3 (permalink) | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,780
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I'm a Mac person, but I have to say I don't know. |
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Keith and The Girl is a free comedy talk show and podcast
Check out the recent shows
Click here to get Keith and The Girl free on iTunes.
Click here to get the podcast RSS feed. Click here to watch all the videos on our YouTube channel. |
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#5 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In my chair
Posts: 4,566
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#6 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 45
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Why bother trying to build a new computer from scratch if it's possible to do the same without much hassle. Buy an iMac and buy a $10 mini-DVI to DVI adaptor and geta long DVI cable running to your Projector. For the TV Channel stuff you can get an EyeTV box from elgato which works like a charm, and integrates with Front Row and done is your Media Centre with 160 GB Harddrive, Wifi and Bluetooth and a simple interface. For the EyeTV stuff go to : http://elgato.com
you can find the adaptor in the apple store and the DVI cable at CompUSA or similar stores.
__________________
spooky: "Anybody else you want to talk about, at your work? Amber: "What are you hinting at?" |
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#8 (permalink) | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 936
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#9 (permalink) | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Angola
Posts: 679
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btw, for you mac people a good tutorial on backing up |
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#10 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Stumptown
Posts: 1,952
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New Macs are awesome to use as a media center. I have a new MacBook and I use it for videos and music all the time.
FrontRow, a program that comes with all new Macs, is amzing if you use your computer for media; it lets you use an Apple Remote to control movies, music, DVDs, and photos. You can access all iTunes music, anything in your movie folder, watch photo slideshows, and play DVDs all from across the room. So I give this thread's initial question a thumbs up. |
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