Editorial on the Mini-Mac (I prefer calling it that instead of the "Mac Mini"): [link]

This computer isn’t just about enticing “switchers”; I believe that it is also part of Apple’s drive to enter the “living room” market. Why the living room? Because that’s where we watch our movies and relax to our music.

It seems clear, after watching the development of everything that led to the release of the iTunes Music Store, that we’re witnessing a similar gradual build towards an online movie store. Notice, for example, the special emphasis that Apple keeps putting on H.264 video; it looks rather similar to the hoopla that was given to the AAC codec prior to the iTunes Music Store being unveiled.

Is it any coincidence that the Mac Mini is smaller than most video-game consoles? Make no mistake: Apple wants this computer in your living room. For proof you need look no further than the Mac Mini’s Accessories page, where an Apple DVI to S-video/composite video converter is only the 6th item listed. Look two rows below that, and you’ll see a device that gives you optical sound output through USB (the Mac Mini already has a headphone output jack on it). Four rows below that? A remote control for your Mac Mini’s media applications. Everything about this computer seems to scream “plug me in to your TV!” And all without Apple saying a word about it; just like they didn’t say a word about the iTunes Music Store.

Both my PCs have remote controls. It's a sick, sick thing. I can lie in bed, watch recorded video, and turn the computer off without getting up (and then turn on my stereo without getting up to, to play me to sleep in a timed fashion).

Sadly, I do have to get up to turn off the light. All that, and I haven't gotten around to buying a lamp for my bed.

Media+home computer=crack, and I'm barely scratching the surface.

Sadly, I do have to get up to turn off the light. All that, and I haven't gotten around to buying a lamp for my bed.

Or, you could get a Clapper.

I think that editorialist is dead-on. I know I had never seriously considered having a computer attached to my big-screen TV, until I saw the Mini-Mac and a Buffista mentioned the idea yesterday. Although if they're really going to offer sell movies online, they'll need to offer hard drives a lot bigger than 80GB.

It just occurred to me that TiVo could probably offer some sort of internet web browser without too much difficulty.

Apple wants this computer in your living room.

Hell, I want it in my living room. I already have more silicon the study than I know what to do with, and that's before moving S. and his 4 machines in. The current obsession is putting together a setup to run all our tunes, video, games, and possibly the coffee maker for the rest of the house; lose a bunch of the ugly useless redundant boxes hooked up to the TV and/or stereo (and while we're at it, replace the TV with something flat, but that's more of an if-we-win-the-lottery kind of dream).... The minimac would be a hell of a lot cuter and sleeker way to do it than any of our boxes, although it's underpowered.

So, yeah, I think they're hitting the living room media computer crack market just at the right time. Where "right time" == "all about me".

Sadly, I do have to get up to turn off the light.

Clap on. Clap off. IJS

Here's a question because I'm too lazy to Google: If you wanna hook up your computer to an HDTV screen, what's the best way to do it? (Assuming your computer has DVI video out.) Just plug the DVI into the HDTV? or is some sort of converter required?

HDTV's I've ogled all seem to have DVI in.

(Yep, still dreaming of pornographic home media setup.)

Woo hoo, homemade porn!

Crying because I will never have the money to be a technology early adapter.