That's correct. You need to boot from an install disk, because once you erase the disk the computer won't be able to boot until to reinstall an OS.

On the Mac I use Roxio Toast to copy stuff off a Tivo HD onto the Mac and then convert for playback on iPods and Android devices. I think I've only run into DRM issues once or twice doing that and not in a long time.

I actually kind of liked the Time Warner DVR I used for a year or two before dropping cable. It wasn't as user-friendly as the Tivo, but it did everything I wanted and cost signficantly less than a Tivo.

Now I'm OTA and want nothing more than a HD digital VCR with no subscription feed (I don't want or need the guide information, honestly, and would be happy to program it myself), but can't seem to find one. Building my own MythTV is too much work.

On the Mac I use Roxio Toast to copy stuff off a Tivo HD onto the Mac and then convert for playback on iPods and Android devices. I think I've only run into DRM issues once or twice doing that and not in a long time.

Hm. That seems like a lot of effort. Normally it's just "hey, I went to bed early, but if it was on my iPad I could watch last nights ep of good wife while on the plane!"

Hey! HDD-based DVR with OTA tuner!

[link]

Yay for simplicity. Have to decide if its worth it since I can stream most of my shows, but glad to know this obvious and simple product exists for the manually-minded.

Hey! HDD-based DVR with OTA tuner!

Wow, I had no idea they sold those in the US. Thanks, Gris!

My old DVR I have from BC finally won't pick up the broadcast signal I get free from my cable line, and I really want to replace it.

I get most of my shows through Hulu and Netflix, but I do like to program PBS stuff.

ND, I suddenly remembered that I did make a Mountain Lion install jump drive.

It allowed me to erase the disk, but not to reinstall, saying the OS needs 2GB...which is what the system has now, but which is clearly not enough.

Sigh.

I have no more patience. Will address this issue on another day.

Mountain Lion needs 2 GB of memory, that is different than the hard drive space you've just been clearing out.

That's what I mean. I switched the 2G in the new mini for the 8G in the old mini today.

And, can I just say, the difference in the process of upgrading memory in the 2011 model is as it should be! The mess that is the mid-2009 model (much as I love the onboard superdrive) is unconscionable! Bad developers. No Biscuit.

I bit down hard yesterday and just bought the external superdrive at the apple store. I really have got to move on with my life!

The time I spent trying to make things work and being frustrated when they didn't was truly not worth it.

I was so excited when I read in the new mini manual about using another apple device as the drive. PERFECT, I thought, grab me a short firewire cable and we are good to go!

But no, says the very nice young genius. You can connect the two minis for some stuff, but not the stuff you want.

It just broke my spirit. But, probably in a good way.

Cool. I set up the appropriate port forwarding in my router and now the new NAS is working like my own private Dropbox.