Your Mini will just be a Mac hooked up to a TV without the right media center software.ĭownload and install Plex – Awesome media center app, this is the base software for your Mac Mini media center and runs on top of Mac OS X.ĭownload and install Perian – A package full of all the codecs you’ll need to play various video formats.ĭownload and install Handbrake – Rip DVDs to your Mac hard drive in an array of different file types, store them on the Mini for easy access within Plex. Generally speaking the newer the Mini the better (the newest 2010 model is ideal), and an Intel chip with 2GB of RAM is highly preferable. Make sure that whatever Mac Mini you get is capable of playing high definition video if you’d like that capability.

You can pick up a Mac Mini from the usual suspects: Apple, MacMall (sometimes small discount), Amazon (usually good discount and free shipping), Craigslist, eBay, etc.Īmazon – New Mac Mini for $669 with free shipping – BEST DEALĭon’t forget to check the Apple Refurbished Store for discounted machines, though most of the time there aren’t Mac Minis available. If you feel there’s a better way to do some of this, feel free to comment! Purchase a Mac Mini This all worked for me and I’m thoroughly enjoying the setup. It’s more of a link-list than a how-to it’s also very dumbed down for anyone who’s not knowledgeable on any of this stuff…ĭisclaimer: Do this all at your own risk. I just did all this and figured someone would benefit. You can get the new Mac Mini for $669 from Amazon with free shipping How to setup a Mac Mini as a media center, server, and torrents box Update: With the release of the new Mac Mini (2010 model), you won’t need any additional video or audio cables and adapters, only an HDMI cable! The new Mac Mini makes a perfect media center and outputs HD content flawlessly, plus it doubles as a great Mac, highly recommended. Note: If this walkthrough seems a little overkill to you, check out our easy guide to setup a Mac Media Center which will provide a simpler setup, minus some of the features like remote torrent management. Browse the web, play games, and use your Mac Mini on a TV from your couch, wirelessly.Serve websites from your Mini to the world.Watch the movies stored on your Mac Mini on your iPhone.Control the media center via your iPhone.Add & delete torrents to download onto the Mac Mini, remotely.Watch Hulu, YouTube, and any other streaming online video on your TV.Watch HD movies, videos, view photos, listen to music, and view weather from your couch on your TV.

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