Since Apple has released the NEW Mac Mini, it’s high time we looked back into the possibility of turning this irresistibly stylish Mac into a DVR. The previous mini was examined here but head here if you just have to have a Mac Mini DVR.

The Haves

  • Looks: Without a doubt, the Mac Mini’s form factor is the main reason I’m interested in it as a DVR. No wife would balk at the cute, pure whiteness of the Mini sitting in the living room.
  • Intel Chip: The new Mini is naturally sporting the Intel chip which means you can boot your favorite flavor of Windows if necessary. For Windows-only BeyondTV users out there, for example, the Mini has now become a DVR option.
  • Processor Power: The new Mac Mini has the processor power to handle even the highest of defs: 1080p. Memory (however) may be another issue on the low-end Mini.
  • Video Out: The Mini’s Mini-DVI may not be as convenient as an HDMI port, but it is easily adaptable to standard DVI or HDMI (sans audio) if needed.

The Have Nots

  • Price: For what it does, the Mini is not cheap. Sure it’s the cheapest Mac option, but one could whip up a comparatively powered PC for much less.
  • Blu Ray The Mac Mini has no options no include a Blu Ray player. Could you add one yourself…sure. But then you sacrifice the form factor and increase the (already high) price.
  • MemoryThe low-end Mini will need a little boost in RAM to keep it from choking on large media files. This is a $50 upgrade through Apple.
  • Tuner Card: The Mini lacks a TV Tuner and also lacks the expansion room to put a tuner in. How can a DVR be a DVR without a way to record TV? External tuners are an option, but destroy the form factor of the Mini. Further, most external tuners have only one tuner, meaning you’d need to hook up at least two to have a DVR that can record two shows at once.
  • Audio OutThe Mini’s Mini-DVI comes back to haunt it. Without HDMI out, there is no way to output audio over HDMI. 5.1 and optical out can be achieved through the audio mini-plug, however, using an(other) adapter.
  • Hard drives: My HTPC rocks almost 3TB of space currently and has enough room to add three more internal drives. The Mini simply cannot match the hard drive expansion capabilities of a larger tower. Naturally, external drives can be added, but then I’m destroying the #1 reason I want the Mini: its petite form factor.

Conclusion

All in all, the Mac Mini seems a little too much trouble for what it offers. As much as I’d love to have the stylish Mini powering my home theater, the price, missing pieces, and lack of expansion capabilities keep it from being a real contender as a DVR. However, it’s certainly possible to build a Mac Mini DVR if you’ve just gotta have one.

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