More > JRiver Media Center 21 for Mac
suitability of Mac Mini for MC21
shAf:
I continue to have problems with my Win8 PC. As much as I like MC on the Windows platform, I am too old for keeping up with the unreliability of PC hardware (I have an Apple MBA that's twice as old and still running strong).
I am considering the suitability of the Mac Mini and have the following questions for anyone who has similarly migrated ...
(1) I found this video issue with MC 20 posted earlier this year, and I hope MC/Mac has caught up in this regard. I play mostly MKV and MP4 video, but still have a few AVIs around
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=95628.0 ...
(2) What keyboard and mouse do you use with a Mac Mini? That is, my impression purchasing of a Mac Mini is that's all you get ... a little aluminum box with connections(?)
(3) Similar to my current setup, hopefully I'll be able to
* (a) connect to my Yamaha AVR via HDMI and still use a Thunder port (and adapter) to connect to a DVI monitor(?)
* (b) connect to 2 USB3 external drives
* (c) stream music to my iPhone with JRemote
* (d) any other considerations?
TIA :)
glynor:
I don't like the current Mini's much, which is too bad as the Ivy Bridge ones were fantastic.
Don't get one with a spinning disk. OSX really, really wants to be on an SSD anymore, and performs terribly on spinning disks anymore.
blgentry:
--- Quote from: shAf on September 12, 2015, 03:21:49 pm ---(1) I found this video issue with MC 20 posted earlier this year, and I hope MC/Mac has caught up in this regard. I play mostly MKV and MP4 video, but still have a few AVIs around
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=95628.0 ...
--- End quote ---
Video support for Mac is vastly improved now. I haven't used it with an external display yet, but on the Mac's screen, it's rock solid for just about every video format I've tried. See my post here for some details:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=99998.0
--- Quote ---
* (a) connect to my Yamaha AVR via HDMI and still use a Thunder port (and adapter) to connect to a DVI monitor(?)
--- End quote ---
Again, I have no experience with external monitors (or TVs) with my Macs, other than playing with it a few years ago. Seemed to work just fine back then, but I wasn't using MC back then. Anyway, the new Mac mini has HDMI on board, so that should be no problem. It's also got 2x Thunderbolt connectors. You can buy an inexpensive mini display port to DVI convertor, which will plug right into one of the Thunderbolt ports, so again, you should be good to go.
--- Quote ---
* (b) connect to 2 USB3 external drives
--- End quote ---
Certainly. I'm using multiple external USB drives with my MBP. Currently using them with an adapter because mine is old enough to not have USB3 built in. With the adapter, they work very very well, and multiple drives is no problem at all.
Sorry I don't have a lot of direct experience with your questions and/or setup, but I thought I could add a little to the conversation.
Thanks,
Brian.
OldSouthernGuy:
For what it's worth, I'm running Media Center 21 on a Mac Mini connected to a Yamaha AVR via HDMI. The Mac Mini uses a television as a monitor. (Mini -> Yamaha -> TV.) I use the OS X Screen Sharing facility to connect to the Mac Mini from my Macbook Pro, so I don't need an external keyboard. I do have a third-party wireless keyboard as backup, in case I cannot connect via Screen Sharing. Note that the TV is not strictly required; I use it with Media Center in Display View mode to see what's playing and also as a backup monitor in case Screen Sharing doesn't work. (Has not been an issue yet.)
OldSouthernGuy:
Sorry, should have included a bit more detail in my previous response.
1. I have a wireless Logitech keyboard with touchpad(combined) to be used if Screen Sharing between my MacBook and the Mac Mini does not work.
2. I use JRiver Media Center for audio only.
3. The Mac Mini is a mid 2011 model, one of the earliest with HDMI.
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