Hi Ashley, Thanks for your reply.
As for the memory, maybe I will just try it with the original 2-GB for a while. At some point I might invest in a wireless keyboard and trackpad for the mini, but I guess I'll wait and see how it gets used. If I only use it as a media player, then perhaps I will only need the remote. I don't envision using it as a computer much, since I'd rather sit at the desk in my office and use my Mac Pro than sit on the couch and try to use a keyboard and trackpad. If Front Row does not work, or stops working soon, can you recommend any alternatives? Thanks, Gregg On 4 Aug 2011, at 12:38 AM, Ashley Aitken wrote: > Hi Greg (et al.), > > On 04/08/2011, at 11:56 AM, Gregg Dinse wrote: > >> I am planning to get one of the new mac minis. It comes with 2-GB of RAM, >> in the form of a pair of 1-GB chips. Are both of these user-replaceable and >> easy to access in the new minis? > > I believe so. > >> Is there any disadvantage or loss of performance if the two memory chips are >> not identical? > > No, I don't believe there is any disadvantage or loss of performance. > >> If not, I might just replace one with a 4-GB chip. Otherwise, I guess I >> could just replace both. > > 2 x 2GB is probably cheaper but in the long run 1 extra 4GB will obviously be > better. > >> If the mini is used mainly as a media player, do I gain anything by >> upgrading the 2-GB of RAM? If not, then maybe I will just stick with 2-GB >> for a while. > > Try it with 2GB and see ... > > Usually the more memory the better BUT if you are only running one app (I > think unlikely really ;-) then you may be ok. > >> Do these minis work just fine in a headless configuration? > > Headless configuration is not very good as a media player ;-) if you mean > media server then it should be ok headless. > >> I assume I can access it wirelessly from my Mac Pro. > > Sure. > >> As a media center, do I just need the power cord, an HDMI cable to the HDTV, >> and an Apple remote? > > Yes, but I think a wireless keyboard and mouse or trackpad would be very > useful (especially when you are not using it as a media center ;-) > >> I think I have an old style Apple remote (from my 2009 MacBook Pro) around >> here somewhere. Is that all I need to control the mini for playing videos? > > Yes, see above. > > If you are only interested in playing videos (and have another Mac > permanently in the household) why not just get an AppleTV or similar? > >> I think I heard that Front Row (which I have never used) is no longer >> included (in Lion). Can I simply use the Snow Leopard version? > > Yes, no longer included but there are instructions on how to install SL > version on Lion. > > Of course, there is no guarantee that will keep working or work 100% (e.g. > starting up with remote). > > There are commercial and open source alternatives. > > Hope that helps. > > Cheers, > Ashley. _______________________________________________ MacOSX-talk mailing list [email protected] http://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk
