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Posts Tagged ‘Mini Hub’

Non-Apple TV Update

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

Mac Mini G4 Non-Apple TV

Update:  The Non-Apple TV Apple TV has undergone some minor updates.  First, the 12″ PowerBook has been freed and is portable again.  In its place I have installed a Mac Mini 1.42GHz G4 with 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD and an external 250GB LaCie Mini Hub.  Functionally the Mini is pretty much the same as the PowerBook, the main advantage is a smaller footprint and regained use of the PowerBook as a portable system (once I replace the battery).  As an added bonus, the Mac Mini, Mini Hub, Cinema Display and EyeTV all look pretty good together.

The Air Mouse client and server software were also updated.  The new software adds some nice features including a panel/setting with only media controls, one for web browsing, and custom programmable keys.  The media panel is very usable with large high contrast buttons and almost makes up for the lack of an Apple remote on the PPC-based Mini.  More info on the new Air Mouse features on their site: mobileairmouse.com.

You may have noticed the holes in the front of the Mini Hub.  I drilled these for additional cooling when the original fan in the drive failed.  The original drive in the Minihub was 500GB and generated a lot of heat, and subsequently used the cooling fan quite a bit.  Along with new larger front-mounted fans, the Minihub now uses a 250GB drive that seems to run fairly cool and rarely gets hot enough to trigger the fans.  The lack of noise is appreciated for this application.  My Mini Hub case modification in detail for your review:

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