I’d completely forgotten that Winbook came out with an attractive XP MCE box for $999 after $200 rebate — the PowerSpec MCE 410. It’s got a P4 3GHz, 512MB PC-3200, 160GB SATA, 16x Dual Layer DVD+/-RW, Radeon X300 w/ 128MB DDR, 7.1 Audio, 7-in-1 card reader, single tuner, remote, etc. They squeezed it all into a proper HTPC enclosure that is reasonably compact and there is room to grow with one free full-height and two low-profile PCI slots.
I also never realized that Media Center Extenders can be used for live television. I could have saved a few bucks by upgrading my desktop PC to MCE and using the Windows Media Center Extender for Xbox kit to interface with my new plasma, and I would have ended up with a much nicer desktop PC in the process. Why waste money on a pretty HTPC case if you can keep the PC from ever coming near the A/V rack?
What’s up with all the hype about using the Mac Mini as an HTPC? It’s not that cheap — by the time you’ve upgraded the RAM, added an external hard drive (or paid big money to upgrade the internal one), added a USB digital audio adapter and an EyeTV 200 tuner you will have spent at least $1000. With all those wires and external components it’s not so cute and compact anymore, either. And it doesn’t have the juice for HDTV — Elgato recommends a Dual G5 for HDTV playback with the EyeTV 500, and the EFF’s review backs that up. I think it’s foolish to invest that much money building an HTPC that will probably never be HDTV-capable or as full-featured as the alternatives (XP MCE, SageTV, BeyondTV, MythTV, etc).
Automotive uses of the Mac Mini are a whole other story — Mini-ITX systems intended for automotive use are rarely cheaper than a Mini, and they’re generally bigger too. I wouldn’t put the Mini in a single-DIN dash opening tho, much better to conceal the Mini elsewhere to leave room for a $500 Fully Motorized In-Dash VGA + Video + Touch Screen LCD Monitor — the ultimately accessory for pimping a geek’s ride. I’m planning a Car PC project for the summer and I am very interested to see if the Macheads can come up with a nice automotive GUI.
