If only Firefox / Intel would sort themselves out and get H.264 encoding working on the NUC so you can watch YouTube above 720p on Linux. Sigh.
My Next Mac Mini
131–140 of 361 posts
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
Which model? I have NUC6i3SYH and NUC6i7KYK, neither exhibit any of the characteristics you've described. I've used Arch and Ubuntu Mate 16.04 on both as well as Windows 10 LTSB and Anniversary editions on the Skull Canyon. The latter is to run some graphics editing software (which is why I wanted dual M.2 slots so I could dedicate physical drives to each OS). If it were really that bad I definitely wouldn't be able…
NUC6i5SYK and Ubuntu 15.10 and now 16.04 LTS. Since I got the NUC right after its release I was hoping for newer kernels to fix some of these problems, but they didn't.
And lack of H.264 encoding in Firefox / YouTube means no smooth HD YouTube playback
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#133Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unfortunately, your two desires are at cross purposes to each other. An external power brick helps keep a lot of heat out of the system, which allows you to run less cooling in the box, and thus be quieter.
Yeah, except Apple manages to come close so it's possible :) Give credit where credit is due.
The mac mini is much larger than an Intel NUC.
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
TBH I've never understood what Apple gets out of selling the Mac Mini. It cannibalizes their own low-end laptops/desktops, and at the same time must be quite a marginal product mainly sold to a small number of hackers who probably put Linux on them.
If you already have an expensive IPS monitor which Mac do you buy to do your design work? There's the old mini and then the really pricey trashcan Mac.
the really pricey trashcan Mac
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#135Nowadays, I kind of enjoy seeing posts about people abandoning Apple ecosystem. Although it's painful, I myself have been yet another avid fan of pretty much Apple offered, it feels like this is not going to last forever. When they do the math, iPhone might seem the most lucrative (they seem not to care about anything else) but since they are killing the ecosystem with no Mac Pro, no Mac Mini and with so called pro M…
I don't buy this argument. Developers will work on platforms that have users with money to spend, even if the development hardware is poor value. In this sense, Apple has us hostage!
I wouldn't be so sure. Old platforms suffer from diminishing returns and developers get bored easily. If a platform is no longer exciting and dominant players are lame or annoying, then developers and entrepreneurs will look for alternatives in completely different directions deliberately avoiding the old incumbants.
Amazon.com wasn't a Windows desktop app even though most customers would have used Windows to buy from Amazon. You could say that shifts like the Web are inevitable and nothing Apple could do will change that. That's probably right, but the way in which it happens and the role old incumbants play in the new world does depend on whether or not they are hated and actively avoided by the new elites.
I believe that Apple is making the upcoming decline steeper and deeper right now.
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#136Nowadays, I kind of enjoy seeing posts about people abandoning Apple ecosystem. Although it's painful, I myself have been yet another avid fan of pretty much Apple offered, it feels like this is not going to last forever. When they do the math, iPhone might seem the most lucrative (they seem not to care about anything else) but since they are killing the ecosystem with no Mac Pro, no Mac Mini and with so called pro M…
I don't buy this argument. Developers will work on platforms that have users with money to spend, even if the development hardware is poor value. In this sense, Apple has us hostage!
I build iOS apps but I avoid giving Apple any money wherever I can.
I buy all of my Apple hardware used from third parties. I don't buy any apps, music or books from Apple. I only use free apps.
The only time Apple gets a cent from me is when I pay for my developer license.
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
It can't be used as a DVR.
Aren't DVRs kind of a dying product category? They're only relevant if you have a cable subscription, and most people putting media PCs in their living room are relying on streaming services. I don't know anyone who uses a DVR anymore, but I know dozens of people with Netflix/Amazon/Hulu/etc. subscriptions.
Even cable subscriptions include DVR-like features.
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#138Honest question : any good reasons to go with Windows rather than Linux?
I use Linux on my media PC. I actually switched to Windows for a little while, because it was preinstalled. I only switched to Linux because I wanted to SSH into the machine, run OpenVPN, duckdns updater, home automation scripts, etc. I was just more comfortable in Linux.
I run Plex Server, Plex Home Theater, Spotify desktop app (in the background), and EmulationStation. I've been very happy with it so far.
It would be nice if I could get Netflix integrated, but I just use my phone and a Chromecast for that.
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#139You can also build a good ol' fashioned htpc at almost half the price of this NUC: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/DmXrtJ
Could be even cheaper if you already have some spare parts.
It might use a bit more power and has a larger footprint, but there is enough space for 3.5" drives and it is practically noiseless at any load. Plus you can expand it with a TV tuner, a graphics card or a HDMI capture card.
Re: My Next Mac Mini
#140I have found the best way to enjoy Apple hardware without the sticker shock is to just go ahead and buy used Macs from vendors such as OWComputing (macsales.com) or macofalltrades.com.
The hardware is rock solid even if it is 3 or 4 years old and the software is upgradeable. And I know I will be able to use it for another 5 years without too much hassle.
My casual computing needs do not include high end gaming or deep learning using the latest GPUs.
I don't need anything more powerful to browse the internet, check my email and some casual document editing. This is what my family also does 90% of the time.
Sometimes it is cheaper to just change the timing belt on your car rather than leasing/buying the next latest/shiniest new thing.