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Help me plan a new Mac-based home setup...
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<blockquote data-quote="jtree1000" data-source="post: 1532930" data-attributes="member: 309504"><p>My first post here - I'm looking for some advice as I consider a number of options for overhauling my current computer setup at home. I've pretty much decided (about 95% certain) that I'm going to switch from PC to Mac, but I have an odd arrangement. Here are the details of my current setup, and then what I'm thinking about going to next.</p><p></p><p>Current:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In a spare bedroom, I have my one & only Windows desktop PC (a Dell business unit that's about 5 years old). It has several external hard drives connected, as well as an older inkjet printer.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I then have a specialty Keyboard-Video-Mouse 'extender' box connected that allows me to run over Cat5 cable a duplicate set of controls and video from the bedroom into the living room.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">This connects to the receiver box for the extender setup, which in turn plugs into a monitor and to USB-based wireless keyboard and mouse. This allows me to sit in the living room and see/control the main PC without having to setup & run a second PC (with the extra electricity and noise - most Windows boxes are quite loud). It also allows me to multitask - watching TV while surfing on the web, answering email, etc. I know that this is typically the area for laptops, but I generally don't like to use a laptop for extended periods.</li> </ul><p></p><p>I'd like to keep this general functionality (main computer with higher power - CPU, memory - in the back bedroom; full-sized monitor, keyboard and mouse [or magic trackpad?] in the living room in a semi-permanent configuration), with the living room setup possibly tweaked to include a second computer and also a connection into my home theater. So this is what I was thinking:</p><p></p><p>My thoughts:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spare Bedroom: iMac - not sure about 21" or 27", upgrade to 16 GB RAM, possibly go with SSD or Fusion drive</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Living Room: Either 21" iMac or a notebook connected to a Thunderbolt display (to allow for more options); possibly add an Apple TV to mirror desktop on TV</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Network: I've been thinking about moving my data over to a NAS, like a Synology DS1512+, which would alleviate the issue of where I plug in an external hard drive</li> </ul><p></p><p>Some questions: in general, would you recommend even looking at a Mac Mini for the Living Room computer? It would mostly be for general internet usage and audio/video playback, but I could see myself possibly doing some light gaming. I would also look at doing something like VNC across the network to the 'main' computer, so I could access that machine's more powerful setup for quick tasks (like a fast video encode).</p><p></p><p>I'd appreciate any feedback - given that what I've seen online seems to be pointing towards some hardware refreshes potentially coming from Apple later this Fall, I do plan to wait to see what might happen before pulling the trigger. Thanks for any input.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jtree1000, post: 1532930, member: 309504"] My first post here - I'm looking for some advice as I consider a number of options for overhauling my current computer setup at home. I've pretty much decided (about 95% certain) that I'm going to switch from PC to Mac, but I have an odd arrangement. Here are the details of my current setup, and then what I'm thinking about going to next. Current: [LIST] [*]In a spare bedroom, I have my one & only Windows desktop PC (a Dell business unit that's about 5 years old). It has several external hard drives connected, as well as an older inkjet printer. [*]I then have a specialty Keyboard-Video-Mouse 'extender' box connected that allows me to run over Cat5 cable a duplicate set of controls and video from the bedroom into the living room. [*]This connects to the receiver box for the extender setup, which in turn plugs into a monitor and to USB-based wireless keyboard and mouse. This allows me to sit in the living room and see/control the main PC without having to setup & run a second PC (with the extra electricity and noise - most Windows boxes are quite loud). It also allows me to multitask - watching TV while surfing on the web, answering email, etc. I know that this is typically the area for laptops, but I generally don't like to use a laptop for extended periods. [/LIST] I'd like to keep this general functionality (main computer with higher power - CPU, memory - in the back bedroom; full-sized monitor, keyboard and mouse [or magic trackpad?] in the living room in a semi-permanent configuration), with the living room setup possibly tweaked to include a second computer and also a connection into my home theater. So this is what I was thinking: My thoughts: [LIST] [*]Spare Bedroom: iMac - not sure about 21" or 27", upgrade to 16 GB RAM, possibly go with SSD or Fusion drive [*]Living Room: Either 21" iMac or a notebook connected to a Thunderbolt display (to allow for more options); possibly add an Apple TV to mirror desktop on TV [*]Network: I've been thinking about moving my data over to a NAS, like a Synology DS1512+, which would alleviate the issue of where I plug in an external hard drive [/LIST] Some questions: in general, would you recommend even looking at a Mac Mini for the Living Room computer? It would mostly be for general internet usage and audio/video playback, but I could see myself possibly doing some light gaming. I would also look at doing something like VNC across the network to the 'main' computer, so I could access that machine's more powerful setup for quick tasks (like a fast video encode). I'd appreciate any feedback - given that what I've seen online seems to be pointing towards some hardware refreshes potentially coming from Apple later this Fall, I do plan to wait to see what might happen before pulling the trigger. Thanks for any input. [/QUOTE]
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