Mac Mini-Based Media Center

The G4 Mac Mini is connected to the bedroom TV as a Media Center experiment. I did not connect the mouse or keyboard. I already had a DVI to S-Video adaptor, purchased from the Apple Store for $9 (a returned item). Yes, the bedroom TV is an older Sharp CRT-based non-HDTV. Remember the money saving kick? These hacks are going to be cheap and dirty. I DID order a single s-video cable from Monoprice.com for the low low price of $1.55. That, plus shipping and an extra USB cable for my iPhone put me back $6.40. You can't beat Monoprice.com for cheap cables! I already had 1/8"phono to RCA for the audio.

Anyhow, we are sitting here watching some video files I had. I initially controlled the Mac Mini with my Macbook running Remote Desktop, but I'd like to work towards a stand-alone system.

One interesting option is VLC. VLC plays all types of video and audio formats, AND it will run a mini-web server that allows you to control it from any network location:

Eventually a wireless mouse and/or keyboard will probably be installed. More to come once this moves beyond "kludge" status.